ESPN College Football

ESPN analyst Chris Spielman shares his thoughts on Mike Adams, DeVier Posey, Dan Herron, Nate Ebner, the Vikings' draft, Urban Meyer, Ohio State's recruiting and more.

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

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

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

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

Round 1

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

Round 2

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

Round 3

No. 89: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Round 4

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

Round 5

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

Round 6

No. 207: Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State

Round 7

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

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

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

We've had 2012 mock NFL drafts seemingly since this draft class was in elementary school. But all the projections and prognosticating lacked one essential ingredient: the testing process.

That happened this past week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, so now evaluators have a better sense of who are the legitimate prospects and who might be questionable.

ESPN's own draft expert, Mel Kiper Jr., offered his risers and fallers after the combine dust settled, and they included a few notable Big Ten names. Among those Kiper said helped themselves in Indy were:

Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins: "Not great in any one area, but solid across all of them, and Cousins has intangibles that evaluators love. I can see him safely into the second round now, where before a third-round grade was a better bet. A good week for him."

Nebraska LB Lavonte David: "Really encouraging for David's stock that he got his weight to 233 and still showed off plenty of athleticism, including a 4.56. He could be a solid second-rounder now and is a tackling machine."

Not everyone had the best showings in the combine. Here are the Big Ten products Kiper says he has questions about after the combine:

Ohio State RB Dan Herron: "I like Herron, but thought he needed to make a splash here given the missed time in 2011. That didn't happen, confirming a late-round grade."

Penn State DT Devon Still: "He derives a lot of value from being able to jump into a 3-4 or 4-3, but still has been sliding on my board. He needs to show more explosiveness, because he's not a great penetrator."

Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard: "Solid everywhere, but not great in any one area, Dennard is a good prospect who didn't test great, limiting the chances he goes in Round 1."

Kiper adjusted his new Big Board based on the combine performances, and now only two Big Ten players appear in his list of top 25 prospects, and they're both offensive linemen: Iowa's Riley Reiff (No. 8) and Wisconsin's Peter Konz (25).

Kiper also has his new list of top 5s by position , and there has been some serious movement in his tiers. Still, the Penn State All-American and Big Ten defensive player of the year, now does not even rank in Kiper's list of the top 5 defensive tackles. Michigan State's Jerel Worthy is No. 5.

Offensive line appears to be the strength for the Big Ten in this draft. Kiper lists Reiff as the No. 2 offensive tackle, with Ohio State's Mike Adams No. 4. The Big Ten owns the center list, with Konz, Michigan's David Molk and Ohio State's Mike Brewster ranking 1-2-3, respectively. (Molk moved ahead of Brewster with his combine showing, which comes as no surprise to Molk.) Wisconsin's Kevin Zeitler is rated as the No. 3 guard.

Elsewhere, Kiper has Wisconsin's Bradie Ewing as the No. 1 fullback, Michigan State's Brian Linthicum as the No. 5 tight end and Nebraska's David as the No. 2 outside linebacker. Dennard did not crack the list at corner, and Illinois' Whitney Mercilus is nowhere to be found on the defensive ends chart. Kiper says Michigan State's Cousins is the No. 6 quarterback in this draft.

Colleague Todd McShay has five Big Ten players in his new top 32 list : Reiff (10th), Adams (23rd), Worthy (25th), Konz (27th) and Still (28th).

Don't worry, though. We still have pro days, private workouts and nearly two full months of evaluations before the draft begins.

Spring practice is just around the corner, and that will be a time for Big Ten teams to locate replacements for departed stars. We're taking a look at how each team might fill the roles of two key contributors no longer on campus.

Today, we turn our attention to Ohio State and its Urban renewal projects. The Buckeyes didn't lose a whole lot of seniors, and they already experienced what it was like to play without departed seniors Dan Herron and DeVier Posey for large stretches of last season. So we'll focus our attention on the offensive line:

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Mike Brewster, C

Why: Brewster was a fixture in the Buckeyes' lineup, making 49 consecutive starts after debuting as a true freshman. He was one of the best centers in the Big Ten for the duration of his career, and was named an All-American in 2010. He also provided good leadership -- especially in a year when some other seniors ran afoul of NCAA rules.

Replacement candidates: Brian Bobek (6-2, 280, Soph.); Corey Linsley (6-2, 310, Jr.); Joey O'Connor (6-4, 295 incoming freshman); Jacoby Boren (6-2, 275, incoming freshman).

The skinny: One reason to temper expectations about Urban Meyer's first year in Columbus is a dangerous lack of depth on the offensive line. The Buckeyes were already thin there last season, and lost three senior starters. If anyone other than Bobek is starting at center, it's probably because of an injury or something else unforeseen. The former blue-chip high school prospect spent last season as Brewster's understudy, and saw some time in mop-up duty. He should make a smooth transition to starter this spring, though living up to Brewster's production won't be easy.

Linsley has played guard in the past for the Buckeyes ,but likely will be one of the starting guards this season, along with Jack Mewhort. O'Connor and Boren project as guards, but could play center in a pinch -- a situation Ohio State hopes to avoid.

