CFB: Big 10 Impactful Newcomers: East Conference

As we approach the start of the 2021 college football season, new faces are making an impact on their respective program. The Big 10 produces countless NFL talent and with the departure of specific players, it is now time for new faces to step up. Regardless of their position, each team has a certain area that must be addressed and players will attempt to fulfill that specific need. I will go through the Big 10 East and list the most impactful needs for each school and list which new players will step up for their university. 

Indiana - Jaquez Smith, Wide Receiver 

With most of the Hoosiers returning for this upcoming year, true freshman Jaquez Smith is bound to be the team's best newcomer. The four-star wide receiver prospect is the best wideout that the Hoosiers signed this recruiting cycle. Smith has been described as a “trusty” and “handsy” receiver with good range. Being over 6 feet tall and 190 pounds, Smith provides a big target as he is a crisp route runner. Smith will fulfill that third wide receiver spot that will allow Indiana to have a lethal passing attack. With Ty Fryfolge and Miles Marshall taking the top off of defenses, Smith will be a great option in the slot. 

Michigan State - Anthony Russo, Quarterback 

The 2020 season brought nothing but disasters for the Spartans at the quarterback position. Anthony Russo looks to finally bring in a steady presence for Michigan State after the Spartans quarterbacks completed just 55% of their throws in 2020 along with 12 interceptions in a seven-game season. The transfer from Temple got injured in the 2020 season but had an outstanding junior year throwing for 21 touchdowns and almost 3,000 yards. His 6-foot 4-inch frame allows for him to be a big arm talent which is something that the Spartans have been lacking. Russo looks to be the new big name in East Lansing this upcoming year bringing back tradition to a storied program. 

Rutgers - Patrice Rene, Cornerback

In 2020, the Scarlet Knights were abysmal on the defensive end, specifically in the secondary. In 2020, Rutgers ranked 83rd in scoring defense and 104th in total defense, this is where Patrice Rene looks to come in and make an impact. As a transfer from North Carolina, Rene brings experience to the secondary being a 6th-year senior. In 2018, Rene had a great year with 25 solo tackles and two interceptions. Rene’s 6-foot 2-inch frame provides size in the secondary. The newcomer will allow for the Scarlet Knights to have a captain of a defense that was lacking in 2020. 

Penn State - Arnold Ebiketie, Defensive End

After an uncharacteristic 2020 season, Penn State looks to bounce back, one good sign is that they return a fair amount of productivity. With that being said, Arnold Ebiketie is a name that the national media needs to look out for as the newcomer looks to make an impact on the Nittany Lions. With the loss of defensive studs such as Micah Parsons or Shaka Toney, Penn State will look to fill that void. In 2020, the Temple transfer had 28 solo tackles, eight of them were for a loss, along with 8 sacks. This productivity will give Penn State an experienced defensive end as Ebiketie looks to wreak havoc and make a name for himself in the 2021 campaign. 

Maryland - Branden Jennings, Linebacker 

In 2020, Maryland struggled both on and off the field as the program was riddled with COVID-19 spikes. The Terrapins struggled defensively last season and will be looking to make some changes. Maryland let opponents score an average of 32 points per game last year which ranked 81st out of 128 teams. Maryland gave up over 430 yards on defense to opposing offenses. The newcomer to keep your eye on is freshman linebacker, Branden Jennings. The 4-star linebacker has an athletic build at 6 foot 4 inches and weighs 225 pounds. Jennings flipped from Michigan and has been described as one of the hardest hitters in the 2021 class. Jennings will look to make a name for himself and bring his force to a defense that requires some help. 

Michigan - Cristian Dixon, Wide Receiver

With the recent departures of Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan is looking for their next go-to wide receiver. Newcomer Cristian Dixon is looking to cement himself as one of the Michigan greats. Dixon is a down-field threat and he can overwhelm defensive backs with his size. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, Dixon is a physical wide receiver that can go up and high point the football. In an offense that averaged 28.3 points a game in 2020, the Wolverines will look to Dixon as they will try and put up more points in 2021. 

Ohio State - Jack Sawyer, Defensive End 

In 2020, Ohio State was extremely talented on the defensive line with guys like Tommy Togai and Haskell Garrett. However, there is a new face in Columbus that is a dominant defensive end. Jack Sawyer is rumored to be the next Bosa brother or Chase Young in a defensive end pipeline that the Buckeyes keep producing. Coming in at 6 foot 4 inches and weighing 240 pounds, Sawyer was the fourth-ranked recruit in the country. Sawyer flashed his impact in the Buckeyes spring game where he accumulated three sacks and three tackles for losses. Sawyer will get snaps this upcoming season and is looking to crack the starting lineup in Columbus.

Referenced Stats Form sports-reference.com

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-By: Justin Howard