ESPN College Football

The NFL draft is a little more than 24 hours away, and our analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have come out with their final mock drafts.

(Let's pause here for a moment of silence for the 2012 mock draft process. May it rest in peace. But never fear, the 2013 mocks are just around the corner!).

There's not a ton of change in Kiper's final first-round mock . Iowa's Riley Reiff is still the top Big Ten player off the board, now at No. 18 to San Diego. Kiper has Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus one spot behind Reiff, to the Bears. The only other Big Ten player he has going in the first round is Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler, at No. 30 to San Francisco.

McShay, along with Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl from Scouts Inc. have undertaken the massive enterprise of mocking the entire seven rounds of the draft . Whew. Here's where they have Big Ten products heading:

Round 1

No. 13: Reiff
No. 25: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
No. 28: Mercilus
No. 30: Zeitler

Round 2

No. 34: Jeff Allen, OT, Illinois
No. 35: Devon Still, DT, Penn State
No. 43: Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
No. 44: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
No. 47: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
No. 51: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
No. 63: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois

Round 3

No. 89: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Round 4

No. 96: Mike Daniels DT, Iowa
No. 97: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
No. 99: Adam Gettis, G, Iowa
No. 106: Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin
No. 118: Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
No. 120: Keshawn Martin, WR, Michigan State
No. 121: Markus Zusevics, OT, Iowa
No. 123: Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
No. 126: Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
No. 132: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska

Round 5

No. 137: David Molk, C, Michigan
No. 150: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
No. 161: Trent Robinson, S, Michigan State
No. 163: Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State
No. 165: DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State

Round 6

No. 207: Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State

Round 7

No. 211: B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State
No. 216: Aaron Henry, S, Wisconsin
No. 219: Dan Herron, RB, Ohio State
No. 221: Derek Dimke, K, Illinois
No. 223: Tyler Nielsen, LB, Iowa
No. 231: Marcel Jones, OT, Nebraska
No. 244: Junior Hemingway, WR, Michigan
No. 247: Bradie Ewing, FB, Wisconsin
No. 248: Kevin Koger, TE, Michigan

A few notables not listed on this seven-round mock: Northwestern WR Jeremy Ebert, TE Drake Dunsmore, and QB Dan Persa; Penn State WR Derek Moye; Minnesota WR Da'Jon McKnight, Michigan DE Ryan Van Bergen, Wisconsin OT Josh Oglesby.

How accurate are these mock drafts? It is almost time to find out. Let's do this for real.

Change is in the air this spring at Iowa. The Hawkeyes have two new coordinators for the first time in Kirk Ferentz's tenure, one from the outside (OC Greg Davis) and one from within the program (DC Phil Parker). Ferentz also hired two new assistants, offensive line coach Brian Ferentz and linebackers coach LeVar Woods, and moved offensive line coach Reese Morgan to defensive line. For an Iowa staff built on continuity, this represents a a major shakeup. The coaches also will be working with a very young roster, as evidenced by the pre-spring depth chart issued this week. It all should make for an interesting spring in Hawkeye Country.

The Hawkeyes opened practice Wednesday, and ESPN.com caught up with Ferentz on Thursday.

Here are his thoughts.

What is the atmosphere like this spring being on the field with this group after all the changes?

Kirk Ferentz: Certainly we have a lot of learning to do for two reasons. Number one, our youth and inexperience, and secondly, with some of the staff changes. We have a lot of different elements involved. It's certainly different than when we finished up in December. It's a lot of positions, and some of it's schematically and that type of thing. We're all on edge a little bit, and that's good.

You made some of your hires fairly recently. How do you feel about where the offensive and defense schemes are at this point?

KF: We're pretty well down the road that we need to be on. We've had some really good meetings over the last several weeks. A little bit more intensive on the offensive side with Greg being hired at the end of February, but I think we've had good meetings. He certainly has a good grasp of what he likes to do and what he's comfortable with. We've been able to blend and mesh things. I think we're pretty much on the same page right now. It's been fun actually, just invigorating to re-examine some things. And the players, they always pick it up faster than the older guys.

When you sat down and talked with Greg, how close was your offensive philosophy to his?

KF: One of the things that really impressed me so much is his experience with various styles of offense. He's been with a lot of different types of players, quarterbacks, going back to Eric Zeier at Georgia, the guys he worked with at North Carolina, and at Texas, they ran several styles of attack. There was a lot of evolution when they got Vince Young. The thing is, he has a system that's been proficient and that he's comfortable with. It really is very flexible and adaptable. That part has all been good.

Very impressed with Greg, starting with all the recommendations I got, people who I have a lot of respect for in football who spoke so highly of him as a coach and so highly of him as a human being. And after a month of being with him, I can see why all of those things were said. He's really been tremendous. We've been fortunate to have great coaches here. You're always a little nervous when you lose somebody as good as Ken, but Greg has been outstanding.

I read your comments from the other day and wanted to clarify something. Did you expect to make some changes even if you didn't have the coordinators leaving?

KF: Absolutely. I was entertained a bit reading the reports of the press conference. The headlines were a little bit overstated. But that was something Ken and I had talked about, and Norm [Parker] and I had talked about as the year went on last year. You're 13 years into it, and we're all feeling good about being here such a long period of time. The great thing about stability is we all know each other.

But the other point, too, and every year you look back at things, but I remember specifically in Cleveland one year in '94 where we looked back and went through our playbook step by step. Steve Crosby had become our coordinator after the '93 season. We went through everything. The advantage of doing it is if you've been somewhere for a while, you add this one year and then you add that, and things don't always mesh or make as much sense as they should, so there's a cumulative effect there. So it's a good exercise to do, and I think it was time for us to do that regardless. And in the case of getting new coordinators, you have to do that anyway. It's been really healthy, it's been invigorating, and hopefully we'll be a more efficient operating group here moving forward.

You've talked about wanting to see better execution. What can you stress in the spring to help you execute better as a team?

KF: That's always the challenge in football. There were complaints about us. The perception is we're a conservative offense, and we threw the second-most amount of passes we had in 13 years last year, so I said they must have been conservative passes because we didn't get any credit for that. But overall, that's the name of the game, whatever you're doing, offensively, defensively or special teams, the key is how you execute those things. Certainly what you call can affect that, but at the end of the day, it's about the team that executes the best. That's the never-ending battle.

You have some guys out on the defensive line, but it's definitely one of the younger groups you've had there. With Reese Morgan moving over to that side, how do you see that group shaking out in the spring, and how will Reese's experience help there?

KF: It's maybe not identical, but it's similar to what we went through in 2005. We graduated four guys that were all in NFL camps after that season. Three of those guys are still active players -- Jonathan Babineaux, who's done a good job in Atlanta; Matt Roth's had a nice career; Derreck Robinson continues to be rostered; and Tyler Luebke is the other guy, was with the Redskins as a free agent. That's the price you pay when you graduate some good players. The last two years we've had a high number of seniors go out both years, and some NFL players in that group. It's something we anticipated, we knew it was going to be a challenge, but all that being said, we're optimistic.

