ESPN College Football

2011 record: 7-6
2011 conference record: 4-4 (third place, Leaders Division) Returning starters: Offense: 9; Defense: 9; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners
DT Kawann Short, CB Ricardo Allen, QB Caleb TerBush, QB Robert Marve, QB Rob Henry, RB Akeem Shavers, RB Ralph Bolden, DE Ryan Russell, WR Antavian Edison, DT Bruce Gaston, OT Trevor Foy

Key losses
LB Joe Holland, S Albert Evans, LT Dennis Kelly, OG Nick Mondek, WR Justin Siller, K Carson Wiggs

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Ralph Bolden* (674 yards)
Passing: Caleb TerBush (1,905 yards)
Receiving: Antavian Edison* (584 yards) Tackles: Joe Holland (94) Sacks: Kawann Short* (6.5) Interceptions: Ricardo Allen* (3)

Spring answers

1. Healthy QBs: After two years of dealing with injuries and inexperienced signalcallers, Danny Hope finally had enviable depth at the position this spring. With Robert Marve healthy, last season's starter Caleb TerBush a year wiser, and Rob Henry on the mend from a torn ACL, Purdue has three former starters at quarterback. Hope said the depth made for much improved offensive execution this spring, which should carry over into the fall. Now he just has to figure out whom to play and when, as it's likely more than one will see the field in the same game.

2. Defensive front and back set: The Boilermakers have a chance to be very good up front defensively, and it all starts with defensive tackle Kawann Short. He passed up the NFL draft, and could work his way into first-round status with a big senior season. Bruce Gaston returns along side him in the middle, and sophomore defensive end Ryan Russell looks like a future star after coming on strong at the end of last season. The secondary is also in great shape, with returning cornerbacks Ricardo Allen and Josh Johnson possibly forming the best tandem in the league, according to Hope. Nickel back Normondo Harris had a big spring game, and Max Charlot returns at safety. Purdue should have the ability to generate a pass-rush and defend the ball in the air.

3. More confidence: There's little doubt that there's more confidence in the air around West Lafayette. That comes from the team making -- and winning -- its first bowl game under Hope last season, and returning 18 offensive and defensive starters. This is Hope's deepest team, and it should be his best. Some are picking Purdue as a potential Big Ten sleeper, and the players believe that talk is justified.

Fall questions

1. Linebacker Who? While the defense looks stout up front and in the secondary, questions remain at linebacker. Joe Holland, the team's leading tackler a year ago, graduated. Dwayne Beckford missed the bowl game after a DUI arrest, and his status for the fall remains in flux. Will Lucas is the only returning starter guaranteed to suit up in September. There's talk of using some 3-4 looks under new defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar, who implemented his system in practices closed to the media this spring. Does Purdue have enough linebackers to make it work?

2. Offensive line chemistry: The Boilers' offensive line didn't get a lot of hype last season, but it produced two NFL draft picks in Dennis Kelly and Nick Mondek. Trevor Foy is moving from right to left tackle, and Kevin Pamphile and Rick Schmeig worked at multiple positions this spring. Purdue will mix in some new faces and some veterans in new places this fall, and how well that unit comes together will have a large say in how the offense flows.

3. X-factors on offense: Some things we simply don't yet know include the following: Can Ralph Bolden successfully return from knee surgery? If not, is Akeem Shavers a capable every-down back? What will happen to leading receiver Antavian Edison after his arrest on weapons charges this week? Will fellow wideout O.J. Ross make it back from academic suspension? Can kick returning dynamo Raheem Mostert make an impact at receiver? Purdue has a lot more options on offense than in the recent past, but there also remains a lot of question marks.

We're back to continue our series looking at the most indispensable players on each Big Ten team. Once again, this is not necessarily a listing of the best players on each team, but ones whose absence would be toughest to absorb because of their particular value or because of a lack of depth behind them.

We're selecting two players from each team, usually on offense and defense, but not always. Today we turn our gaze to Purdue, which thankfully no longer has to worry about one quarterback going down and throwing everything into turmoil.

Kawann Short, DT, Sr.

This one is an easy call, as Short has the potential to be the top defensive tackle in the Big Ten this season and is being projected as a first-round NFL draft pick in 2013. The Boilermakers should be pretty good on the defensive line this season, and Bruce Gaston is another returning starter at tackle. But few teams could adequately replace a talent like Short, who compiled 17 tackles for loss a season ago.

Trevor Foy, OT, Jr.

Here's a much less obvious pick. Purdue is blessed with some decent depth on the offensive side, with three quarterbacks who have started games, a stable of running backs and several options at receiver. One place where there is not a lot of experienced depth, however, is the offensive line. Two starters, including left tackle Dennis Kelly, were drafted last month. Foy is hardly a household name, but is a player with a lot of potential. After starting at right tackle last year, he is expected to take over Kelly's spot this season, and at 6-foot-7 and 287 pounds, he looks the part. Danny Hope would have to do some major shuffling on the offensive line if Foy weren't available. For an offense that otherwise appears ready to have a strong season, that would be a rough development.

We covered all the offensive position groups in our postseason rankings series here, here, here and here. Now it's time to turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive tackle was the strongest position in the league in 2011, so that makes this a competitive situation. There are some major changes from our preseason order as well. Remember this is about overall production, and depth matters along with star power. The top four on this list are really, really strong.

