Big Ten Football: 5 storylines to follow at 2019 Big Ten Media Days

5. Year of the edge rushers

The league has a plethora of talented defensive ends. They’re arguably some of the best players at their respective positions in the entire Power Five. All have different skill sets and know how to get after the quarterback.

Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks last year, despite coming off the bench. Ohio State’s Chase Young has lived up to his five-star rating thus far, finished second in the Big Ten in sacks last year and is due for a monster season this fall. Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos finished second in the Big Ten, with 20 tackles for loss as a true sophomore and earned all-conference honors.

Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes is a former walk-on who led the league in tackles for loss and was named the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. Joe Gaziano anchors Northwestern’s defensive front seven and has 20.5 career sacks. Minnesota’s Carter Coughlin, is a converted linebacker, who finished third in the conference in sacks last season.

The scary thought is all these edge rushers may require two offensive linemen on every play.