One of my motivating factors for moving Reese over to that spot is Reese is just a tremendous teacher. That's the No. 1 thing I saw in him when we hired him here. He took Pat Flaherty's spot. He's a real builder, and he's done that with the offensive line. You look at last year, we had Riley Reiff, who people are talking about, but we also had Markus Zusevics and Adam Gettis, who both I think are going to get drafted here. They were both roughly 225, 230 [pounds] when they came out of high school and built themselves into players. Reese was a key component of their development, and that's what he does a great job of. I think we've got the right guy with the right group. We've got a lot of work to do, but at the end of the day, that group will be fine, just like in '05.

What would you like to see out of James [Vandenberg] during the spring?

KF: Just continued improvement. We expect him to play his best football next year and lead even better than he did. He played well last year and he led well, but he's going to have to do better. With a young team like this, it's going to be imperative that our most experienced guys play their best and lead our football team. It sure helps when you're playing better. And he's totally capable. We have confidence in James.

Is Keenan [Davis] another guy who fits into that category, needing to play his best as an older guy?

KF: Most definitely. If you look at the improvement Marvin McNutt made throughout his career, from making a move [from quarterback] in the middle of the '08 season, to the records he set, it didn't happen just by accident or just by him hanging around. He worked hard, he got better each year, and his hard work and effort, certainly in production and yardage, that's what we need from Keenan. Marvin's not here, quite obviously, so Keenan has to be the guy and take a very prominent role as a receiver. And he's certainly capable, so we expect to see that growth from him.

What would you like to see from the running back group by the end of the spring?

KF: Development and maturation. We have three guys that are working at that position who are talented enough. They're all capable, but they're young. Jordan Canzeri missed a significant amount of time last year with a hamstring issue. Damon Bullock, we moved him around enough that it probably rendered him ineffective. We'll let him settle at the running back position. And we think De'Andre Johnson has potential as well, but he's got to mature. He missed his first year because he was coming off an ACL injury from high school, so he's a little bit behind that way. But he's got every opportunity to develop and be a good player. It sure would help our football team.

When you're this young, are you more tempted to play freshmen if they come in and show that ability, or do you have to work with the guys who have some experience?

KF: We'll have a better grip on where we are at the end of spring practice. We're going to need some help at some spots, that's a given. Bottom line is for the most part, the guys that demonstrate they can play and help us, they're going to get that opportunity. We had the case with Allen Reisner. Back in '07, we had to throw him in. He was a true freshman. He wasn't necessarily ready to go, but we ran out of guys, so he had to go in there. We hopefully won't be in that situation. But anybody [who] can help us win next year, if it's special teams or on offense, defense, we'll give them an opportunity.

Greg came in from the outside, while Phil Parker has been there. What's it been like seeing him in this role? Do you see him putting his personality on the defense?

KF: We're early into the process right now. To the casual fan, it's not going to look a lot different, probably, but there will be some subtleties and some things not only Phil, but the entire staff talked about. It's like anything else, you're always trying to evolve and progress, move forward a little bit without losing your identity. That's probably what you'll see from that group. Phil's a veteran coach. He's had several chances to leave here for BCS coordinator positions and has chosen to stay here, so I don't think there's any question he's ready to go. He'll do a great job. He's very detailed and he's a good leader.

From a leadership standpoint, do you have some guys in mind, especially on defense, who you could see moving into those roles this spring?

KF: Most definitely. The guys that we're really counting on, you start with Micah Hyde. He's probably our most experienced player on defense, most proven, so we're counting on that from him. James Morris and Chris Kirksey, they're only third-year students next year, but they've played a lot of football, too, and good football. They're playing a leadership position at linebacker. And up front, I'd say Steve Bigach's a guy we're really counting on to really help set the tempo of the group. He's already been doing that, and I think he'll do a good job.

Happy birthday to Denny Crum, Jon Bon Jovi, Reggie Bush and the late Dr. Seuss:

• Nebraska has offered its vacant secondary job to Tennessee assistant Terry Joseph. A couple of Huskers are changing positions this spring, including running back Braylon Heard heading to cornerback.
• Pat Fitzgerald expects more from Northwestern in 2012 and talks about why he didn't change his defensive staff in this Q&A with Teddy Greenstein.
• A look at all the changes Bill O'Brien has already made at Penn State. Top-rated prep tight end Adam Brenemen will make his decision next Friday, with Penn State and Ohio State among his top choices. More details emerged in the Jerry Sandusky case, as prosecutors alleged that he abused eight boys on Penn State's campus.
• Riley Reiff gets the headlines, but fellow Iowa offensive lineman Adam Gettis shined at the NFL combine. Will the Hawkeyes blitz more under Phil Parker?
• Michigan State is hoping to land a big-time quarterback in the 2013 class. The Spartans haven't applied yet for DeAnthony Arnett's hardship waiver.
• Russell Wilson's height is a big issue for NFL scouts and might hold him back at the next level.
• A new Illinois recruit has a talented younger brother who might be interested in the Illini as well.

Spring practice is just around the corner, but there was plenty of action on the field at the NFL combine this weekend in Indianapolis.

While the evaluations continue today and Tuesday, several position groups have completed their testing. Let's take a look at the top performances from Big Ten players. Some standouts in the workouts: Michigan WR Junior Hemingway, Illinois WR A.J. Jenkins, Michigan State WR Keshawn Martin, Iowa G Adam Gettis and Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson.

Before looking at position groups, we'll examine the top overall performers to date.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE (through Sunday)

40-yard dash

• Illinois' Jenkins tied for fourth (4.39 seconds)
• Michigan State's Martin tied for 13th (4.45 seconds)

Bench press

• Michigan C David Molk ranked second with 41 repetitions of 225 pounds
• Michigan DT Mike Martin tied for third with 36 repetitions

Vertical jump

• Michigan State's Martin tied for fifth at 39.5 inches
• Illinois' Jenkins tied for ninth at 38.5 inches

Broad jump

• Michigan WR Junior Hemingway tied for 10th at 10 feet, 4 inches
• Illinois' Jenkins tied for 10th at 10 feet, 4 inches

3-cone drill

• Michigan's Hemingway ranked second at 6.59 seconds
• Northwestern TE Drake Dunsmore tied for fourth at 6.73 seconds

20-yard shuttle

• Michigan's Hemingway ranked second at 3.98 seconds
• Northwestern's Dunsmore tied for fourth at 4.03 seconds
• Ohio State RB Dan Herron ranked sixth at 4.04 seconds
• Iowa WR Marvin McNutt ranked ninth at 4.07 seconds
• Wisconsin's Wilson ranked 10th at 4.09 seconds

60-yard shuttle

• Michigan's Hemingway tied for third at 11.16 seconds
• Michigan State's Martin tied for third at 11.16 seconds
• Northwestern's Dunsmore tied for 14th at 11.47 seconds

Now onto the position groups ...