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Mike Adams, LT

Why: Adams missed the first five games of 2011 while serving a suspension, and his absence was notable. He was one of the best offensive linemen in the Big Ten during his three years as a starter, and the 6-foot-8, 320-pounder has been projected by some as a first-round NFL draft pick this spring. The Buckeyes' offensive line played much better last season once he returned.

Replacement candidates: Andrew Norwell (6-5, 308, Jr.); Marcus Hall (6-5, 315, Jr.); Antonio Underwood, (6-3, 305, Soph.); Tommy Brown (6-5, 320, Soph.); Chris Carter (6-6, 350, R-Fr.); Taylor Decker (6-8, 310, incoming freshman); Kyle Dodson (6-5, 315, incoming freshman).

The skinny: Here's another place where a successor is in place, but things could get shaky if something goes wrong.

Norwell started the first five games at left tackle last season while Adams was suspended before sliding back to guard. He should take over the blind side full time this season, and he has good instincts for the position. Everything else at tackle this spring is a little bit up in the air, as Meyer plans to convert tight end Reid Fragel into a right tackle. He and Hall will likely battle for that starting spot, with Hall potentially ending up as a super sub along the line.

Underwood started the Purdue game when J.B. Shugarts was injured but was pulled after a poor performance. Hopefully, another year of coaching will help him develop into a solid contributor. Brown and Carter are largely unknowns at this point, but at least have big bodies. Don't be surprised to see at least one of the true freshmen crack the two-deep this season. They're both very talented, and unfortunately for Ohio State, they don't have a ton of competition ahead of them.

And the nominees for best lunchtime links are ...

• Michigan's Junior Hemingway still maintains that he caught a touchdown at the end of the Iowa loss. Iowa's Mike Daniels is healthy now after an injury-filled senior season and hopes to make an impression at the combine.
• Mike Martin didn't achieve his goal of breaking the NFL combine record for bench-press reps, finishing five behind teammate David Molk. Both were among the top performers in their position groups.
• An Ohio defensive back and Wisconsin running back gave their commitments to Michigan State over the weekend.
• Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne still has amazing energy at 75, but he doesn't plan to overstay his welcome.
• Ex-Ohio State running back Dan Herron told NFL executives his side of the story about his suspension.
• Penn State might not have any 2013 commitments yet, but the Nittany Lions are being active all over the country in recruiting. Former players reflected on the tumultuous end to last season at the combine.
• New NCAA kickoff rules could lessen the impact for Minnesota return specialist Troy Stoudermire.
• Former Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger is joining Paul Chryst's new staff at Pittsburgh. Could Bret Bielema lose yet another assistant coach?
• Former Illinois kicker Derek Dimke talks about his experience at the NFL combine.
• The Sporting News looks at burning questions for every Big Ten team this spring.

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

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

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

OVERALL PERFORMANCE (through Sunday)

40-yard dash

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

Bench press

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

Vertical jump

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

Broad jump

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

3-cone drill

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

20-yard shuttle

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

60-yard shuttle

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

Now onto the position groups ...

Quarterback

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

Running back

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

Wide receiver

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

Tight end

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

Defensive line (workouts take place Monday)

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

Offensive line

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

The North team recorded a 23-13 win against the South in Saturday's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and several Big Ten players contributed to the victory.

Big Ten players factored in all the scoring for the North squad. Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson and Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins both fired touchdown passes, and Purdue kicker Carson Wiggs connected on three field goal attempts, including a 28-yarder that helped seal the win with 4:11 left. The North starting offensive line featured four of five players from the Big Ten.

Other than Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins and Illinois left tackle Jeff Allen, all of the Big Ten players in the game competed for the North squad.

Wilson started for the North and led three offensive series, two of which resulted in points. He finished the game 4 of 7 passing for 45 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Cousins was the third quarterback from the North squad to see the field and fired a 41-yard touchdown pass to Arizona State's Gerell Robinson early in the third quarter. Cousins finished the game 5 of 11 passing for 115 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Wiggs connected on field goal attempts of 27, 28 and 32 yards and missed a 37-yard try in the closing minutes.

Other Big Ten notables:

• Michigan State safety Trenton Robinson had two tackles and a fumble recovery
• Ohio State wide receiver DeVier Posey had a 33-yard reception
• Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David had four tackles
• Penn State defensive end Jack Crawford had three tackles
• Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin had three tackles
• Illinois wideout A.J. Jenkins had a 26-yard reception
• Michigan State tight end Brian Linthicum had a 9-yard reception
• Penn State cornerback D'Anton Lynn had two tackles
• Wisconsin punter Brad Nortman averaged 43.7 yards on three attempts and also had one kickoff, while Wiggs had five kickoffs.
• Ohio State running back Dan Herron had six carries for 14 yards and two receptions for 4 yards
• Wisconsin long-snapper Kyle Wojta had one tackle
• Wisconsin fullback Bradie Ewing had one carry for 1 yard

North team starters included: Wilson, Ewing, Linthicum, Ohio State left tackle Mike Adams, Ohio State center Mike Brewster, Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler, Penn State guard Johnnie Troutman, Crawford, Martin and Robinson. Jenkins and Allen both came off the bench for the South squad.

