4 Big Ten 2021 NFL Draft prospects who benefit most from season’s return

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 16: Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his interception with teammate Jeff Okudah #1 in the first quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 16: Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his interception with teammate Jeff Okudah #1 in the first quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
1 of 5
2021 NFL Draft prospect Shaun Wade
2021 NFL Draft prospect Shaun Wade. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

These 2021 NFL Draft prospects have the most to gain from the Big Ten’s return

In the midst of the ongoing health crisis, there were certainly questions about whether we would see football of any type this Fall, as questions arose regarding safety protocols and testing. Many dominoes fell at the college level, but one of the biggest to fall was when the Big Ten became the first Power Five conference to decide against a fall season and attempt to play in the Spring, jeopardizing the draft stock of their 2021 NFL Draft prospects.

However, things tend to change and now there are reports that the conference may reverse course on their initial decision and may return to play as early as after Thanksgiving, greatly helping some Big Ten draft prospects. This news as the ACC, SEC, and Big-12 have successfully been plugging away and as Central Arkansas and Austin Peay opened the season last night.

While some of the Big Ten’s top players such as Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman, and Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore have already decided to opt out of the 2020 college season and prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, a potential early return to play for the Big Ten could be quite beneficial to a few other Big Ten draft prospects. Let’s take a look at some of those names.