ESPN College Football

Mark Dantonio attributes much of his success at both Cincinnati and Michigan State to staff continuity, as he has been able to keep his assistants together. But for the first time in his Michigan State tenure, Dantonio had to replace an assistant after running backs coach Dan Enos left in January for the top job at Central Michigan. Dantonio settled on Brad Salem, a former MSU graduate assistant who spent the last five years as head coach at Division II Augustana College in South Dakota. Salem will oversee a running back group led by talented sophomores Larry Caper and Edwin Baker, but a group that loses several players from 2009.

I had the chance to catch up with Salem on Wednesday as he settled into his new job.

I know you had some ties to coach Dantonio. Are there a lot of familiar faces at Michigan State from your first stint there?

Brad Salem: Yeah, absolutely. That's the neat part. A lot of the support staff were here when I was here before, so there's obviously comfort in that, the people that take care of you.

What's the biggest adjustment from being a head coach in D-II to a position coach at this level?

Salem: It's the dynamics of being in charge of 100 guys [at Augustana] to a position coach, where there's anywhere from eight to 12, depending on what you recruit. I'm excited about the change, from the aspect of you get to focus on those guys. You almost get back a little bit more into the coaching role, the technique and the fundamentals of coaching a position.

Was it your goal to get back to the FBS level?

Salem: As an opportunity, it's something you can't pass up. I was very fortunate to be a head coach at a young age and follow in the footsteps of my dad. My father was a coach for 22 years. One of the things in coaching is you can't control the dynamics of where you go and when. That's what you understand. That process is out of your hands, so when opportunities like this present themselves, you get very excited to come back to a place you were 15 years ago. Knowing coach Dantonio and what he stands for, it's great to be a part of that, to be a part of something special.

How much did you work with the running game and specifically the running backs at Augustana?

Salem: As a head coach, I jumped around to different positions. I was on the offensive side, calling plays, so wherever there was a need, whether it was running backs, QBs or receivers, I was piecing it all together and coaching young coaches and teaching them those positions. You're familiar with [running back], absolutely, as one of the skill positions on offense.

How familiar are you with the running backs at Michigan State? Have you had a chance to look at tape or talk to them?

Salem: Yeah, I had the chance to meet them and watch them in workouts, doing the offseason stuff, and just seeing the cutups and seeing what their ability is. You've got two real special kids [Caper and Baker], and to get experience in the Big Ten as a freshman, there's a lot of value in it. They're going to just continue to grow as you go through spring ball and jump into the fall.

What are your early impressions of those two, Caper and Baker?

Salem: They can definitely be special backs. They both have unique styles, a little bit different from one another. But the great thing is, just getting to know them a little bit, is there's really a unique relationship. Very competitive, but they're even going to room [together] next year, and they're guys who understand being part of a team and part of a family. By size, Larry is a bigger guy, powerful, very good hands coming out of the backfield. There's maybe a little more quickness with Edwin, but you've got to watch a little bit more and study them. I'll find out more about that as we go through the spring.

Are numbers at all a concern for you because you'll be down a few guys from 2009 [Caulton Ray, Andre Anderson, Ashton Leggett, Glenn Winston]?

Salem: For spring, we're sitting pretty good. We've got some real solid guys at the fullback position, and then we've got the two early entry kids, Nick Hill and Leveon Bell. So those two incoming freshmen are here right now, so it gives us at least four tailbacks. Numbers are not the issue at my position, which is nice.

From a recruiting standpoint, you're replacing Dan, who was a great recruiter and really helped Michigan State. How has it been with recruiting and reconnecting in that area?

Salem: As a head coach, you're closing the deal and overseeing the whole process, recruiting the Midwest in that respect. Recruiting is the No. 1 issue with any program, and you've got to be able to do that and be successful because it's the kids that you get in your program. The approach here is it's very much a team-oriented recruiting process with the regional coach and then the position coach and then obviously the head coach to close the deal. So you fit in as we divide up areas. But I'm really excited to get going in the recruiting aspect of this job.

Have you talked about which regions you'll recruit?

Salem: We're just dividing up now. Each of us will get a piece of Michigan and then a secondary area. We're still trying to figure out where that'll be in the Midwest. You've just got to capture these kids in the region first. That's the priority. And you go from there. I'm touching base, e-mailing, calling the local guys right now, just so they see who I am.

It's time to take a look back at the popular best case-worst case series, which examined the best and worst outcomes, within reason, for each Big Ten team before the 2009 season. Let's see who reached the ceiling and who crashed and burned.

I'll do these in random order, picking Big Ten mini helmets out of a bag, to limit the inevitable claims of favoritism.

Michigan State leads off.

In case you missed it: Michigan State's best case-worst case.

Best-case synopsis: The Spartans start off 5-0, carry a top-20 ranking into November, finish the regular season at 11-1 and beat undefeated Boise State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. ... Kicker Brett Swenson wins the Lou Groza Award. ... Linebacker Greg Jones has a huge junior season and elects to return for 2010. ... The Spartans' secondary emerges as a play-making unit and steps up big in wins against Western Michigan and Boise State.

Worst-case synopsis: Michigan State falls short of expectations, never resolves its quarterback situation, gets very little production from the run game and the defensive line struggles. ... Jones declares for the NFL draft. ... Several top in-state recruits switch their commitments to archrival Michigan. ... The Spartans finish at 5-7 and miss a bowl.

