ESPN College Football

The spring superlatives series, which examines the strongest and weakest positions for each Big Ten team, wraps up with Illinois.

After a tumultuous offseason, the Fighting Illini have no shortage of issues this spring. But there aren't as many glaring holes as you might think. Illinois needs to identify a capable quarterback or two, replace wideout Arrelious Benn and fill some gaps on both lines. The defense should be stronger with coordinator Vic Koenning and the return of linebacker Martez Wilson from a neck injury.

Strongest position: Running back

• Key returnees: Mikel LeShoure (108 carries, 734 rush yards, 5 TDs); Jason Ford (97 carries, 588 rush yards, 4 TDs); Justin Green (19 carries, 88 rush yards, 2 TDs); Troy Pollard (11 carries, 67 rush yards).
• Key losses: Daniel Dufrene (63 carries, 277 rush yards, 3 TDs); quarterback Juice Williams (143 carries, 507 rush yards, 3 TDs).
• The skinny: Illinois' offense had its problems in 2009, but the running back position wasn't one of them. The Illini return one of the Big Ten's best tandems in LeShoure and Ford. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, LeShoure exploded for 184 yards and two touchdowns on only just 11 carries in the season finale against Fresno State. Ford has 12 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons and should be a force in the red zone this fall. Green could be primed for a breakout season, though he'll have a tough time taking carries away from LeShoure or Ford. Illinois boasts depth here but needs the offensive line to step up.

Weakest position: Quarterback

• Key returnees: Jacob Charest (28-for-56 passing, 382 pass yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs); Eddie McGee (25-for-47 passing, 303 pass yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs).
• Key losses: Juice Williams (131-for-227 passing, 1,632 pass yards, 12 TDs, 7 INTs, 507 rush yards, 4 TDs).
• The skinny: Say what you want about Williams, but he left Illinois as one of the most productive players in team history, not to mention a four-year starter. His departure leaves things totally wide open at quarterback for new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino. Charest showed some promise in limited work last year, and McGee gets one final shot at quarterback after being shifted to wide receiver for most of 2009. If those two don't work out, Illinois will look to redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase or true freshman Chandler Whitmer, an early enrollee. Don't be surprised to see the Illini use multiple quarterbacks this fall.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Arrelious Benn has a selfish reason for wanting Illinois to win another game at Ohio Stadium.

When the Illini shocked the top-ranked Buckeyes in 2007, draining the final 8:09 off the clock, Benn was on the sideline, concussed after absorbing a hit.

"Man, I couldn't tell you what was going on," the Illini star wide receiver recalled this week. "I had no clue. I was knocked out, I was a bit woozy. But I looked at old clips and saw Juice [Williams] told [Ron] Zook to go for it on fourth down."

	Mark Cowan/Icon SMI
	Juice Williams had arguably his finest performance at Ohio State during the 2007 season.

Williams' plea to Zook led to one of the greatest wins in team history, as the Illini beat Ohio State 28-21 and went on to the Rose Bowl. The Ohio State win was the pinnacle for both Williams, who threw four touchdown passes in the game, and Zook, who overcame struggles in his first two years at Illinois to lead the program back to a BCS bowl.

Those are nice memories, but they won't help Illinois when it returns to Ohio State on Saturday afternoon (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET).

"We all realize we can’t live off that past experience," Williams said. "It’s two different teams."

Ohio State hasn't forgotten what happened in 2007, and Buckeyes players watched tape of the game this week to get a sense how Illinois will approach Saturday's contest. Though Williams and Illinois have had mixed results since their triumph in Columbus, the Buckeyes defense doesn't take the Illini lightly.

"Juice is a dual threat," Ohio State linebacker Austin Spitler said, "which makes it that much more difficult on defense because you have to defend the quarterback zone and trap and run as well as his arm. He's the same guy, but he's obviously more polished. He's a better passer now and he understands the scheme a lot better, which makes him that much more of a threat."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As if things couldn't get worse for Illinois, the team has suspended running back Mikel LeShoure and defensive back Ashante Williams for an unspecified violation of team rules.

LeShoure had 10 carries for 38 yards and scored Illinois' only touchdown in Saturday's loss to Missouri. He also had three receptions for 41 yards. Williams appeared in the game but did not record any statistics.

Illinois head coach Ron Zook didn't provide details about the suspensions but said neither man would play this week against Illinois State.

