Pro Football Focus: Top Individual Games by B1G Returning Players

[Mavric]

PFF grades every play of every college football game involving an FBS opponent, meaning we were witness to a long list of impressive individual performances last season. Which ones stood out the most?

We ranked the top 10 from the Big Ten from 2015 among players returning for the 2016 season:

 

3. Nebraska DE Freedom Akinmoladun vs. Southern Mississippi, Week 4

The only reason Freedom Akinmoladun’s monster game in Week 4 doesn’t top this list is because the entire Huskers defensive line had a field day against an overmatched Southern Mississippi offensive line. How dominant was Nebraska’s defense? On 52 pass plays, the Golden Eagles gave up 41 total pressures!

Akinmoladun was the biggest beneficiary, however, as he racked up two sacks, three hits and four hurries, as well as a total of three defensive stops. His final pass-rush grade of +11.2 was actually higher than Smoot’s vs. Ohio State (+10.0), but Smoot deserves the top spot due to degree of difficulty, and the fact that Akinmoladun had a penalty against Southern Mississippi.

 

10. Nebraska OT Nick Gates vs Iowa, Week 13

Nick Gates is the only returning offensive tackle in the Big Ten to post a positive overall grade in 2015 (Michigan’s Mason Cole is transitioning to center), largely because of his outstanding game against the Hawkeyes in Nebraska’s regular-season finale.

He gave up just one hurry in pass protection (with no sacks or hits), which combined with his outstanding run-blocking to give him a +7.9 overall grade for the week, tied for the third-highest offense line grade in the country for the week and the season’s best for a Big Ten blocker.

 

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[Mavric]

Our defense was anything but dominant against Southern Miss but Freedom did have a great game, including possibly the game-saving sack. He was playing well before getting injured and didn't ever get back to form. Hopefully he is back at full speed this fall. He could really be a difference-maker.