You can't handle the truth: (quotes from the original post) "The quarterback competition never truly gets resolved." ... "Despite more bodies in the secondary, the Spartans miss All-Big Ten safety Otis Wiley." ... "With back-to-back wins against Michigan, Spartan Nation takes the high road and avoids putting celebratory billboards all over the state." ... "Wins against Western Michigan and Purdue give Michigan State a chance at salvaging a minor bowl game." ... "The Spartans stumble badly against Penn State for the second straight year." ... "Jones wins the league's defensive player of the year award."

Lies, lies, lies: "Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol both perform well in a shared role before one -- we'll go with Nichol -- takes the reins for the Notre Dame game." ... "Redshirt freshman Caulton Ray leads the way at running back and gets plenty of help from true frosh Larry Caper and Edwin "The Rock" Baker." ... "The Spartans actually exceed expectations and take another step in their evolution." ... "After handling Purdue, the Spartans host Penn State with a share of the Big Ten title on the line." ... "High expectations have been the kiss of death before in East Lansing, but Michigan State proves it has turned a corner under head coach Mark Dantonio."

Reality check: Unfortunately for Michigan State, things ended up a lot closer to the worst-case scenario. Inconsistency plagued the team, especially on defense, and Michigan State started 1-3 before stabilizing a bit. Michigan State beat only one FBS team with a winning record (Northwestern) but still got into a bowl game for the third straight year. The biggest blow took place after the regular season as an incident at a residence hall led to two dismissals and 11 suspensions.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Michigan State running backs Caulton Ray and Andre Anderson have been removed from the active roster, head coach Mark Dantonio said Wednesday.

Ray started the first four games this season before giving way to true freshman Larry Caper, who leads the team with 366 rush yards and six touchdowns. Anderson slipped down the depth chart at the end of spring ball and was basically an afterthought at running back after Caper and classmate Edwin Baker arrived this summer. He has just two carries in seven games.

Ray has 40 carries for 156 yards and a touchdown.

According to a team official, Ray and Anderson aren't involved in any legal problems and remain enrolled at the university but not participating in any team activities.

This isn't a major surprise at all, considering how Michigan State pushed the rushing load toward Caper, Baker and sophomore Glenn Winston, who shared duties with Caper before suffering a season-ending injury against Illinois. Michigan State decided not to redshirt Baker rather than going back to Ray or Anderson, so you can bet playing time was an issue here.

Don't be surprised to see either Ray or Anderson -- or both -- seeking a transfer in the near future.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As originally feared, Michigan State sophomore running back Glenn Winston has a torn ACL in his right knee and will undergo season-ending surgery Thursday, head coach Mark Dantonio announced Sunday night.

Winston, the team's second-leading rusher with 204 yards and two touchdowns, sustained the injury in the first half of Saturday's win against Illinois. The 6-2, 218-pound sophomore entered the running back rotation in camp. He rejoined the team after serving four months in jail for his role on a fight that seriously injured Michigan State hockey player A.J. Sturges.

"He’s had a tough year," Dantonio told reporters in East Lansing. "He needs to refocus on academics and getting healthy. It’s another opportunity, if you look at it, for him to go through some more adversity. He was starting to play very well, and it’s too bad because he was doing well and doing everything he was supposed to do and he will continue to do those things.

The news was more promising for Spartans backup quarterback Keith Nichol, who is day-to-day with a left (non-throwing) elbow injury sustained against Illinois. Michigan State thought Nichol's injury was more severe than it turned out to be.

Without Winston, freshman Larry Caper will take on a greater load at running back. Michigan State needs Caulton Ray and others to step up as well.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

In honor of the dude working the register at my local UPS store, who bears an eerily close resemblance to The Dude, I give you this:

Maude Lebowski: What do you do for recreation?

The Dude: Oh, the usual. I bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback.

• Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock didn't actually say it, but expect Jermale Hines to replace Anderson Russell at safety against USC, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. High-profile players like Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor will always attract attention, even from the NCAA, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The criticism of Pryor's Michael Vick tribute is misguided and hypocritical, Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel writes. USC boasts an endless supply of running backs, but junior Joe McKnight has risen to the top, colleague Ted Miller writes.
• Arrelious Benn should be back for Illinois this week, but several other wide receivers are being shuffled, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• The Big Ten's national reputation is on the line this week, Rivals.com's experts agree.
• Tandon Doss hopes to become Indiana's No. 1 wide receiver this fall, Terry Hutchens writes in The Indianapolis Star.
• A fascinating piece from annarbor.com's Michael Rothstein on how Sept. 11 hits home for Michigan offensive lineman John Ferrara and his family. The Michigan-Notre Dame game actually carries some bragging rights this year, Bob Wojnowski writes in The Detroit News. It looks like Michigan should have Brandon Minor back on the field Saturday, Mark Synder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Redshirt freshman Caulton Ray once again will lead the way for Michigan State's running backs on Saturday, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Wisconsin players are taking extra precautions against the spread of the flu, though the team's core contributors should be ready for Fresno State, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Talented Minnesota quarterback MarQueis Gray accepts his role in the offense behind Adam Weber, Kent Youngblood writes in the Star Tribune.
• Penn State young wide receivers have waited their turn, Jeff Rice writes in the Centre Daily Times.
• Despite Iowa's recent struggles against Iowa State, Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz sees no reason to drop the series, The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Mike Hlas writes in his Hlog. Iowa's offensive line should look whole again in Ames, Marc Morehouse writes in The Gazette.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Big Ten football is here!

If you could see me right now, I'd be doing my happy dance. On second thought, it's probably better you don't see me.

Anyway, after this Sahara of an offseason, I'm excited to start blogging about actual games again.