The Big Ten postseason position rankings march on with the running backs. The running back rankings evaluate the entire position group, although superstar players affected the placement, too. Certain groups of running backs ran behind better offensive lines than others, and we took that into account when compiling the rankings.

Check out the preseason running back rankings here.

Onto the rundown ...

1. Wisconsin: Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball built on a strong finish to 2010 and took his game to another level in 2011. The Big Ten offensive player of the year headlined a Wisconsin rushing attack that led the Big Ten and ranked 11th nationally. While James White had a reduced role this past season, he still averaged 5.1 yards a carry and racked up 713 rush yards and six touchdowns. Ball also contributed in the passing game with 24 receptions, six of which went for touchdowns.

2. Nebraska: Rex Burkhead wore an "N" on his helmet, but it might as well have been an "S" on his chest. The player nicknamed "Superman" triggered a Nebraska rushing attack that ranked 15th nationally. Burkhead racked up 284 carries for 1,357 rush yards and 13 touchdowns. Although the Huskers didn't show a ton of depth at the position, young players like Ameer Abdullah have bright futures.

3. Ohio State: Although a quarterback (Braxton Miller) led the pass-averse Buckeyes in rushing, Ohio State had several capable ball carriers this past season. Carlos Hyde contributed early in the season and finished with 566 rush yards and six touchdowns on 106 carries. Dan Herron provided a spark after returning from suspension, averaging five yards a carry. Jordan Hall also tallied 100 carries and averaged more than four yards per rush.

4. Michigan: The coaches entered the season looking for a featured back and got one as Fitzgerald Toussaint emerged midway through the season. Toussaint racked up 120 yards or more in four of Michigan's final five regular-season games and displayed superstar potential at times. Although Toussaint and quarterback Denard Robinson had the bulk of the carries, reserves Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw both averaged more than six yards per carry.

5. Penn State: Much like Ohio State, Penn State relied heavily on its ground game to account for a shaky passing attack. Sophomore Silas Redd shouldered the burden, particularly during the month of October, when he led the FBS with 703 rush yards, including five 100-yard games. Redd finished with 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns, and Stephfon Green stepped up later in the season and had six rushing scores. Burly sophomore Curtis Dukes averaged 5.8 yards a carry.

6. Purdue: The Boilers had a featured back in Ralph Bolden but also had very good depth at the position. It showed up in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, which Bolden missed with a torn ACL. Akeem Shavers led the way and others contributed, too. Purdue finished the season with two 500-yard rushers in Bolden and Shavers, while freshman speedster Akeem Hunt averaged 8.7 yards on 33 carries.

7. Iowa: The Hawkeyes were a bit of a dichotomy in 2011, as they finished last in the Big Ten in rushing but had the league's top rusher for part of the season in Marcus Coker. Despite being suspended for the Insight Bowl, Coker finished second in the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,384) and 15th nationally in rushing average (115.3 ypg). He had 281 carries, while no other running back had more than 31, so it was a one-man show for Iowa in 2011.

8. Michigan State: The Spartans' rushing production went down in 2011, as Michigan State went from 64th nationally in rushing to 78th. MSU ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing for much of the season and finished 11th. But the team's struggles had more to do with a new-look offensive line than the running backs. Le'Veon Bell came on strong late in the season and rushed for 948 yards and 13 touchdowns. Edwin Baker's numbers went down, but he added 665 rush yards and five scores.

9. Illinois: Here's another team that had a quarterback (Nathan Scheelhaase) as its leading rusher, but Illinois also featured multiple options at running back. Although Jason Ford had an up-and-down season, Troy Pollard and Donovonn Young proved to be capable ball carriers. Young averaged 5.2 yards a carry and scored seven touchdowns, while Pollard averaged 7.2 yards a carry and had 488 rush yards and two scores.

10. Indiana: Although the Hoosiers have plenty of issues to address going forward, the running back spot appears solid. Stephen Houston started the final eight games and established himself as the featured back with 802 yards and eight touchdowns on 151 carries (5.3 ypc). Houston was productive in Big Ten play and a nice complement to quarterback Tre Roberson. D'Angelo Roberts and Matt Perez both added four touchdowns.

11. Northwestern: Echoing a common theme, Northwestern's top rusher was a quarterback (Kain Colter). While the offense has been productive the past few years, the Wildcats haven't found an elite featured back since Tyrell Sutton graduated. Jacob Schmidt was solid for stretches, and young backs Treyvon Green and Adonis Smith contributed at times. Mike Trumpy might still be the best of the bunch, but his season was cut short by a knee injury.

12. Minnesota: Although quarterback MarQueis Gray ran the ball well (966 rush yards, 6 TDs), Minnesota needs more from the running back spot going forward. Duane Bennett and Donnell Kirkwood both averaged less than four yards per carry, and the Gophers had only two 100-yard rushing performances from a running back.