Here we go:

1. Michigan State: The Spartans finished with the top total defense in the Big Ten and one of the best in the nation, and it all started with a dominant front. All-American tackle Jerel Worthy commanded extra attention inside and was joined by Kevin Pickelman and Anthony Rashad White as forces inside. William Gholston was brilliant at times, never more so than in the Outback Bowl win over Georgia. And freshman Marcus Rush turned in an outstanding season at the other defensive end spot. The Spartans had no weaknesses at this position in 2011.

2. Michigan: We projected the Wolverines would make a significant leap in '11, but the amount of improvement still surprised us. The combination of head coach Brady Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, both defensive line coaches at heart, and valuable seniors Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen made this the backbone of Michigan's Sugar Bowl run. The Wolverines were especially tough in short-yardage situations because their defensive front was so stout.

3. Penn State: Big Ten defensive player of the year Devon Still wrecked just about everybody's game plan with a huge senior campaign. Jordan Hill had a solid, underrated year next to him inside. Jack Crawford stayed healthy and contributed 6.5 sacks, while Eric Latimore and Sean Stanley combined for another 7.5 quarterback takedowns.

4. Illinois: Defensive end Whitney Mercilus was a consensus first-team All-American who led the nation in sacks and forced fumbles. Nobody saw that coming. He had good company along the line as well, with guys like Akeem Spence inside and Michael Buchanan at the other end spot. The Illini may have faltered down the stretch as a team, but the D-line stayed strong throughout the year.

5. Wisconsin: The Badgers didn't have many household names on the defensive line, and certainly no one stood out like J.J. Watt the year before. But Bret Bielema relied on a solid group of veterans that helped the team finish third in the league in total defense and fifth in sacks. Patrick Butrym, Louis Nzegwu, Brendan Kelly and Ethan Hemer were part of a group that played better than the sum of its parts.

6. Ohio State: The Buckeyes had one of the best defensive players in the league in John Simon, who had 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks in a breakout season. Tackle Johnathan Hankins emerged as a disrupter at 335 pounds. But Ohio State didn't get its usual production elsewhere on the line, got beat up as the season went along and lacked depth, which is one reason why Urban Meyer went out and signed so many pass rushers in his first recruiting class.

7. Nebraska: The biggest disappointment from the preseason, as the Huskers tumbled from their No. 1 ranking last summer. Jared Crick's season-ending injury hurt the production, but he was not putting up huge numbers before he tore his pectoral muscle. Cameron Meredith, Baker Steinkuhler and Eric Martin had some nice moments, but Nebraska wasn't nearly as fierce up front as we thought it might be.

8. Purdue: Kawann Short turned in his best season, with 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks from his interior spot, while Bruce Gaston and Gerald Gooden provided solid support. But the Boilermakers' pass rush off the edge lacked explosiveness until freshman Ryan Russell started to come on late in the season. Everyone except Gooden returns, and with a new position coach Purdue hopes this unit can go from decent to great in 2012.

9. Iowa: Another disappointing crew, as the Hawkeyes proved it's not easy to replace three draft picks off the defensive line and simply reload. Mike Daniels and Broderick Binns were the senior anchors, but Iowa's pass rush was sluggish until late in the season. And there wasn't a whole lot of depth behind them. This group loses three starters and will be extremely young in 2012.

10. Northwestern: We ranked the Wildcats 10th in the preseason as well, but we still expected better things out of this group. Northwestern generated very little pressure on opposing quarterbacks and ranked last in the Big Ten in sacks. Vince Browne, a projected all-conference pick in the summer, had a subpar season with only 3.5 tackles for loss after putting up 15.5 in 2010. It's clear this group needs to get better for Northwestern to take the next step.

11. Minnesota: The Gophers weren't as terrible on the defensive front as they were in 2010, when they finished last in the nation with only nine sacks. In fact, they more than doubled that total with 19 last season. Still, it was a mostly anonymous crew that gave quarterbacks too much time to carve up the secondary in the passing game. Jerry Kill still needs to find more playmakers at this position.

12. Indiana: The Hoosiers had problems all over the defense, and the line was no exception. Adam Replogle and Larry Black gave the unit some veteran leadership in the middle, but Indiana resorted to playing a lot of kids at the defensive end spots. The results were about what you'd expect.

All Purdue has to do to get bowl eligible is to beat a 1-10 team that hasn't defeated an FBS opponent all year.

Ah, yes, but this is a rivalry game. And as we've seen already with some scores across the country Saturday, those are never as easy as they may seem.

Indiana is giving the Boilermakers everything it has in the Old Oaken Bucket game. The Hoosiers came out quite feisty, taking a 17-10 lead early while gashing Purdue's defense often. Stephen Houston had a 52-yard touchdown run and Danny Hope's team looked like it might be ripe for an upset in this rivalry for the second straight year.

But special teams -- which have been up and down for the Boilers all year -- played a big role in turning the tide in the half. Freshman Raheem Mostert, who's had a sensational season, returned a kickoff 80 yards to set up a touchdown. Carson Wiggs also drilled three field goals.

Defensive lineman Bruce Gaston also came up with a big sack of Tre Roberson in the red zone to hold IU to a field goal. Purdue's defense played better in the second quarter after giving up too many big plays right up the middle early on.

The Boilers aren't out of the woods yet by any means. But they withstood an early storm and now just have to hold on for 30 more minutes to go bowling for the first time since 2007.