Here's a quick rundown of what's on tap for the opening weekend in the Big Ten:

THURSDAY

Eastern Kentucky at Indiana, 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

Indiana debuts the pistol offense against FCS Eastern Kentucky, a team that enjoyed good success under current Purdue head coach Danny Hope from 2003-07. Keep an eye on the Hoosiers' running back race, as three or four backs, including dynamic redshirt freshman Darius Willis, are expected to get carries. Coming off a 3-9 season, Indiana needs a strong start from its defense, who will face Colonels quarterback Cody Watts, a converted wide receiver who led the team in touchdown receptions (5) last season.

SATURDAY

Towson at Northwestern, noon ET, Big Ten Network

The Wildcats shouldn't have much trouble with Towson, a team that went 3-9 last season and still hasn't decided on its starting quarterback. But this will be a chance for Northwestern senior quarterback Mike Kafka and a new crop of starting skill players to get comfortable and gain confidence. Star defensive end Corey Wootton returns to the field after recovering from a torn ACL, and true freshman running back Arby Fields likely will see a lot of work.

Montana State at Michigan State, noon ET, Big Ten Network

All eyes will be on the Spartans' offensive backfield, where position battles at both quarterback and running back have intensified. Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol both are expected to play a lot, but who creates separation will be key. Michigan State coaches told ESPN.com last week that running backs Caulton Ray, Larry Caper and Edwin Baker likely will enter the season as the top ball carriers. Montana State also remains unsettled at quarterback with Mark Iddins and Cody Kempt competing for the top spot.

Navy at No. 6 Ohio State, noon ET, ESPN

Before a much anticipated rematch with USC, Ohio State must get past Navy, which always provides a challenge but doesn't appear to be as strong as it is in most years. Terrelle Pryor's progress from Year 1 to Year 2 will be interesting to watch, and I'm also very curious about the left tackle position. Will Andrew Miller or J.B. Shugarts emerge as the answer to protect Pryor's blind side?

Akron at No. 9 Penn State, noon ET, Big Ten Network

Whether it's fair or not, everyone expects a blowout here, and Penn State needs to deliver. The Lions' schedule forces the team not only to win, but win in very impressive fashion. Penn State can build confidence at wide receiver and offensive line against Akron, which ranked 90th nationally in total defense last fall. Akron quarterback Chris Jacquemain is pretty solid and will provide a good test for a new-look Penn State secondary.

Minnesota at Syracuse, noon ET, ESPN2

What is it about Minnesota and dome stadiums? The Golden Gophers thought they had rid themselves of domes for good by moving out of the Metrodome last fall, but they head indoors again to face Syracuse. Emotions will be high in the Carrier Dome as the Doug Marrone era begins and former Duke basketball player Greg Paulus starts at quarterback. Minnesota is the better team here, and as long as the Gophers keep their composure and don't struggle too much with their new pro-style offense, they should be fine.

Toledo at Purdue, noon ET, Big Ten Network

The Danny Hope era begins in West Lafayette as Purdue takes on Toledo, which also welcomes in a new coach (Tim Beckman). It will be interesting to watch how much the Boilers offense has changed under coordinator Gary Nord. Running back is arguably Purdue's deepest position, and backs like Jaycen Taylor, Ralph Bolden and Frank Halliburton all should get work. Boilers quarterback Joey Elliott needs to be aware of Toledo star safety Barry Church, a Nagurski Award candidate.

Northern Iowa at No. 22 Iowa, noon ET, Big Ten Network

This isn't your run-of-the-mill FBS vs. FCS beatdown. It could turn out that way, but Northern Iowa is pretty good and Iowa has some issues at running back. Former walk-on Paki O'Meara likely will get the start at running back for the Hawkeyes. Former Wisconsin linebacker Elijah Hodge, whose brother Abdul starred for Iowa, is making his debut with Northern Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has won the last 14 meetings in the series stretching back to 1898.

Western Michigan at Michigan, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

There's plenty of intrigue here, and I'll be on hand to watch it. Michigan tries to win its first opener since 2006 and close the book on a disastrous 2008 season. The Wolverines could use three quarterbacks (Nick Sheridan, Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson) in the game, and they must try to contain a really good signal-caller (Tim Hiller) on the other side. Perhaps the biggest question is how Michigan will come out after the allegations from players about NCAA rule violations within the program. Can Michigan keep it together for a critical opener?

Illinois vs. Missouri (at St. Louis), 3:40 p.m. ET, ESPN

Easily the best matchup of a pretty bland opening weekend, Illinois and Missouri meet in what is usually an extremely entertaining game. Illinois returns more experience on offense and really needs a win to start a tough opening stretch. A key matchup pairs Illini quarterback Juice Williams and Missouri star linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who recently Tweeted he'd "squeeze the pulp out of Juice." Williams set the total offense record at Edward Jones Dome in his last appearance against Missouri and needs a repeat performance.

Northern Illinois at Wisconsin, 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

Week 1 wraps up with a night game at Camp Randall Stadium, where Wisconsin's surprise starting backfield of Scott Tolzien and Zach Brown takes on Northern Illinois. The Badgers likely will play both Tolzien and redshirt freshman Curt Phillips at quarterback, but Tolzien will have the first chance to create some separation. Versatile NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish provides a good challenge for a Wisconsin defense replacing five starters in the front seven.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The fifth installment in a series examining the best and worst outcomes, within reason, for each Big Ten squad.



