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The spring superlatives series, which examines the strongest and weakest position groups for each Big Ten team, marches on with Purdue.

After winning four of its final six games, Purdue has high hopes for 2010. The Boilermakers return a lot of skill players on offense, and Miami transfer Robert Marve looks like the front-runner to take over at quarterback. The defense needs to fill all four starting spots in the secondary, but end Ryan Kerrigan and linebacker Jason Werner lead the front seven.

Strongest position: Wide receiver/tight end

• Key returnees: Keith Smith (91 receptions, 1,100 receiving yards, 6 TDs); Kyle Adams (29 receptions, 249 receiving yards); Keith Carlos (21 receptions, 242 receiving yards, 1 TD); running back Ralph Bolden (20 receptions, 261 receiving yards, 2 TDs); Cortez Smith (17 receptions, 177 receiving yards, 2 TDs); Jeff Lindsay (16 receptions 162 receiving yards).
• Key losses: Aaron Valentin (54 receptions, 621 receiving yards, 7 TDs).
• The skinny: A year ago, the Boilers had huge questions here as Smith was the lone returnee with any significant experience. Purdue now boasts one of the Big Ten's deepest group of pass-catchers, led by Smith, who topped the league in receiving yards last fall and earned first-team all-conference honors from the media. Purdue needs a new No. 2 wideout, but hopes are high for Cortez Smith and Carlos. The coaches are also high on young wideouts Antavian Edison and Gary Bush. The tight end position should be very solid with both Adams and Lindsay in the fold.

Weakest position: Defensive back

• Key returnees: Albert Evans (30 tackles, 2 pass breakups)
• Key losses: Torri Williams (84 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 8 passes defended); Dwight Mclean (62 tackles, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 4 passes defended); David Pender (40 tackles, 1 INT, 14 passes defended, 1 blocked kick, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery); Brandon King (30 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 5 passes defended).
• The skinny: Purdue loses all four starters in the secondary, including tackles leader Williams and second-team All-Big Ten selections in Pender and King. Evans is the lone returnee with significant experience, and he'll miss spring practice with an injury. Players like junior college transfer Mike Eargle, Charlton Williams, Gavin Roberts and Chris Quinn need to step up this spring. "We have a lot of depth issues in the secondary," head coach Danny Hope said.

It's no secret that Purdue's secondary needs help in 2010.

All four starters from last season are gone, including safety Torri Williams, the team's tackles leader, as well as second-team All-Big Ten cornerbacks David Pender and Brandon King. Junior safety Albert Evans is one of the few returning players who saw significant field time in 2009.

I know the Boilers coaches are excited about the young players they have in the secondary, and they should be. But does anyone else think Purdue's answer at defensive back could be found a few yards away from Ross-Ade Stadium in Mackey Arena?

Chris Kramer plays basketball like a football player. It's much of the reason he's so popular among Purdue fans and almost every opposing coach he faces. The Boilers senior guard will dive for loose balls, play through a broken nose, smother an opponent's best player on the defensive end and sacrifice his body whenever possible. He twice has been named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, and finished his career as Purdue's all-time steals leader.

As Kramer sliced through the lane Sunday for the game-winning layup in Purdue's second-round NCAA tournament game against Texas A&M, I couldn't help but think how he'd look in shoulder pads next year. Kramer was a standout safety and quarterback in high school. And since he didn't redshirt for the Boilers basketball team, he would have a season of eligibility left in football, much like Greg Paulus did at Syracuse in 2009.

I asked Kramer about playing football at the Big Ten men's basketball tournament a few weeks back, and his response was predictable.

"I haven't thought about it," he said, smiling. "We'll just take this ride for as long as it happens, and then go from there and make a decision on my future and what I want to do for the rest of my life."

If Kramer decides to pursue basketball, this is all a moot point. It has always been his favorite sport, even though some say he has a higher ceiling on the gridiron.

But if he hits a wall in hoops and wants to continue his athletic career in some form, Purdue head football coach Danny Hope and his staff should check in.

Kramer's high school football coach recently told The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier: "Had [Kramer] concentrated on football, he could have played on Sundays [in the NFL] as a safety."

He could still end being a big help on Saturdays this fall.

The NFL combine has wrapped up in Indianapolis, and as expected, the former Big Ten standouts drew mixed reviews. Check out the combine's top performers, and you'll see plenty of Big Ten alums.

Here are some final notes and nuggets, first from the Scouts Inc. staff:

• Steve Muench: "At 6-0 and 180 pounds, Purdue's David Pender is lean but has room on his frame to bulk up without losing too much speed. Pender officially ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds, posted a 39-inch vertical and has 32-inch arms. Don't be surprised to see him move up some draft boards based on his potential."
• Steve Muench: "Ohio State's Thaddeus Gibson looked smooth and comfortable dropping into coverage, which came as little surprise given how often he dropped into coverage in college. However, his footwork was a little sloppy during lateral bag work. Gibson is so explosive that his momentum often carried him past the bag and forced him to gather himself before redirecting. We've seen this on film as well, and Gibson needs to play more under control.
• Steve Muench: "Lisfranc injuries can be difficult to overcome, and Minnesota WR Eric Decker is now scheduled for a second surgery on his left foot. The March 15 operation does not indicate a setback, however. Its purpose is to remove the plate and screws inserted after the initial injury to the foot, but it will leave him unable to run unrestricted until June. Decker is a big, athletic receiver who built a lot of momentum early in the college season and was one of our fastest-rising prospects before the first injury ended his season. He likely will slide down some draft boards because he has been unable to work out fully for months and other receivers turned in strong performances at the combine, but Decker remains a third-round prospect in our eyes.
• Steve Muench: "Michigan's Brandon Graham is ranked ahead of Texas' Sergio Kindle and Ohio State's Thaddeus Gibson because he's the better player on film in our opinion. However, the combine is the perfect venue for Kindle and Gibson to showcase their talents because they are better athletes than Graham."
• Todd McShay: "Penn State's Daryll Clark and Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards could also be headed for position changes. Clark notched 21 reps on the bench press, which is good if he's moving to running back. The problem is he's too bulked up and it affects his overall accuracy as a passer."
• Todd McShay: "[Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn] turned in an unofficial 4.48 in the 40 and a 37-inch vertical, and he showed good strength with 20 reps on the bench press. Benn is a bit tightly wound but he has great quickness for his size and he eats up everything thrown his way. Benn should be high on the priority list for teams in search of wide receiver help in the bottom half of the first round, including the Bengals (No. 21), Ravens (No. 25) and Jets (No. 29)."
• Bruce Feldman on Brandon Graham: "The former Michigan star isn't tall, but so what? Neither is Dwight Freeney or Elvis Dumervil. Graham has superb first-step quickness and burst. He's also a powerhouse in the weight room, having set the Michigan record in the bench press, hang clean and power clean."

And now for some linkage:

• Penn State's Jared Odrick might have moved into the top 20 after the combine, Clifton Brown writes in The Sporting News.
• Indiana's Rodger Saffold improved his stock at the combine, while Iowa's Dace Richardson struggled, Russ Lande writes in The Sporting News. Odrick, Gibson and Iowa's Pat Angerer are among Lande's top defensive performers.
• NFL.com's Pat Kirwan has Iowa's Bryan Bulaga going at No. 5 in his post-combine mock draft.
• An abdominal strain kept Ohio State defensive back Kurt Coleman from running the 40 in Indy, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• Bulaga draws some combine praise from SI.com's Don Banks.
• Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren struggled on Day 6 of the combine, SI.com's Tony Pauline writes.
• Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka reflects on his combine experience in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The official list of invitees to the NFL scouting combine is out, and the Big Ten will send 41 former players to Indianapolis later this month. The combine takes place Feb. 24-March 2, and all 11 Big Ten schools will be represented. Iowa leads the way with seven invitees, followed Penn State with six invitees and four teams (Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State) each with four invitees.

You've already seen an early list, which didn't include underclassmen and some seniors who were named later.

Here's the full roster of Big Ten participants, sorted by team:

ILLINOIS: G Jon Asamoah, WR Arrelious Benn, TE Michael Hoomanawanui

INDIANA: DE Jammie Kirlew, DE Greg Middleton, S Nick Polk, OT Rodger Saffold

IOWA: LB Pat Angerer, OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Kyle Calloway, LB A.J. Edds, TE Tony Moeaki, G Dace Richardson, CB Amari Spievey

MICHIGAN: DE Brandon Graham, P Zoltan Mesko, RB Brandon Minor, CB Donovan Warren

MICHIGAN STATE: K Brett Swenson, WR Blair White

MINNESOTA: LB Lee Campbell, WR Eric Decker, LB Simoni Lawrence, LB Nate Triplett

NORTHWESTERN: QB Mike Kafka, CB Sherrick McManis, DE Corey Wootton

OHIO STATE: S Kurt Coleman, DE Thaddeus Gibson, K Aaron Pettrey, DT Doug Worthington

PENN STATE: LB Navorro Bowman, QB Daryll Clark, LB Josh Hull, LB Sean Lee, DT Jared Odrick, TE Andrew Quarless

PURDUE: DT Mike Neal, CB David Pender

WISCONSIN: TE Garrett Graham, LB O'Brien Schofield (injured)

The official list of invitees to the NFL scouting combine should be available soon, but Sporting News has compiled a preliminary roster, which includes 33 players from the Big Ten. This list DOES NOT include juniors who have declared for the draft and will be updated with underclassmen and other seniors.

The combine takes place Feb. 24 through March 2 in Indianapolis.

ILLINOIS: G Jon Asamoah, TE Michael Hoomanawanui

INDIANA: DE Jammie Kirlew, DE Greg Middleton, S Nick Polk, OT Rodger Saffold

IOWA: LB Pat Angerer, OT Kyle Calloway, LB A.J. Edds, TE Tony Moeaki, G Dace Richardson

MICHIGAN: DE Brandon Graham, P Zoltan Mesko, RB Brandon Minor

MICHIGAN STATE: K Brett Swenson, WR Blair White

MINNESOTA: WR Eric Decker, LB Simoni Lawrence, LB Nate Triplett

NORTHWESTERN: QB Mike Kafka, CB Sherrick McManis, DE Corey Wootton

OHIO STATE: S Kurt Coleman, K Aaron Pettrey, DT Doug Worthington

PENN STATE: QB Daryll Clark, LB Sean Lee, DT Jared Odrick, TE Andrew Quarless

PURDUE: DT Mike Neal, CB David Pender

WISCONSIN: TE Garrett Graham, DE O'Brien Schofield

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Thumbs up, defensive end Cameron Heyward: I should have listed him as co-Defensive Player of the Week with Illinois' Clay Nurse, and I'm glad the league acknowledged the Buckeyes' star defensive lineman. Heyward led Ohio State with a career high 11 tackles, including three for loss and two sacks. Penn State couldn't block him at all.

Thumbs down, Penn State's offensive game plan: Few teams can beat Jim Tressel at Tressel-ball -- USC did on Sept. 12, but it's a rarity -- and Penn State definitely fell into the trap against the Buckeyes. I know Penn State's offensive line isn't great this year, but you have to get a little more creative than running into the teeth of Ohio State's defense. It was a poor approach from the offensive coaching staff in this one. The Spread HD looked like a huge dud.

Thumbs up, running back Montee Ball: Ball nearly got a helmet sticker but will settle for a thumbs up after his tremendous performance in relief of John Clay (concussion) against Indiana. The true freshman rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries against Indiana.

Thumbs down, Minnesota's game preparation: The Illinois loss falls squarely on Gophers head coach Tim Brewster and his staff as Minnesota didn't show up until the second half. After jumping on Michigan State from the get-go last week, Minnesota found itself down 28-7 at halftime and fell to an Illini team that had lost starting quarterback Juice Williams to an ankle injury. The Gophers can't afford another lapse this week against South Dakota State.

Thumbs up, cornerback Terry Hawthorne: The Illinois freshman deserves a ton of credit for the team's mini-turnaround. Last week, he tracked down Michigan's Roy Roundtree at the 1-yard line, setting up a momentum-changing goal-line stand. Hawthorne set the tone against Minnesota with a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first quarter. He finished with five tackles in the game.

Thumbs down, Iowa's offensive line: I'll definitely take heat from Hawkeye Nation for this, but I know some Iowa fans agree that this unit hasn't been nearly as dominant as it was projected to be entering the season. Losing quarterback Ricky Stanzi to an ankle injury was a huge blow, but Iowa couldn't generate a consistent rushing attack against Northwestern aside from a long Brandon Wegher touchdown called back on a questionable holding penalty. Don't get me wrong, the line hasn't been bad this season, but ask yourself this: Has it met expectations?

Thumbs up, quarterback Terrelle Pryor: Pryor notched his first signature moment as the Buckeyes starting quarterback with an efficient and extremely clean performance at Beaver Stadium. He threw two touchdown passes and no interceptions and added 50 rush yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. The sophomore knew the spotlight would be on him, and he rose to the occasion.

Thumbs down, Penn State's special teams: Conservative offensive play-calling isn't a huge surprise for a Joe Paterno squad, but Penn State's season-long problems on special teams have been truly shocking. The Lions had no answer for Ohio State punt return man Ray Small and generated nothing on their own punt returns. Special teams issues have really hurt Penn State in both of its losses.

Thumbs up, cornerback David Pender and kicker Carson Wiggs: Pender has quietly been one of the Big Ten's best cornerbacks this season, leading the league in passes defended (12). But he contributed in a different way against Michigan, recovering an onside kick in the third quarter to spark the Boilermakers' comeback against Michigan. Wiggs executed the kick to perfection for Purdue.

Thumbs down, Michigan's secondary: It's the same thing every week now, as opponents seem to attack downfield at will. Purdue completed 10 passes of 10 yards or longer and three passes of 30 yards or longer against the Wolverines, including touchdown passes of 35 and 54 yards.

And, finally ...

Thumbs up, quarterbacks Mike Kafka and Dan Persa: Iowa won't get any sympathy from Northwestern when it comes to injuries. Kafka returned from a pulled hamstring after only one week and gutted it out against a very good Iowa defense despite limited mobility. Persa was effective on runs and threw a touchdown pass before injuring his throwing hand in the second half.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Purdue wants to use Royce Adams as a wide receiver. Unfortunately, it might not have that luxury.

Adams, who played three seasons and started 19 games at cornerback before moving to wide receiver during the offseason, is listed as a backup at both positions on this week's depth chart.

Purdue has been a bit banged up in the secondary, and starting corner Brandon King missed last Saturday's game against Oregon with a thigh bruise. Corner David Pender also was limited last week in practice.

Free safety Torri Williams moved over to cornerback for the Oregon game, while Josh McKinley earned the start at safety. Adams played about 12 snaps on defense and recorded a tackle.

Hope lists King as probable for Saturday's game against Northern Illinois, but Adams is there just in case.

"If everybody was healthy, we’d keep [Adams] on offense," Hope said, "but right now, we have to wait and see what happens with Brandon."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

After a long weekend off, it's time to dive back into the Big Ten position rankings. The secondary units are up next.

The top two look absolutely stacked, and the top four or five all will be solid. Quarterback play should be much better in the Big Ten this fall, and the secondaries will need to elevate their play.

1. Iowa -- Three starters return from a unit that helped Iowa lead the Big Ten in takeaways (32) and allow the fewest passing touchdowns (9) in 2008. Junior Amari Spievey is the league's best cover corner, and he'll be joined by safety Tyler Sash, who shared the league lead in interceptions with teammate Pat Angerer last fall. Bradley Fletcher will be missed and depth is a mini concern, but the back four will anchor Iowa's D.

2. Northwestern -- The Wildcats boast the Big Ten's deepest secondary and possibly the league's best. I covered a string of woeful Northwestern secondaries earlier this decade, and it's a major testament to assistants Mike Hankwitz and Jerry Brown that the unit has come this far. All four starters return, led by safety Brad Phillips and corner Sherrick McManis. Northwestern can go at least nine deep and boasts capable reserves like Brian Peters.

3. Ohio State -- It's a bit of a mixed bag for the Buckeyes, who return the Big Ten's top safety tandem but look thin at cornerback. Safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell both will contend for All-Big Ten honors after solid junior seasons. Ohio State loses Thorpe Award winner Malcolm Jenkins and hopes Chimdi Chekwa can fill the void. Several young players will get a chance to shine this fall, including Travis Howard and Ohrian Johnson.

4. Michigan State -- All-Big Ten safety Otis Wiley departs, but there's a lot to like about the Spartans secondary. Perhaps only Northwestern boasts more depth than Michigan State, which can go at least eight deep in the secondary. Corners Chris L. Rucker and Ross Weaver should have big seasons, and safety Trenton Robinson was the story of the spring and will earn major playing time.

5. Purdue -- Pop quiz: Which team led the Big Ten in pass defense last fall? It might surprise some to know Purdue topped the chart (183.2 ypg). A poor run defense contributed to the numbers, but the Boilers still look very strong in the back four entering 2009. Safety Torri Williams received a sixth year of eligibility during the offseason, and he'll join returning starters David Pender, Brandon King and Dwight Mclean.

6. Minnesota -- Minnesota led the Big Ten in takeaways for much of last season, and the secondary was the biggest reason why. Playmaking cornerback Traye Simmons leads a unit that returns three starters and could be deeper than it was in 2008. Senior corner Marcus Sherels and junior safety Kyle Theret have loads of experience, and Simmons is thrilled about the arrival of Wisconsin transfer Kim Royston at safety.

7. Wisconsin -- Easily the toughest unit to rank. The Badgers have the playmakers to be a top 4 secondary this fall. Cornerback Niles Brinkley recorded four interceptions last season, backup safety Shane Carter had a league-leading seven picks in 2007 and safety Jay Valai might be the Big Ten's hardest hitter. But consistency and depth are major concerns for Wisconsin. A lot depends on how cornerback Aaron Henry returns from knee problems.

