COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State defensive ends and Wisconsin running backs. In the Big Ten, those positions at those schools have done some damage to the opposition. Now, conference writers believe those positions will produce the best players in the Big Ten.

Ohio State’s Chase Young and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor were chosen as the preseason defensive and offensive players of the years in balloting from 34 media members conducted by cleveland.com.

The primary goal of the preseason voting is to choose the team expected to win the conference. But we’re looking for the best players in the league as well.

Taylor was named the Big Ten’s top running back a year ago after leading the nation with 2,194 rushing yards. That gave voters plenty of reasons to make him a comfortable choice for preseason offensive player over Purdue receiver Rondale Moore, Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson and Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez.

Voters were asked to select their top three candidates, with three points awarded for a first-place vote, two for second and one for third. Here’s the full voting on offense.

PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin RB, 78 points (21 first-place votes)

2. Rondale Moore, Purdue WR, 36 points, (3)

3. Shea Patterson, Michigan QB, 31 points (4)

4. Adrian Martinez, Nebraska QB, 24 points (2)

5. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State RB, 13 points (3)

5. Justin Fields, Ohio State QB, 13 points (1)

7. Nate Stanley, Iowa QB, 4 points

8. Brian Lewerke, Michigan State QB, 2 points

9. K.J. Hamler, Penn State WR, 1 point

9. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin OL, 1 point

9. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa OL, 1 point

The defensive vote was much closer between the three best defensive ends in the conference.

Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes won the conference award as the best defensive lineman a year ago, and he received more first-place votes than any defender. But he finished third in this voting. He was beaten out by Ohio State’s Young and by Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa, who led the conference with 10.5 sacks last year. Young had 9.5 sacks and Willekes 8.5, but Willekes led the league with 20.5 tackles for loss.

Here’s the full voting on defense.

PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1. Chase Young, Ohio State DE, 57 points (8 first-place votes)

2. A.J. Epenesa, Iowa DE, 52 points, (9)

3. Kenny Willekes, Michigan State DE, 41 points (10)

4. Paddy Fisher, Northwestern LB, 19 points (2)

5. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State DE, 16 points, (4)

6. Joe Bachie, Michigan State LB, 6 points (1)

7. Lavert Hill, Michigan CB, 5 points

8. Carter Coughlin, Minnesota DE, 4 points

9. Josh Metellus, Michigan S, 2 points

10. Micah Parsons, Penn State LB, 1 point

10. Joe Gaziano, Northwestern DE, 1 point

A season ago, Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins and Michigan linebacker Devin Bush were named the offensive and defensive players of the year at the end of the season. In the preseason voting, Haskins was the fifth choice with three points, and Bush was the fourth choice with 14 points.

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