BEST CASE

A young offensive backfield blossoms, Greg Jones headlines a deeper defense and the Spartans actually exceed expectations and take another step in their evolution.

High expectations have been the kiss of death before in East Lansing, but Michigan State proves it has turned a corner under head coach Mark Dantonio. Michigan State relies on its seasoned defense early as the competitions get settled at both running back and quarterback. Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol both perform well in a shared role before one -- we'll go with Nichol -- takes the reins for the Notre Dame game. Redshirt freshman Caulton Ray leads the way at running back and gets plenty of help from true frosh Larry Caper and Edwin "The Rock" Baker. Nichol capitalizes on an improved receiving corps and the Big Ten's deepest crop of tight ends, while Jones wins the league's defensive player of the year award.

Michigan State has no trouble in the opener, and the defense steps up big against Central Michigan and dangerous quarterback Dan LeFevour, who throws only one touchdown pass in a 38-13 loss. The team then heads to Spartan Stadium South and beats Notre Dame there for the seventh consecutive time. Entering the Top 25 rankings for the first time this season, Michigan State travels to Madison and gets a big performance from its stable of running backs against the Badgers.

The team improves to 5-0 and further shows the tide has turned in the state by beating archrival Michigan 31-10. Nichol exploits a weak Wolverines secondary for three touchdown passes, while Jones introduces himself to freshmen quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson. With back-to-back wins against Michigan, Spartan Nation takes the high road and avoids putting celebratory billboards all over the state.

Michigan State's toughest stretch of the season follows with games against Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa and Minnesota. The team stumbles once, most likely at Illinois, but maintains a top-20 ranking heading into November. Western Michigan provides a big test for the Spartans' deep secondary, but Chris L. Rucker and Trenton Robinson both record interceptions in a 38-24 win. After handling Purdue, the Spartans host Penn State with a share of the Big Ten title on the line. Veteran kicker Brett Swenson secures his soon-to-be Lou Groza Award by nailing the game-winning 52-yard field goal as Michigan State prevails.

Ohio State reaches the Rose Bowl, but Michigan State lands a second BCS bowl berth and heads to the Fiesta Bowl, where it faces undefeated Boise State. The Spartans' secondary plays its
best game of the season as the team survives to finish 12-1. Jones elects to remain in East Lansing for his senior year. The recruits continue to file in. Dantonio says he'll coach MSU forever.


WORST CASE

A young backfield falters behind a flimsy line, mediocre statistics translate to mediocre results and cries of "Same Old Sparty" return as Michigan State falls short of expectations.

The quarterback competition never truly gets resolved as neither Cousins nor Nichol show enough consistency at the helm of the offense. Michigan State discovers that life without Javon Ringer stinks. An offensive line that looks a little shaky right now becomes a major weakness, and the defensive front doesn't fare much better in stopping the run. Opponents gear their blocking schemes toward Jones and no one else steps up. Despite more bodies in the secondary, the Spartans miss All-Big Ten safety Otis Wiley.

After a ho-hum win against Montana State, the Spartans find themselves on the ropes against LeFevour and Central Michigan before prevailing in overtime. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and a veteran Fighting Irish offensive line dominate the Spartans the next week in South Bend, as Notre Dame ends its home losing streak to Michigan State in convincing fashion. In a true swing game, Michigan State blows a 21-point lead at Wisconsin and falls on a last-minute field goal set up by an interception and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

More mistakes follow at home against Michigan, as Swenson has a field goal attempt blocked just before halftime and the Wolverines take it 80 yards the other way for a touchdown. Dantonio rips his coaches in his pre-halftime interview and then is seen slapping himself as he runs to the locker room. Michigan blows out the Spartans in the second half, sending fans to the exits midway through the fourth quarter.

The Spartans drop their fourth straight at Illinois, unable to keep pace with the Illini and their dynamic offense. Michigan State splits its next two home games before stumbling again at Minnesota. Wins against Western Michigan and Purdue give Michigan State a chance at salvaging a minor bowl game, but the Spartans stumble badly against Penn State for the second straight year. Evan Royster runs for 200 yards and the Spartans allow six sacks in a 45-7 loss.

Jones leaves early for the NFL draft. For the first time at Michigan State, Dantonio says goodbye to a key assistant (actually three of them). Several top in-state recruits switch their commitments from Michigan State to Michigan, which finishes the season 10-2 and wins the Capital One Bowl.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's quarterback competition remains virtually deadlocked, but the Spartans are seeing some separation in the race to replace All-American running back Javon Ringer.

The team has several veteran options at running back -- senior A.J. Jimmerson and sophomores Ashton Leggett and Andre Anderson all have played -- but the coaching staff expects youth to be served this fall. Heralded true freshmen Larry Caper and Edwin Baker have been as advertised so far in camp, and redshirt freshman Caulton Ray is continuing his progression after a strong finish to spring ball.

Last year, Ringer was the Spartans offense, accounting for nearly 41 percent of the team's production. A committee system is likely this fall, but the top group seems to be taking shape.

"There's some players that have stepped out a little bit," head coach Mark Dantonio said. "The freshmen running backs have done a nice job. Caulton Ray has done a nice job. Those three guys right now have separated themselves a little bit, but things can change pretty quickly."

Both true freshmen feel ready to contribute immediately, and running backs coach Dan Enos calls Ray arguably the team's most improved player. After being slotted behind Ringer and several others last fall, the 5-foot-9, 195-pound Ray came on strong during winter conditioning and impressed the coaches with his knowledge of the offense in spring ball.