Quarterback

• Wisconsin's Wilson ranked second in 40-yard dash (4.55 seconds); sixth in vertical jump (34 inches); fourth in broad jump (9 feet, 10 inches); fifth in 3-cone drill (6.97 seconds) and second in 20-yard shuttle (4.09 seconds)
• Michigan State's Kirk Cousins ranked 12th in 40-yard dash (4.93 seconds); 14th in vertical jump (28.5 inches); tied for ninth in broad jump (9 feet, 1 inch); seventh in 3-cone drill (7.05 seconds); 12th in 20-yard shuttle (4.5 seconds)

Running back

• Michigan State's Edwin Baker tied for 10th in 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds); tied for 12th in bench press (20 reps of 225 pounds); tied for 12th in vertical jump (35 inches); and tied for 14th in 20-yard shuttle (4.31 seconds).
• Ohio State's Dan Herron ranked seventh in bench press (22 reps of 225 pounds); tied for 12th in vertical jump (35 inches); tied for 12th in broad jump (9 feet, 9 inches); sixth in 3-cone drill (6.97 seconds); second in 20-yard shuttle (4.04 seconds); and fifth in 60-yard shuttle (11.6 seconds).
• Wisconsin FB Bradie Ewing tied for fifth in vertical jump (36.5 inches); tied for fifth in broad jump (10 feet); tied for 14th in 3-cone drill (7.14 seconds); tied for fifth in 20-yard shuttle (4.16 seconds); and seventh in 60-yard shuttle (11.81 seconds).

Wide receiver

• Illinois' Jenkins tied for fourth in 40-yard dash (4.39 seconds); tied for seventh in vertical jump (38.5 inches); and tied for eighth in broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches).
• Michigan State's Martin ranked 11th in 40-yard dash (4.45 seconds); tied for fourth in vertical jump (39.5 inches); tied for 14th in broad jump (10 feet, 2 inches); tied for eighth in 3-cone drill (6.85 seconds); tied for 10th in 20-yard shuttle (4.13 seconds); and tied for second in 60-yard shuttle (11.16 seconds).
• Michigan's Hemingway tied for third in bench press (21 reps at 225 pounds); tied for eighth in broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches); ranked first in 3-cone drill (6.59 seconds); tied for first in 20-yard shuttle (3.98 seconds); and tied for second in 60-yard shuttle (11.16 seconds).
• Wisconsin's Nick Toon ranked 12th in bench press (18 reps at 225 pounds) and ranked 12th in vertical jump (37.5 inches).
• Iowa's Marvin McNutt tied for 13th in vertical jump (37 inches); ranked fifth in 20-yard shuttle (4.07 seconds); and ranked 12th in 60-yard shuttle (11.62 seconds).
• Ohio State's DeVier Posey tied for 10th in broad jump (10 feet, 3 inches) and tied for 12th in 20-yard shuttle (4.15 seconds).

Tight end

• Northwestern's Dunsmore ranked fifth in 40-yard dash (4.64 seconds); tied for fifth in bench press (21 reps at 225 pounds); fifth in vertical jump (35.5 seconds); seventh in broad jump (9 feet, 9 inches); first in 3-cone drill (6.73 seconds); first in 20-yard shuttle (4.03 seconds); and third in 60-yard shuttle (11.47 seconds).

Defensive line (workouts take place Monday)

• Michigan's Martin tied for second in bench press (36 reps of 225 pounds)

Offensive line

• Iowa G Adam Gettis ranked third in 40-yard dash (5 seconds); tied for third in vertical jump (31.5 inches); second in broad jump (9 feet, 4 inches); tied for ninth in 20-yard shuttle (4.65 seconds)
• Iowa T Riley Reiff tied for eighth in 40-yard dash (5.23 seconds);
• Illinois T Jeff Allen ranked 15th in 40-yard dash (5.28 seconds); tied for 14th in broad jump (8 feet, 6 inches)
• Michigan's Molk ranked first in bench press (41 reps at 225 pounds);
• Wisconsin G Kevin Zeitler tied for third in bench press (32 reps at 225 pounds); tied for 14th in vertical jump (29 inches); eighth in 20-yard shuttle (4.61 seconds)
• Penn State G Johnnie Troutman tied for eighth in bench press (31 reps at 225 pounds)
• Ohio State C Mike Brewster tied for 13th in bench press (29 reps at 225 pounds); ranked 15th in 3-cone drill (7.73 seconds); tied for sixth in 20-yard shuttle (4.6 seconds)

A real man swallows his vomit when a lady is present.

• Nebraska adds a "doormat, a giant-killer, a former coordinator's homecoming and an upstart" to its future schedules, Jon Nyatawa writes. Bill Belichick will be the featured speaker at Nebraska's spring coaches' clinic.
• Just because Penn State players can now wear facial hair doesn't mean they'll lack discipline, Stephanie Loh writes. Lions quarterback Matthew McGloin is excited about Billy Ball. Penn State's recruiting might have to be focused east of Pittsburgh because of Ohio State's and Michigan's dominance.
• Some playoff thoughts from Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany at the recent commissioners' meeting.
• Everything you know about the man likely to be named Iowa's next offensive coordinator. Plenty of Iowa-related content from the NFL combine.
• Michigan's Mike Martin was the Big Ten's strongest player in 2011, at least according to Iowa's Adam Gettis.
• Everything you need to know about Michigan State's combine contingent.
• Ohio State NFL hopefuls Mike Adams and Mike Brewster took different paths during their Buckeyes' careers. Bob Hunter writes that Ohio State is halting the practice of retiring numbers for star players.
• When Illinois' Derek Dimke started kicking, he never thought he'd end up at the NFL combine.
• Michigan State's Kirk Cousins and Wisconsin's Russell Wilson are among the quarterbacks headed to Gruden Camp.
• Minnesota's NFL hopeful Da'Jon McKnight gets some advice from a friend in the NBA.
• A good piece on Northwestern's attempt to win over the city of Chicago.
• Despite no invites to the combine, Purdue's Joe Holland and Indiana's Chris Adkins are still pursuing pro dreams.
• Indiana is getting stronger during the winter months (subscription required).

The postseason position rankings march on with the offensive lines. No position group is evaluated more as a collective unit, and the Big Ten had a mix of strong offensive lines and shaky ones. There were some individual standouts, such as Michigan center David Molk, the Rimington Trophy winner, and Wisconsin center Peter Konz and Kevin Zeitler, who earned AP All-America honors.