Danny Hope took a brief break from entertaining recruits and preparing for Iowa to answer a phone call late Sunday afternoon.

"Sundays are nuts," the Purdue coach told ESPN.com.

What about Saturdays?

"Saturday," Hope said, "is the best day of the week."

This past Saturday certainly fit the description for Hope and his Purdue Boilermakers. It was their best day of the year. In fact, it might have been the program's best moment since its previous upset of Ohio State in 2009.

After two blowout losses on the road, Purdue returned home Saturday and breathed life into its season and its discouraged fan base with a 26-23 overtime victory against Ohio State. The Boilers outplayed the Buckeyes most of the game, nearly let it go late before making a huge special teams play and then prevailing in the extra session.

Hope's team is one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2007.

"It was a lot of fun," Hope said. "Sometimes a football team stubs its toe a couple times in a row, and they may not have the substance to bounce back. Our team showed some great mental toughness."

Purdue's resolve showed up in all three phases Saturday.

A defensive line that had surrendered 703 rush yards in losses to Michigan and Wisconsin the previous two weeks held Ohio State's high-powered ground game to 163 yards on 47 carries (3.5 ypc). Defensive tackle Kawann Short led Purdue's effort with three sacks in a performance that resembled Ryan Kerrigan's incredible day against Ohio State two years ago. Like Kerrigan did in 2009, Short earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors for his effort against the Buckeyes.

"He has a tremendous upside," Hope said. "He can still play a lot better. He can be a dominant player on the national level. You haven't seen the best of him yet."

"I was really proud of our entire defense and particularly our defensive line and linebackers," Hope continued. "They really had to man-up this weekend."

Perhaps the same can be said for Purdue's offense, which hadn't done much in the previous 10 quarters entering Saturday's game, scoring only 31 points during the span.

The Boilers on Saturday established themselves early, showing good balance on offense in the first half. Although they stalled a bit after halftime, quarterback Robert Marve sparked the unit in overtime, going 3-for-3 on pass attempts and stretching across the goal line for the game-winner.

But the biggest play, the one that might have saved Purdue's season, came on special teams, an area where the Boilers have had their ups and downs. In Week 2, Purdue lost 24-22 to Rice after a 31-yard field-goal attempt -- a chip shot for the bionic-legged Carson Wiggs -- was blocked as time expired. Hope didn't mince words after the game, saying, "It was lost on the field goal."

Purdue also struggled in the kicking game in its 23-18 loss to Penn State, missing two field goal attempts and allowing a long return.

The Boilers redeemed themselves Saturday, as defensive tackle Bruce Gaston blocked a potential game-winning extra-point attempt with 55 seconds left in regulation.

Hope and his coaches had spotted an opening in Ohio State's protection during the game.

"We changed the pressure point a little bit and found some daylight," he said.

But it was more than just scheme recognition.

"Any time they're lining up to kick an extra point or a field goal, on the defensive side you're [ticked] off anyway," he said. "You want to block the [crud] out of the ball.”

Purdue's 2009 win against Ohio State sparked the Boilers down the stretch, as they finished 4-4 in Big Ten play. But Purdue fell a win shy of a bowl game.

The 2011 Boilers hope the victory carries over as they look for back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Hope can't pinpoint why his team has given Ohio State so much trouble. But he didn't downplay what was at stake for the Boilers on Saturday.

"We had to rise up and play," He said. "We needed to win. I don't think it would have mattered this weekend who [the opponent] was.

"It was meant to be.”

Team of the week: Purdue. By beating Ohio State for the second straight time at home, the Boilermakers put themselves in position to make a bowl game for the first time since 2007 if they can beat either Iowa or Indiana in the final two weeks. Shoutouts to Nebraska for winning in a tough environment and Michigan State for exorcising its road demons as well.

Game of the week: Purdue 26, Ohio State 23. Just by going into overtime, this one would have taken the honors. There was much drama at the end, as the Buckeyes scored with 55 seconds left on a spectacular play by Braxton Miller, who hurdled prone center Mike Brewster while avoiding pressure before finding Jordan Hall across the field for a touchdown. Purdue had a chance to get within field goal range at the end of regulation but threw an ill-advised interception. A big sack by Dwayne Beckford and a tackle just before the sticks by Ricardo Allen put Ohio State at 4th and 1 on the Purdue 16 in the first overtime possession. Luke Fickell played it safe with the field goal instead of relying on his powerful running game to get one yard. That didn't work, and it might cost Fickell his job.

Biggest play: Lavonte David's stop of Silas Redd on 4th and 1 from the Penn State 37 with 1:49 left. The Nittany Lions trailed 17-14 and had all the momentum after scoring two touchdowns to get back in it, and they handed the ball to their best player on the game's biggest play. But Nebraska's star defender was better and made a great, everything-he-had tackle. That play was an illustration of why David is the Big Ten's best linebacker.

Best calls: Michigan State led 31-7 in the third quarter, but Mark Dantonio wouldn't take his foot off the gas. He called for a reverse pass, which Keshawn Martin completed for a 28-yard gain, and later in the drive the Spartans pulled off a fake field goal. You could say the plays didn't mean that much because Michigan State still ended up with just three points on that drive, and Iowa stormed back for two straight touchdowns afterward, perhaps angered by the trick plays. But I loved the fact that Dantonio signaled to his team that they were going for the kill on the road, a place where the Spartans have struggled the past couple of years. They'll need that attitude to finish off the season strong and get to Indianapolis.