Though the 220-pound Caper has a size edge over Ray and Baker, both of whom are closer to Ringer's frame, all three backs demonstrate their toughness in camp.

"We practice very hard and very physical," Enos said. "All of our backs have been given the ball a bunch in camp because it's been a priority for us to find out who the guys are going to be. Those three guys, in particular, they've hung onto the ball, they've ran hard and they've been put in some tough situations, where they needed to get a tough yard or two tough yards, and they've shown the ability to do that."

The three young backs all finished among the stat leaders from Friday's controlled scrimmage at Spartan Stadium. Caper led the way with 68 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Ray (37 yards) and Baker (32 yards) also contributed.

Readiness is the big question surrounding all three players, but Enos likes what he sees.

"One of the reasons we [scrimmaged] in the stadium against our [first-team] defense, we wanted to see how they would respond," Enos said. "And they loved every minute of it. They were all itching to get back in the game when we took them out. They all ran really hard. We think they're going to be ready."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Sorry this is coming in a bit late, but Michigan State held its second controlled scrimmage Friday afternoon, running through 99 plays at Spartan Stadium. The scrimmage was closed to the media, but Michigan State released the statistical leaders from the session.

A few notes:

• True freshman Larry Caper led the running backs with 14 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. Both Caper and classmate Edwin Baker (32 yards) were featured in this scrimmage, while Caulton Ray again finished among the leading ball carriers with 37 rush yards. Maybe Ray's stock continues to rise in the running back race.
  
• Head coach Mark Dantonio praised his quarterbacks and said the offense executed better than in Monday's scrimmage, though the numbers don't really bear it out. Quarterbacks Keith Nichol and Kirk Cousins combined to complete 13 of 27 pass attempts for 173 yards with a touchdown and an interception (both thrown by Cousins).
  
• Senior Blair White led the receivers with 66 yards on three catches, while true freshman tight end Dion Sims continued to contribute with the lone touchdown grab.
  
• Star linebacker Greg Jones led the defense with 10 tackles, including two for loss and a sack. Cornerback Chris L. Rucker picked off Cousins in the red zone. Dantonio also singled out defensive lineman Oren Wilson for his play.

"Both quarterbacks threw some strikes today," offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said. "In fact, Kirk and Keith each completed a throw with the defensive back draped all over the receiver. Those two guys know how to compete, and they continue to make our jobs tough in the evaluation process."

Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said the Spartans used several players in the scrimmage who hadn't played much before (i.e. freshmen).

"The tackling was a little bit better earlier in this scrimmage than the first one," Narduzzi said. "We saw some huge hits out there, and that's one of the things we like to see in our defense."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The final seven Big Ten teams open preseason camp, including defending co-champs Penn State and Ohio State.

Here are three questions for the remaining seven squads during the next four weeks. If you missed Part I, check it out.

MICHIGAN

Camp opens: Monday

1. Will true freshman Tate Forcier create some early separation in the quarterback competition?

Forcier enters camp as the frontrunner after a solid spring, and he could further cement himself as the Wolverines' top quarterback in the coming weeks. He'll face some real competition now as junior Nick Sheridan returns from a broken leg and athletic freshman Denard Robinson joins the mix.

2. Who will step up alongside Brandon Graham on the defensive line?

Michigan brings back a potential All-American in Graham, who has 18.5 sacks the past two seasons. He'll need help up front, though, and the Wolverines need strong camps from Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen and William Campbell.

3. How many true freshmen see the field this fall?

The Wolverines will be much more experienced at several positions, but head coach Rich Rodriguez brought in a strong recruiting class, and several freshmen should contribute immediately. Along with Forcier, Robinson and Campbell, running back Vincent Smith impressed this spring and hopes are high for safety Vladimir Emilien. Defensive end Craig Roh also could be one to watch.

MICHIGAN STATE

Camp opens: Monday

1. Will we see any separation at quarterback before Sept. 5?

Head coach Mark Dantonio isn't planning on it and fully intends to play both Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol during non-league play. The two signal-callers paced one another throughout spring ball, but there's a chance one man might be ready to take the job.

2. Can true freshmen Edwin Baker and Larry Caper emerge as the top running backs?

None of Michigan State's older players really took charge in the spring, though Caulton Ray's emergence is intriguing. Many expect Michigan State's heralded recruits to emerge as potential starters by the end of training camp.

3. How will the secondary look by the end of camp?

Dantonio has a very good problem in the secondary -- loads of experience. Eight returning players have starting experience, and that doesn't include safety Trenton Robinson, the story of the spring on defense. The competition in the back four should be fun to watch.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The position rankings switch over to offense. Before examining the all-important quarterback position, which should be better in the Big Ten this fall, here's a look at the running backs.

The Big Ten was absolutely loaded at running back last fall, boasting two of the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award (Shonn Greene and Javon Ringer) and three of the nation's top six rushers. Five of the league's top six rushers depart, and several teams need to find new lead ballcarriers.

I really like the top four groups, and other teams should answer some lingering questions early this season.

	AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
	Evan Royster scored 12 TDs on the ground last season.

1. Penn State -- Evan Royster flew somewhat under the radar last year but turned in a fabulous sophomore season, racking up 1,236 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on just 191 carries. Royster wants a more featured role this fall and might get one, though Penn State has the luxury of spreading out the carries. Stephfon Green should have a better sophomore season as long as his ankle holds up, and sophomores Brent Carter and Brandon Beachum provide depth.

