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After a wild night of rumors and negotiations, Illinois got the man it wanted to run its defense.

Illinois officially named Vic Koenning its new defensive coordinator at a news conference today in Champaign. Koenning, who previously served as Kansas State's co-defensive coordinator, replaces Dan Disch and Curt Mallory, who were demoted to position coaches.

"I’m ready to jump in there with coach [Ron] Zook, start to watch some recruiting tape, start to watch some games and get going," Koenning said Friday. "I couldn’t be more excited to be here. In so many things in life, timing is everything, and the timing has worked out fantastic."

Illinois' hiring of Koenning had been expected for several days, but things got interesting Thursday night as Georgia re-entered the mix for his services. Koenning recalled how Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder came into his office several days ago and asked where Koenning was headed.

Ultimately, Koenning settled on Illinois, calling it a "much-needed change."

"There was some dialogue [with Georgia]," Koenning said. "It made for an interesting last 16, 18 hours, but when push comes to shove, the character and the drive and the enthusiasm that coach Zook exhibited made sure there was no doubt in the outcome."

A week after dismissing four assistant coaches and demoting two others, Zook has filled all four positions and has his staff in place for a make-or-break 2010 season. We can certainly debate whether Zook should still be at Illinois and whether the fired assistants were scapegoats for a miserable season, but you've got to give the team credit for its bold approach to finding replacements.

Time will tell if these hires can turn things around, but the early returns are favorable.

New offensive coordinator Paul Petrino has been around great offenses for some time, and he seems excited about the chance to break away from his brother Bobby and call his own plays. Petrino and new offensive assistants Jeff Brohm (quarterbacks) and Greg Nord (tight ends) were all at Louisville when the Cardinals lit up the scoreboard from 2003-06.

Koenning spent only one year at Kansas State, which ranks 40th nationally in total defense and 16th against the run. He built his reputation as a strong defensive coordinator at Clemson, which finished in the top 25 nationally in scoring, total defense, and pass efficiency defense in each of his four seasons there (2005-08).

Koenning had never been to Champaign and arrived "in the dark of night" early Friday.

"There may be some dark circles under my eyes," he said. "But you have an adrenaline rush when you come into a place like this. We're ready to go."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

A lot of coaches were on vacation last week, so things got a bit quiet. Let's take a trip on the Big Ten recruiting trail. 

ILLINOIS

• 2010 verbal commits: 8
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: Safety Corey Cooper, quarterback Chandler Whitmer, tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz
• Quick take: No action during the last week for the Illini, but a very solid class is shaping up for Ron Zook. After a very strong start with in-state recruits, Illinois could soon branch out to other areas. Linebacker Jonathan Brown is on the radar. 

INDIANA

• 2010 verbal commits: 13
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: None
• Quick take: Indiana has been one of the Big Ten's most active teams in early recruiting, and the results are paying off. Linebacker Ishmael Thomas is a very solid addition, and guard Bill Ivan provides depth along the offensive line. Though the group doesn't include a watch list prospect, Indiana has done very well in its region. A 3-9 season last year doesn't seem to be hurting the program at all in recruiting. 

IOWA

• 2010 verbal commits: 10
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: Defensive end Matt Hoch, tackle Andrew Donnal
  
• Quick take: No new additions for the Hawkeyes, who have to be pleased with their class so far. The team loses several key pieces in the defensive front seven after the 2009 season, but players like Hoch and James Morris could make an early impact.
  

MICHIGAN

• 2010 verbal commits: 16
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: Quarterback Devin Gardner, wide receiver Jeremy Jackson, wide receiver Ricardo Miller, guard Christian Pace, safety Marvin Robinson
• Quick take: Austin White became the third running back to commit to the Wolverines, who hope they've solidified depth in the backfield for the foreseeable future. Michigan beat out Michigan State for White, who has two brothers who play for the Spartans. 

MICHIGAN STATE

• 2010 verbal commits: 9
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: Defensive end William Gholston, linebacker Max Bullough, quarterback Joe Boisture
  
• Quick take: Nothing new for Michigan State last week, though Mark Dantonio has to be pleased with what he sees right now. The Spartans continue to target in-state prospects like C.J. Olaniyan and Tony Jones.
  

MINNESOTA

• 2010 verbal commits: 10
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: None
• Quick take: Some Gophers fans took offense at my claim that the team hadn't made a big splash in recruiting yet. To be fair, offensive lineman Jimmy Gjere qualifies as a very nice pickup. The big fish is still out there, though, in local product Seantrel Henderson. Cornerback Jabari Price would be a very nice addition. 

NORTHWESTERN

• 2010 verbal commits: 7
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: None
• Quick take: Northwestern's efforts in central Florida haven't gone unnoticed, as three of the team's six commits hail from the Sunshine State. The Wildcats continued to look out of state for center Brandon Vitabile, a New Jersey native who bolsters the offensive line. Next step: Pick up a prospect or two from within the state of Illinois. 