Zook said on the Big Ten teleconference Tuesday that running backs Jason Ford and Daniel Dufrene are expected to return from sprained ankles. Expect sophomore Troy Pollard to get the start against Illinois State, with both Ford and Dufrene filling in.

LeShoure, a sophomore, suffered a broken jaw in November after an altercation with a teammate, reported to be wide receiver Jeff Cumberland.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Juice Williams sounded like a man exhausted and exasperated by a search for something that couldn't actually be found.

But when a team melts down the way Illinois did in Saturday's 37-9 loss to Missouri, an explanation isn't merely desired, but demanded.

Did the Illini get thrown off by losing star wide receiver Arrelious Benn to a sprained ankle on the third play of scrimmage?

Was the offense's rhythm out of whack without running backs Jason Ford or Daniel Dufrene?

How much did the secondary miss cornerback Vontae Davis, or is the unit missing leadership at safety for the second straight year?

“It’s really hard to explain," a subdued Williams said Monday on a teleconference with reporters. "It’s not really one thing you can pinpoint and set aside, say that’s the reason we didn’t play well. It was a combination of things."

For now, the outside world will have to settle for this from the senior quarterback: "Obviously, something happened between us leaving Champaign and going down to St. Louis for kickoff. Something happened and we obviously weren’t quite as focused and we weren’t at the point we needed to be to go out and dominate the game like we thought we should have."

Both Williams and linebacker Martez Wilson pointed to a lack of focus and intensity in the Missouri game. Head coach Ron Zook was even more pointed Sunday, saying, "The thing that got me most upset -- we didn’t go fight."

The 2009 Illini aren't knocked out after Saturday's loss, but they're certainly a bit staggered. Benn should return this weekend along with Ford and possibly Dufrene for a game against Illinois State, an FCS program, but things begin to get a lot tougher.

Illinois opens Big Ten play against Ohio State (road), Penn State (home) and Michigan State (home). If the Illini don't put up more of a fight soon, they'll be down for the count.

“It was a very humbling experience for this team," Williams said. "Hopefully, it works out for the better. ... Losing the way we lost, it definitely puts a team in a situation where you kind of second-guess yourself and you kind of lose sight of what you’re trying to do. The important thing for us is to regain the focus that we had throughout the entire fall camp and be confident in ourselves."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The Big Ten went 10-1 in Week 1, though several teams looked unimpressive in victory and Illinois looked like a mess in defeat. The level of competition jumps up in Week 2, as the league has several chances to distinguish itself on the national stage.

Here's a quick look at what's on tap:

Syracuse (0-1) at Penn State (1-0), Big Ten Network, noon ET

Orange quarterback Greg Paulus exceeded expectations in the season opener, making several big plays against Minnesota before tossing a costly interception in overtime. He could be in for a rude awakening against Penn State, which recorded 13 tackles for loss and four sacks Saturday against Akron. The Lions' defensive front hasn't missed a beat, but Joe Paterno wants to see better play from his offensive line against Syracuse.

Eastern Michigan (0-1) at Northwestern (1-0), Big Ten Network, noon ET

Barely tested in Week 1, Northwestern should once again have little trouble this week against Eastern Michigan, which comes off a 27-14 home loss to Army. Ron English's team really struggled to defend the run, and Northwestern will try to spark its ground game with multiple backs. The competition will get much tougher for Northwestern in the coming weeks, but these games are important to build confidence and continuity on offense. Pat Fitzgerald also wants a more dominant performance from his defense, which didn't generate much of a pass rush against Towson.

Western Michigan (0-1) at Indiana (1-0), Big Ten Network, noon ET

Both teams struggled in their openers, though Indiana made enough plays on defense to escape with a win. The Hoosiers will need an even better performance from their defenders as they face veteran Broncos quarterback Tim Hiller. Hiller couldn't possibly play much worse than he did against Michigan, and it will be important for Indiana defensive ends Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton to provide a heavy dose of pressure, much like the Wolverines did on Saturday.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Illinois star wide receiver Arrelious Benn likely will return for this week's game against Illinois State after leaving Saturday's loss against Missouri with a sprained right ankle early in the first quarter.

Head coach Ron Zook said Benn's ankle isn't nearly as bad as originally feared. Zook on Sunday listed Benn as probable for the Illinois State game.

Illini running backs Jason Ford and Daniel Dufrene also are probable for this week with sprained ankles.

After the Illini offense sputtered against Mizzou, all three players can't get back soon enough.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Illinois has cleared defensive tackle Josh Brent to play this fall, providing a big boost to a defensive line that loses three starters.

Brent served time in jail earlier this summer after pleading guilty June 2 to drunken driving. He was released early after receiving credit for time served and returned to work out with the team in July.

A 6-foot-2, 315-pound junior who started eight games last fall, Brent participated in training camp but wasn't cleared to play until Tuesday morning.

"It was something that we spent a lot of time and energy in discussions with Josh," Illinois head coach Ron Zook said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches' teleconference. "He made a terrible mistake, he owned up to it, he was severely punished, never complained and he's been a model citizen ever since. I've been very, very pleased with the way he's responded.

"He could have responded in a negative manner. He hasn't. He's done everything both off the field and on the field that we've asked, so we felt he deserved the opportunity to come back and learn from his mistake."

Last season, Brent recorded 34 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He'll form arguably the Big Ten's best tandem of defensive tackles with sophomore Corey Liuget.

Illinois opens the season Saturday against Missouri in St. Louis (ESPN, 3:40 p.m. ET).

• Zook said senior running back Daniel Dufrene will practice Tuesday after missing the last few days with a sprained ankle sustained Thursday. "They got a special fitted brace for him," Zook said, "and hopefully he can get out there and help us." If Dufrene can't play Saturday, sophomores Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure will receive the bulk of the carries. Ford led Illinois with eight rushing touchdowns last fall, while LeShoure added 126 rush yards and a touchdown on 35 carries.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Two days away.

• Kirk Cousins will get the start at quarterback for Michigan State in the opener.
• The allegations at Michigan are troublesome, but Rich Rodriguez needs to make sure his team is united to start winning more games, Bob Wojnowski writes in The Detroit News. Rodriguez showed a genuine side in Monday's news conference, annarbor.com's Michael Rothstein writes. Building up football coaches into more than they are is the problem at Michigan, Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel writes. The father of Michigan freshman Je'Ron Stokes, quoted in the original Detroit Free Press story, defends Rich Rodriguez, Rivals.com's Chris Balas writes. Excerpts from Rodriguez's news conference.
• Northwestern, Minnesota and Wisconsin have the most to gain or lose this fall in the Big Ten, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Wisconsin doesn't have unrealistic expectations for its football team, but Badgers fans demand better organization from head coach Bret Bielema in 2009, Michael Hunt writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Someone has to be the grownup for a team that undermined its skills last season with junior-high behavior that embarrassed a proud school, and if that someone cannot be Bielema, [Barry] Alvarez must look elsewhere for leadership to uphold UW standards.

• Illinois running back Daniel Dufrene is questionable for Saturday's opener against Missouri, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Purdue's season-ticket sales have dropped by about 15 percent, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• The Big Ten needs to repair its reputation, while Penn State will repeat as league champ, Kent Youngblood writes in the Star Tribune.
• Penn State's Jerome Hayes makes it easy to root for him, Bob Flounders writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. Nittany Lions star linebacker Navorro Bowman is back on the same page with Joe Paterno, Joe Juliano writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
• Former Iowa coach Hayden Fry weighs in on the 2009 Hawkeyes, the Des Moines Register's Andrew Logue writes in his blog.
• Indiana has virtually no experience at defensive tackle for its season opener Thursday, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

RANTOUL, Ill. -- We saw a little bit of everything during Illinois' practice Tuesday afternoon.

There was sunshine, and there was rain with drops the size of quarters (not joking). There was an appearance by Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo. And I saw Juice Williams' little daughter, LaChez, steering a golf cart with the help of her mother. Very cute and slightly scary.

Oh, yeah, and there were a ton of long passes thrown.

Before I head back to Chicago, a few observations from Illinois' practice:

• As I expected, this wide receiving corps is absolutely stacked. I don't see another group in the Big Ten that comes close in terms of talent and especially depth. Arrelious Benn made his share of plays and so did Jarred Fayson, but I was most impressed by the number of guys making tough catches. Big man Jeff Cumberland caught several downfield bombs, and Chris James, Cordale Scott, Terry Hawthorne and Chris Duvalt all made nice grabs.
  
• It wasn't all good for the passing attack, as the defensive backs made their presence known. Safety Bo Flowers picked off Williams and safety Garrett Edwards squeezed an Eddie McGee pass. Cornerback Miami Thomas, who doesn't lack confidence, had two picks, bringing his camp total to five. Thomas told me he expects to have 10 picks by the end of camp.
  
• Illinois is lining up with two tight ends a lot more this summer than last year. Senior Michael Hoomanawanui is the starter, but Hubie Graham and Zach Becker are both on the field for a lot of snaps.
  
• Sophomore running back Jason Ford took most of the reps with the first-team offense, though senior Daniel Dufrene and sophomore Mikel LeShoure are both in the mix for the top job. Ford picked up a huge gain on a screen pass from McGee, thanks to a nice block from Fayson. He also was dropped for a loss by safety Supo Sanni.
  

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

August is upon us.

My summer wedding tour is finally over -- a belated congrats to Mara and Elia! - so I'm all yours for the rest of the fall. The endless wait for Big Ten football reaches a milestone this week as four Big Ten teams begin training camp.

As players return to the field in Champaign, Iowa City, Bloomington and West Lafayette, let's take a look at three key questions for each team at the start of camp. Part II arrives next week as the final seven Big Ten squads open camp.

ILLINOIS

Camp opens: Thursday

1. Who takes the early lead in the competition at running back?

Head coach Ron Zook praised senior Daniel Dufrene last week at Big Ten media days, though sophomores Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure appeared to have the inside track coming out of spring ball.

2. Can Martez Wilson establish himself as Illinois' defensive general, and will he have any help?

The move to middle linebacker should benefit Wilson, who has yet to match his recruiting hype at Illinois. The Illini are also looking for playmakers in the secondary after losing star corner Vontae Davis.

3. Did the Illini ace their chemistry class?

There's little doubt that Illinois has the talent to contend for a New Year's Day bowl and possibly a Big Ten title, but team chemistry was not a strong suit last year. Team leaders say they have turned a page and bonded during the offseason. Now is the time to prove it.

INDIANA

Camp opens: Friday

1. Is the pistol offense ready to shoot down opposing defenses?

Quarterback Ben Chappell and his teammates have welcomed the shift to the pistol, which should spark Indiana's rushing attack. The competition at running back between Bryan Payton, Demetrius McCray and heralded redshirt freshman Darius Willis should provide plenty of intrigue.

2. Who will be 100 percent and are there any lingering injury concerns?

Injuries wiped out much of Indiana's two-deep last fall, and several key players missed part or all of spring ball with injuries. This is a much better team when players like Austin Thomas, Nick Polk, Deonte Mack and Chris Hagerup are on the field.

3. Who will emerge as a legit playmaker?

Whether or not Kellen Lewis' dismissal was addition by subtraction in the locker room, his presence will be missed on the field. Lewis' name appeared at the top of every opposing defense's scouting report, and the Hoosiers need to find a bona fide playmaker this summer.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As we trudge through the college football Sahara known as June, it's time to examine why you should get excited and anxious about your favorite Big Ten team heading into the summer.

During the coming days I'll list the biggest reason for hope and the biggest reason for concern for all 11 teams. First up, Illinois.

Biggest reason for hope -- A wealth of talent

Despite losing first-round draft pick Vontae Davis, defensive leader Brit Miller and several other contributors, Illinois remains one of the Big Ten's most talented teams. If Ron Zook can effectively develop the heralded recruits he brought to Champaign, Illinois should rebound from an incredibly disappointing 2008 season and reach a decent bowl game. The Illini boast the league's deepest group of wide receivers, led by All-America candidate Arrelious Benn, along with the league's most experienced quarterback in Juice Williams and three solid running backs (Jason Ford, Daniel Dufrene, Mikel LeShoure). Despite some questions up front, this offense should light up the scoreboard. It's time for Zook's recruiting to translate consistently to the win column, and Illinois certainly can make strides with its level of personnel.

Biggest reason for concern -- An unproven defense

Illinois lost key players in all three areas of the defense, especially the front seven. Miller and Davis combined for 210 tackles last year, and Derek Walker and Will Davis teamed up for 9.5 sacks. Like the offensive side, the defense boasts a lot of talent and some experience with linebacker Martez Wilson, cornerback/safety Travon Bellamy, defensive tackles Corey Liuget and Sirod Williams, and others. But none of those players have shouldered as heavy a responsibility as they will this fall. Wilson needs to take a step and become the leader on defense. Tavon Wilson, Bellamy and others need to fill Vontae Davis' production in the secondary. An effective pass rusher or two must emerge. There are enough question marks here to make you worry a bit.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Every Big Ten team circled and underlined a few questionable positions entering spring practice. Some of those concerns went away as young players blossomed and depth was built. Where did each Big Ten team get better this spring?

Here's a snapshot:

Illinois' running backs -- The development of sophomores Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure this spring gives Illinois plenty of options at running back heading into 2009. Ford and LeShoure both improved physically and mentally and will compete with senior Daniel Dufrene to be the featured runner. Bottom line: Juice Williams' job should be easier.

Indiana's offensive line -- After being decimated by injuries last season, Indiana can feel a bit better about the front five. Tackle James Brewer might finally be reaching his potential, and center Will Matte impressed the coaches in the middle of the line.

Iowa's offensive line -- This group figured to be pretty solid no matter what, but Iowa got some help from a familiar name in the interior line. Dace Richardson might finally be healthy, and he worked with the first-team at left guard as Iowa tries to replace all-conference linemen Seth Olsen and Rob Bruggeman.

Michigan's offensive line -- Not a major surprise here, considering the Wolverines bring back all their starters from last season. But an extra year of experience plus several talented redshirt freshmen (Ricky Barnum, Patrick Omameh) joining the mix should pay off big time this fall.

Michigan State's quarterbacks -- The Spartans felt great about the progress of quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol, who both threw for 357 yards and four touchdowns in the spring game. Head coach Mark Dantonio is in no rush to name a starter, but unlike many men in his position, he really has two viable options here.

Minnesota's wide receivers -- With superstar Eric Decker playing baseball, Minnesota needed to identify other solid options at receiver. Return specialist Troy Stoudermire emerged as a big-play threat, and quarterback Adam Weber liked what he saw from Brandon Green and Da'Jon McKnight.

Northwestern's running backs -- Of the three offensive skill positions where Northwestern loses starters, running back appears to be the most stable. Sophomore Jeravin Matthews emerged this spring and will push Stephen Simmons for the starting job. Northwestern has several options in the backfield after losing four-year starter Tyrell Sutton.

Ohio State's linebackers -- You can't deny all the production Ohio State loses in its defensive midsection, but the spring revealed several solid players who can step in. Austin Spitler and Tyler Moeller have waited their turn for the spotlight, and Brian Rolle had an excellent spring. With returning starter Ross Homan back on the outside, the Buckeyes should once again be solid.

Penn State's defensive line -- Despite losing three defensive ends with starting experience, Penn State should once again boast one of the league's top pass rushes. Sophomore Jack Crawford looks like the Nittany Lions' next superstar pass rusher and should fill the void on the edge with Eric Latimore and Kevion Latham.

Purdue's running backs -- Even with Jaycen Taylor still rehabbing from a torn ACL, Purdue got a lot better at running back this spring. Ralph Bolden came out of nowhere to steal the show in spring scrimmages (420 rush yards, 4 touchdowns), and Dan Dierking also looked impressive. The Boilers will need a viable rushing attack this fall, and they can feel a lot better about this group.

Wisconsin's wide receivers -- Dropped passes dogged the receivers throughout 2008, but the group definitely got better this spring. Nick Toon emerged as a potential No. 1 target with an excellent performance in practice, and Isaac Anderson, Kyle Jefferson and David Gilreath all showed progress at times.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Minutes after bulldozing cornerback Patrick Nixon-Youman for a first down during an Illinois practice this spring, Mikel LeShoure recited a line all young running backs should remember.

	AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
	Jason Ford led the Illini with eight rushing touchdowns a season ago.

"Sometimes you've got to dish the hits before you can take them," he said.

Last year, LeShoure and Fighting Illini teammate Jason Ford weren't fully equipped to absorb the punishment or make opposing defenders pay. Both backs played as true freshmen and enjoyed some success, as Ford led the team with eight rushing touchdowns and LeShoure added 126 rush yards and a touchdown in nine games.

But like many freshmen, both Ford and LeShoure didn't have Big Ten bodies. They were the right size -- Ford at 6-foot, 220 pounds; LeShoure at 6-foot, 240 pounds -- but the wrong shape.

"I came in out of shape," Ford said. "I really didn't lift weights in high school because we didn't really have a weight program, so everything was kind of new to me."

A winter in the weight room has paid off for both Ford and LeShoure, who, along with senior Daniel Dufrene and sophomore Troy Pollard, are in the mix for Illinois' starting running back spot in 2009.

Ford and LeShoure got most of the work in Illinois' spring game Saturday, combining for 93 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries (5.5 yards per carry).

Ford remains around the same weight as he played at last season -- he played this spring at 222 pounds, with the hope of getting down to 220 -- but he reduced his body fat from 8.9 percent last fall to 5.9 percent in the spring. Now sturdier than stockier, Ford's size comes in handy in the red zone, where he does most of his damage.