2. Wisconsin -- Despite losing the underappreciated P.J. Hill, Wisconsin once again is stacked in the offensive backfield. John Clay can become a superstar in this league as long as he maintains a decent weight, and Zach Brown might be the league's top backup. The Badgers are also excited about incoming freshman Montee Ball, a very productive high school back. Clay ranked seventh in the league in rushing last fall despite playing behind Hill.

3. Michigan -- This is without a doubt Michigan's strongest unit and one that must perform consistently for the offense to succeed. Senior Brandon Minor looks primed for an All-Big Ten season after a strong finish to 2008, a season during which he played through several injuries. Senior Carlos Brown and sophomore Michael Shaw are also healthy, and freshman Vincent Smith turned heads during spring ball with his quickness.

4. Ohio State -- Replacing Chris "Beanie" Wells isn't easy, but Wells' injury problems created opportunities for his successors to see the field in 2008. Dan Herron and Brandon Saine both performed well in spring ball and will share the carries load, with Herron expected to be the starter. Depth is a bit of concern behind the top two, though heralded incoming freshman Jaamal Berry appears to have avoided major punishment for his marijuana possession arrest and should be a factor this fall.

5. Illinois -- The team that led the Big Ten in rushing in 2006 and 2007 will be back near the top this fall. Sophomores Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure both improved physically during the offseason, and head coach Ron Zook isn't counting out senior Daniel Dufrene, who endured some problems last year. New offensive coordinator Mike Schultz has an excellent track record of developing standout backs.

6. Iowa -- I'm a little hesitant to put the Hawkeyes this high without knowing that Jewel Hampton will be good to go Sept. 5 after sustaining a knee injury this summer. Hampton performed well behind Greene last fall and needs to be on the field for Iowa. Reserves Jeff Brinson and Paki O'Meara provide depth, and Iowa's offensive line should be able to create running room for just about anybody.

7. Purdue -- Spring practice certainly lifted my hopes for this unit, as sophomore Ralph Bolden sizzled alongside Dan Dierking. Purdue also gets veteran Jaycen Taylor back and heralded freshman Al-Terek McBurse on the field, and new head coach Danny Hope wisely wants to emphasize the run game in a slightly tweaked offense. A few ifs remain with this group, which needs Bolden to perform in games and Taylor to get healthy, but I like what I see.

8. Michigan State -- The Spartans could climb the rankings this fall, but they have too many unknowns at running back entering camp. No Big Ten offense relied on one player as much as Michigan State did with Ringer last fall, and none of the reserves has really stepped up to claim the starting job. Ashton Leggett or Caulton Ray could emerge during camp, but most believe heralded incoming freshmen Edwin Baker and Larry Caper will emerge as the top backs.

9. Indiana -- The Hoosiers installed the pistol offense primarily to get more out of their run game, which wasn't half bad last season. Marcus Thigpen will be missed, but the offensive line should be healthier and better in 2009. Veterans Bryan Payton and Demetrius McCray get their chance to shine, but most eyes will be on redshirt freshman Darius Willis, a heralded recruit who showed good signs this spring.

10. Minnesota -- Tim Brewster wants to make Minnesota a running back's haven again, and he made several moves to transform the offense, including hiring coordinator Jedd Fisch and line coach Tim Davis. I like Brewster's plan, but it might be a little ambitious to expect major results this season. Duane Bennett's return from a torn ACL should boost Minnesota, and the Gophers boast good depth with DeLeon Eskridge and Kevin Whaley, who performed well in the spring game.

11. Northwestern -- History favors the Wildcats, who have churned out excellent backs throughout the spread offense era (2000-present). But Northwestern returns virtually no experience at the position after losing four-year starter Tyrell Sutton and backup Omar Conteh. Junior Stephen Simmons boasts top-end speed and I liked what I saw from Jeravin Matthews this spring, but the Wildcats' backs have a lot to prove this fall.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Fifteen spring practices still don't mask all the warts a team has, and every head coach has a position group that keeps him awake at night. After looking at where each Big Ten team got help this spring, here's a look at the positions that still look a little shaky around the league.

Illinois' offensive line -- The Illini boast arguably more offensive firepower than any Big Ten team, but they'll struggle without improvement up front. There's youth throughout the front five, and while players like Jeff Allen boast loads of potential, there are a few unknowns heading into the fall. The line allowed five sacks and 16 tackles for loss in the spring game.

Indiana's wide receivers -- Kellen Lewis' dismissal from the program after spring practice creates a major void at receiver. Lewis was pegged to be Ben Chappell's top target, and with Ray Fisher moving from wideout to cornerback, the Hoosiers need big things from young players like Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher.

Iowa's defensive tackles -- This position will be a question mark for the Hawkeyes right up until the season opener, and most likely beyond. Iowa must find a way to replace mainstays Mitch King and Matt Kroul, and it lacks much experience besides Karl Klug. The team needs continued development from guys like Mike Daniels and Cody Hundertmark.

Michigan's defensive line -- Brandon Graham should be one of the nation's top pass-rushers this fall, but he needs some help up front. Michigan likes what it has in young linemen like Ryan Van Bergen, Mike Martin and incoming freshman Craig Roh. Those players will need to grow up fast so the defense can generate consistent pressure.

Michigan State's running backs -- Few players meant more to an offense than Javon Ringer did to Michigan State last fall, and the search for a replacement remains a bit murky. Aside from a brief surge by Ashton Leggett, the running back room remains very crowded as Caulton Ray entered the mix this spring. Two heralded freshmen arrive during the summer in Edwin Baker and Larry Caper.

