ESPN College Football

Happy Turkey eve.

• Brady Hoke's dislike of "Ohio" is interesting since he's from Ohio and his dad once played for Woody Hayes. Michigan has a prime chance to end its losing skid against the Buckeyes.
• Ohio State linebacker Andrew Sweat is waiting for the OK to return from a concussion. The Buckeyes lead Michigan for top Ohio recruits, but the Wolverines have made inroads.
• Tom Bradley wants to be considered for the permanent Penn State head-coaching job. Silas Redd is limited in practice again this week. Jerry Sandusky's lawyer went on the offensive. The Lions have to find a way to slow down Wisconsin's offense.
• Wisconsin's interior linemen will have their hands full with Devon Still.
• Nebraska could have a hard time replacing Alfonzo Dennard and Lavonte David next year. Dennard says he can still play better after he gave up his first touchdown pass last week.
• Iowa has one of the most productive offensive trios in recent school history, though one of the stars needs a nickname. Kirk Ferentz doesn't mind the short week for the Black Friday game against Nebraska.
• Mark Dantonio's checklist of goals at Michigan State is narrowing after the Spartans' recent success. The Spartans are planning raises for their assistant coaches, though Pat Narduzzi will likely get some job offers.
• Northwestern's seniors have written a success story.
• New athletic director Mike Thomas won't wait on Illinois' finish to make a decision on Ron Zook. The Illini hope a win this week will get them somewhere warm for bowl season.
• Minnesota's Brandon Kirksey sees some worthy heirs on the Gophers' defensive line. MarQueis Gray will remain the team's starting quarterback next season.
• Danny Hope needs a win this week to prove that Purdue has made progress under his watch.
• Indiana coach Kevin Wilson has developed an appreciation of the Bucket game with Purdue (subscription required).

Two more Big Ten teams have produced their depth charts for Week 1. Let's take a look at Illinois' depth chart for the opener against Arkansas State, and Minnesota's depth chart for its opener at USC.

ILLINOIS

Depth chart (Page 10)

• As expected, redshirt freshman Michael Heitz has earned the starting strong-side offensive tackle spot. Scott McDowell and Simon Cvijanovic will serve as backups at tackle.
• Sophomore receiver Darius Millines earned a starting spot with a very strong performance in preseason camp. Classmate Spencer Harris also is listed as a starter at receiver alongside veteran A.J. Jenkins. Ryan Lankford, who had a strong spring, is listed as a backup to Jenkins.
• Senior Jason Ford is the No. 1 running back, while three players -- senior Troy Pollard and true freshmen Donovonn Young and Josh Ferguson -- are listed as co-backups. Don't be surprised if Young gets significant playing time behind Ford.
• Interesting to see Justin Green and Terry Hawthorne listed as co-starters at cornerback opposite senior Tavon Wilson. Hawthorne has been pretty impressive when healthy, but Green is right there in the mix.
• After starting last season at safety, Trulon Henry is listed as the starting strong-side linebacker. Sophomore Jonathan Brown enters the season as the top weak-side linebacker ahead of redshirt freshman Houston Bates.
• Sophomore Miles Osei and freshman Reilly O'Toole are listed as co-backups at quarterback behind Nathan Scheelhaase.
• No major surprises on the starting defensive line, as senior Craig Wilson steps into the tackle spot vacated by first-round draft pick Corey Liuget.
• Hawthorne is the team's No. 1 punt returner, while Pollard and Millines are the top two men on kickoff returns.
• Illinois has a good number of true freshmen and redshirt freshmen on the depth chart, including tight end Jon Davis, and defensive tackles Austin Teitsma and Jake Howe.

MINNESOTA

Depth chart (Page 22)

• Junior college transfer Malcolm Moulton has made quite an impression. Moulton is listed as the starter at two receiver positions (the "Z" and "V"); freshman Marcus Jones is the backup at both spots. Senior Collin McGarry is listed as another starting receiver alongside All-Big Ten candidate Da'Jon McKnight.
• Ryan Wynn and Zach Mottla are listed as co-starters at center, the result of Wynn battling a sprained ankle during preseason camp.
• Although Minnesota's interior offensive line might feature three senior starters, the top tackles are a sophomore (Ed Olson) and a redshirt freshman (Jimmy Gjere). Two other freshmen, Sean Ferguson and Foster Bush, are listed as Gjere's backups.
• The depth chart includes another redshirt freshman starter in defensive end Ben Perry. Minnesota is very young along the D-line, as tackles Anthony Jacobs and Brandon Kirksey are the only seniors listed among the top three players at each position.
• Freshman quarterback Max Shortell has won the backup job behind MarQueis Gray.
• Not many surprises among the linebackers, although Florida transfer Brendan Beal is just a co-backup with junior Ryan Grant at middle linebacker.
• Eric Lair, who stood out at tight end for Minnesota in 2010, is listed as the team's starting H-back/fullback.
• Sophomore Brock Vereen appears as the team's No. 1 cornerback opposite senior Troy Stoudermire. Shady Salamon and Kim Royston are the starting safeties.
• Not surprisingly, freshmen and redshirt freshmen fill coach Jerry Kill's Week 1 depth chart. Quite a few young players will get their college football baptism Saturday afternoon at the L.A. Coliseum.

The position rankings move from offense to defense. We'll start with the group that has produced more Big Ten stars than any other position group in recent years.

The Big Ten had five defensive linemen, all from different teams, selected in the first round of April's NFL draft: Wisconsin's J.J. Watt, Illinois' Corey Liuget, Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan, Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and Ohio State's Cameron Heyward. Iowa lost three starting D-linemen to the draft, and almost every Big Ten squad has to replace major contributors.

