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2017 NFL Draft: Big Ten’s All-Draft Team

By Erik Schlitt

Oct 24, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of Big Ten logo on field prior to a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Indiana Hoosiers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of Big Ten logo on field prior to a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Indiana Hoosiers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4). Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Malik McDowell (4). Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Tackle

1st Team: Malik McDowell, Michigan State (junior)
1st Team: Jaleel Johnson, Iowa
2nd Team: Ryan Glasgow, Michigan
2nd Team: Jake Replolge, Purdue
Honorable Mention: Maurice Hurst, Michigan (junior)
Honorable Mention: Ralph Green, Indiana

Malik McDowell has announced he is declaring for the 2017 NFL draft and is immediately in the conversation as one of the top picks. With Michigan State struggling this season, McDowell was moved around quite a bit, seeing snaps at defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle. Playing out of position and dealing with a lingering injuries has soured some analysts on his stock, but he has a Top-15 skill set and should hear his name called early in round one.

Jaleel Johnson has seen his stock consistently rise through 2016 and is now considered a day two pick, and could be drafted in the second round. A terrific athlete, Johnson will appeal to most teams as he can play in a variety of defensive schemes. A disciplined player, Johnson plays sound football and gravitates to the ball as good as any defensive tackle in this class.

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson (67) celebrates after a fumble recovery. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson (67) celebrates after a fumble recovery. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

Ryan Glasgow will get some recognition because of his brother Graham but seems to be an under the radar prospect for a lot of analysts. He’s not flashy but he’s the type of player that NFL coaches are going to love. Glasgow consistently beats his one-on-one blocks with raw power and holds his position when double teamed. He should hear his name called early on day three, but, like his brother, if a team falls in love with him, he could sneak into day two.

Jake Replolge is another under the radar defensive tackle prospect from the Big Ten. His stats are underwhelming but he makes his money by creating pressure. With a constantly running motor, he will be drafted and can be a valuable part of a defensive line rotation in the NFL.

Maurice Hurst has recently said he plans on returning to Ann Arbor for his senior season. With four senior returning starters on the defensive line, Hurst was not technically a starter at Michigan this year, but his impact was felt throughout the season. A favorite of PFF, Hurst’s ability to produce on limited snaps ranks him high in their grading system. They even went as far as to mock him as a potential first round pick in the fall.

Ralph Green caught scouts eyes after solid freshman and sophomore seasons. He has an NFL skill set and teams will be drawn to his versatility. But, a pair of suspensions over the last two seasons, for battery as a junior, and conduct detrimental to the team as a senior, will cause NFL teams to ask the question: do his off-the-field incidents outweigh his talent?

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