It was important to consider quarterback rushing when evaluating the offensive lines, as most Big Ten teams had signal callers who could take off and run. The ones who didn't paid the price in some statistical categories, even though the line play wasn't too bad.

Let's get to the list:

1. Wisconsin: No surprise here as the Thick Red Line keeps steamrolling the opposition. Despite losing three starters and two All-Americans from the 2010 unit, Wisconsin's offensive line once again delivered as the unit put up huge numbers once again. The Badgers led the Big Ten in scoring, rushing and total offense. Although pass protection was an issue at times, and the unit missed Konz down the stretch, there's little to complain about. Four starters earned league or national honors.

2. Michigan: Although the defensive line got more attention for its boost under Brady Hoke, Michigan's offensive line turned in a strong 2011 campaign. Molk led the charge at center as Michigan finished second in the league in both scoring and rushing and third in total offense. The Wolverines also allowed just 18 sacks, the third-lowest total in the Big Ten. Michigan's linemen seemed to embrace the transition to a more pro-style, downhill offense.

3. Nebraska: Despite injuries and inexperience, the Huskers' line held together pretty well in 2011, especially when you consider they operated in a new offensive system. Nebraska finished third in the league in rushing, as the front five paved a path for Rex Burkhead and Taylor Martinez. Nebraska did a decent job limiting sacks and tackles for loss and kept Martinez healthy for the season.

4. Iowa: It's tough to know what to make of Iowa's offensive line in 2011. The Hawkeyes had a future top-10 NFL draft pick at left tackle in Riley Reiff, who surprised no one in January by forgoing his senior season to turn pro. Iowa also had some solid pieces in Adam Gettis, Markus Zusevics and James Ferentz. The big knock is that Iowa ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing, although the team had a nearly 1,400-yard rusher in Marcus Coker. Iowa allowed 29 sacks but only 59 tackles for loss, and the team passed the ball well. Still, it's fair to expect more from this group.

5. Penn State: The Lions' line has taken a lot of heat in recent years, and the offense's overall struggles in 2011 would seem to suggest another rough season. But we believe Penn State's biggest problems occurred immediately behind the line rather than along it. The line helped sophomore running back Silas Redd turn in a strong season. Penn State allowed the fewest sacks (14) and fewest tackles for loss (49) in the league.

6. Michigan State: The Spartans had a similar profile to Iowa, which isn't surprising as neither team had a rushing threat at quarterback. Michigan State ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing for much of the year and ended up 11th, ahead of only Iowa. But the Spartans protected Kirk Cousins well, allowing only 16 sacks, and they finished 34th nationally in tackles for loss allowed with 72. And while All-Big Ten guard Joel Foreman led the way, Michigan State dealt with injuries and inexperience for most of the season.

7. Purdue: Danny Hope branded the offensive line as the team's strongest unit entering the season, and at times it looked that way. Purdue used multiple running backs and finished fifth in the league in rushing. The Boilers ranked sixth in passing, and the line finished in the middle of the pack in sacks allowed. Purdue had too many negative-yardage plays overall, finishing 101st nationally in tackles for loss allowed (89).

8. Northwestern: One of the nation's most experienced offensive lines once again showed it can excel in pass blocking and struggles to generate push in the run game. Although Northwestern finished in the middle of the league in rushing offense, the unit remained passing-centric. The Wildcats allowed 43 sacks, and while some could be attributed to a quarterback (Dan Persa) who wasn't 100 percent and held the ball too long, it's still too many. The line had its moments, like the Nebraska win, but looked leaky at times.

9. Indiana: The Hoosiers might not have been dominant up front in 2011, but they improved as the season went along. After a rough start to Big Ten play, Indiana racked up 200 rush yards or more in four of its final six contests. The line looked strong against both Iowa and Northwestern, although the team lost both games. Indiana allowed too many negative-yardage plays and needs to be more consistent with its run-blocking going forward.

10. Ohio State: This unit undoubtedly would be higher had left tackle Mike Adams been eligible all season. Adams sparked the Buckeyes after returning from suspension and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and the media despite missing the first five games. Things were brutal up front early on, especially in losses to Miami and Michigan State. Ohio State surrendered a league-high 46 sacks and 90 tackles for loss, which ranked 104th nationally.

11. Illinois: It was a disappointing season for an Illinois line that entered the year with high hopes. While many are to blame for the offense's decline in the second half of the year, the struggles up front seemed to be the most surprising. Illinois eclipsed 200 rush yards in four of the first six games and then failed to do so the rest of the season. The Illini surrendered 36 sacks and 89 tackles for loss. Despite some talented individuals like tackle Jeff Allen, the line as a whole fell short of expectations.

12. Minnesota: The Gophers simply need to get a lot better at a position where they've thrived for much of their history. Minnesota scored a league-low 14 rush touchdowns, four fewer than any other Big Ten squad, and finished last in the league in both scoring and total offense. The Gophers did a nice job limiting negative-yardage plays, but they need to move the ball forward with greater efficiency. The good news is several promising young linemen return in 2012.

2010 overall record: 8-5

2010 conference record: 4-4 (T-4th)

Returning starters

Offense: 4; defense: 5; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

DT Mike Daniels, LB Tyler Nielsen, LB James Morris, DB Micah Hyde, CB Shaun Prater, WR Marvin McNutt, LT Riley Reiff, C James Ferentz, RB Marcus Coker

Key losses

DE Adrian Clayborn, DT Karl Klug, DL Christian Ballard, LB Jeremiah Hunter, S Tyler Sash, S Brett Greenwood, QB Ricky Stanzi, WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, TE Allen Reisner, G Julian Vandervelde, RB Adam Robinson

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Adam Robinson (941 yards)

Passing: Ricky Stanzi (3,004 yards)

Receiving: Marvin McNutt* (861 yards)

Tackles: Jeremiha Hunter (90)

Sacks: Karl Klug (5.5)

Interceptions: Brett Greenwood (5)

Spring answers

1. King James: Most of us haven't seen James Vandenberg since he nearly led Iowa to a Big Ten title-winning victory against Ohio State in 2009, but the junior quarterback has made strides on the practice field. Vandenberg impressed the coaches in bowl practice and continued his progression during the winter and into spring ball, where he locked up the starting quarterback spot. Coach Kirk Ferentz had high praise for Vandenberg this spring and seems comfortable with No. 16 as his guy.

2. Davis emerges: Iowa needed a No. 2 wide receiver to emerge this spring, and junior Keenan Davis answered the call. Davis stood out in the spring scrimmage with several nice catches and drew good reviews for his play throughout the 15 practice sessions. After taking a little longer than expected to impact games, Davis seems ready for a bigger role.

3. O-line ready to shine: The team's biggest question mark last spring should be its strongest unit in 2011. Iowa returns three starters, including NFL prospect Riley Reiff at left tackle and center James Ferentz, an All-Big Ten candidate. Guard Adam Gettis drew good reviews this spring after an injury-plagued 2010 season. The overall depth looks good and the line should be able to protect Vandenberg and give Coker rushing lanes this fall.

