The 2010 NFL draft is in the books, so let's take a look at the 34 Big Ten players who heard their names called in New York. When the full list of undrafted free agents comes out, I'll post it later in the week.
ROUND 1
Here are the selections according to Big Ten team:
Illinois: 3
Indiana: 3
Iowa: 6
Michigan: 3
Michigan State: 1
Minnesota: 2
Northwestern: 3
Ohio State: 4
Penn State: 6
Purdue: 1
Wisconsin: 2
Quick thoughts:
ROUND 1
- Michigan DE Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 13 overall
- Iowa LT Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay Packers, No. 23 overall
- Penn State DT Jared Odrick, Miami Dolphins, No. 28 overall
- Indiana LT Rodger Saffold, St. Louis Rams, No. 33 overall (first pick of Round 2)
- Illinois WR Arrelious Benn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 39 overall
- Penn State LB Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys, No. 55 overall
- Purdue DT Mike Neal, Green Bay Packers, No. 56 overall
- Iowa LB Pat Angerer, Indianapolis Colts, No. 63 overall
- Iowa CB Amari Spievey, Detroit Lions, No. 66 overall
- Illinois G Jon Asamoah, Kansas City Chiefs, No. 68 overall
- Minnesota WR Eric Decker, Denver Broncos, No. 87 overall
- Penn State LB Navorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers, No. 91 overall
- Iowa TE Tony Moeaki, Kansas City Chiefs, No. 93 overall
- Northwestern DE Corey Wootton, Chicago Bears, No. 109 overall
- Ohio State DE/LB Thaddeus Gibson, Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 116 overall
- Wisconsin TE Garrett Graham, Houston Texans, No. 118 overall
- Iowa LB A.J. Edds, Miami Dolphins, No. 119 overall
- Northwestern QB Mike Kafka, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 122 overall
- Wisconsin DE/LB O'Brien Schofield, Arizona Cardinals, No. 130 overall
- Illinois TE Mike Hoomanawanui, St. Louis Rams, No. 132 (first pick of fifth round)
- Northwestern CB Sherrick McManis, Houston Texans, No. 144 overall
- Michigan P Zoltan Mesko, New England Patriots, No. 150 overall
- Penn State TE Andrew Quarless, Green Bay Packers, No. 154 overall
- Minnesota LB Nate Triplett, Minnesota Vikings, No. 167 overall
- No Big Ten players selected
- Penn State TE Mickey Shuler, Minnesota Vikings, No. 214 overall
- Michigan State CB Jeremy Ware, Oakland Raiders, No. 215 overall
- Iowa RT Kyle Calloway, Buffalo Bills, No. 216 overall
- Indiana DE Jammie Kirlew, Denver Broncos, No. 232 overall
- Ohio State DT Doug Worthington, Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 242 overall
- Ohio State S/CB Kurt Coleman, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 244 overall
- Indiana CB/KR Ray Fisher, Indianapolis Colts, No. 246 overall
- Michigan LB/S Stevie Brown, Oakland Raiders, No. 251 overall
- Ohio State LB Austin Spitler, Miami Dolphins, No. 252 overall
- Penn State LB Josh Hull, St. Louis Rams, No. 254 overall
Here are the selections according to Big Ten team:
Illinois: 3
Indiana: 3
Iowa: 6
Michigan: 3
Michigan State: 1
Minnesota: 2
Northwestern: 3
Ohio State: 4
Penn State: 6
Purdue: 1
Wisconsin: 2
Quick thoughts:
- Three of the biggest draft steals from the Big Ten were pass-catchers in 2009: Illinois wideout Arrelious Benn, Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker and Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki. Benn had first-round skills but a fourth-round college résumé. Decker most often was compared to former Broncos wideout Ed McCaffrey, and if healthy, he could do big things in Denver. If Moeaki stays healthy, the Chiefs might have found the next Tony Gonzalez. Kirk Ferentz puts Moeaki right up there with Dallas Clark in Iowa's top tight ends.
- Love the Colts' pick of Angerer, who could be a very good pro in a great situation in Indy. With Angerer and Indiana's Fisher going to Indianapolis, the Colts now have drafted 26 Big Ten players under Bill Polian.
- Northwestern's Kafka also goes to a very good situation in Philly, as the Eagles love to pass the ball and will run some shotgun.
- Penn State's Lee, Purdue's Neal, Wisconsin's Schofield and Northwestern's Wootton and McManis could all be steals for their teams. Health has been an issue for Lee, Schofield, Wootton and McManis, so they need to find ways to get on the field and stay there.
- It was interesting how one Big Ten left tackle, Indiana's Saffold, rose up the draft boards late in the process, while another, Iowa's Bulaga, dropped.
- Ohio State had four players drafted, but this has to be the Buckeyes' weakest draft class in recent memory. I thought Gibson would go in the second or third round, but Worthington, Coleman and Spitler barely made the cut. Did Jim Tressel deserve Big Ten Coach of the Year over Ferentz? The case looks stronger now.
- Draft snubs included Michigan State wide receiver Blair White, Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark and Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott. Warren was the only Big Ten junior not to get drafted. His decision to leave looked reasonable at the time, but he clearly could have used another year in Ann Arbor. All four players have reportedly signed free-agent deals.
Adam Rittenberg | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
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Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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