Best catch: If you didn't see Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt's one-handed, on-the-run catch against Michigan State, go YouTube it now. Or check out this photo illustration. It's quite likely the catch of the year from the league's top receiver.

Big Man on Campus (Offense): Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson. So this guy has been pretty good, huh? He earned his third Big Ten player of the week award for his nearly-perfect performance against Minnesota, in which he completed 16-of-17 passes for 178 yards and four touchdowns. He was 13-of-13 in the first half, and his 94.1 completion percentage ranks as the fourth highest in a game in Big Ten history.

Big Men on Campus (Defense): Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short and Michigan defensive end Ryan Van Bergen. Half of Short's tackles against Ohio State were sacks, as he had a career-high three of those to help slow down the Buckeyes. It's his second weekly award of the season. Van Bergen had seven tackles, including a career-high 2.5 sacks, as Michigan held Illinois to just 37 yards rushing.

Big Men on Campus (Special teams): Nebraska's Brett Maher and Purdue's Bruce Gaston. Maher averaged 45 yards per punt on eight punts, placed five inside the 20-yard line and had a booming 61-yarder to pin Penn State deep late in the game. He also drilled a 41-yard field goal. Gaston blocked Ohio State's extra point attempt with 55 seconds remaining to force overtime.

Best moment: The midfield prayer between Penn State and Nebraska players after the coin toss. After a horrible week, this was a tremendous gesture by both sides to recognize the seriousness of the situation. I don't mind admitting I had goosebumps watching the scene unfold from the press box as the crowd of more than 107,000 fell to a hushed silence. Nebraska assistant coach Ron Brown, the former director of a statewide Fellowship of Christian Athletes, led the prayer. You can listen to what he said to the players here.

Funniest moment: After beating Minnesota to claim Paul Bunyan's Axe, Wisconsin players -- led by Nick Toon, Montee Ball and Aaron Henry -- grabbed the axe and pretended to chop down one of the Gophers' goal posts. Then they ran to the other side of the stadium and did it to the other goal post. Minnesota didn't like it, but to the victors go the spoils. You can see it at the beginning and end of this video. And take note, Iowa-Iowa State and Michigan State-Penn State: this is why you create cool trophies.

Worst hangover: This category is officially retired for the season. There's no way anything can match what happened at Penn State.

Five lessons from the week that was in Big Ten football.

1. Wisconsin and Michigan State are on a collision course: Saturday cleared up the Big Ten division races considerably, as Michigan State took a huge step closer to Indianapolis and Wisconsin received a major boost. The Spartans won in Iowa City for the first time since 1989, snapping a seven-game slide, and becomes the only team in the Legends division to control its own fate. Michigan State can get to Indianapolis with two wins or a win and a Nebraska loss. Wisconsin, meanwhile, benefited from losses by both Penn State and Ohio State on Saturday. The Badgers once again control their own fate in the Leaders division heading into the final two weeks. Although Penn State holds the same distinction, the Lions must visit Ohio State and Wisconsin in their final two games.

2. Nebraska is still alive for a BCS bid: One of the main reasons Nebraska's loss to Northwestern was so painful for Big Red fans -- besides the fact that it knocked the team out of first place in the Legends -- was because tough road games at Penn State and Michigan were up next. But the Huskers pulled off a 17-14 victory in State College under difficult circumstances, to set up a big showdown in Ann Arbor next week. Even if Michigan State goes on to Indianapolis, Nebraska would be in good shape for an at-large BCS bid if it won out and finished 10-2. In fact, that might be a better outcome than if the Huskers were to win the division but lose in the Big Ten title game. The losses by Boise State and Stanford on Saturday may have greatly enhanced the Big Ten's chances of getting an at-large BCS bid, and Nebraska's fan base will make it attractive to big bowls. If the Blackshirts defense can keep playing more like they did against Penn State than they did against Northwestern and Rex Burkhead continues leading the offensive charge, Bo Pelini's team could make its first BCS appearance in a decade.

3. Luke Fickell is back on the hot seat: Perhaps Fickell never left the hot seat, but he had helped his cause with three consecutive wins, highlighted by the Wisconsin triumph on Oct. 29. But Ohio State's loss Saturday at Purdue -- its second consecutive stumble in West Lafayette -- puts Fickell back in the crosshairs. The Buckeyes fell to 3-3 in Big Ten play and will have a tough time getting back in the Leaders division race with two weeks to play. Ohio State came out flat for the second consecutive week, falling behind 10-0 and 17-7. QB Braxton Miller nearly rescued the team again in the fourth quarter, but Purdue DT Bruce Gaston blocked a potential game-winning PAT try. It was a brutal way to lose, but Ohio State shouldn't have put itself in such a shaky position. After a brief reprieve, Fickell will be feeling the heat again this week.

4. Michigan's defense is carrying the team: Who would have thought this would be possible after watching the past three seasons in Ann Arbor? Michigan is leaning heavily on its defense right now and has for a good portion of the season. Mike Martin and the Wolverines held Illinois to minus-12 rush yards in the first half and just 37 for the game on 33 carries. The Michigan offense, meanwhile, is searching for greater consistency, especially from the quarterback position. The defense continued to bail out the offense at Illinois and bought enough time for the offense to get going. While Brady Hoke and his staff have to figure out what to do with Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner, the coaches have undoubtedly make improvements on defense that should help Michigan reach a good bowl.