The personnel losses make the preseason D-line rankings both tricky and fun. The first three groups look very good, while there's not much difference in the middle of the league.

Let's take a look:

1. Nebraska: The Big Ten's newest member should fit in well with its strong play up front. Star defensive tackle Jared Crick stiff-armed the NFL draft and returned for his final season, giving Nebraska a terrific centerpiece up front. He'll be complemented by veterans Baker Steinkuhler and the mustachioed Cameron Meredith. If converted linebacker Eric Martin builds off of a strong spring, Nebraska should be fine at the end spot.

2. Ohio State: Heyward's leadership and versatility will be missed, but Ohio State always finds ways to fill the gaps up front. Junior John Simon should be primed for a breakout season. Like Heyward, Simon can play both line spots but might see more time on the edge this fall. Nathan Williams adds experience at end, and promising sophomore Johnathan Hankins could wreak havoc on the interior this fall.

3. Michigan State: Like several Big Ten teams, the Spartans build their line around a potential superstar tackle in Jerel Worthy. The junior already is projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2012 draft after recording four sacks last fall. Anthony Rashad White emerged this spring as a nice complement to Worthy. Michigan State needs a better pass rush from the end spots, and hopes are high for William Gholston and Tyler Hoover.

4. Wisconsin: Watt is a huge loss because he contributed in so many ways, but Wisconsin could account for his production with greater depth. Ends Louis Nzegwu and David Gilbert both have played a lot of football, and junior Brendan Kelly came on strong toward the end of spring practice. Senior tackle Patrick Butrym has emerged as one of the leaders on defense. Wisconsin needs young tackles like Jordan Kohout and Beau Allen to help Butrym.

5. Michigan: This is a projection pick, but I think Michigan's defensive front takes a significant step forward this season. Senior tackle Mike Martin is a bona fide NFL prospect and will lead the way, and players like Ryan Van Bergen and Craig Roh should be among the primary beneficiaries of the new defense under coordinator Greg Mattison. Michigan needs to build depth with Jibreel Black, Will Campbell and others, but there's great potential here.

6. Iowa: The Hawkeyes face a tough task in replacing multiyear starters in Clayborn, Christian Ballard and Karl Klug. Senior tackle Mike Daniels is ready to lead the group after recording 11 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2010. The biggest key is getting Broderick Binns back to his 2009 form. Iowa also needs to build depth with Lebron Daniel and others, and avoid major injuries.

7. Purdue: Defensive tackle is a major strength for Purdue as Kawann Short and Bruce Gaston Jr. form one of the league's top tandems. Short quietly turned in an extremely productive season last fall (12.5 TFLs, 6 sacks). The big unknown is how Purdue replaces Kerrigan. The Boilers need veteran Gerald Gooden to stay healthy and others to emerge alongside him.

8. Penn State: Much like Purdue, Penn State looks strong at tackle and has question marks at end. Devon Still could contend for All-Big Ten honors after a terrific performance in the Outback Bowl against Florida. Still and Jordan Hill should lock up the middle, but Penn State needs Jack Crawford and Eric Latimore to get healthy at the end spots. If not, the Lions will turn to unproven players to spark their pass rush.

9. Illinois: Liuget is a significant loss in the middle and Illinois also must replace veteran end Clay Nurse. The Illini will rely on Akeem Spence to step in for Liuget, and Spence showed some good things this spring. There's talent on the edges with Michael Buchanan, Whitney Mercilus and others, but Illinois needs more consistent production.

10. Northwestern: This group took a step back last fall and got manhandled down the stretch as Northwestern hemorrhaged yards and points. Senior end Vince Browne is a playmaker who put up impressive numbers (15.5 TFLs, 7 sacks) in 2010. He'll need help from tackles Jack DiNardo and Niko Mafuli, and Tyler Scott could provide a lift at the other end spot. The Wildcats need their line to regain the edge it displayed in 2008.

11. Indiana: It wouldn't surprise me to see Indiana's front four rise up these rankings during the season. There are some nice pieces back, namely senior end Darius Johnson, who can be a force when healthy. Junior Adam Replogle has been productive at defensive tackle. There's plenty of competition at the other two spots as Indiana tries to turn a page on defense.

12. Minnesota: The Gophers' pass rush was practically invisible in 2010, as they finished last nationally in sacks (9). The good news is new defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys will turn his linemen loose more often, giving players like Brandon Kirksey chances to make plays. We've heard a lot about Minnesota's talent up front but haven't seen nearly enough production on Saturdays.

Minnesota

2010 overall record: 3-9

2010 conference record: 2-6 (T-9th)

Returning starters

Offense: 6; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

QB MarQueis Gray, WR Da'Jon McKnight, RB DeLeon Eskridge, RB Duane Bennett, LB Gary Tinsley, LB Mike Rallis, S Kim Royston, DL Anthony Jacobs

Key losses

QB Adam Weber, C D.J. Burris, FB Jon Hoese, S Kyle Theret, S Ryan Collado, DE Jewhan Edwards

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: DeLeon Eskridge* (698 yards)

Passing: Adam Weber (2,679 yards)

Receiving: Da'Jon McKnight* (750 yards)

Tackles: Gary Tinsley* (90)

Sacks: Jewhan Edwards (3)

Interceptions: Mike Rallis* (3)

Spring answers

1. Shades of Gray: MarQueis Gray took the right approach in his return to the quarterback position and acclimated well to the new staff and the new offensive system. Gray's film study during the winter months paid off as he grasped Jerry Kill's offense and helped others catch on as well. Minnesota coaches didn't want to simply hand Gray the starting job. The junior had to earn it, and he answered the bell this spring.

