Speaking of Green -
Big 10 (or any other conference) vs. SEC
Ok...I'm a huge UT fan and always pull for every SEC team against non-conference teams. With that said.....
If you're a 5* running back with dreams of going pro....
Which conference would you rather run in?
Against Iowa, Iowa State, Northwestern, Wisconsin (not known for defense), Michigan State, Michigan (also not known for their defense)...
or
Against Alabama (always has a 1st round draft pick on defense), ditto LSU, Florida, Auburn, UT, UGA, Miss St, aTm, etc...
If you were going to expend some of your playing days in college, I can understand why someone would pick a name-brand school (like Michigan) which is not in the SEC to put up some gaudy numbers with a lessened chance of a career ending injury, get a high draft pick and then enter the NFL probably in a top round. I can most certainly hear some other conference recruiters telling offensive playmakers that their chances of success outside of the SEC are greater than within. They'll use Lattimore as an example - "Take for example UT. Went 5-7. Their defense destroyed Lattimore's knee. Do you want to be the next Lattimore?"
Football is a dangerous sport. But to use an NFL example, I'd rather run against the likes of the Jets or Cowboys instead run against the Ravens or Steelers.
As the SEC gets more and more defensively minded, I wouldn't be surprised to see more offensive players head to other conferences to avoid the "Lattimore experience".