5. The bottom of the Big Ten's bowl picture is fuzzy: The race for the final few Big Ten bowl tie-ins got a lot more interesting Saturday. Purdue's upset of Ohio State moves Danny Hope's crew one win closer to becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007. The Boilers could win out as they finish with Iowa and Indiana. Iowa, meanwhile, needs to avoid another late-season slide even though it already has reached the six-win plateau. The Hawkeyes, winless in Big Ten road games, finish at Purdue and at Nebraska. Northwestern won its third straight to return to the .500 mark. The Wildcats need only one more win to become bowl-eligible and finish with two home games (Minnesota, Michigan State). Illinois looked like a lock for a good bowl in early October after a 6-0 start, its best since 1951. But Ron Zook's crew continued its free-fall against Michigan and has dropped four straight.

Peel off the back and affix to hat. Time to recognize the stars who shined brightest in the Big Ten on Saturday.

• Northwestern WR Jeremy Ebert: Ebert had a huge day in the 28-6 win over Rice, recording 7 catches for a career-high 208 yards and two touchdowns. That included a 90-yard strike from Dan Persa that was the second-longest play in school history. Persa had a big game, too, throwing for 372 yards and four touchdowns, with a pair of interceptions.
• Michigan State RB Le'Veon Bell: The Spartans needed a spark after averaging just 67 rushing yards in their first three road games, and Bell provided it with help from his offensive line in a 37-21 victory against Iowa. Bell racked up a season-high 112 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries (5.6 ypc). He also added two receptions for 49 yards, including a 45-yarder on third-and-8 midway through the fourth quarter.
• Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson: The senior continued his assault on the record book, completing his first 16 pass attempts in Wisconsin's blowout win against Minnesota. Wilson finished the game 16-for-17 passing for 178 yards and four touchdowns. RB Montee Ball (166 rush yards, 2 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD) and WR Nick Toon (8 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TDs) also merit mentions.
• Purdue DL Bruce Gaston: He gets a sticker simply for making one play, but it was enormous. Gaston blocked Drew Basil's extra-point attempt after Ohio State had tied the score at 20 with 55 seconds left, keeping the Boilermakers alive and giving them a chance to eventually win the game 26-23 in overtime.
• Nebraska P/K Brett Maher: A secret weapon for the Huskers, Maher proved to be very important in a 17-14 win at Penn State. He averaged 45 yards on eight punts and put five inside the Nittany Lions' 20, including a 61-yarder late that pinned Penn State deep in its own territory. Maher also made a 41-yard field goal in his only attempt.
• Michigan RB Fitzgerald Toussaint: The Wolverines offense has some issues right now, but the running back spot isn't one of them. Toussaint has established himself as the team's top back. After recording 170 rush yards two weeks ago against Purdue, Toussaint racked up a career-high 192 rush yards and a touchdowns on 27 carries in Saturday's 31-14 win at Illinois. DT Mike Martin (9 tackles) merits a mention after leading a suffocating effort against the run.

Purdue no longer has Ryan Kerrigan, a first-round NFL draft pick this spring, but the Boilermakers have another star in the making on the defensive line. Junior tackle Kawann Short was named the Big Ten's co-defensive player of the week for his two-sack, 3.5 tackle-for-loss performance last week against Illinois. The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder has emerged alongside Devon Still, Jerel Worthy, John Simon and others as a standout interior lineman in this league. I recently caught up with Short on the eve of Purdue's game at Michigan for this week's Friday Q&A:

What has been the key to your success so far this season?

Kawann Short: Just watching film, doing what the coaches tell me to do. I'm trying to be consistent, to not let up in practice and go hard all the time. And it's showing up in the games on Saturday.

Danny Hope said your improved conditioning has been a big key. How has that helped you this season?

KS: It's been a dramatic change from my freshman year to now. My weight has fluctuated, but it's also about being muscular and just pushing myself, really. As a young guy, you're really not always pushing yourself as hard as you could. As an older guy, I want to set an example for the younger guys.

How many more snaps can you play now with your better conditioning?

KS: I can play a whole game. At Penn State, I played the whole game, and at the end of the day, it wasn't bad. Last year, I could probably play no more than like 50 or 60 snaps. On Saturday [against Illinois], I played like 70 or 80, and I felt pretty good about it.

Are you seeing a lot more double teams now?

KS: Yeah. People told me it was going to happen. Teams see you getting better, and they start focusing on you more. I don't even acknowledge it, just because I've been in that position before. Now it's time for the younger guys to step up and beat the one-on-ones.

What did you learn in playing next to Ryan Kerrigan?

KS: Just as far as his intensity and energy and his drive. I've never seen that man take a play off or even mess up in a game. I'm trying to be like him now, where in meetings you never hear my name except when they say, "Good job here" or "Good job there." Playing next to Ryan gave me that energy, knowing that you've got to go every time you put your hand down in the grass and don't even think about tiredness. That's the biggest thing I learned from him.

Did you feel responsibility to become more of a leader after he left?

KS: Well, Gerald Gooden is the leader and a captain. But we're the two older guys on the line, so we have to set an example. He's doing it for the defensive ends, and I'm doing it for the tackles.

