ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has already turned his attention to the 2017 NFL Draft less than two weeks after the 2016 draft ended, and his big board is littered with plenty of prospects from the Big Ten at the top. Here are the top four draft-eligible prospects from the conference he has ranked in his top 25 overall:
4) LB Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State Buckeyes
Kiper: "The Buckeyes didn't lose all of their defensive talent in the 2016 draft. McMillan was quietly one of the best players and leaders on the 2015 unit, after seeing plenty of action as a true freshman. He is excellent in pursuit and doesn't miss tackles."
3) CB Jourdan Lewis, Michigan Wolverines
Kiper: "Lewis could have factored into first-round talk had he jumped into the 2016 draft class, but he'll return and give Michigan two of the top NFL prospects in the country on one side of the ball. Lewis can really cover, but size will be the question mark. Can he stay outside in the NFL?"
2) S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan Wolverines
Kiper: "There isn't much Peppers can't do on the football field, as he was dynamic on defense and in the return game; he also put in time on offense last season. This year, he'll be something of a hybrid as a guy with safety size and speed lining up in the box. Expect to be impressed."
1) DT Malik McDowell, Michigan State Spartans
Kiper: "A versatile, highly athletic interior defender who can be moved anywhere along the line, McDowell has length and strength. And he was disruptive last season, piling up 13.0 tackles for loss. Sparty lost a lot of talent on the defensive line to the 2016 draft, so McDowell faces a lot of pressure."
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