Fall questions

1. Micah Hyde's position: Hyde, best known for his Insight Bowl pick-six, played safety for much of the spring after starting all 13 games at cornerback last season. Iowa must replace two multiyear starters at safety (Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood), and Hyde certainly could be an answer there. If he makes the move, who starts at cornerback opposite Shaun Prater? Where do guys like Jordan Bernstine fit in? We should learn more about the secondary in preseason camp.

2. Filling out the front seven: Although Iowa lost three starting defensive linemen to the NFL draft and two contributors at linebacker, it has a decent idea of who will step in. The starting line should feature Mike Daniels, Broderick Binns and Lebron Daniel. But who occupies the other defensive tackle spot next to Daniels? Tyler Nielsen and James Morris will occupy two starting linebacker spots, but several players remain in the mix for the third position.

3. Running back depth: Coker built on his record-setting Insight Bowl performance and has earned the trust of his coaches and teammates as Iowa's top running back. But depth at running back has been an issue the past few seasons and it could crop up again this fall. Jason White and De'Andre Johnson got a lot of reps this spring, but several incoming freshmen should be in the mix as well as Iowa must find insurance for Coker. There's also a possibility Adam Robinson, the team's leading rusher in 2010, could be reinstated.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Greetings from the press box at Kinnick Stadium. Am I early for kickoff?

Unfortunately, football season is about five months away, but Iowa is gearing up for the 2011 campaign in spring practice. I had a chance to visit with head coach Kirk Ferentz and several players earlier today. Most of my Iowa coverage will appear early next week, but there were several interesting nuggets from today.

QUARTERBACK SITUATION


No surprise here, but James Vandenberg has established himself as Iowa's No. 1 option. The junior's experience filling in for Ricky Stanzi in 2009 certainly helps, but he has continued to make progress this spring after a strong pre-bowl session.

"James has separated himself from the other two guys," Ferentz said. "And after that, it's a pretty good competition between John [Wienke] and A.J. [Derby]."

Vandenberg's teammates expressed complete confidence in him at the start of the spring, and nothing has changed. Barring a significant change between now and Sept. 3, Vandenberg will start the season for the Hawkeyes.

"James is one of those guys, he's not not going to leave the door open too much," Ferentz said. "He really gives himself a chance to be a good player."

LATEST ON RHABDO FALLOUT

Ferentz confirmed that defensive back Willie Lowe, one of 13 Iowa players hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis in January, is not with the team. Lowe and Ferentz last spoke in March before Iowa's spring break, and Lowe's situation with the team is "clearly unresolved," Ferentz said.

Although the school has granted Lowe his release, Ferentz echoed AD Gary Barta in saying he hopes Lowe remains with the team.

The other 12 players remain with the team. There have been non-rhabdo-related injuries within the group that have limited players, but the expectation is all will remain on the squad.

"Everybody's out working, and nobody else has asked for a release," Ferentz said.

Ferentz reiterated his support for head strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle and Iowa's strength program, which drew criticism after the rhabdo situation.

"Chris Doyle is the top guy I've been around in that realm, and he's widely recognized," Ferentz said. "Chris' name is very highly regarded in the NFL circles, he's had a lot of opportunities to go that route. Fortunately, he's stayed here and I'm very appreciative of that. ... There's no question in my mind he's a huge part of any success we've experienced."

INJURIES

Ferentz mentioned Iowa has 6-8 players who would normally be in the two-deep who aren't practicing this spring because of injuries. Defensive lineman Steve Bigach is out following offseason surgery, and defensive lineman Tom Nardo has been out with a foot injury.

"Those are two older guys we'll have back in the fall," Ferentz said.

Wide receiver Marvin McNutt, linebacker Shane DiBona and safety Tanner Miller all are missing the spring with injuries. McNutt looked good walking around the complex Friday and should be fine for preseason camp.

PERSONNEL NUGGETS

• It will take some time for Iowa to figure out the secondary for 2011. Micah Hyde, who has played the past two seasons at cornerback, is seeing time at safety this spring, and Jordan Bernstine is being used at both safety and cornerback. Shaun Prater has the left cornerback spot essentially locked down. "If he gets beat out, there's something wrong," Ferentz said. "He's practicing well and performing well." Up to eight players are in the mix for the other three spots.
• Ferentz has been pleased with sophomore running back Marcus Coker, who is building off of his superb performance in the Insight Bowl. You never know how success affects young players, but Coker seems to be approaching it the right way. Ferentz noted that if Coker hadn't fractured his collarbone in preseason camp, he could have played a much bigger role in the run game last season. "He showed us a lot about his mental makeup, just how he caught up," Ferentz said. "He did remarkably well from a mental standpoint for all the time that he missed. He's got the potential to be a lot better football player as he moves along."
• Ferentz also seems pleased with the spring progress of older defenders like linemen Mike Daniels and Broderick Binns, linebacker Tyler Nielsen and Prater. The offensive line returns three starters and Ferentz noted that Adam Gettis, who would have been a starter if not for injuries last season, has had a good spring.
• A final thought from Ferentz on the team: "We're a young team, but we have a good core of seniors that are good players, good leaders and good team guys. We've been pretty enthusiastic about the last couple groups of recruits we've brought on campus. Some of those guys have played and other guys have not played but we feel good about [them]. But I like what I see about the way guys are working. We're not a real good team right now, but I like what I see with the potential they have."

Tonight, it begins.

The wait is over and we finally get to see Big Ten teams play games that count. As opening weekend begins a little early with three games tonight, here are 10 things to watch around the league.

1. Quarterback questions at Michigan, Penn State: Two of the league's traditional powers likely will be evaluating multiple quarterbacks in their openers. True freshman Robert Bolden was named a surprise starter for the Nittany Lions, but sophomores Matt McGloin and Kevin Newsome also are likely to get some work. Denard Robinson could be poised to take control at Michigan, but head coach Rich Rodriguez expects to play more than one signal caller, so sophomore Tate Forcier and true freshman Devin Gardner likely will take some snaps in the spotlight. Penn State has to see what it has under center before a Week 2 trip to defending national champ Alabama.

2. Opportunity knocks for Marve, Boilers: No team in the Big Ten has a better opportunity to make a national statement than Purdue. All eyes will be on South Bend -- really, when aren't they? -- as Notre Dame kicks off the Brian Kelly era, but Purdue can ruin the fun by upsetting the Fighting Irish. Quarterback Robert Marve has done all the right things in West Lafayette since transferring from Miami, and he boasts a big arm and plenty of weapons to attack a suspect Notre Dame secondary. Marve should flourish in the spread offense, so expect a strong debut. It might not matter, though, if Purdue can't upgrade its run defense and protect a new-look secondary from Dayne Crist and Michael Floyd.

