Jack Allen was the consensus best center in the Big Ten last season. Could he be the best center in America this season?
That remains to be seen, but the Hinsdale Central product and the anchor of Michigan State's offensive line was one of six Big Ten centers named to the massive 63-name watch list for the Rimington Trophy, the award handed out each season to college football's top center.
Allen was named to the All-Big Ten First Team by both coaches and media last season. Allen is a three-year starter heading into his senior year, starting 35 games for the Spartans over the past three seasons. He was one of the six finalists for last year's Rimington Trophy.
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[MORE BIG TEN: First-team linemen pace Big Ten's dozen on Bednarik watch list]
The five other Big Ten centers joining Allen on the watch list are Iowa's Austin Blythe, Ohio State's Jacoby Boren, Penn State's Angelo Mangiro, Purdue's Robert Kugler and Wisconsin's Dan Voltz.
Blythe was named to the All-Big Ten First Team by the coaches last season, while Voltz was the media's selection.
The Rimington Trophy has been handed out in each of the past 15 years, with a Big Ten player taking home the award in five of those years. The last to do it was Michigan's David Molk in 2011.