2. Linebackers ready to lead: If the spring is any indication, Minnesota will be a linebacker-driven defense this season. The staff liked what it saw from Mike Rallis and particularly Keanon Cooper this spring. Gary Tinsley was limited by a hamstring injury but boasts experience and production. Minnesota has a nice starting point with those three and some others who will add depth.

3. Troy's time: Troy Stoudermire has had endured ups and downs and a near departure from the program during his career, but he looks to be settling in at the cornerback spot. The senior delivered several big hits during practices and scrimmages, solidifying himself in a secondary that could be solid this fall. Stoudermire seems to be a fan of physical play, and Minnesota's defense needs more of it this season.

Fall questions

1. Defensive line: Minnesota had the nation's weakest pass rush in 2010, generating only nine sacks all season. New coordinator Tracy Claeys plans to change things by employing a more aggressive scheme, especially for the down linemen. Anthony Jacobs and Brandon Kirksey both did some good things this spring, but the Gophers must develop more depth up front. They would really benefit from a guy like Ra'Shede Hageman blossoming during the summer.

2. Starting running back: The spring brought good competition at running back, as veterans Duane Bennett and DeLeon Eskridge worked alongside redshirt freshmen Donnell Kirkwood and Lamonte Edwards. Kill and his staff will use multiple backs a lot this fall, but it will be interesting to see who emerges as the starter. Both Bennett and Eskridge boast a lot of game experience, while Kirkwood showed some flashes in the spring game.

3. Wide receiver depth: Minnesota brings back an All-Big Ten candidate in receiver Da'Jon McKnight and a talented tight end in Eric Lair, but it needs more options in the passing game for Gray. Injuries hit the Gophers hard at receiver this spring, and while freshman Marcus Jones emerged as a potential contributor, the team will be looking for more bodies when fall camp kicks off.

Jerry Kill wraps up his first spring session as Minnesota's coach on Saturday with the spring game at TCF Bank Stadium.

Let's take a closer look.

The vitals: 1 p.m. CT Saturday (2 p.m. ET) at TCF Bank Stadium; admission is free, parking is $10 in surrounding lots.

More details: Minnesota will have the Floyd of Rosedale on display and hold several activities on the West Plaza. Click here for more information.

Three things to watch

1. The new staff: Kill has been candid about needing to change the culture around the program, and he has pulled no punches this spring in his team/player critiques both on and off the field. The staff has accelerated the practice pace, and fans should notice a quicker tempo on both sides of the ball. Kill has made toughness and finishing priorities, and he'll demand a strong effort Saturday. This staff has turned around programs before, and Minnesota fans should get a glimpse of their typically animated coaching methods in the spring game.

2. The defensive line: Minnesota returns some nice pieces at both linebacker and defensive back, but the unit will struggle again without better play up front. After ranking last nationally in sacks last season (9), the Gophers need a jolt and want to show more aggressiveness in rushing the passer. Kill singled out senior end Anthony Jacobs for his play this spring but said, "we've got to get better in that area." It's important for players like Jacobs, Brandon Kirksey and D.L. Wilhite to finish the spring on a good note.

3. The running backs: There hasn't been a ton of separation as four backs -- Duane Bennett, DeLeon Eskridge, Lamonte Edwards and Donnell Kirkwood -- continue to compete. Although the coaches say they'll need at least two backs this fall, there is opportunity for a featured runner to emerge in this offense (see: Northern Illinois' Chad Spann in 2010). Bennett and Eskridge have the edge in experience, but the staff has wiped the slate clean and every back is getting a chance to prove himself. Injuries have hit Minnesota hard at receiver as of late, so the running backs should get plenty of work Saturday.

We'll start with links from teams that held spring games Saturday and then go from there ...

• PENN STATE: The Rob Bolden situation remains a mystery, Donnie Collins writes in The Times-Tribune. Bolden's decision will have a ripple effect for Penn State, Philip Cmor writes in the Altoona Mirror. Four lessons from the Blue-White Game, Bob Flounders writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. Franco Harris says JoePa will know when to go, Audrey Snyder writes in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
• NEBRASKA: The Blackshirts and Jamal Turner highlight Nebraska's spring game, Tom Shatel writes in the Omaha World-Herald. Huskers quarterback Brion Carnes makes a strong first impression, Brian Christopherson writes in the Lincoln Journal Star. Coach Bo Pelini sums up the spring game.
• MICHIGAN: New coach Brady Hoke has a lot of work to do, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press. Some hot topics from the spring game. Hoke's off-field work has been valuable in uniting Michigan fans, annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow and the Sporting News' Dave Curtis write. The Notre Dame-Michigan series could be impacted by the Big Ten schedule, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News.
• IOWA: A.J. Derby is fortunate to have options on where he plays, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Some observations from Iowa's practice/scrimmage, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Good news: Iowa broadcaster Ed Podolak seems to be recovering well, Randy Peterson writes in the Des Moines Register. Some Iowa injury notes from Morehouse.
• NORTHWESTERN: Senior receiver Charles Brown finished off a very strong spring, Tina Akouris writes in the Chicago Sun-Times. Northwestern wants to play more games at Wrigley Field -- but only after the Friendly Confines gets a makeover, Teddy Greenstein writes in the Chicago Tribune. The Wildcats' backup quarterbacks were in the spotlight Saturday, ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers writes.
• INDIANA: The Hoosiers still don't have an answer at quarterback, Terry Hutchens writes in the Indianapolis Star. An overview of Indiana's spring game from The (Bloomington) Herald-Times' Dustin Dopirak (subscription required). Several Fort Wayne natives shined in the spring game, LaMond Pope writes in The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
• Ohio State's offense had a rough time in Saturday's scrimmage, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Buckeyes' linebacker Etienne Sabino is finally ready to shine, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• A very cool story on how Minnesota's D.L. Wilhite and Brandon Kirksey spent their spring break, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune. Despite the cold weather, several recruits enjoyed themselves at Minnesota's recent scrimmage, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
• The (Champaign) News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen projects Illinois' two-deep for 2011. Illini fullback Jay Prosch played tailback Saturday following a rash of injuries, and he delivered, Mark Tupper writes in The (Decatur) Herald & Review.
• Wisconsin receiver Jared Abbrederis hopes to become the next Luke Swan, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. The Badgers' defense is looking for greater consistency, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Michigan State linebacker Denicos Allen is ready for the limelight, Denny Schwarze writes in the Lansing State Journal. New Spartans offensive coordinator Dan Roushar wants to go vertical, Matt Charboneau writes in The Detroit News.
• Purdue adds a safety for its 2012 recruiting class, Kyle Neddenriep writes in the Indianapolis Star.

