Spring football practice is underway around the country and many teams are trying to take the next step at competing for the 12-team College Football Playoff. Many of these teams dealt with injuries and now with those players healthy, they are looking to make the biggest impact possible for their team.
The Big Ten conference will be one of the two or three conferences most watched in 2025, especially after the Ohio State Buckeyes went on a run to win the National Championship. Here are five injured players from 2024 looking to make an impact for the 2025 season in the Big Ten conference.
5 Injured Players Looking to Make an Impact in 2025 Big Ten Football
1. Mohamed Toure (Senior Linebacker at Rutgers)
One of the best players for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights suffered a season-ending injury before the season even started. Senior linebacker Mohamed Toure tore an ACL and it was the second time in three seasons.
Toure made a major impact for the Scarlet Knights in 2023, logging 93 total tackles with 3.5 sacks and an interception. He will return for a sixth season for Rutgers and could make a major impact for the defense in 2025.
2. Rod Moore (Senior Safety at Michigan)
Rod Moore, senior safety for the Michigan Wolverines missed the entire 2024 season after tearing his ACL during spring practice last year. He announced that he would forgo the NFL Draft this year in Green Bay and return for the 2025 season.
Moore, when healthy, has made a major impact for the Wolverines defense, which has been stout this season, contributing to their success in the past few seasons. The two-time All-B1G selection is expected to be back for Michigan this fall and should help the secondary position group to be locked down against a much tougher non-conference schedule and Big Ten conference play.
3. Demitrius Bell (Sophomore wide receiver at Nebraska)
After being a top-40 wide receiver out of high school, Demitrius Bell chose Nebraska for the next level of football and redshirted his freshman season. Going into the 2024 season, Bell was expected to be one of former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola’s top receivers and it was shown all throughout spring camp. However, during the Red-White Spring Game, Bell went down with a significant injury to his knee and missed the entire 2024 season.
For 2025, Bell could be looking to make an impact for the Huskers offense, alongside senior wide receiver transfer Dane Key and freshman breakout star Jacory Barney Jr.
4. Drew Evans (Junior guard at Indiana)
Drew Evans was a standout, when healthy, for the Indiana Hoosiers in 2024, helping lead them to a 10-0 start. The junior left guard suffered a season-ending achilles injury during practice preparing for the game against the Michigan Wolverines.
The Hoosiers ended up still making the College Football Playoff with Evans, but in 2025, Evans could help lead the offensive line to be productive and protect the Hoosiers new starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
5. Jaden Mangham (Senior safety at Michigan)
Jaden Mangham was expected to make an impact during the 2024 season, however, injuries hampered his chances at seeing the field and only played in one game for the Wolverines.
The senior safety transferred to Michigan from Michigan State last offseason and with some players moving on, Mangham could be in line to make an impact in 2025. He was a standout for the Spartans secondary and could be that for the Wolverines in 2025.
Main Image: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