3. Heisman push begins for Pryor, Clay: When we last saw Terrelle Pryor in a game, the Ohio State quarterback was at his best, winning Offensive MVP honors at the Rose Bowl. By all accounts, Pryor made strides during the offseason and said he has a greater grasp of the offense and what it takes to be a leader on the big stage. His accolades heading into the season -- Big Ten preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Heisman Trophy candidate -- are based largely on hype and potential, but Pryor finally gets a chance to produce some hard evidence against Marshall. Wisconsin running back John Clay has been largely overlooked in the preseason, but he also could help his Heisman candidacy with a strong debut at UNLV, which ranked 112th nationally in rush defense a year ago.

4. Mystery team makes debut in St. Louis: Who's the Big Ten's mystery team this season? Illinois. The Illini have new offensive and defensive schemes, a new starting quarterback in Nathan Scheelhaase and plenty of unknowns on both sides of the ball. Missouri typically brings out the worst in Ron Zook's squad, and Illinois will need to show some resiliency in the Edward Jones Dome. Scheelhaase is young but skilled and athletic, and it'll be interesting to see how he handles the spotlight in an NFL stadium. Illinois' secondary faces Blaine Gabbert and Missouri's high-powered passing attack without two starters (safety Supo Sanni, cornerback Terry Hawthorne), so linebacker Martez Wilson and others need to step up.

5. Iowa's new-look offensive line: The Hawkeyes shouldn't have much trouble beating Eastern Illinois, although after last year's roller-coaster ride, you never know. The opener should give a new-look offensive line time to get comfortable and create holes for running back Adam Robinson. Iowa will start three new players up front -- right tackle Markus Zusevics, right guard Adam Gettis and center James Ferentz -- and needs to get comfortable before bigger tests the next two weeks against Iowa State and Arizona. Running back Jewel Hampton sits out because of a suspension, but Iowa really needs to get the run game going with Robinson and adequately protect quarterback Ricky Stanzi.

6. Spartans' secondary in spotlight: Most point to the secondary as Michigan State's biggest weakness in 2009, and for good reason. The Spartans ranked last in the Big Ten in pass yards allowed (267.6 ypg), allowed 11 more passing touchdowns (32 total) than any other Big Ten squad and recorded only six interceptions, the second-lowest total in the league. Several underperforming players are gone, and Michigan State hopes to be younger but better in the back four this fall. Cornerback Johnny Adams returns to the mix, and hopes are high for Trenton Robinson, Chris L. Rucker and others. The secondary needs to step up Saturday against Western Michigan, which loses standout quarterback Tim Hiller but returns top wideouts Robert Arnheim and Jordan White.

7. Line dance in the Volunteer State for Gophers, Wildcats: Both Minnesota and Northwestern boast veteran offensive lines that need to upgrade their run-blocking ability this fall. Minnesota ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing for the second straight year in 2009, while Northwestern finished eighth and had no big plays in the ground game. It'll be very interesting to see how both lines perform in what likely will be balmy weather in Tennessee. Minnesota opens Thursday night at Middle Tennessee, while Northwestern visits Vanderbilt in Nashville 48 hours later. Both squads have multiple backs competing for carries, but the performance of the two lines will go a long way toward showing what the upcoming season will hold.

8. Brock Mealer leads Michigan out of the tunnel: Doctors told Brock Mealer he'd never walk again after being paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident that killed his father and the girlfriend of his brother, Elliott, an offensive lineman for Michigan. But Brock never gave up hope and worked with Michigan strength and conditioning coaches Mike Barwis and Parker Whiteman to work his way out of a wheelchair. Saturday, he'll be walking out of the tunnel at Michigan Stadium as he leads the Wolverines onto the field for their opener against Connecticut. "He's that one percent," Wolverines defensive tackle Mike Martin told me. "People said he'd never walk again, and he's proving people wrong right there. We’ve got to come out right behind him and show what we've got."

9. Indiana's new-look defense: The Hoosiers' season likely hinges on whether a historically porous defense can improve. IU will use the 3-4 alignment more this season, but the coaches also are excited about defensive ends Darius Johnson and Fred Jones. Tyler Replogle provides excellent leadership at linebacker, but Indiana needs three junior college transfers -- linebacker Jeff Thomas and defensive backs Andre Kates and Lenyatta Kiles -- to make an immediate impact. A strong debut against Towson is key.

10. Quarterback-turned-receivers: There was a time when Michigan State's Keith Nichol, Minnesota's MarQueis Gray and Purdue's Justin Siller looked like the potential answers for their teams at quarterback. All three players now will play prominent roles at wide receivers on opening weekend. All three received strong reviews in training camp as receivers, and all three could start on Saturday. Gray is the likeliest to be called upon as a quarterback, as he remains Adam Weber's backup for the Gophers. Siller makes his first appearance since 2008 after being suspended from school for the 2009-10 academic year.

I'm slowly getting through the final Big Ten Network preview shows, and I've reviewed the tour stop at Iowa. Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith checked in on the Hawkeyes for a recent practice held in shoulder pads and shorts.

Here are some notes and observations:

• Running back depth remains a concern, but if Jewel Hampton plays like he practiced on this day, Iowa should be just fine. Hampton showed great burst and cutback ability, and no signs of the knee problems that cost him the 2009 season. He made several nice runs and had a great cutback on a screen pass in team drills. "I think he’s going to take this run game to another level," Griffith said. "He is so quick, and he’s so patient as a runner." The BTN crew all said Iowa will lose something without Brandon Wegher, who has left the team.
• Although Derrell Johnson-Koulianos didn't practice, the wide receivers had a very good practice overall. Marvin McNutt made the play of the day with a one-handed grab for a touchdown on a deep pass from Ricky Stanzi. McNutt, who stretched the field throughout last season, beat sophomore corner Micah Hyde on the play. Keenan Davis also looked good and made several good catches. "He's poised for a big year," DiNardo said of Davis. "He's probably going to be the third receiver."
• Stanzi had a decent day overall, showing good touch on fade routes and threading the needle on some passes in individual drills. His performance in team drills was a bit concerning, as he made a risky throw over the middle and was intercepted by Shane DiBona on a likely pick-six on the final play. Stanzi still makes a few throws that leave you scratching your head. He told the BTN about the importance of squaring his hips and shoulders to his target, and moving his feet correctly. Backup quarterback James Vandenberg showed good mobility in the pocket.
• DiNardo is a big fan of Ferentz's, saying, "Nobody can run a better practice." He also talked extensively about Iowa being able to handle the hype and expectations this year. "If Iowa wants to prove they’re a champion, they listen to their coach and they don't listen or believe what they read," DiNardo said. My take: if Iowa doesn't win this fall, it won't be because of getting carried away in the hype. This team has great leadership and a no-frills approach to the game. If the Hawkeyes stumble, it'll be because they're not good enough. "Grinding every day, that beats complacency," defensive end Adrian Clayborn told the BTN crew.
• It was a lot of fun watching the two lines compete, especially the matchup between Clayborn and left tackle Riley Reiff, who left a very good impression with DiNardo and Griffith. Guard Julian Vandervelde did a nice job of sealing off defensive tackle Karl Klug on one play, while end Broderick Binns beat his man on another play. DiNardo pointed out that Iowa's defensive linemen consistently keep their pads under those of the O-linemen. The Big Ten Network singled out Reiff, defensive lineman Mike Daniels and offensive linemen James Ferentz and Adam Gettis for their play. "I think this offensive line, at the end of the day, is going to be fine," DiNardo said. Added Griffith: "It’s not a concern for me any more."
• We didn't see much from the back seven on defense, although Jeremiha Hunter had a nice pass breakup in team drills. Cornerback Micah Hyde was DiNardo's pick for under-the-radar player, and the crew also likes linebacker James Morris, one of the true freshmen who will see the field this fall.
• Freshman tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is absolutely enormous, and should see some action this fall. "There's no way he's [just] 250," Griffith joked.
• Kirk Ferentz still seemed a bit concerned about the kicking game and finding more depth along the offensive line, but he seemed pleased with the team's attitude amid the expectations.