The Big Ten featured only one spring game this weekend, but plenty of teams took to the field for scrimmages. I've compiled some scrimmage highlights from around the league based on reports from official team websites and other media sources. Several teams didn't provide specifics about their scrimmages, but I included what I could find.

ILLINOIS

The Illini scrimmaged for about 90 minutes Saturday, and all players were involved in contact aside from starting quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase.

Notes

• The offense prevailed in the scrimmage and gashed the defense for several big runs. Troy Pollard took most of the reps at running back as Jason Ford sat out with a sore knee, and Pollard helped his cause with 110 rush yards on 19 carries. Scheelhaase completed 7 of 12 passes for 53 yards and added 58 yards on the ground, while backup Miles Osei had a 63-yards pass to Fred Sykes and finished the day with 165 yards through the air.
• Coach Ron Zook singled out linebacker Houston Bates for his play in the scrimmage. Bates had a sack and a quarterback hurry. He saw increased playing time after Jonathan Brown was kicked out of the scrimmage after throwing a punch and drawing a personal foul penalty.

INDIANA

The Hoosiers held their second scrimmage of the spring Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Check out coach Kevin Wilson's thoughts as well as some highlights.

Notes

• The offense got the best of the defense Saturday after the D shined in Indiana's previous scrimmage. Receivers Duwyce Wilson and Kofi Hughes stood out in the highlights Indiana showed on its website, as Hughes had a long touchdown reception and Wilson was forced out just shy of the goal line. Both players have been impressive this spring and should complement top wideout Damarlo Belcher in the fall.

IOWA

No official information from Iowa's scrimmage Saturday, but here's a photo gallery and some recent player interviews from the team's website.

MICHIGAN

No official information from Michigan's scrimmage Saturday, but here are video interviews with defensive tackle Mike Martin and offensive lineman Patrick Omameh. Running backs Vincent Smith, Michael Cox and Stephen Hopkins had some nice runs in the video highlights.

MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans held their first jersey scrimmage Friday and the defense prevailed 55-45 in a modified scoring system. The defense had 18 ways to score points, while the offense had 11 ways to score, including touchdowns and field goals.

Notes

• The defense dominated the scrimmage, holding the offense without a first down on the first five possessions and without points for the first 13 possessions. Michigan State's D recorded three sacks and two interceptions during the stifling stanza. The only two touchdowns scored came during the goal line and red zone portions of the scrimmage.
• Defensive ends William Gholston and Tyler Hoover combined for nine tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup. Sophomore linebacker TyQuan Hammock recorded an interception. "The defense played well -- tackled effectively, pressured the quarterback and came away with some turnovers," coach Mark Dantonio said in a news release.
• Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins had a rough day (6-for-16 passing, 41 yards, INT), although he didn't get much help from his receivers, who dropped three passes. Backup Andrew Maxwell completed 15 of 26 passes for 116 yards with an interception.
• The touchdowns came from Edwin Baker (22-yard run) and Le'Veon Bell (6-yard run). Receiver Keith Mumphery caught a 43-yard pass from Maxwell.

MINNESOTA

The Gophers scrimmaged Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium and ran about 120 plays.

Notes

• Minnesota's defense held the upper hand as the offense struggled to gain a first down early in the scrimmage. The defensive line had a very good day as tackles Brandon Jacobs and Brandon Kirksey both stood out. Jacobs sacked No. 1 quarterback MarQueis Gray and Kirksey recorded a blocked field goal attempt. Ends D.L. Wilhite and Ra'Shede Hageman also made some plays. "The defensive line got up the field a lot more than we have been. [It was] a lot more aggressive," coach Jerry Kill told reporters. "And we need that. We need more push. We had nine sacks last year, and that can't happen."
• Gray and top receiver Da'Jon McKnight hooked up on receptions of 45 and 20 yards. McKnight also recorded a punt block in the scrimmage.
• Reserve quarterback Tom Parish threw two interceptions and fumbled a snap. Moses Alipate ran a few series at quarterback and led a scoring drive.

NEBRASKA

The Huskers ran about 150 plays in a scrimmage Saturday in Lincoln. Quarterbacks Brion Carnes, Cody Green and Kody Spano took most of the reps and drew praise from coach Bo Pelini.