What was it like Saturday when you guys beat a ranked team for the first time since 2009?

KS: It felt great after the win. Holding them scoreless until the fourth quarter was a blessing, and it was great to see the whole team coming together like that. Now we know we're capable of doing it. Every Saturday, any team can be beat and you just have to be ready to play and bring it. We're going to try to do that the rest of these Saturdays in the conference.

You need two more wins, but do you feel like you guys can get to a bowl game for the first time since 2007?

KS: Most definitely. It's a must. We've got to. We've been out too long, and everybody is just hungry. We've been going home for Christmas and watching other teams and players and knowing we could be playing. We're trying not to go home this year.

Would not making a bowl be a disappointment now?

KS: Yeah, just because now we're a whole lot better team. Everybody's mindset is definitely different and we're working hard. That would hurt us. It would be a sharp pain in our stomachs just to know we could have been bowl eligible but we didn't do it.

What are the challenges for a defensive lineman when facing Denard Robinson this weekend?

KS: Just his quickness. You have to stay true to your assignments, because if you have any little mess-up, he can take off. He's a very good quarterback and runner. As far as the D-line, we've got to stay in our gaps. We've got to keep control and keep contain. If we do that, we should be in good shape.

You have four blocked kicks in your career. What's the secret to that?

KS: To be honest, I'm not doing it by myself. The guy next me helps me to get the push. All I'm doing is throwing my arms up and jumping a little bit. Ryan Kerrigan helped me do it a couple times. Bruce Gaston, Ryan Isaac and Brandon Taylor, all those guys helped me get one. I can't take all the credit, knowing those guys were with me all the time. All you need is that good push and to throw your hands up.

Is it true you didn't play football until eighth grade?

KS: Yeah. A lot of people were in my head telling me to go play. When I went to high school I wasn't even going to play, but one of the coaches told me to try out. I just stuck with it because it was something I was good at. I was more of a basketball player, but when I learned I could do both, I stuck with it.

And you won an Indiana state title in basketball with former Purdue star E'Twaun Moore as your high school teammate?

KS: It was in 2007, his senior year and my junior year. That was a great year, because it was also the year I committed to Purdue.

What position did you play?

KS: I played center. We had a 6-11 guy, but he played the 4 and the 3. I was going up against guys who were like 6-6, 6-7, but I was handling it pretty well. My big body kept me going.

You must have been a pretty good rebounder.

KS: Yeah, that was where all my points came off of. I was a double-double guy.

When did you know football was your future?

KS: Probably my sophomore year. I was just playing basketball because I really enjoyed myself and I couldn't see myself not playing. It helped me stay in condition and helped me get my footwork and coordination right. So it was definitely a plus.

Purdue linebacker Joe Holland has some personal motivation to beat Notre Dame this week. Both of Holland's parents and his grandfather graduated from the school in South Bend, and though the Irish recruited Holland out of high school, "they didn't recruit me like Purdue did," he says.

Holland doesn't want to finish his Boilermakers career without beating Notre Dame, so stopping the three-game losing streak in this rivalry is a high priority. But while Holland might be the happiest guy in Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday night if Purdue wins, he realizes this game is more than just personal. It's an important opportunity for the entire program.

"The stage is definitely set," he told ESPN.com. "It's a huge game because of the opponent, it's a huge game because of the stage we're on. It would mean a lot for our team to get this one and to get some momentum going into the rest of the season."

Forward momentum has been hard to come by lately for the Boilers. They haven't had a winning season since 2007 and failed to make a bowl game in each of coach Danny Hope's first two years. Hope's first season included an upset of then-No. 7 Ohio State at home and a road triumph over Michigan. The team beat Northwestern on the road last year with a true freshman quarterback starting.

But Purdue (2-1) comes into this week with a six-game losing streak against BCS AQ teams. The program has been beset by injuries and hasn't registered on the national radar for a while now. Simply put, Hope and the players need something positive to happen. While Notre Dame is unranked and already owns two losses, beating the Irish would provide a good start.

"A win against Notre Dame would be a signature win," Hope said. "It would create great confidence for our football team. It certainly would receive a lot of national attention, and I think it would be a great sign for the direction the program is going in. It could also impact recruiting in some ways."

It's hard to say just how good this Boilermakers team is. It beat Middle Tennessee in the opener by blocking a field goal attempt on the last play, then lost the following week at Rice when its own late field goal try was rebuffed. A 59-0 win over Southeast Missouri State was good for confidence building and saw the return of quarterback Robert Marve to the lineup, but Southeast Missouri State has about as much in common with Notre Dame as West Lafayette does with Rio de Janeiro.

"We're still developing," Hope said. "This football team has great potential. I think it's one of those teams that will get better and better."

Purdue hangs its hat on its running game, which ranks 11th nationally with 258 yards per game on the ground. The return of Ralph Bolden from a knee injury and the addition of junior college transfer Akeem Shavers has given the backfield two fast, powerful ball carriers. Junior quarterback Caleb TerBush was pressed into starting duty when Rob Henry went down with a knee injury in preseason camp. TerBush has played well enough to retain the starting job over the veteran Marve, though Hope plans to play both quarterbacks.

The defense has solid experience on the back end and is led by its interior playmakers up front. Kawann Short and sophomores Bruce Gaston and Ryan Isaac have been disruptive from their defensive tackle positions.

