Big Ten Football has plenty of defensive standouts, but these five players could become breakout stars in 2024.
College football is just around the corner and it is exciting to look at what players may break out for the upcoming 2024 season. We do not just do offense at The League Winners! We know that defense wins championships! So let’s look at five defensive breakout candidates in Big Ten football for the 2024 season.
Josaiah Stewart: Edge, Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines’ strength will be their interior on the defensive line. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are two of the best in college football. They will have to replace edge rushers Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell, but the Wolverines have always used a rotation so many players got valuable experience last year. The overall defensive line may be even better this year.
Josaiah Stewart could be a player that will have a much bigger role in 2024. In 2021 he had 15 sacks with Coastal Carolina, but has not come close to that with Michigan. Stewart had six sacks in his first year with the Wolverines but only had 349 total defensive snaps. He showed what he could do with two sacks in the playoff game against Alabama and should be able to get single coverage for most of the year.
Saboor Karriem: Safety, Illinois
Saboor Karriem was a three-star prospect out of New Jersey in 2023 but only saw 37 total snaps for the Illini last year. However, the spring game showed that he will be much more involved in 2024. He finished with seven tackles and 2.5 TFL’s in the spring game.
Miles Scott returns at safety and had over 800 snaps last year. He was second on the team in tackles but his tackling grade was only a 65 according to PFF. The Illinois defense will have to improve. The speed and tackling of Karriem could lead to him being very involved in run support and pressuring the quarterback.
Daryl Peterson: LB/EDGE, Wisconsin
Daryl Peterson was a four-star linebacker in the 2021 class that chose Wisconsin over Michigan and West Virginia. He only played 35 snaps his freshman year but did increase that to over 300 snaps his second year. Under the new coaching staff in 2023, Peterson improved in all statistics and had his best season to date.
Peterson only had three sacks for the Badgers last year but did lead the team in pressures with 30. The team struggled getting pressure as the leader in sacks only had six. Transfers John Pious and Leon Lowery should provide help off the edge so that Peterson can get freed up for more one on one matchups. Those opportunities should allow him to become a breakout player in Big Ten football this season.
Amare Ferrell: S, Indiana
Amare Ferrell was a three-star prospect in the 2023 class out of Florida. He saw limited time in 2023 with only 105 snaps and 11 tackles. Last year, Ferrell played mostly in slot corner. However, with a new coaching staff the position of “rover” is what he will be playing in 2024. In the spring game Ferrell stood out and looks to be a weapon in rushing the passer. This versatility could allow him to be a breakout player this season.
Abdul Carter: Edge, Penn State
Penn State had a fearsome pass rush last year with Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac. They were drafted in the first and third round of the 2024 NFL draft and that production needs to replaced. They were two of the top four on the team in pressures last season. For the Nittany Lions to compete in the Big Ten they will need to find replacements quick.
Over the spring, many have suggested that Abdul Carter may be even quicker off the line than Robinson. He is going into his third season at Penn State, and will look to have a big year so that he can make the jump to the NFL. His freshman year he had eight sacks but production decreased to four last year. Although sacks went down, total pressures and quarterback hits increased. Carter had more pressures than Robinson last year and will look to keep that trend going up for 2024.
Brandon Haye
Brandon grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and works as a health insurance data analyst. He has no children, but two fur babies - Squirt and Brownie. He and his wife, Katie, spend their time playing poker and enjoying time with their pups. Brandon is a huge Michigan Wolverine and Jacksonville Jaguars fan. He at one time was in 77 fantasy leagues and loves the game of football. Brandon started writing for The Leauge Winners in 2021.