• The coaches limited reps for quarterback Taylor Martinez after the sophomore hurt his toe in a recent workout. Running back Rex Burkhead participated in the scrimmage and "looked great," according to Pelini, although Burkhead's reps were limited as well.
• Nebraska had two false-start penalties and one fumble during the scrimmage. "That's not bad," Pelini said. "Most of it is with the young guys. It shows me the emphasis is working and there's progress, but one's too many as far I'm concerned."

NORTHWESTERN

The Wildcats scrimmaged Saturday in Evanston in preparation for this week's spring game.

Notes

• Top running back Mike Trumpy had runs of 33 and 25 yards, while Tyris Jones added a scoring run. Jones has had a really nice spring for the Wildcats, who are looking for more options in the backfield.
• Trevor Siemian and Evan Watkins took the reps at quarterback as Kain Colter was held out of the scrimmage. Siemian completed 8 of 12 passes for 86 yards with an interception, while Watkins, victimized by dropped passes, completed 8 of 21 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown strike to Charles Brown.
• Defensive end Tyler Scott picked off Siemian on the second play of the scrimmage. Siemian later responded with a 36-yard pass to Rashad Lawrence. Demetrius Fields led the receivers with five receptions, while walk-on Torin Dupper had three catches for 46 yards.

OHIO STATE

The Buckeyes held a special-teams scrimmage followed by a full jersey scrimmage Saturday in Ohio Stadium. The team went through about 20 possessions and the offense prevailed 56-45.

• Receiver DeVier Posey recorded two touchdown receptions, a 33-yarder from Joe Bauserman and an 8-yarder from Taylor Graham. Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller had the only other touchdown of the scrimmage on an 11-yard run.
• Bauserman completed passes of 33 and 16 yards and also threw an interception on a pass tipped by defensive lineman John Simon. Graham completed 10 of 20 passes for 80 yards, while Miller hit on 4 of 6 passes for 43 yards and looked impressive on the touchdown run. Kenny Guiton struggled at quarterback, leading the offense to only one score (field goal) in six possessions.
• Posey recorded five receptions for 83 yards and two scores, while the other scholarship wideouts combined for only five receptions. Think Ohio State will miss No. 8 in the first five games?
• Senior running back Dan Herron didn't get much work Saturday, and Jaamal Berry and Rod Smith stood out among the backs with several nice gains.
• Defensive linemen Adam Bellamy and Melvin Fellows both recorded sacks, while other defensive standouts included cornerback Travis Howard and linebacker Etienne Sabino.

PENN STATE

The Lions scrimmaged Saturday, but there's not much info out there aside from this (must pay for content).

WISCONSIN

The Badgers held a scrimmage Saturday, running more than 120 snaps, and coach Bret Bielema shares his thoughts here.

• Sophomore linebacker Conor O'Neill had a big day with interceptions on back-to-back plays, picking off Joe Brennan and Joel Stave. Wisconsin auditioned O'Neill at safety last year, and his experience defending the pass is paying off.
• Bielema said center Peter Konz will miss the rest of the spring because of ankle and knee injuries. Konz will undergo minor knee surgery and should be fine for fall camp. Versatile sophomore Ryan Groy is seeing time at center and can play all three interior line spots.
• Remember Zach Brown? The running back is still around in Madison and hopes to enter a crowded backfield this fall. Brown had a 17-yard touchdown reception and an 8-yard scoring run Saturday. "Zach is an angry running back," Bielema told reporters. "Everybody wants to talk about those other guys. People forget he ran for 200 yards [in a game] as a freshman, and he has won some games for us."

New coach Jerry Kill and the Minnesota Golden Gophers hit the practice field Thursday for the first of 15 spring workouts.

Here's a snapshot of the Gophers this spring:

The big story: A new era begins as Kill and his staff take control. Kill spoke candidly Wednesday about the need to change the culture at Minnesota and expressed concerns about the conditioning level and academic standing of some players he inherited. "We're going to identity those kids that can handle playing spring football and the grind of school right now," Kill said. "I have to have my tail end up here making sure guys are going to study hall, going to class and putting a thumb on them." The new staff also must install new systems on both sides of the ball: a potentially explosive offense featuring multiple formations and pre-snap movement, and a defense that will be more assertive than the previous scheme.

Position in the spotlight: Kill said all jobs are open, including quarterback, but Minnesota has to make significant upgrades along the defensive line. The group fell well short of expectations in 2010, as the Gophers finished last nationally in sacks with nine. Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys plans to turn up the heat on opposing quarterbacks and needs players like Brandon Kirksey, Anthony Jacobs and D.L. Wilhite to step up their play. The linemen should respond well to Claeys, who is willing to turn them loose.

Coaching changes: Um, just a few. Kill brought several longtime assistants with him from Northern Illinois, including coordinators Claeys and Matt Limegrover. The only Tim Brewster assistant he retained, running backs coach Thomas Hammock, left for Wisconsin, and Kill promoted Brian Anderson, his tight ends coach the past three seasons at NIU.

Keep an eye on: Safety Kim Royston. After a strong performance in 2009, Royston broke his leg last spring and missed all of the 2010 season. He received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA last month and has been medically cleared for the spring. Minnesota's defense is looking for leadership, and Royston is a guy who can provide some.

Spring game: April 23

Tracy Claeys hasn't spent much time watching tape or reviewing stats from Minnesota's 2010 season.

The Gophers' new defensive coordinator is focused on the future, and he wants his players to feel the same way.