"The games where we've been able to completely shut down the run have been our defensive tackles' best games," Holland said. "Kawann is a monster up front, and he's stringing together a couple of really good seasons. Bruce and Ryan are younger guys who are very, very developed and very strong. Both have the potential to be great players inside."

Purdue will need to play its best game to stop a Notre Dame team that could be undefeated if not for all its turnover problems. The Boilers have had an extra week to prepare thanks to a bye last week. It came at a good time, because they got to focus their attention on what looks like a key game in the program's trajectory.

"If things don't work out right, it's not the end of the world," Hope said. "But a win on Saturday could change our world in some ways."

Purdue announced an addition to its defensive line Wednesday, as defensive tackle Calvin Smith has transferred to the school from New Mexico.

The 6-5, 280-pound sophomore appeared in all 12 games for the Lobos last season, recording 12 tackles and a sack. He will sit out the 2011 season and be eligible next year.

You might remember Smith from signing day in 2010, when he chose New Mexico ahead of several higher-profile programs, including Alabama. It was a major coup for ace recruiter Mike Locksley, but things didn't work out for Smith in Albuquerque.

According to a news release, Smith chose Purdue as his transfer destination over Nebraska, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Miami and Alabama. Some pretty impressive options there.

The Hialeah, Fla., native will join the large group of Floridians on Purdue's roster and enter a defensive tackle rotation led be Kawann Short and Bruce Gaston in 2012.

How do you replace Superman?

"You pray and pray and pray that hopefully he comes back," Purdue defensive coordinator Gary Emanuel said.

Unfortunately for Emanuel and the Boilers, all the prayer in the world won't magically tack on an extra year to Ryan Kerrigan's eligibility. Or make him pass up millions as a likely first-round pick in April's NFL draft.

Kerrigan's college career is over, and Purdue now must figure out how to move on without the unanimous All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The Boilers are looking to replace a guy led the nation in tackles for loss (26, 2.17 per game), tied for third in sacks (12.5, 1.04 per game) and tied for second in forced fumbles (5).

"It's hard to replace one of the best players in the history of the school," Emanuel said. "You get the guys out there to do the best they can. You might manufacture it through some different ways."

Purdue will lean on Gerald Gooden more this fall as he returns to a starting role. The 6-3, 235-pound senior contributed 35 tackles, two forced fumbles and four tackles for loss in 2010, but he has struggled to stay healthy at times.

Emanuel also is looking to Robert Maci, who recorded 17 tackles and two sacks as a reserve last fall, as well as young players like redshirt freshman Rashad Frazier.

Although questions swirl at end, the defensive tackles look good.

Kawann Short quietly was one of the Big Ten's most productive defensive tackles in 2010, finishing fourth in the league in both sacks (6) and tackles for loss (12.5). Although Kerrigan earned the accolades, Purdue's entire defensive front took a step forward as the Boilers led the Big Ten in both sacks (33) and tackles for loss (91). Bruce Gaston, a true sophomore, adds to the mix at defensive tackle after recording 4.5 tackles for loss last fall.

"We feel we have some depth there," Emanuel said.

The line also could get a lift from a secondary that returns intact. A new-look group in 2010 showed promise as cornerback Ricardo Allen recorded two pick-sixes and Logan Link provided leadership from the safety spot.

Purdue needs a strong group effort to replace Kerrigan, a message Emanuel has stressed this spring.

"Any time you lose a great player, you want everybody else to step up and do more, do their job better," Emanuel said. "That was the challenge they were presented with, and they're really looking forward to stepping up and accepting it.

"Guys want you to forget about Ryan. That's hard to do, but that's the attitude they have and the attitude they should have."

Why did Purdue miss a bowl for the third consecutive season?

There's an easy answer and a more complicated one.

No college football team in the country endured more major injuries to key offensive players than Purdue did in 2010. The Boilers lost starting running back Ralph Bolden, the Big Ten's third-leading rusher in 2009, to an ACL tear in spring ball. All-Big Ten receiver Keith Smith was the next to go down, tearing both his ACL and MCL after recording 18 receptions in the first two games.

More bad news arrived in Week 4 as starting quarterback Robert Marve tore his ACL against Toledo, marking the second knee ligament tear for the Miami transfer in 15 months. Since backup quarterback Caleb TerBush was ruled ineligible just before the season, Purdue had to turn to a redshirt freshman, Rob Henry, who had auditioned at other positions in spring ball.

But Henry wasn't immune to the injury bug, either, suffering a laceration on his throwing hand against Ohio State after leading Purdue to back-to-back Big Ten wins. Justin Siller, the team's No. 2 wide receiver and a former starting quarterback in 2008, was sidelined with a foot injury, so Purdue turned to true freshman Sean Robinson at quarterback. When Siller returned to the field Nov. 13 against Michigan, he started at quarterback but re-injured his foot on the first play from scrimmage.

It was that kind of season for Purdue.

The injury wave certainly qualifies as a valid reason why the Boilers missed a bowl.

But Purdue still had a chance to go to the postseason despite all its misfortune on the health front.

The Boilers played Wisconsin tough for a half and had chances to win each of their final three games, squandering late leads against both Michigan State and Indiana. They boasted the Big Ten's best defender in end Ryan Kerrigan, the Big Ten's top freshman defender in cornerback Ricardo Allen, an improved defensive front and several offensive playmakers.