OHIO STATE

• 2010 verbal commits: 9
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: Tackle Andrew Norwell, linebacker Jamel Turner, defensive end David Durham, running back Roderick Smith, defensive end Darryl Baldwin
  
• Quick take: Penn State and Michigan have generated most of the recruiting headlines so far, but here come the Buckeyes. Baldwin's commitment gives Ohio State five watch list prospects out of nine and even more depth for the defensive line. He's already a physical presence who should only get better under Jim Heacock. 
  

PENN STATE

• 2010 verbal commits: 13
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: Wide receiver Adrian Coxson, running back Silas Redd, center Miles Dieffenbach, defensive end Kyle Baublitz, defensive tackle Evan Hailes, quarterback Robert Bolden, wide receiver Alex Kenney
  
• Quick take: The Nittany Lions kept Kenney at home, giving them seven watch list prospects out of 13. Kenney always seemed likely to pick Penn State, but there are no guarantees in recruiting. He gives Penn State seven in-state commits, a good sign for a program that saw its recruiting dip several years ago.  

PURDUE

• 2010 verbal commits: 7
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: Quarterback Robert Marve (2007 watch list)
  
• Quick take: Head coach Danny Hope isn't afraid to wait for recruits, but he has a nice nucleus for the 2010 class. Purdue has addressed the passing attack with two quarterbacks -- Marve and Sean Robinson -- two wide receivers and a tight end. Hope is trying to tap his Florida roots for defensive lineman Brandon Wilkinson. 

WISCONSIN

• 2010 verbal commits: 9
• ESPNU 150 Watch List: Safety Frank Tamakloe
  
• Quick take: Kansas State's loss is Wisconsin's gain as defensive end Warren Herring will play for the Badgers after originally committing to the Wildcats. Interesting subplot: Wisconsin coach Bielema used to work for Kansas State and Bill Snyder. The Badgers have recruited well on the defensive side so far with Herring, Tamakloe and linebacker Konrad Zagzebski. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

	David Stluka/Getty Images
	Wisconsin QB Allan Evridge is fighting for the starting job.

MADISON, Wis. -- Allan Evridge has heard the common opinion that he'll be Wisconsin's starting quarterback when the team opens the season Aug. 30, but he knows better than to buy into it.

If Evridge has learned anything in his 23 years on Earth, it's that there are no guarantees.

"You never know," Evridge said Sunday. "That's kind of been my whole story. It's kind of been when things are going, things will switch. It's all about perseverance and pulling through it."

Evridge grew accustomed to transition at an early age.

His father, James, was in the military, and the family moved at least seven times. Allan attended six different elementary schools between first and fifth grades.

The left-hander seemed to be settling in at Kansas State in 2005, starting six games as a redshirt freshman and setting a school freshman record for passing [1,365 yards].

But longtime Wildcats coach Bill Snyder announced his retirement before the final game, and new coach Ron Prince installed a new offense and opened up the competition at quarterback. Evridge transferred to Wisconsin just days into fall camp in 2006. He had met Badgers coach Bret Bielema briefly when Bielema served as Kansas State's recruiting coordinator but said the connection wasn't a major factor in his decision.

After sitting out the 2006 season, Evridge competed for the top job last summer and lost out to Tyler Donovan. It looks like he'll finally take the reins this fall, but as Evridge knows, the script can always change.

"Life is crazy," said Evridge, who is competing with Dustin Sherer and Scott Tolzien for the top job. "Once you think you have it figured out, it will definitely give you a big twist. You can't change those things."

Though Evridge was used to being the new guy, fitting in with his Wisconsin teammates presented some different challenges.

"He can't sit back and laugh about when they came as freshmen, the haircuts certain guys had or the look that they carried or the guys that have put on weight or whatever," Bielema said. "He doesn't have that foundation of the first couple years being in our program with this group of seniors, but he did go through college football. He was a guy who was starting as a freshman in the Big 12 Conference. So he can share those experiences."

He also shares the experience of being Wisconsin's only married player. When Evridge left Kansas State, he left behind his girlfriend, Stacey Spiegelberg, a volleyball player for the Wildcats.

The two dated long distance for more than a year and a half before getting married Jan. 12.

"At Kansas State there were a lot of guys that were married, and now I'm the only one," Evridge said. "A couple might be engaged, but I'm the lone wolf. Some guys that don't really know me, like some the new guys, they think there's some stigma, like, 'Oh, you've got to go home to your wife.'"

Badgers players are getting to know Evridge better this summer, when he took a lead role in organizing workouts. After failing to claim the starting job this spring, he slimmed down a bit and is listed at 212 pounds.

The fifth-year senior impressed Bielema's in Saturday's scrimmage, leading the first-team offense on an 80-yard touchdown drive.

"Everything depends on how you look at it," Evridge said. "If you go into a situation thinking things are going to be bad, more than likely, they are going to be bad. If you into a situation -- say a move, when I was young -- thinking it's going to be good and being positive, then things usually do work out and you enjoy it. You've just got to learn that you might have a bad day, but you have the next day to wake up, if you're lucky."