Minnesota's offensive line -- The Gophers have the bodies up front, but they've still got a long way to go in picking up the new offensive system/philosophy. It's a fairly dramatic change for returning starters like Dom Alford and Ned Tavale, so growing pains are expected. But a talented Gophers team can't take another step forward if its offensive line doesn't come together.

Northwestern's wide receivers -- Three starters are gone at receiver, and no one really wowed during spring practice. Northwestern should get better here as Jeremy Ebert returns from hip surgery, but it's time for experienced players like Andrew Brewer and Sidney Stewart to step up as primary targets for new starting quarterback Mike Kafka.

Ohio State's offensive line -- Michigan transfer Justin Boren undoubtedly had a positive effect on the offensive line this spring, but questions remain about a group that underachieved for most of 2008. Can Mike Adams complement his physical gifts with a toughness needed to play left tackle in the Big Ten? How will Jim Cordle and Bryant Browning adjust to new positions when the games begin? Stay tuned.

Penn State's secondary -- Head coach Joe Paterno didn't hide his concern for this group, which lost all four starters from 2008. Breakdowns in the secondary doomed Penn State in its only two losses last fall. Safety Drew Astorino should be ready for big things, but cornerback A.J. Wallace must find a way to stay healthy and become a legit shutdown guy on the outside.

Purdue's quarterbacks -- Joey Elliott boasts the knowledge to be an effective Big Ten starter, but does he have the skills to get it done? He has spent a lot of time on the sideline during his college career, and Purdue would benefit from having another viable option at quarterback. Justin Siller's dismissal really stings, and the development of backup Caleb TerBush looms large this summer.

Wisconsin's linebackers -- The Badgers lose a lot of production in DeAndre Levy and Jonathan Casillas, and they don't have much proven depth at linebacker. They can ill afford an injury to Jaevery McFadden or Culmer St. Jean, and it's imperative to develop more linebackers during preseason camp.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- It was probably a good thing that neither Kirk Cousins nor Keith Nichol attended Wednesday's spring game draft at the Skandalaris Football Center.

The two Spartans quarterbacks would have felt a bit like Brady Quinn and Aaron Rodgers. They would have been waiting a while.

Michigan State's senior class divided into two teams and made the selections for the Green and White squads. They filled 16 different position groups before coming to the quarterbacks. Even the long snappers were scooped up before Cousins and Nichol.

The Green team finally relented and picked Cousins, the sophomore who backed up Brian Hoyer last season. That meant Nichol went to the White team, which seemed happy to have him.

"It was interesting how the guys who may be the MVP, the quarterbacks, they're some of the last ones picked," said head coach Mark Dantonio, who officiated the draft inside the team meeting room. "It's because everybody feels they're both very, very good players and they both can lead and they both can make plays. That's a positive thing."

This year's draft wasn't nearly as entertaining as its predecessor, in large part because Dantonio was the only coach in the room. Last year, quarterback Brian Hoyer and Pat Narduzzi got into it regarding the drafting of offensive lineman Joel Nitchman.

"We've kept coach Narduzzi out of there this year," Dantonio told the players with a smile.

It was fun to watch the normally all-business Dantonio oversee the proceedings. He split up the entire football staff between the two squads, all the way down to the trainers, operations staff, film coordinators and turf management staff.

Defensive line coach Ted Gill will serve as head coach of the White team, with linebackers coach Mike Tressel as his defensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mark Staten as the offensive coordinator. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar will be the head man for the Green squad, with quarterbacks coach Dave Warner as offensive coordinator and secondary coach Harlon Barnett as the defensive coordinator.

The national runner-up Spartans men's basketball team also will play a key role in the Green-White game. Outgoing seniors Travis Walton and Idong Ibok attended the draft and will serve as two of the honorary captains for the Green team, while the hoops assistant coaches will do the same for the White squad.

Walton, ever the team captain, seemed to be running the Green team's draft, while defensive end Trevor Anderson was the point man for the White squad. Each team received two minutes between selections.

Some highlights:

• For the second straight year, All-Big Ten linebacker Greg Jones was the first player drafted, going to the Green team, which won a coin flip. Safety Trenton Robinson's stellar spring rubbed off on the White team, which selected Robinson with its first pick.
  
• There was a bit of strategy involved, especially since the seniors had been drafted to the two teams by the coaches earlier in the day. Dantonio said Gill chose Anderson with the top pick among seniors.
• A bit of a surprise as Caulton Ray, not Ashton Leggett or Andre Anderson, was the first running back drafted, by the Green team. The White team then picked Leggett and Anderson went Green.
  
• Despite cornerback Jeremy Ware's desire to draft Mark Dell, the White team went with sophomore Keshawn Martin as the first wideout taken. The Green team scooped up Dell, while the White took B.J. Cunningham. Walk-on wideout Milton Colbert was picked before Fred Smith, a heralded 2008 recruit.
• After the Green team picked Charlie Gantt as the first tight end, the White squad went with Clemson transfer Brian Linthicum instead of Garrett Celek, who played a decent amount last year.
• The White team has the edge in special teams with starting kicker Brett Swenson and starting punter Aaron Bates.
• The Green team ended up with most of the first-string offensive line (tackle J'Michael Deane, right guard Jared McGaha, center Joel Nitchman), while the White team will counter with several starters on the D-line (Anderson, defensive tackles Jerel Worthy and Oren Wilson). After the draft, the White squad proposed a trade that would swap Cunningham for Deane, but got shot down. "Alright, we're good to go," Anderson said, before high-fiving his teammates.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Forget about that other draft taking place at Radio City Music Hall this weekend. The real draft will be held at 2:15 p.m. ET today in the Skandalaris Football Center, as Michigan State picks teams for its annual Green-White Game, which will be played Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has borrowed the idea from former boss Jim Tressel -- Ohio State, by the way, has its own spring game draft today -- and it sounds like a pretty fun event for players, coaches and all involved.

