Big Ten media days are a little more than two weeks away, and preseason practice will begin right after. So we're getting a jump on the festivities by examining and ranking each of the position groups around the league.

Up next in this series: Linebackers.

Best of the best: Ohio State

Are you getting the sense yet that the Buckeyes are pretty good? They're dominating our position group rankings, and understandably so, as the defending champs are simply loaded with talent. They are tops in the linebacker group despite losing starting middle linebacker Curtis Grant to graduation. No big deal, though, as sophomore Raekwon McMillan could be even more talented as his replacement. The outside spots are filled by Joshua Perry, who was last season's leading tackler for Ohio State, and emerging superstar Darron Lee, the defensive MVP of the Sugar Bowl. Throw top-rated recruit Justin Hilliard into the mix, and this crew likely forms the strength of the Buckeyes' defense.

Next up: Michigan State and Wisconsin

It's hard to pick a clear No. 2 behind the Buckeyes, but both the Spartans and the Badgers can make a strong case. Michigan State keeps on reloading on defense, and it returns starters Darien Harris and Ed Davis at the outside spots, while Riley Bullough looks to follow his older brother's footsteps and man the middle for the next couple of years. There's good depth on hand here, as well. Wisconsin, which plays a 3-4 scheme, lost both its inside 'backers from a year ago, but the perimeter is on point with returning standouts Vince Biegel and Joe Schobert. Leon Jacobs and T.J. Edwards had good springs on the inside. With the talent on hand and the defensive coaching at both schools, linebacker should remain a stout position in both East Lansing and Madison this fall.

Sleeper: Purdue

Linebacker was a major sore spot in West Lafayette for several years, but the position at long last appears to be on the upswing. Credit a solid youth movement that began last season with redshirt sophomore Jimmy Herman and freshmen Danny Ezechukwu and Ja'Whaun Bentley. All three are big and can run, and now they've got a year of starting experience under their belts. The Boilermakers' linebacker unit isn't going to be confused with the nation's best anytime soon, but it has morphed from liability to potential strength.

Problem for a contender: Nebraska

Linebacker play in Lincoln has simply not matched up to other elite Big Ten teams for too long now, and the Huskers are facing a depth crisis at the position in 2015. Josh Banderas is the only returning starter from 2014, though Michael Rose-Ivey is coming back from a knee injury that cost him all of last season. Beyond that, experience at the position is almost nil. Nebraska will need some incoming freshmen to contribute right away, which is always a dicey proposition for contending clubs.