They're inching closer to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and the teams went through another set of practices on Wednesday.

ESPN Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl break down Day 3 of Senior Bowl practices and weigh in on several Big Ten prospects.

According to Muench and Weidl, the concerns about Russell Wilson's height showed up Wednesday as the Wisconsin quarterback had to move around the pocket to find throwing lanes, which made him late on some passes. Although Wilson's arm strength is substantial and he made some nice throws in 7-on-7 drills, "the negative impact of Wilson's height was on full display."

Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, meanwhile, delivered a steady performance Wednesday. Although he didn't have too many wow plays, he "made good decisions and flashed some arm strength."

Other Big Ten notes from Day 3:

• Iowa's Marvin McNutt stood out among the wide receivers with his route-running ability. The consensus on McNutt seems to be that while he's not a speed burner, he makes up for it with good hands and body control.
• It hasn't been the best week for the Nebraska contingent. Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard had some more struggles Wednesday, leaving the Scouts Inc. crew to "wonder about his top-end speed and playmaking ability." Linebacker Lavonte David projects well against the run and shows sound tackling ability, but "this week he's not finishing plays in coverage."
• Ohio State running back Dan Herron has lived up to his "Boom" nickname with a physical running style, although he'll have to prove more against live tackling in the game.
• Although he's not mentioned in the Scouts Inc. breakdown, Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin has drawn some strong reviews this week in Mobile. Martin's incredible strength and disruptive ability has been on full display.

Pre-draft season is right around the corner, and the nation's premier all-star game, the Senior Bowl, takes place Jan. 28 in Mobile, Ala.

The Senior Bowl on Wednesday announced the 24 Big Ten players who will be participating in this year's game. Eight Big Ten squads are sending players to Mobile.

Here's the full list (part of which had been revealed earlier):

IOWA

• DT Mike Daniels
• WR Marvin McNutt

MICHIGAN

• DT Mike Martin
• C David Molk*

MICHIGAN STATE

• QB Kirk Cousins
• TE Brian Linthicum
• S Trenton Robinson

NEBRASKA

• LB Lavonte David
• CB Alfonzo Dennard

OHIO STATE

• LT Mike Adams
• C Mike Brewster
• RB Dan Herron
• WR DeVier Posey

PENN STATE

• DE Jack Crawford
• CB D'Anton Lynn
• DT Devon Still
• G Johnnie Troutman

PURDUE

• K Carson Wiggs

WISCONSIN

• FB Bradie Ewing
• P Brad Nortman
• WR Nick Toon*
• QB Russell Wilson
• LS Kyle Wojta
• G Kevin Zeitler

*injured and will not participate in game

It's a strong contingent that features the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (Still) and 21 all-conference selections.

My apologies for posting this a bit late, but the initial invitations list is out for the 2012 NFL scouting combine, which takes place next month in Indianapolis. This list does not include the five Big Ten juniors who have declared for the draft.

Let's check out which players made the initial list (a full list will come out later this month).

Quarterbacks

• Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
• Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

Running backs

• Dan Herron, Ohio State

Wide receivers

• B.J. Cunningham, Michigan State
• Junior Hemingway, Michigan
• A.J. Jenkins, Illinois
• Keshawn Martin, Michigan State
• Marvin McNutt, Iowa
• DeVier Posey, Ohio State
• Nick Toon, Wisconsin

Offensive linemen

• Mike Adams, Ohio State
• Jeff Allen, Illinois
• Mike Brewster, Ohio State
• Marcel Jones, Nebraska
• David Molk, Michigan
• Josh Oglesby, Wisconsin
• Markus Zusevics, Iowa

Defensive tackles

• Jared Crick, Nebraska
• Mike Daniels, Iowa
• Mike Martin, Michigan
• Devon Still, Penn State

Defensive ends

• Jack Crawford, Penn State

Outside linebackers

• Lavonte David, Nebraska
• Tyler Nielsen, Iowa

Cornerbacks

• Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
• Antonio Fenelus, Wisconsin
• D'Anton Lynn, Penn State
• Shaun Prater, Iowa

Safeties

• Trenton Robinson, Michigan State

Kickers

• Derek Dimke, Illinois
• Carson Wiggs, Purdue

Punters

• Brad Nortman, Wisconsin

There are no Big Ten tight ends, inside linebackers or long snappers on the initial list.

I'm a bit surprised not to see several names, including Penn State WR Derek Moye. Still, wide receiver was a position of strength for the Big Ten in 2011, along with defensive tackle.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl officially wrapped up the Big Ten season and also settled the season-long picks battle between the two bloggers.

New guy for the win.

I took a slim one-game lead into bowl season but widened the gap with a stellar 9-1 showing in the bowls. Adam went a respectable 7-3, which is still a record the Big Ten wishes it had during the postseason. I'll put my picks trophy next to the one I won in our fantasy challenge earlier this season. My mantel is getting crowded.

Let's review our picks ...