Why couldn't the Boilers get over the hump?

They still made too many major mistakes at inopportune times, like getting a punt blocked near the goal line late in the Michigan State game. Purdue ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in several special-teams categories and struggled on third downs on both sides of the ball.

The Boilers certainly have the potential to end their bowl drought in 2011, especially if all the injured players get healthy. Smith has applied for a sixth year of eligibility and should receive it, and the return of players like Marve and Bolden will spark the league's worst offense. A new-look secondary this fall becomes a more experienced unit in 2011 with players like Allen and safety Logan Link leading the way.

Purdue's biggest challenge will be replacing Kerrigan. Although the Boilers led the Big Ten in both sacks (33) and tackles for loss (91), Kerrigan accounted for big chunks of those totals (12.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss). Coach Danny Hope needs linemen like Kawann Short and Bruce Gaston to keep making progress.

It's unrealistic to think Purdue will replace Kerrigan, but the team's depth throughout the defense should be better in 2011.

And if the offense gets healthy, the Boilers will be bowling next year.

This week, I revealed my 2010 All-Big Ten squad. There were surprisingly few complaints, which is nice for a change.

Now it's time to honor the league's top freshmen. Both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the team.

Not surprisingly, several positions had plenty of good options (running back, tight end, defensive back), while it was a bit of a challenge to fill out the spots for both lines. I'm going with a full-house backfield and a 3-4 defense for this squad.

And away we go ...

OFFENSE

QB: Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois
RB: James White, Wisconsin
RB: Silas Redd, Penn State
RB: Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State
WR: Duwyce Wilson, Indiana
WR: Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin
TE: Ted Bolser, Indiana
OL: Taylor Lewan, Michigan
OL: Ed Olson, Minnesota
OL: Nolan MacMillan, Iowa
OL: Andrew Norwell, Ohio State
OL: Ryan Groy, Wisconsin

DEFENSE

DL: Akeem Spence, Illinois
DL: Bruce Gaston, Purdue
DL: Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State
LB: James Morris, Iowa
LB: Will Lucas, Purdue
LB: Jonathan Brown, Illinois
LB: Max Bullough, Michigan State
DB: Ricardo Allen, Purdue
DB: Malcolm Willis, Penn State
DB: Greg Heban, Indiana
DB: Cameron Gordon, Michigan

SPECIALISTS


K: Mitch Ewald, Indiana
P: Cody Webster, Purdue
KR: Jaamal Berry, Ohio State
PR: Venric Mark, Northwestern

Selections by team: Purdue (4), Indiana (4), Illinois (3), Ohio State (3), Wisconsin (3), Michigan (2), Michigan State (2), Iowa (2), Penn State (2), Northwestern (1), Minnesota (1)

Purdue's recent struggles in defending the run just don't add up.

The Boilers have had their share of outstanding defenders the last two seasons, particularly in the front seven. Remember these names?

• All-Big Ten end Ryan Kerrigan has recorded 20 sacks, 30 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles in the last pwo seasons.
• Tackle Mike Neal recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks last fall before becoming a second-round pick in the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
• Linebacker Jason Werner racked up 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles last fall.
• Safety Torri Williams recorded 167 tackles in his final two seasons as a Boilermaker.
• Tackle Alex Magee was a third-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs after finishing his Purdue career in 2008.
• Another lineman who played in 2008, Ryan Baker, is now with the Miami Dolphins.

With so many individual standouts, how has Purdue finished last in the Big Ten in rushing defense in each of the past two seasons?

"It's everybody against the run," co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Gary Emanuel told me Tuesday night. "It's not just the front seven, it's not just the back end. It's everybody, together."

Purdue has struggled to find that cohesion on a consistent basis. Gaps haven't always been controlled. The line hasn't always fit where it's supposed to. And when opposing ball-carriers break through the first wall of defenders, tackles haven't always been made.

Enter Emanuel, a seasoned defensive line coach whose extensive résumé includes a previous stint at Purdue from 1997-2004. He worked alongside current Boilers head coach Danny Hope from 1997-2001 and mentored standout linemen like Anthony Spencer, Shaun Phillips and Akin Ayodele.

When Emanuel returned to West Lafayette, he saw a defense that had the parts but didn't always play well as a whole.

The best news?

"The biggest thing is we don't have guys with a bunch of egos," Emanuel said.

Kerrigan sets the tone for the group. He's one of the nation's best pass rushers, but you'd never guess it if you met him off the field.

Emanuel sees similarities between Kerrigan and the other stars he has coached, including Spencer, Phillips and former Boiler Rob Ninkovich.

"They loved football, they didn't have egos, they loved practicing, they loved to play, they were interested in learning and they wanted to be good," Emanuel said. "He's [Kerrigan] probably one of the more coachable big-time players I've been around. He has no ego at all."

Kerrigan and junior end Gerald Gooden have taken charge of the group, but Emanuel also likes his young linemen like Kawann Short, Brandon Taylor, Justin Kitchens and Bruce Gaston, a true freshman who should see the field this fall. He hopes the sum of the parts finally stuffs the run in 2010.

"You have to do some scheming, but it’s basically fundamentals: emphasize tackling a little bit more, having a system of tackling, having a team that runs to the ball, emphasizing 11 hats to the ball," Emanuel said of his preseason plan. "It's a work in progress.

"It’s not going to be fixed overnight, but it has to be."