If you're looking for links about this weekend's scrimmages, check out my post from earlier today. For more Big Ten links, keep reading ...

• The Big Ten should leave the Michigan-Ohio State game alone when determining divisions, The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises and annarbor.com's Michael Rothstein write.
• Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett is asking a judge if he can try out for a UFL team.
• Running back Austin White is no longer part of Michigan's team, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. Michigan's senior class wants to go out as winners, John Niyo writes in The Detroit News. A very cool story, as Brock Mealer (Elliott's brother) will lead Michigan onto the field Sept. 4, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Despite the buzz around Robert Bolden, it seems unlikely that Penn State will start a freshman quarterback, Neil Rudel writes in the Altoona Mirror. Penn State president Graham Spanier took time away from his daughter's wedding to work on Big Ten expansion, Lee Barfknecht writes in the Omaha World-Herald.
• The outside expectations are low, but don't be surprised if Minnesota is mediocre or better, Tom Powers writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.

"Even though their schedule is tougher than it has been, I don't think anyone would be -- or should be -- shocked if the Gophers won six games. At 6-6 their record would be, well, mediocre again. The difference this time around is that the bar has been lowered so much by all these gloomy predictions, that 6-6 will feel like an amazing accomplishment."

• Kirk Herbstreit says Ohio State's national title hopes hinge on these three games, Tim May and Ken Gordon write in The Columbus Dispatch. Academic issues force Buckeyes offensive lineman Marcus Hall to redshirt this fall.
• If you believe a video game simulation, Purdue could be in trouble this season, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Indiana cornerback Richard Council lets you know exactly where he is on the field, Terry Hutchens writes in The Indianapolis star. Here's a unique look at a full day of Indiana training camp from The (Bloomington) Herald-Times' Dustin Dopirak (subscription required).
• After his involvement in the residence hall fight, Michigan State offensive lineman J'Michael Deane seeks redemption, Mike Brudenell writes in the Detroit Free Press. Sparty the Spartan makes the list of the 12 coolest mascots in college football.
• For the second straight year, Wisconsin's defensive line is a mystery, Tom Oates writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. Badgers linebacker Mike Taylor is making good progress with his knee, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Expectations are high for Iowa entering the fall, and the Des Moines Register's Andrew Logue has a comprehensive look at the Hawkeyes in 2010. After waiting in the wings, Iowa offensive linemen Adam Gettis and Markus Zusevics are ready to roll, Ryan Suchomel writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• The (Champaign) News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen passes out his training camp awards for Illinois.

2009 overall record: 11-2

2009 conference record: 6-2 (T-2nd)

Returning starters

Offense: 6, defense: 8, kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

QB Ricky Stanzi, WR Marvin McNutt, WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, RB Adam Robinson, OT Riley Reiff, DE Adrian Clayborn, DT Karl Klug, DE Broderick Binns, S Tyler Sash

Key losses

LT Bryan Bulaga, RT Kyle Calloway, TE Tony Moeaki, G Dace Richardson, C Rafael Eubanks, LB Pat Angerer, LB A.J. Edds, CB Amari Spievey

2009 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Adam Robinson* (834 yards)

Passing: Ricky Stanzi* (2,417 yards)

Receiving: Derrell Johnson-Koulianos* (750 yards)

Tackles: Pat Angerer (145)

Sacks: Adrian Clayborn* (11.5)

Interceptions: Tyler Sash* (6)

Spring answers

1. Man in the middle: Jeff Tarpinian emerged from spring ball as Iowa's starting middle linebacker, taking over for first-team All-Big Ten selection Pat Angerer. Tarpinian has big shoes to fill but boasts some experience and stepped up his play this spring. "I'm really pleased with his progress," head coach Kirk Ferentz said of Tarpinian.

2. Separation along O-line: Iowa's offensive line remains its No. 1 area of concern, but six players separated themselves this spring, which is a good sign. Along with returning starters Riley Reiff and Julian Vandervelde, right tackle Markus Zusevics and right guard Adam Gettis emerged as front-runners at their positions. Josh Koeppel and James Ferentz are neck-and-neck at the center spot, and the competition will continue in August.

3. Klug steps up: Adrian Clayborn is the defense's undisputed leader, but defensive tackle Karl Klug established himself as Clayborn's right-hand man this spring. Klug admits he's not the most vocal player, but his experience and attitude command respect on the field. "Karl played well in the fall," Kirk Ferentz said, "but if you surveyed any 10 of our players now, at least nine of them would tell you, maybe 10, that Karl Klug is one of our best leaders and one of our best players."

Fall questions

1. Running back: Iowa boasts depth at running back, but the No. 1 spot is very much up for grabs entering the summer. Robinson missed spring ball following shoulder surgery, Brandon Wegher sprained his shoulder during the spring and Jewel Hampton was held out of contact as he recovers from his knee injury. Iowa needs to keep these guys healthy in camp and figure out how the carries will work this fall.

2. O-line chemistry: The offensive line will be a major area to watch until the season opener and likely beyond. Iowa loses four players with starting experience and will lean heavily on Reiff and Vandervelde to lead the group. Just because the Hawkeyes have a strong record up front doesn't guarantee the line will reload, and Iowa knows it needs to keep Stanzi on the field after last season.

3. Kicking it: Ferentz said the kickers were inconsistent this spring, and Daniel Murray and Trent Mossbrucker will continue to compete throughout fall camp. Murray connected on 19 of 26 field goal attempts last season but missed some chip shots, and Mossbrucker, the team's top kicker for most of 2008, has worked his way back into the mix.

