B1G preseason poll: OSU’s Bosa is a no-brainer

Joey JJ Bosa Watt was voted the Big Ten's preseason defensive player of the year in the Cleveland.com poll released Monday.

OK, OK, Buckeyes junior defensive end Joey Bosa received 37 of 38 first-place votes in the vote of league media organized by Cleveland.com.

Bosa is a 25-game starter who is already 14th at Ohio State in career tackles-for-loss (34.5), ninth in tackles-for-loss yards (187), seventh in sacks (21.0) and sixth in QB sack yards (154). He has 99 career tackles, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, both for touchdowns (vs. Northwestern in 2013 and vs. Wisconsin in 2014). His FFs and FRs have led to 44 Ohio State points the past two seasons, including 37 points generated during the Buckeyes' championship 2014.

Bosa is 6-6, 275 and super explosive. He covers a ton of ground and has handled every Big Ten offensive tackle who's lined up across from him. J.J. Watt is 6-5, 289. Watt is the NFL right now. Can Bosa have the same kind of impact on the NFL stage? He's probably going to be the No. 1 pick. We're all going to find out and it's going to be a fun ride.

Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun finished second in the voting. He was the poll's preseason pick a year ago, and wound up as a first-team All-Big Ten selection for the second straight year.

Voters were asked to rank three top defensive candidates, with three points assigned for first place, two for second and one for third. There were 38 voters who cast ballots, and Bosa received 37 first-place votes and was not ranked on the other ballot. That voter chose Maryland's William Likely.

Preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year voting

1. Joey Bosa, Ohio State DE, 111 (37)

2. Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State DE, 50

3. Anthony Zettel, Penn State DT, 25

4. Darron Lee, Ohio State LB, 18

5. William Likely, Maryland CB, 8 (1)

6. Maliek Collins, Nebraska DE, 5

7. Vince Biegel, Wisconsin LB, 2

7. Ed Davis, Michigan State LB, 2

7. Vonn Bell, Ohio State S, 2

10. Joe Bolden, Michigan LB, 1

10. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan S, 1

10. Darius Hamilton, Rutgers DT, 1

10. Eric Murray, Minnesota CB, 1

10. Michael Caputo, Wisconsin S, 1

The Gazette's Scott Dochterman and Marc Morehouse also voted in this poll. Here's who they picked:

Scott's

1. Joey Bosa, Ohio State

2. Maliek Collins, Nebraska

3. William Likely, Maryland

Marc's

1. Joey Bosa, OSU

2. Shilique Calhoun, MSU

3. Darron Lee, OSU

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com