Little Caesars Bowl

• Bennett's pick: Purdue 34, Western Michigan 33
• Rittenberg's pick: Western Michigan 31, Purdue 27
• Actual score: Purdue 37, Western Michigan 32
• 20-20 hindsight: We both predicted a close game with a lot of points, even though we didn't see it being as wild as it turned out. Rittenberg has less confidence in the Purdue defense, which gave up plenty of points and yards but also created seven turnovers. I correctly predicted a big night for the Boilers' running game -- they ran for 265 yards -- though my somewhat tongue-in-cheek pick of a blocked kick at the end didn't happen.

Insight Bowl

• Bennett's pick: Oklahoma 27, Iowa 20
• Rittenberg's pick: Oklahoma 31, Iowa 24
• Actual score: Oklahoma 31, Iowa 14
• 20-20 hindsight: Neither of us thought Iowa had enough firepower without Marcus Coker to hang with the Sooners, and the Hawkeyes didn't even score until the fourth quarter. Adam nailed the Sooners' point total, while my prediction of two James Vandenberg interceptions was one too many.
  

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

• Bennett's pick: Texas A&M 35, Northwestern 31
• Rittenberg's pick: Texas A&M 42, Northwestern 31
• Actual score: Texas A&M 33, Northwestern 22
• 20-20 hindsight: Adam can take a bow for correctly pegging the margin of victory. He must have talked the Aggies into kicking that field goal with 30 seconds left. Neither of us liked the chances of Northwestern's defense slowing down A&M, and the Wildcats surrendered 409 yards while falling behind 30-7 before a late rally.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

• Bennett's pick: Illinois 17, UCLA 9
• Rittenberg's pick: Illinois 14, UCLA 10
• Actual score: Illinois 20, UCLA 14
• 20-20 hindsight: We both foresaw a low-scoring game, and if not for UCLA's late cosmetic touchdown, I would have almost nailed the total combined points. I predicted that the Illinois defense would dominate and that Whitney Mercilus would record two sacks; he was credited with 1.5. Adam said Nathan Scheelhaase would score a late touchdown. Well, he did throw a 60-yard score to A.J. Jenkins with less than six minutes left.

TicketCity Bowl

• Bennett's pick: Houston 31, Penn State 24
• Rittenberg's pick: Penn State 28, Houston 24
• Actual score: Houston 30, Penn State 14
• 20-20 hindsight: I predicted that Case Keenum would throw a couple of early touchdown passes and that Penn State would have trouble responding. That looked pretty smart as Keenum threw for two first-quarter scores and the Nittany Lions laid a defensive egg. I almost had Houston's score on the nose and probably wouldn't have given Penn State's offense that much credit had I known for sure that Matt McGloin wouldn't play. Adam's pick of a 200-yard plus day for Silas Redd was a little bit off, as Redd mustered only 53 yards on 14 carries.

TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl

• Bennett's pick: Ohio State 24, Florida 23
• Rittenberg's pick: Ohio State 21, Florida 17
• Actual score: Florida 24, Ohio State 17
• 20-20 hindsight: Ah, my only setback. We both gave the Buckeyes a little too much credit and didn't see the big Florida special-teams plays that would swing this outcome. I predicted impressive days for Dan Herron and DeVier Posey; Herron ran for 82 yards and Posey had only 38 yards receiving. We both thought Braxton Miller would star for Ohio State. He threw for two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough.

Outback Bowl

• Bennett's pick: Michigan State 17, Georgia 14
• Rittenberg's pick: Michigan State 21, Georgia 20
• Actual score: Michigan State 33, Georgia 30 (3 OT)
• 20-20 hindsight: We both saw a low-scoring game and a close Spartans victory, and I nailed the margin of victory. Neither of us predicted a triple-overtime thriller, or that Michigan State would fall behind 16-0 before a huge rally.

Capital One Bowl

• Bennett's pick: South Carolina 20, Nebraska 17
• Rittenberg's pick: South Carolina 24, Nebraska 21
• Actual score: South Carolina 30, Nebraska 13
• 20-20 hindsight: We both thought the Huskers would keep it close, and they should have. But Nebraska made way too many mental errors, and the Gamecocks turned a game that was 16-13 going into the fourth quarter into a blowout win. I didn't think Nebraska could pass the ball effectively, and Taylor Martinez only threw for 116 yards. Neither of us gave South Carolina's offense enough credit.

Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO

• Bennett's pick: Oregon 35, Wisconsin 30
• Rittenberg's pick: Wisconsin 38, Oregon 35
• Actual score: Oregon 45, Wisconsin 38
• 20-20 hindsight: Kudos to Adam for correctly predicting Wisconsin's final score, and it was 38-35 going into the fourth quarter. But they play 60 minutes for a reason. We both saw a high-scoring game but not a record-breaking Rose Bowl. Adam was right to say Jared Abbrederis would have a big game, but Wisconsin's defense let him down. I said Montee Ball would have a big day (check) but that the Badgers couldn't contain the Ducks in space. Uh, yeah.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

• Bennett's pick: Michigan 24, Virginia Tech 13
• Rittenberg's pick: Michigan 27, Virginia Tech 21
• Actual score: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20 (OT)
• 20-20 hindsight: We both came within a point of one team's score, though neither of us predicted overtime. I liked Michigan to win big while Adam forecast a closer game. He was right on that -- but not right enough during bowl season to beat me.

