The Big Ten preseason player rankings, based on past performance and 2010 potential, continue with ...

No. 9: Justin Boren, G, Ohio State, Sr., 6-3, 320

2009 numbers: Earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and second-team from the coaches after starting 11 games at left guard; helped Ohio State's rushing attack surge down the stretch of the regular season and in the Rose Bowl.

Most recent ranking: No. 27 in the 2009 postseason player rankings.

Making the case for Boren: Boren will always be known as the guy who transferred from Michigan to Ohio State and delivered some parting shots about Rich Rodriguez on his way out, but he's also a heck of an offensive lineman. He brought a much-needed attitude to Ohio State's underachieving offensive front, and the results started to show toward the end of the 2009 season. Named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, Boren will push Penn State's Stefen Wisniewski and Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi for Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors this fall. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. projects Boren as the nation's No. 2 guard for the 2011 NFL draft, and Boren has been named a preseason All-American by several publications. His decision to leave Michigan clearly has paid off, and this fall Boren will try to help Ohio State win its first national title since 2002.

The rundown

• No. 25: Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt

• No. 24: Illinois RB Mikel LeShoure

• No. 23: Iowa DT Karl Klug

• No. 22: Northwestern LB Quentin Davie

• No. 21: Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins

• No. 20: Ohio State LB Brian Rolle

• No. 19: Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien

• No. 18: Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi

• No. 17: Ohio State WR DeVier Posey

• No. 16: Wisconsin LB Chris Borland

• No. 15: Wisconsin G/C John Moffitt

• No. 14: Indiana WR Tandon Doss

• No. 13: Purdue WR Keith Smith

• No. 12: Ohio State LB Ross Homan

• No. 11: Wisconsin LT Gabe Carimi

• No. 10: Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan