Losing Orlando Pace, two other All-Americans, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and eight Big Ten honorees the question for the 1997 team focused on whether or not it would rebuild or reload.
With the exits of Shawn Springs and Ty Howard, the secondary needed players to step up. Enter Antoine Winfield. The diminutive defender burst on the scene ready to showcase his skill and powerful tackling technique. Gary Berry and Ahmed Plummer also added needed depth.
Offensively, nobody could replace Pace, but the unit returned the majority of its starters.