SEASON RECORDS

Brian Bennett: 82-26 (.759)

Adam Rittenberg: 79-29 (.732)

Some excellent notes and nuggets from ESPN Stats & Info to get you ready for a five-pack of Big Ten bowls today.

Enjoy ...

TicketCity Bowl: Penn State vs. Houston

• Penn State will be playing in its first bowl game without Joe Paterno as head coach since the 1962 Gator Bowl. It's the first time the Nittany Lions have played a bowl game without Paterno on the staff since the 1948 Cotton Bowl, which is where the TicketCity Bowl is played. Penn State has previously only played two bowl games in its history without Paterno on staff -- the 1948 Cotton Bowl and the 1923 Rose Bowl.
• Houston had 29 touchdown passes of 20 or more yards this season, most in the FBS. Penn State has allowed just two such touchdown passes all season -- tied for fewest in the FBS (Alabama, LSU, Texas).
• Penn State surrendered 89 points in three losses to ranked opponents (Alabama, Nebraska and Wisconsin). The Nittany Lions allowed 99 points in their other nine games.

TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl: Ohio State vs. Florida

• The loser of this game will finish with seven losses. Florida hasn't done that since an 0-10-1 season in 1979. Ohio State hasn't had that many defeats in a season since 1897 (1-7-1). The Buckeyes have the longest stretch without a 7-loss season in the FBS -- by 78 years! The next-longest stretch is Florida State (1975).
• Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller has recorded 100 rush yards or more in three of his past five games, with the majority coming on designed running plays. During that time period, Miller has averaged 85 yards per game on designed runs, after averaging 21.3 yards per game in his first six career contests. Miller averages 13.3 yards on draw plays and 7.9 yards on scrambles.
• Buckeyes senior running back Dan Herron has rushed for 593 yards this season in six games since returning from suspension, 321 of which have come after contact. Herron has gained at least 34 yards after contact in every game this season. Yet he might not even be the toughest running back to bring down in the game. Florida's Chris Rainey has gained 446 of his 790 rushing yards this season after contact, a slightly higher percentage than Herron's.

Outback Bowl: Michigan State vs. Georgia

• This is the third matchup between these two teams in a bowl, with both of the previous matchups also coming in Florida. Georgia won the 1989 Gator Bowl and the 2009 Capital One Bowl.
• The teams' top-five defenses are very similar statistically. Michigan State allows 104.3 rush yards a game, while Georgia allows 103.4 rush yards per game. Georgia allows 165.1 pass yards per game, while Michigan State allows 168.4 pass yards per game. The Spartans allow 17.5 points per game, while Georgia allows 19.6 points per game.
• Michigan State senior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham has nine touchdown catches in his past four games, including three in the Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin. He has 25 touchdown catches in his career, second in school history behind Charles Rogers.

Capital One Bowl: Nebraska vs. South Carolina

• Under Bo Pelini, Nebraska’s defenses have been suffocating in bowl games. In four bowls with Pelini functioning as either the interim or full-time head coach, the Blackshirts have allowed just 10.8 points and 88.3 rush yards per game.
• Nebraska is 12-5 all-time in bowl games against current members of the SEC. However, the Cornhuskers have lost their past two bowls against SEC teams (2002 Independence Bowl vs. Ole Miss and 2007 Cotton Bowl vs. Auburn). Nebraska is 3-0 all-time against South Carolina, with the two most recent meetings coming in 1986 and 1987.

Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio: Wisconsin vs. Oregon

• Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas and Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson both have been accurate throwing the ball 15 yards or more downfield. Thomas completes 49.2 percent of such throws with 12 touchdowns and only one interception, connecting for touchdowns on 20.3 percent of his attempts. Wilson completes 52.4 percent of such throws with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, connecting for touchdowns on 11.9 percent of his attempts. Last season with NC State, Wilson completed just 33.6 percent of such throws with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
• Since Wisconsin won back-to-back Rose Bowls in 1999 and 2000, the Big Ten is just 1-7 in the game, with the only victory coming two years ago, when Ohio State knocked off Oregon. Big Ten teams are allowing 32.1 points per game during the eight-game span and scoring 22.4.

Urban Meyer won't be coaching in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, but his fingerprints will be all over the game. It's also a rematch of the 2007 BCS title game. Ohio State hopes for a better outcome in this one.

WHO TO WATCH: Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller. The precocious true freshman quarterback showed flashes of greatness this season, including his game-winning touchdown heave to beat Wisconsin. He has incredible shiftiness for a quarterback and has run for at least 91 yards five different times this season. Miller put it all together in the season-ending loss at Michigan, totaling 335 yards and three touchdowns. The Buckeyes finally took the reins off the passing game in that contest, something they'll probably have to do again against Florida's defense, which is ranked No. 9 nationally. Meyer has already gushed about Miller's potential in his system, and this will be a good gauge of how far the youngster has progressed after some extra bowl practices.