Before we get ready for a six-pack of spring games Saturday, let's take a quick look back at the final Big Ten scrimmage from a week ago.

Iowa wrapped up spring drills at Kinnick Stadium, and while it was more of a regular practice than the other spring games, the Hawkeyes did a bit of scrimmaging.

Iowa's top three running backs -- Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher and Jewel Hampton -- missed the scrimmage as they recover from injuries, but quarterback Ricky Stanzi played and completed 7 of 11 passes for 72 yards. Backup James Vandenberg completed 13 of 22 passes for 144 yards. True freshman A.J. Derby twice was picked off by safety Nick Nielsen in limited work.

The Hawkeyes spread the ball around to several receivers. Starter Derrell Johnson-Koulianos recorded a 32-yard reception, while walk-on Don Nordmann had five catches for 49 yards.

Linebacker Troy Johnson stood out for the defense with a sack and a 48-yard touchdown return following a fumbled snap between Vandenberg and center James Ferentz.

Other Iowa nuggets:

• The kicking game is a bit of a question mark after starter Daniel Murray converted only 3 of 7 attempts in the scrimmage. Trent Mossbrucker fared better, hitting on 4 of 5 attempts. "It's kind of been underwhelming this spring, quite frankly," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "We've been very inconsistent. We've flashed, but we've been very inconsistent." Mossbrucker was the team's top kicker for most of the 2008 season and will push Murray for the starting job in preseason camp.
• Another Iowa running back got a bit banged up, as Brad Rogers left the field with a left ankle injury that head coach Kirk Ferentz called a mild sprain. Wegher and Paki O'Meara got banged up during spring drills, although Hampton was fine and held out of contact only as a precaution. Still, running back health is a concern entering the fall.
• The top offensive line consisted of left tackle Riley Reiff, left guard Julian Vandervelde, center James Ferentz, right guard Adam Gettis and right tackle Markus Zusevics. Josh Koeppel remains in the mix at center.

For the first time since spring practice began at Iowa, we got to hear from head coach Kirk Ferentz, who Tuesday participated in the Big Ten coaches' teleconference.

Not surprisingly, I asked Ferentz about Iowa's offensive line, which has been and will be the team's biggest question mark between now and the season opener Sept. 4 against Eastern Illinois. The Hawkeyes lose four players with starting experience up front -- Bryan Bulaga, Kyle Calloway, Dace Richardson and Rafael Eubanks -- and need to fill three starting spots and build depth.

Ferentz has seen some separation this spring, as six linemen are creating some distance from the pack. Along with tackle Riley Reiff and guard Julian Vandervelde, who have combined for 35 career starts, Ferentz signaled out guard Adam Gettis, tackle Markus Zusevics and center Josh Koeppel and James Ferentz, who are in a tight race this spring.

"Gettis and Zusevics, both of those guys have been in the program," Ferentz said. "Gettis played more than Markus did last year. He played an awful lot of football because Julian was coming off his [pectoral] tear. He really played pretty well last year, and both those guys have potential to be good Big Ten linemen. And then at the center position, it's kind of a dead heat right now.

"Those six guys have operated pretty well, and they're going against good competition, so we're getting a fair evaluation."

After the top six, there are some question marks as Iowa tries to build depth. Ferentz identified guard Cody Hundertmark, a converted defensive linemen, as the closest to being game ready. Hundertmark has showed good ability but is still trying to bring it all together to fit with the scheme.

"We've got some ground to make up in terms of depth," Ferentz said. "I go back to my time here [as offensive line coach] in the '80s, maybe outside of one year, it's always been an issue. We're not uncommon there with any program in the country.

"Our first-line guys are progressing, doing a pretty good job. We've got to keep bringing them along."

Iowa opened spring practice today, and head coach Kirk Ferentz met with reporters to preview the next few weeks.

A few takeaways from Ferentz's news conference and Iowa's spring two-deep:

• Health update: safeties Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood will miss spring ball following shoulder surgeries; running back Adam Robinson also will sit out following shoulder surgery; linemen Steve Bigach (knee) and Kyle Haganman (shoulder) also are out following surgeries. Running back Jewel Hampton (knee) has been cleared to practice this spring and will be involved in some contact drills (won't be tackled). Wide receiver Paul Chaney Jr. (knee) will be very limited in spring ball but should be back to full strength by June. Defensive end Dominic Alvis (groin) will be very limited. Nolan MacMillan could be in the mix at offensive line, but he's still working back from sports hernia surgery.
• Not surprisingly, Ferentz fielded several questions about the offensive line, which loses four players who started part or all of last season. Iowa's spring depth chart shows the starting offense line as Riley Reiff at left tackle, Julian Vandervelde at left guard, Josh Koeppel or James Ferentz at center, Adam Gettis at right guard and Markus Zusevics at right tackle. But don't read into that too much, as Ferentz likened filling out the first string, after Reiff and Vandervelde, to throwing darts or flipping coins. "We probably have eight or nine guys competing for the top spots," Ferentz said. "We have a lot of guys on pretty equal footing as far as the competition goes."
• As expected, Shaun Prater is listed as the starter at right cornerback, while Micah Hyde appears as the starter at left corner ahead of both William Lowe and Jordan Bernstine, who comes back from an ankle injury that sidelined him all of last season. Amari Spievey was a huge loss, and it will be interesting to see who steps in for him.
• Ferentz gave a very Ferentz-like answer when asked about the expectations Iowa will face heading into 2010. "We have some very good players back and that will drive expectations," he said. "Preseason polls are a lot like recruiting rankings. They are all speculative. Recruiting rankings are based on what guys did in high school, which is the only way you can rank them. I think preseason rankings are based on your experience level, your success level and then maybe the name of your school, too. So those three things factor in. ... Outside of maybe the name-brand schools, the preseason polls are usually not real accurate."
• Ferentz called the competition at kicker wide open between Daniel Murray and Trent Mossbrucker. "We can do better at that position," he said.
• Ferentz praised the development of linebackers Jeff Tarpinian, Troy Johnson and Tyler Nielsen, who will compete for the two vacant starting spots alongside Jeremiha Hunter. "Quite frankly I'm almost more worried about a year from now at our linebacker spot," he said. "Sounds kind of funny, our two pretty good seniors graduating, but we are top heavy age-wise."
• Ferentz is optimistic about the competition at running backs and would like to have three healthy options on game days this fall.
• The coach also gave an update on his NCAA tournament bracket, which, like many of ours, is busted. One of his daughters, meanwhile, picked Northern Iowa's upset of Kansas. "She knows nothing about basketball," Ferentz said. "Her other picks were -- she was leading after the first two days. I guess she's still leading. She's beating the president, right now, on her brackets. Whatever. Mine are awful."