"It makes it a little bit more fun," Dantonio said Tuesday. "It makes it competitive. I actually started doing it at Youngstown State back in 1986, and we've done it ever since, whether I was with coach Tressel or since I've been a head coach."

From what I've gathered about the draft format, here's how it works:

• The Spartans seniors are divided and pick the teams.
• Assistant coaches are also assigned to both squads.
• When a player is picked, a teammate who plays the same position goes to the other team. So if quarterback Kirk Cousins is selected first, Keith Nichol in all likelihood would go to the opposing team.
  
• Dantonio has the final say and can move players to the other team to even things out.
• At stake, steak. The winning team eats it, while the losers get franks and beans.

Things apparently got pretty heated last year between quarterback Brian Hoyer and defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi. With senior offensive lineman Mike Bacon already on his team, Hoyer drafted starting center Joel Nitchman for the White squad. That left the Green team with no experience at the center spot, so Narduzzi demanded a trade and Dantonio eventually sent Nitchman to the Green team.

Let's hope there are some similar fireworks today.

Though the spring game is all about fun, it does provide some hints about the team.

It will be very interesting to see which quarterback candidate -- Cousins or Nichol -- gets drafted first. Same thing for the running backs -- Ashton Leggett, Andre Anderson, A.J. Jimmerson and Caulton Ray.

Last year, Cousins was picked ahead of Nick Foles. Cousins went on to back up Hoyer during the season, while Foles transferred from the school.

Check the blog later this afternoon for a full draft recap.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- There are several predictable words to describe the way a 235-pound man runs the football.

	AP Photo/Al Goldis
	Ashton Leggett, left, looks to succeed Javon Ringer as the Spartans' starting tailback.

Smooth is usually not one of them.

"I tease him sometimes, because he's one of my closest friends," Michigan State wide receiver Mark Dell said. "He's real smooth, kind of effortless. I love to see him run. He's a smooth running back."

Perhaps Dell is confusing sophomore Ashton Leggett with one of the other Michigan State running backs immersed in a competition to replace All-American Javon Ringer. At 5-foot-11 and 235 pounds, Leggett has drawn comparisons to former Spartans back Jehuu Caulcrick, a boulder in the backfield who scored 21 touchdowns in 2007.

Terms like powerful, downhill and punishing would seem more appropriate for a player like Leggett.

But Dell's claim is backed up by a pretty good source.

"Ashton is the smoothest running back out of all of us, even when I was here," said Ringer, who watched Michigan State's practice on Tuesday and even helped the running backs during individual drills. "A lot of people say he resembles Jehuu a lot, but no. He's a completely different runner than Jehuu was.

"The way Ashton's footwork is, he's one of the smoothest runners."

Former NBA player Sam Perkins owns the rights to the "Big Smooth" nickname, but Leggett might need to borrow it this fall for Michigan State. Though the competition at running back remains extremely tight this spring, Leggett inched ahead last week before being slowed for a few days by a sprained knee.

Head coach Mark Dantonio likes Leggett's ability to break tackles and move laterally and singled out the sophomore for his play. But Leggett doesn't get wrapped up in the spring separation buzz.

"As soon as you perceive that, you drop to fourth on the depth chart," he said. "I just come in here, ready to work hard every day and hope I stay ahead. ... I see us as four, three guys all on one line and any given day, any one of us can break right through and take one 80, 90 yards. So we're pretty much all there still."

Leggett is competing with senior A.J. Jimmerson, sophomore Andre Anderson and redshirt freshman Caulton Ray. Two heralded incoming freshmen, Edwin Baker and Larry Caper, also will be in the mix during preseason camp.

Jimmerson has by far the most experience in the group, but his carries have dropped from 37 in 2007 to only eight last fall.

While Jimmerson brings a good blend of speed and size, Anderson most resembles Ringer. He's a bit undersized at 5-foot-9, 190 pounds but boasts excellent quickness and runs hard. Ray fits a similar mold at 5-foot-9, 195 pounds.

Though Leggett clearly boasts a size edge, he's not your typical big back. Asked what area he needed to improve most during spring ball, Leggett's answer came as a bit of a surprise.

"Definitely pass protection," he said. "Last year, my head was running wild, not knowing who to block, everybody coming from different angles. But this year, keeping my head in the playbook, I feel like my pass protection is improving."

Should pass protection be a cinch for a 235-pound back?

"They would look at [me] and say it's easy," Leggett said, "but on any given play we could have four different people to pick up."

Running the ball, meanwhile, comes naturally for Leggett, a Muskegon, Mich., native who had only six carries for 17 yards with a touchdown and a fumble lost last season. Ringer led the nation with 390 carries, limiting the chances for Leggett or the other reserves to get in the game.

Though his body type would suggest a back who can take a good deal of pounding, Leggett expects the carries to be spread out this fall.

"I won't have the stress on my body like Javon," he said. "I thank God for that."

A few feet away, a smiling Ringer watched intently as Leggett spoke with reporters. The future NFL draft pick likes what he's seeing from the backs this spring.

"Things are going to sort themselves out, but I kind of already have an idea [on who will start], I have my own opinion," Ringer said. "I like what I'm seeing from all of them. They're going to be good."