WHAT TO WATCH: Will the real Ohio State defense please stand up? The Buckeyes were uncharacteristically sloppy with their tackling and techniques down the stretch while losing their final three games. Penn State stunned the defense by running the Wildcat, while Michigan racked up 444 total yards in a 40-34 win. Key injuries and youth prevented this from being a vintage Silver Bullets squad this year. The unit should be healthier now, with players like linebacker Andrew Sweat back to full strength, and the young players have had more practice time. They have a favorable matchup against a Gators offense that struggled to find its identity and ranked 101st in the FBS in yards per game this season. Florida also has a new offensive coordinator after Charlie Weis left for Kansas. Ohio State has little excuse not to turn in a strong defensive performance here.

WHY TO WATCH: While Meyer will dominate much of the discussion, the former Florida and future Ohio State coach has said he doesn't plan to attend the game in person. Buckeyes fans are more fired up about the first spring practice under Meyer than they are watching this 6-6 team any more, but it's their last chance to see their school play in a bowl game until at least December 2013 because of next year's NCAA-imposed bowl ban. So they'd better enjoy this one now. The fact that Ohio State gets another crack at an SEC team in a bowl -- technically, the program is 0-for-9 against the SEC in the postseason since last year's Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas was officially vacated -- injects a little more spice into the matchup.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 24, Florida 23. With nothing to lose and no bowl game next year, the Buckeyes let it all hang out. Miller plays well, and Ohio State gets valuable contributions from running back Dan Herron and receiver DeVier Posey, who each had an instrumental role in the NCAA punishment. It's not exactly redemption for them or for 2007, but it sure beats losing.

Big Ten bowl season finally arrives this week, and that means it's time for us to make our predictions.

Today, we'll offer our picks in the eight non-BCS games involving Big Ten teams (our Rose Bowl and Allstate Sugar Bowl selections will arrive in the near future).

Brian Bennett holds a slim one-game lead over Adam Rittenberg from the regular-season and Big Ten championship game predictions. But as always, glory is won in the postseason. Who says bowls don't matter?

On to our picks ...

Little Caesars Bowl


WESTERN MICHIGAN vs. PURDUE (Dec. 27)

Adam Rittenberg: Purdue should be geared up for its first bowl appearance since 2007, but I don't like the vibe around the Boilers, who have had several off-field incidents and will be without leading tackler Dwayne Beckford (suspended) and top rusher Ralph Bolden (injured). Western Michigan can put up a ton of points, and I don't think the Boilers will quite keep up. ... Western Michigan 31, Purdue 27.

Brian Bennett: If Purdue follows its win-loss pattern this season, then it must lose this game. But the Boilermakers simply have to be able to beat a MAC team if they want to build any kind of momentum in this program for Danny Hope. Even without Ralph Bolden, Purdue has a huge edge in the running game. The Boilers' season ends the only way it really could: with a blocked kick to seal a victory ... Purdue 34, Western Michigan 33.

Insight Bowl

No. 14 OKLAHOMA vs. IOWA (Dec. 30)

Brian Bennett: I don't know how motivated the injury-ravaged Sooners will be, and the Hawkeyes have been really good in bowl games under Kirk Ferentz. But the loss of Marcus Coker is too much to overcome in an already difficult matchup for Iowa. Oklahoma picks off James Vandenberg twice and holds on. ... Oklahoma 27, Iowa 20.

Adam Rittenberg: Without Coker, Iowa needs to hope Oklahoma has a letdown in Tempe. The Sooners have advantages at too many positions. While the Hawkeyes' defense will fight hard for retiring coordinator Norm Parker, Oklahoma has too much firepower for a unit that hasn't slowed down many teams. Vandenberg will play well at times, but the Sooners prevail. ... Oklahoma 31, Iowa 24.

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

TEXAS A&M vs. NORTHWESTERN (Dec. 31)

Adam Rittenberg: Texas A&M is the better team here, but the Aggies have more than a few distractions following a very disappointing season. Dan Persa will have a huge game in his final performance for the Wildcats. But my lack of faith in Northwestern's defense prevents me from picking the upset. The unit hasn't developed much at all and never comes through in the clutch. A&M has too many weapons and pulls away before a partisan crowd. ... Texas A&M 42, Northwestern 31.

Brian Bennett: Tough call here between an Aggies team that collapsed all season long and a Northwestern program that hasn't won a bowl game since the Truman administration. I agree with Adam that the Wildcats' defense is going to have a tough time, especially without senior cornerback Jordan Mabin. Playing a virtual home game and perhaps motivated to perform after the tragic death of offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio, A&M guts this one out. ... Texas A&M 35, Northwestern 31.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

UCLA vs. ILLINOIS (Dec. 31)

Brian Bennett: First one to 10 points wins. Or team that doesn't jump over the right-field wall at AT&T Park gets the trophy. There aren't two bowl teams with less momentum than the Bruins and the Illini. But one unit I know will show up is the Illinois defense, which has been strong all season and should be motivated to play for Vic Koenning in his final game as interim head coach. Whitney Mercilus cements his national sack title with two quarterback takedowns, and the Illinois offense figures out how to reach the end zone a couple of times. ... Illinois 17, UCLA 9.