"I don’t want to judge them on the past," Claeys said. "I'd like everybody to have a fresh start when we get going here."

But two Gophers' numbers from 2010 caught Claeys' eye. He couldn't ignore them.

• Minnesota's opponents converted 46.6 percent of their third-down opportunities last fall. The Gophers finished last in the Big Ten and 107th nationally in third-down defense.
• Minnesota recorded only nine sacks, last in the Big Ten and tied with New Mexico State for last nationally.

Claeys made it clear when he met with his new players: those two trends need to change immediately.

"I told the kids, ‘We’ve got to play better on third down and we’ve got to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quicker or get him sacked,'" Claeys said. "Those are the two things this spring that we’re really going to emphasize."

Claeys is the right coach to do the emphasizing. Often accused of being too aggressive, Claeys likes to turn his defensive linemen loose.

His defenses ranked 33rd, 34th and 32nd nationally in tackles for loss in his three seasons on Jerry Kill's staff at Northern Illinois. The Huskies also ranked 32nd nationally in third-down defense last season, allowing 36.8 percent conversions.

"I like to let the defensive line kids go and play and be aggressive," he said. "That’ll be a change."

Claeys doesn't inherit much as far as the pass rush.

Jewhan Edwards, who led Minnesota who only three sacks in 2010, is no longer with the program. The Gophers boast some veteran linemen such as Anthony Jacobs and Brandon Kirksey -- D.L. Wilhite also has a year of starting under his belt -- but the team has lacked a true pass-rusher since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008.

Claeys' aggressive approach with the down linemen will require the linebackers to fit plays a little differently.

"I’m really big on trying to find out what kids do best and then put them in a position to do those things and try not to ask somebody to do things that they can’t do," he said. "That is what, to me, spring is all about. If we can come out of spring ball with our personnel and we know what they do well and what they struggle with, I’ll feel really good going into the fall."

You already know about Penn State naming Matt McGloin as its starting quarterback for the Ohio State game.

Here are some more personnel nuggets from around the league:

IOWA

Top running back Adam Robinson will practice later Tuesday and is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday at Northwestern. Robinson missed last week's game at Indiana with an undisclosed injury.

Coach Kirk Ferentz said Robinson went through his regular training and lifting on Sunday and is "fine to go." Ferentz didn't confirm that Robinson suffered a concussion in the Michigan State game.

More good news for Iowa, as defensive coordinator Norm Parker is back in the office in a limited basis as he continues his recovery from foot amputation surgery. He returned home from a rehabilitation center in Cedar Rapids on Friday and was back in the office Sunday.

Ferentz said there's a chance Parker will travel with the team to Northwestern.

"It's very limited but it's a great first step, certainly," Ferentz said. "And I think like anybody in that situation, he's got a lot of ground to cover right now from endurance and strength, that type of thing. But it's a huge step for him."

Ferentz also said Jeff Tarpinian is back to full speed and could start at outside linebacker this week.

OHIO STATE

As expected, Ohio State will get linebackers Ross Homan and Dorian Bell back from injuries this week against Penn State. Homan, a senior and a three-year starter, has missed the last two games with a foot injury.

Homan went through 7-on-7 drills Sunday.

"Just like the trainer said, the key will be how does he do two days in a row to see if there's any issues," coach Jim Tressel said, "but based upon after Sunday, I would say no doubt [he plays]."

PURDUE

The Boilers once again enter the week anticipating that true freshman Sean Robinson will start at quarterback for Saturday's game against Michigan.

Redshirt freshman Rob Henry is still dealing with considerable pain from the laceration on his throwing hand, and coach Danny Hope said the redshirt freshman has some tissue damage. Purdue will consider using receiver Justin Siller at quarterback, but only if Siller makes some strides this week from a foot injury. Siller started three games at quarterback in 2008 and led Purdue to a win against Michigan.

"If Justin's able to do more, we'd like to train him as a quarterback," Hope said. "How effective he can be right now, we're not really sure because he still can't run full speed."

Walk-on Skyler Titus is expected to serve as Purdue's No. 2 quarterback against the Wolverines.

WISCONSIN

Coach Bret Bielema sounded more optimistic Tuesday about starting running John Clay (sprained knee) playing this week against Indiana.

Bielema listed Clay as questionable Monday, but the coach bumped into the running back in the training room Tuesday and said Clay "seemed pretty upbeat" about playing against the Hoosiers. Bielema is hopeful that Wisconsin will have all three of its backs -- Clay, James White and Montee Ball -- available Saturday.

Ball, who has provided a big lift in the last two games and rushed for 115 yards last year against Indiana, is "probably poised to make his first start of the season this week," Bielema said.

PENN STATE

The Lions likely will be without defensive end Eric Latimore (wrist) for another week, while defensive lineman Jordan Hill will play against Ohio State after suffering an ankle injury in the second half of the Northwestern win.

MINNESOTA

Defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey returns from his one-game suspension. Minnesota will be without another defensive lineman, Austin Hahn, who will miss the Illinois game with a torn meniscus that was repaired Monday. Hahn could return for the season finale against Iowa.

A perfect 10 today: 10 items to track in Week 10 in the Big Ten.

1. JoePa goes for No. 400: The all-time coaching wins leader in major college football can reach another milestone if Penn State beats Northwestern on Saturday. Joe Paterno can join John Gagliardi and Eddie Robinson as the only college football coaches to record 400 career victories, and he can become the first man in Division I-A/FBS history to do so. This is a moment likely never to be seen again, as the 83-year-old Paterno, in his 45th year as Penn State's coach, is truly one of a kind. A win Saturday also would make Penn State bowl eligible.