"I feel a lot stronger, a lot quicker, a lot faster," he said. "I'm in better shape than I was last year. Last year, I got kind of winded sometimes, but this year, I feel pretty good."

	University of Illinois/Getty Images
	Mikel LeShoure has lost 13 or 14 pounds and 3 to 4 percent of his body fat since last summer.

LeShoure has lost 13 or 14 pounds and 3 to 4 percent of his body fat since last summer. Part of the weight loss came after he sustained a broken jaw in early November after an altercation with a teammate, reported to be wide receiver Jeff Cumberland.

With his jaw wired shut for six weeks, LeShoure couldn't eat normally and dropped in weight. And even after his jaw healed, he worked to keep the weight off. LeShoure now checks in between 220 to 225 pounds.

"When I got back, I didn't want to just rush and add food and stuff," he said. "I just kept my body the way it was, and it paid off. I feel a lot quicker on my feet, knees feel a little higher."

LeShoure feels comfortable with his current size, while Ford is "pretty close" to his goal weight.

"The weight room doesn't just happen," Illinois head coach Ron Zook explained. "It takes time for your body to change."

Illinois slipped to fifth in the Big Ten in rushing offense last fall after leading the league in each of the past two seasons. Expectations have been boosted for the backs this fall, and LeShoure doesn't shy away from pressure.

For starters, he wears No. 5 for the Illini, the same jersey donned by former Illini star running back Rashard Mendenhall in 2007. LeShoure decided to keep his high school number despite Mendenhall's recent success.

"You can think of it like [pressure], but also it's a challenge, too," he said. "It pushes you to get better."

Both LeShoure and Ford accepted the challenge in the offseason.

"We feel like what we did last year was not our potential," LeShoure said. "We're going to set the bar higher."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Fighting Illini head coach Ron Zook divided up his team to create more balanced competition in Saturday's Orange and Blue Game, but the score ended up lopsided as the Blue squad shut out the Orange team 20-0 at Memorial Stadium. With first- and second-teamers playing alongside one another in the game, it was a bit hard to evaluate units, though several individuals stood out.

Senior quarterback Juice Williams directed two scoring drives for the Blue team, completing 13 of 26 passes for 150 yards with a 10-yard scoring strike to Chris Duvalt and an interception that freshman linebacker Evan Frierson tipped to himself. High winds hampered Williams a bit, and Zook said the senior threw "a couple of balls that have been his worst of the spring."

Still, Williams shouldn't be a major concern for Illini fans going forward.

The big questions with Illinois come on defense, and there were several bright spots, including the play of Martez Wilson, who likely will stay at middle linebacker after making the switch from the outside this spring. Wilson recorded 4.5 tackles and broke up a pass for the Blue team. According to The (Champaign) News-Gazette, Wilson has been getting advice from former teammates Brit Miller and J Leman on playing middle linebacker.

Other notable items from the Orange and Blue Game:

• No one had a better day on the field than junior defensive end Jerry Brown, who recorded a game-high seven tackles, including six for loss and two sacks. Brown appeared in all 13 games last fall and could assume a greater role after Illinois lost ends Will Davis and Derek Walker. Zook isn't getting too excited about Brown, though, noting that the junior needs to clean up some academic issues for the fall.
  
• Running backs Mikel LeShoure and Jason Ford were undoubtedly the best stories of the spring for Illinois, which can feel much better about its ground attack heading into 2009. Both LeShoure and Ford averaged more than five yards a carry in the spring game, and both Ford and fellow back Daniel Dufrene scored touchdowns.
  
• Don't be surprised if backup quarterback Eddie McGee sees more time at wide receiver this fall. Though Illinois is loaded at receiver, McGee led the Orange team with three receptions for 23 yards in the spring game. He completed 3 of 8 passes for 25 yards and was sacked twice. Redshirt freshman Jacob Charest got more work at quarterback behind Williams.
  
• Illinois and Northwestern announced their new rivalry trophy Saturday. The two teams will compete annually for the Land of Lincoln Trophy, which still must be designed but will coincide with the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. The trophy replaces the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, which was retired in November as part of Illinois' effort to remove all Native American imagery from its athletic teams. I personally was hoping for the Graham-Grange Trophy, but it didn't make the cut.
• Cornerback Tavon Wilson led the Orange team with four tackles and two pass breakups. Wilson could enter the fall as the team's top cover corner. Defensive end Clay Nurse (hello, nurse) added a sack and two tackles for loss.