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Ranking the Big Ten: Justin Boren, No. 27

The Big Ten postseason player rankings march on with ...

No. 27

Justin Boren, LG, Ohio State, Jr., 6-3, 315

Preseason rank: Unranked

Why he's here: To many, Boren will always be known as the guy who transferred from Michigan to Ohio State, sent a few parting shots toward Ann Arbor and dressed up like RichRod for Halloween. But he's also an excellent offensive lineman who served as a catalyst for an underachieving Buckeyes line this season. Boren earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and second-team honors for the coaches. He was the only Ohio State offensive lineman to make the all-conference team and helped the Buckeyes' run game surge in November and in the Rose Bowl victory against Oregon. Teammates credited Boren for restoring a nasty attitude to the line in practice.

Boren also projects well to the next level. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. lists Boren as the nation's No. 2 junior offensive guard, and he'll be no worse than a top 5 prospect at the position in 2011. Boren likely will contend with Penn State's Stefen Wisniewski and Wisconsin's John Moffitt and Gabe Carimi for Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2010.

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