2. Michigan's D tries to stop the bleeding: The Michigan Wolverines have been one-third of a team for most of the season, excelling on offense but stumbling repeatedly on both defense and special teams. Michigan's defense seemed to regress after the bye week, bringing more heat on head coach Rich Rodriguez and coordinator Greg Robinson. Rodriguez shot down talk of defensive staff changes, but he's taking on a greater role with the defense as Michigan tries to end its three-game Big Ten slide. The Wolverines on Saturday face an Illinois offense beginning to surge.

3. Endgame in West Lafayette: Two of the front-runners for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year meet Saturday at Purdue's Ross Ade Stadium. Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan has been simply unstoppable this season, cementing himself as a first-round draft pick in April with 7.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. Kerrigan leads the Big Ten in both categories, but not far behind sits Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt, who boasts five sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss to go along with six pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and two blocked kicks. There's plenty of mutual respect between the two stars. Kerrigan goes up against Wisconsin left tackle Gabe Carimi, another likely first-round pick.

4. Spartans rushing to rebound: Despite what he called an "embarrassing performance" at Iowa, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio maintained that "the sky is not falling around here." He's right, too, as the Spartans still are very much alive for the Big Ten title and a possible trip to the Rose Bowl. Michigan State can get well Saturday against last-place Minnesota, and it would be well served to reignite a rushing attack that has gone cold the past three weeks. Minnesota allows a league-worst 201.8 rush yards a game and will miss starting defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey because of a suspension. Spartans backs Edwin Baker, Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper need a big day.

5. Iowa faces trap game: Everyone in Iowa City wants to fast-forward to Nov. 20 and the Ohio State game, but the Hawkeyes first must take care of business on the road against two teams that give them trouble. Up first is Indiana, which dominated Iowa for the better part of three quarters last year and picked off Ricky Stanzi five times before the Hawkeyes rattled off 28 fourth-quarter points. Indiana beat Iowa in 2006 and 2007 and boasts a passing attack that will challenge the Hawkeyes' secondary. It's important for Iowa to keep the pedal down in Bloomington.

6. The joy of six: Three Big Ten teams -- Michigan, Illinois and Penn State -- enter Saturday's games with five victories, needing one more to become bowl eligible. One team will reach the magic number in Ann Arbor as Michigan and Illinois lock horns. The Wolverines would remove a lot of pressure by beating the Illini and virtually ensuring the end of their postseason drought. Like Michigan, Illinois hasn't been to a bowl since after the 2007 season and can continue its surprising surge with a victory. Teams like Indiana and Purdue also can inch closer to bowl eligibility with upset wins Saturday.

7. Persa back in Pennsylvania: Dan Persa was a high school star in Pennsylvania, but he barely got a sniff from Penn State in the recruiting process. He landed at Northwestern and has been the biggest reason for the Wildcats' 6-2 start. Persa, whose mother and sister went to Penn State and who grew up attending Nittany Lions games, heads back to his home state to try and spoil Paterno's 400 party. The Northwestern junior is cleared to start after suffering a concussion last week. While Persa heads home, Northwestern is at its best on the road, winning six consecutive games stretching back to last season. The Wildcats also fare well in November under coach Pat Fitzgerald, compiling a 9-4 record, including a 6-1 mark the past two seasons.

8. Scheelhaase takes aim at shorthanded secondary: Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has put himself in the mix for Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, and he gets another chance to shine Saturday at the Big House. Scheelhaase, who last Saturday completed 16 of 20 passes for 195 yards and four touchdowns, faces a struggling Michigan secondary that lost starting cornerback J.T. Floyd to a season-ending ankle injury this week in practice. True freshman Courtney Avery starts in Floyd's spot opposite James Rogers, the Wolverines' lone non-freshman cornerback. Illinois is a run-first offense, but don't be surprised if Scheelhaase takes to the air against the vulnerable Wolverines.

9. Penn State's quarterback situation: Freshman Rob Bolden might be Penn State's future, but sophomore Matt McGloin has been on the field at the end of back-to-back Nittany Lions victories. Bolden has fully recovered from a concussion suffered Oct. 23, and the coaches let the two quarterbacks compete for the starting job throughout practice this week. McGloin performed well in his first career start last week against Michigan, but quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno indicated after the game that Bolden still held the top job. Joe Paterno mentioned he might play both quarterbacks against Northwestern, so it'll be interesting to see how things play out.

10. Purdue turns to Robinson: Purdue expects to start its third quarterback this season as true freshman Sean Robinson gets the nod against Wisconsin. Robinson played most of the Illinois game last Saturday, completing just 7 of 20 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. The Boilers will use Rob Henry if his throwing hand improves, but Robinson is their top option. "If he was an immature freshman, didn't have some of the same intangibles, we could be in some real trouble," coach Danny Hope said. "This guy can come over and make a commitment from a maturity standpoint to become a quarterback we can win with."

Don't forget to chat with me today at noon ET.

We can lament the fact that Jimmy McMillan of the Rent Is Too Damn High Party didn't win New York's governor race.