Adam Rittenberg: Both of these teams are in various states of flux, and I'm leery picking Illinois to win for the first time since Oct. 8. But as you point out, the best single unit in this game is Illinois' defense, which has played well all season. Mercilus, Jonathan Brown and the Illini win one for Vic and Nathan Scheelhaase scores a late touchdown as the Illini win an ugly one. ... Illinois 14, UCLA 10.

TicketCity Bowl

No. 19 HOUSTON vs. No. 22 PENN STATE (Jan. 2)

Adam Rittenberg: This should be a fascinating game, if nothing else. I really think if Penn State shows up to play, the Lions will win. But it's more than fair to ask whether Penn State's entire squad will be motivated or not. The Lions' defense is better than what Houston has faced all season, and while Case Keenum will make plays, Devon Still will be in his face. Houston showed no interest in stopping the run in the C-USA title game, and a healthy Silas Redd goes for 200-plus as Penn State ends an odd season with a win. ... Penn State 28, Houston 24.

Brian Bennett: Hardest game on the board to call, because of Penn State's state of mind. And don't forget that Houston has a new coach, too. You've got the nation's No. 1 scoring offense vs. the No. 5 scoring defense. In a bubble, I'd usually choose the dominant defense over the high-scoring offense. But there are too many other factors at play here, and I think once Keenum throws a couple of early touchdowns, the Nittany Lions will deflate. ... Houston 31, Penn State 24.

Outback Bowl

No. 16 GEORGIA vs. No. 17 MICHIGAN STATE (Jan. 2)

Brian Bennett: Assuming both teams have shaken off their conference title-game defeats, this is an outstanding matchup. You've got two of the best defenses in the country and two terrific quarterbacks in Kirk Cousins and Aaron Murray. Michigan State was awful against an SEC team in Florida last year, but I think this year will be a different story. The Spartans have a more varied offense than Georgia, which benefited from a weak SEC East this year. It's a grinder, but a key special teams play from Keshawn Martin makes the difference. ... Michigan State 17, Georgia 14.

Adam Rittenberg: Michigan State's time has come, and while the Spartans must shake off the sting of the Big Ten title-game loss, they have no excuses not to be geared up by Jan. 2. Mark Dantonio's squad ended the season playing really, really good football, and I also envision a strong performance from Pat Narduzzi's defense. Georgia's D is formidable, too, but Michigan State will use the quick-passing game it showcased against Wisconsin as Martin and B.J. Cunningham find room to roam. Kirk Cousins hits Cunningham for the game-winning score in the final minute. ... Michigan State 21, Georgia 20.

Capital One Bowl

No. 9 SOUTH CAROLINA vs. No. 20 NEBRASKA (Jan. 2)

Adam Rittenberg: Another tough game to call. Nebraska's offensive line will face arguably its biggest challenge of the season with South Carolina's defensive ends. If Nebraska's defense performs as it did against Michigan State and Iowa, the Huskers have a great chance. Ultimately, South Carolina makes a few more plays and capitalizes on a second-half turnover to win. ... South Carolina 24, Nebraska 21.

Brian Bennett: Can Nebraska run the ball effectively against the Gamecocks? That's my biggest question here. If it comes down to the Huskers needing Taylor Martinez to pass the ball down the field, that could spell big trouble for Big Red. I think Nebraska will find some success with Rex Burkhead between the tackles, but not as much on the perimeter against a fast SEC defense. South Carolina's offense is nothing special, and Steve Spurrier's team has been pretty dismal in bowls. But the Head Ball Coach's defense is the best unit on the field and will make enough plays for the win. ... South Carolina 20, Nebraska 17.


TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl

FLORIDA vs. OHIO STATE (Jan. 2)


Brian Bennett: It's the World's Largest Outdoor Urban Mixer. It's also Ohio State's last chance to win a bowl game until at least Dec. 2013. So the Buckeyes had better give this one all they have. Some underclassmen might be bummed about the NCAA's bowl ban, but I see this as the perfect us-against-the-world rallying cry for Luke Fickell. Braxton Miller gives fans reason to daydream all offseason with another star turn, and Dan Herron and DeVier Posey try their best to make up for their contributions to the bowl ban by leading the charge to victory. ... Ohio State 24, Florida 23.

Adam Rittenberg: Even though Ohio State made a head-coaching change, the bowl practices should really benefit the players, especially the young guys on defense. Miller looked like a special player against Michigan, and if given the chance, he and Posey can make some big plays in this game. Florida is without offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, and the Gators' attack leaves much to be desired. I also agree Ohio State players will be motivated for their final taste of postseason play until 2013. ... Ohio State 21, Florida 17.

SEASON RECORDS

Brian Bennett: 73-25 (.745)

Adam Rittenberg: 72-26 (.735)