ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Ranking the Big Ten's top 30 players ...

No. 2

Daryll Clark, QB, Penn State, Sr., 6-2, 233

Clark

Why he's here -- If this was a list of the Big Ten's most valuable players, Clark would be at the top. Although Penn State is well represented in the rundown, no player means more to the team's success in 2009 than Clark. Quarterback play is hardly a strong point in the Big Ten, but Clark can hang his hat on a very strong junior season.

After edging Pat Devlin for the starting job in 2008, Clark led Penn State to an 11-2 record, a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl appearance. He was the only Big Ten quarterback to rank among the top 25 nationally in pass efficiency. Clark threw for 2,592 yards with 19 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He added 10 rushing touchdowns and finished as the team's third-leading rusher.

The statistics only tell part of the story. Clark's leadership skills instilled confidence in his teammates, particularly wide receivers Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood. He'll bring the same presence this fall to an offense that loses all three wideouts and three top offensive linemen. Put simply, if Clark stays healthy, Penn State could repeat as Big Ten champs. If he goes down, it could be a long season in Happy Valley.

The Rundown

• No. 2 -- Daryll Clark, QB, Penn State
  
• No. 3 -- Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota
  
• No. 4 -- Evan Royster, RB, Penn State
  
• No. 5 -- Bryan Bulaga, LT, Iowa
  
• No. 6 -- Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State
  
• No. 7 -- Sean Lee, LB, Penn State
  
• No. 8 -- Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
• No. 9 -- Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern
  
• No. 10 -- Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
  
• No. 11 -- Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
  
• No. 12 -- Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
  
• No. 13 -- Kurt Coleman, S, Ohio State
  
• No. 14 -- Juice Williams, QB, Illinois
  
• No. 15 -- Amari Spievey, CB, Iowa
  
• No. 16 -- John Clay, RB, Wisconsin
  
• No. 17 -- Garrett Graham, TE, Wisconsin
• No. 18 -- Adam Weber, QB, Minnesota
  
• No. 19 -- Jammie Kirlew, DE, Indiana
  
• No. 20 -- Pat Angerer, LB, Iowa
• No. 21 -- Brad Phillips, S, Northwestern
• No. 22 -- Brandon Minor, RB, Michigan
  
• No. 23 -- Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa
  
• No. 24 -- Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
  
• No. 25 -- Traye Simmons, CB, Minnesota
  
• No. 26 -- Thaddeus Gibson, DE, Ohio State
  
• No. 27 -- Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State
  
• No. 28 -- Matt Mayberry, LB, Indiana
• No. 29 -- Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
  
• No. 30 -- Trevor Anderson, DE, Michigan State