The Big Ten features four teams - Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State - inside of Athlon’s top 25 for 2017. These four teams return a good chunk of talent this year, with 14 Buckeyes earning a spot on Athlon’s All-Big Ten team, and the Nittany Lions and Badgers each garnering 12 selections. The Wolverines aren’t far behind with nine picks, but Iowa (10) and Northwestern (11) are just ahead of Jim Harbaugh’s program in overall selections from the All-Big Ten squad.

Athlon Sports has released its top 25 for 2017. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best and honor the top players in the league with a release of first, second, third and fourth all-conference teams for 2017.

An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2017. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2017 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.

Big Ten Football 2017 All-Conference Team

First-Team Offense Second-Team Offense Third-Team Offense Fourth-Team Defense QB J.T. Barrett Ohio State Trace McSorley Penn State Wilton Speight Michigan Clayton Thorson Northwestern RB Saquon Barkley Penn State Rodney Smith Minnesota Ty Johnson Maryland Markell Jones Purdue RB Justin Jackson Northwestern LJ Scott Mich. State Chris Evans Michigan Bradrick Shaw Wisconsin AP Mike Weber (RB) Ohio State Akrum Wadley (RB) Iowa Garrett Dickerson Northwestern Stanley Morgan (WR) Nebraska WR Nick Westbrook Indiana Janarion Grant Rutgers Parris Campbell Ohio State Matt VandeBerg Iowa WR DaeSean Hamilton Penn State Jazz Peavy Wisconsin D.J. Moore Maryland Malik Turner Illinois TE Troy Fumagalli Wisconsin Mike Gesicki Penn State Cole Herdman Purdue Marcus Baugh Ohio State C Billy Price Ohio State James Daniels Iowa Kirk Barron Purdue Connor McGovern Penn State OL Mason Cole Michigan Nick Gates Nebraska Christian DiLauro Illinois Tommy Doles Northwestern OL Jamarco Jones Ohio State Ryan Bates Penn State Damian Prince Maryland Ben Bredeson Michigan OL Brian Allen Mich. State Michael Deiter Wisconsin Coy Cronk Indiana Garrison Wright Minnesota OL Sean Welsh Iowa Beau Benzschawel Wisconsin Tariq Cole Rutgers Boone Myers Iowa

First-Team Defense Second-Team Defense Third-Team Defense Fourth-Team Defense DL Maurice Hurst Michigan Steven Richardson Minnesota Tyler Lancaster Northwestern Nathan Bazata Iowa DL Tyquan Lewis Ohio State Nick Bosa Ohio State Anthony Nelson Iowa Torrence Brown Penn State DL Sam Hubbard Ohio State Conor Sheehy Wisconsin Chase Winovich Michigan Bryan Mone Michigan DL Rashan Gary Michigan Dre'Mont Jones Ohio State Jesse Aniebonam Maryland Olive Sagapolu Wisconsin LB Josey Jewell Iowa Jack Cichy Wisconsin Jermaine Carter Maryland Jonathan Celestin Minnesota LB Tegray Scales Indiana T.J. Edwards Wisconsin Mike McCray Michigan Ben Niemann Iowa LB Jerome Baker Ohio State Jason Cabinda Penn State Chris Frey Mich. State Tre Watson Illinois CB Rashard Fant Indiana Denzel Ward Ohio State Montre Hartage Northwestern Antoine Winfield Minnesota CB Chris Jones Nebraska Derrick Tindal Wisconsin Grant Haley Penn State Blessaun Austin Rutgers S Marcus Allen Penn State D'Cota Dixon Wisconsin Aaron Williams Nebraska Manny Rugamba (CB) Iowa S Godwin Igwebuike Northwestern Damon Webb Ohio State Marcelino Ball Indiana Kyle Quiero Northwestern

First-Team Specialists Second-Team Specialists Third-Team Specialists Fourth-Team Specialists K Emmit Carpenter Minnesota Tyler Davis Penn State Drew Brown Nebraska Rafael Gaglianone Wisconsin P Blake Gillikin Penn State Ryan Santoso Minnesota Joe Schopper Purdue Hunter Niswander Northwestern KR Janarion Grant Rutgers Parris Campbell Ohio State Solomon Vault Northwestern Tre Bryant Nebraska PR De'Mornay Pierson-El Nebraska Janarion Grant Rutgers Flynn Nagel Northwestern Antonio Shenault Minnesota