Big Ten Football: 5 Impact Freshmen for 2015

Jan 4, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Army All-American Bowl West Team celebrates its 28-6 victory over the East during U.S. Army All-American Bowl high school football game at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Recruiting in college football can really make the difference between an average program and a powerhouse. The Big Ten Conference is well-known for its ability to attract big-time high school prospects. Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State all have Top 25 recruiting classes for 2015, so expect bright futures for those programs.

The conference is abound with talented players already and this 2015 class may produce some of the best players we’ve seen in the Big Ten in quite some time. That’s how special this recruiting class is.

The Buckeyes are the defending national champions and they are primed for another run. According to Rivals, Ohio State has the No. 9 recruiting class in the nation, led by 5-star linebacker Justin Hilliard. It’s no wonder the Buckeyes dominate this list.

Here are five first-year Big Ten football players who will take the conference by storm in the 2015-16 season.