• Joe Paterno's quest for 400 wins and other Big Ten notes from the Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein. A breakdown of the Big Ten race from The Associated Press' Rusty Miller.
• It looks like Michigan's cornerback curse has continued, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. Many of Michigan's problems on defense can be traced to third down, annarbor.com's Michael Rothstein writes.
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio doesn't regret reinstating cornerback Chris L. Rucker when he did, and Rucker is grateful to be back, The Detroit News' Matt Charboneau and the Detroit Free Press' Shannon Shelton write. Michigan State's new barometer should be the 1999 team, David Mayo writes in The Grand Rapids Press.
• Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema has no issues with the Big Ten tiebreaking procedures, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. The Badgers' hobbled are getting healthier, although running back James White remains limited, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Illinois offensive tackle Jeff Allen grew as a player by getting a little bit smaller, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune. Coordinator Vic Koenning is getting it done with the Illinois defense, Herb Gould writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Injuries have forced another Purdue skill player to make a position switch, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi can earn an invite to the Heisman Trophy presentation if he keeps winning, Mike Hlas writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Hawkeyes defensive coordinator Norm Parker still isn't back with the team, Don Doxsie writes in the Quad-City Times.
• Northwestern linebacker Bryce McNaul remains in close contact with his brother, who is serving in Afghanistan, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald. Northwestern is the only FBS program to post the top graduation rate in its league and not have a losing record in league play, AOL FanHouse's Brett McMurphy writes.
• Indiana coach Bill Lynch doesn't seem too concerned about his job status, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).
• Penn State can thank these five players for getting the ship righted again, Dustin Hockensmith writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. The Matt McGloin-Rob Bolden quarterback competition is one of several during Paterno's run at Penn State, Bernard Fernandez writes in the Philadelphia Daily News.
• Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey has been humbled at times this season, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• In case you missed it from Tuesday, Minnesota has suspended three players, including defensive tackle and co-captain Brandon Kirksey.

Chant I heard last night at the Chicago Fire game when an opposing player got hurt (likely faking it, seeing that it's soccer) ...

"You're going home in a Cook County ambulance!"

Brutal. And hilarious.

• It just makes sense to split the big four in the Big Ten into separate divisions, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• The Ohio State-Michigan game could be on the move when the 2011 schedule is unveiled, Bill Rabinowitz writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• Iowa's quarterbacks apparently talk a lot of smack in their meetings, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
• Apparently Wisconsin safety Jay Valai was limping with a concussion (huh?), Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Massive Badgers freshman defensive tackle Beau Allen hopes to see the field right away, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Jim Tressel thinks Ohio State running back Brandon Saine is underrated nationally, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Despite ending a BCS bowl losing streak in Pasadena, Ohio State players don't feel entitled to success, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• A good profile on Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who stays true to his school, Jerry DiPaola writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Penn State loses a local cornerback recruit to in-state rival Pitt, Paul Zeise writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• Troy Woolfolk's injury leaves Michigan thin in the secondary and without much leadership, annarbor.com's Michael Rothstein writes. Michigan still doesn't know it's starting quarterback, John Niyo writes in The Detroit News.
• Whether it's at linebacker or defensive end, Michigan State will find a place for freshman William Gholston, Denny Schwarze writes in the Lansing State Journal. The Spartans can take advantage of a soft schedule this fall, Matt Charboneau writes in The Detroit News.
• Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson has no shortage of motivation this season, Herb Gould writes in the Chicago Sun-Times. The Illini pick up a commitment from the younger brother of former Wisconsin standout Owen Daniels, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune.
• Minnesota coach Tim Brewster likes what he has at the safety spots, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press. Starting defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey likely will miss Saturday's scrimmage with a sprained ankle, Dennis Brackin writes in the Star Tribune.
• Indiana senior quarterback Ben Chappell is settling in nicely this preseason, LaMond Pope writes in The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette. It comes down to making plays for Indiana in 2010, Rick Bozich writes in The (Louisville) Courier-Journal.

Here at the Big Ten blog, you can always ground your club.

• Sean Keeler and Pat Harty both write that Iowa and its fans should be patient with running back Brandon Wegher as he deals with some personal issues. Iowa boasts the nation's top defensive line, according to Rivals.com.
• Michigan is moving forward as it awaits a ruling from the NCAA, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. The Big Ten Network analysts left Michigan impressed with quarterback Denard Robinson, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• The Capital Times' Mike Lucas goes inside the minds of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema and quarterback Scott Tolzien. Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt recently got punk'd on Twitter, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Injured (again) linebacker Mike Taylor doesn't care if it's the 10th or 11th game this fall; he just wants to play, Jim Polzin writes in The Capital Times.
• Joe Paterno has earned the right to call his last shot at Penn State, but the decision won't be easy, Joe Starkey writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Penn State's quarterback race lacks the wow factor, David Jones writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News.
• Ohio State remains the Big Ten's best chance to challenge the SEC powers in January, Bill Livingston writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Jim Tressel has a veteran offense this year and might open things up more, Ken Gordon and Tim May write in The Columbus Dispatch.
• The (St. Paul) Pioneer Press' Marcus Fuller has a great piece on Minnesota defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey, who has overcome a ton of hardship to become a team leader.
• Northwestern has talked enough about the Outback Bowl loss and needs to get down to business, Tina Akouris writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Michigan State knows it needs to get over the hump in close games, Matt Charboneau writes in The Detroit News. Linebacker Max Bullough isn't performing like a freshman in camp, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Purdue players love their single-digit jersey numbers, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Indiana tight end Charles Love III is sidelined by a thumb injury, Dustin Dopirak writes in The Hoosier Scoop blog.
• Illinois' offense shined under the lights in the team's first preseason scrimmage, Mark Tupper writes in The (Decatur) Herald & Review.

Adam Rittenberg talks with Minnesota defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey at Big Ten media days.