8. Michigan -- Junior cornerback Donovan Warren could have a huge year or a really quiet one. See, Warren is easily the team's most experienced defensive back, and for that reason, opponents might try to avoid him and attack the Wolverines' unproven players. Michigan boasts a lot of young talent in the secondary -- corner Boubacar Cissoko, safety Troy Woolfolk, safety Vladimir Emilien -- and those players need to grow up fast.

9. Penn State -- This is easily the weakest unit on a team with Big Ten title aspirations. Penn State loses all four starters from a secondary that got exposed late in a loss to Iowa and early in a Rose Bowl beating against USC. The Lions need cornerback A.J. Wallace to straighten out his academic situation before Sept. 5. Safety Drew Astorino is ready to lead, but Penn State must identify capable pieces around him.

10. Illinois -- As expected, Vontae Davis bolted to the NFL a year early, leaving Illinois without a lock-down cornerback. The safeties also struggled at times last year, which creates plenty of questions heading into the fall. Illinois would certainly benefit from having a healthy Donsay Hardeman at safety, while cornerback Tavon Wilson showed some promising signs during spring ball.

11. Indiana -- It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Indiana finished much higher in my end-of-year rankings, but there are too many uncertainties entering camp. How will safeties Austin Thomas and Nick Polk respond from serious knee injuries? Has Ray Fisher successfully transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback? Will Florida transfer Jerimy Finch finally emerge as an impact player? The answers could determine whether Indiana survives on defense this fall.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The Big Ten's only new head coach isn't new at Purdue. Danny Hope was there for Purdue's rebirth in the late 1990s and returned last year as head coach-in waiting and offensive line coach. Those tags have since been removed, and Hope is going through his first practices as the man in charge. Purdue comes off a 4-8 season and missed a bowl for just the second time since Joe Tiller's arrival in 1997. Hope brought in five new coaches during the offseason, including offensive coordinator Gary Nord and defensive coordinator Donn Landholm.

	Sandra Dukes/Icon SMI
	Joey Elliott is a candidate to start at QB for Purdue in 2009.

The Boilers have competition at quarterback, running back and wide receiver as they try to turn things around in Hope's first year. I caught up with Hope earlier this week.

A few practices in, is the team where you thought it would be? Ahead of schedule? Behind schedule?

Danny Hope: We're ahead in some ways. Obviously, when you have a guy like Curtis Painter, who was accomplished as he was at the quarterback spot, you've got a lot of work to do. We are eight receivers short from the roster of 2008. So I didn't really know what to expect when we went out the first day in shorts last Wednesday, but I was very pleased with what we've got done so far. We are able to go out there and execute the offense to some degree, which is a good sign for us this early in spring. The good thing about our quarterback spot, even though we don't have a bona fide returning starter, is our top two quarterbacks played in 2008.

How does the quarterback competition shape up right now?

DH: Joey Elliott was a very good No. 2 quarterback for us, was actually putting pressure on Painter and starting to get in some games, and then he got injured. You're not getting a rookie. He's a football junkie. He loves it. He had shoulder surgery and his health status is much better than I thought it would be at the start of spring. He's throwing the ball better, got a little more zip on it. He's a guy who knows more about the offense than anyone else we have on that side of the ball right now. So him being healthy enough to go out there and throw was a huge shot in the arm for us. And obviously, Justin Siller, even though he wasn't that well prepared because he had not been in the lineup before and was working as a running back, we beat Michigan with Justin Siller and he's a great athlete. He has some game experience. So we don't have two varsity rookies out there. That's a good sign. And I really like what I'm seeing out of our freshman, Caleb TerBush, who was on the scout team all of last year, he's out there getting some great reps. We're further along at the quarterback spot than I thought we were going to be, but when you're comparing it to the likes of Drew Brees, Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter, we're nowhere near that.

Do you have a timetable on when you'd like to make a decision on a starter? Will it go well into preseason camp?

DH: Everybody asks that, and the most important thing to me is the development at the quarterback position, not just one particular quarterback. Last year is a classic example of what I'm talking about, where Painter went down and Joey Elliott got hurt and we had to take Justin Siller from running back and move him to quarterback, and he wasn't prepared to do so. I think the development of all of our quarterbacks is key this spring, and certainly the No. 1. We'll play as many players as we can, so I'm not really concerned about saying there has to be a certain deadline or due date as long as each and every one of our quarterbacks are improving and can get themselves in position to help us win. That's more important than naming a guy.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

There's no shortage of questions for Danny Hope as he oversees his first set of spring drills as Purdue's head coach. The Boilermakers bring in new coordinators (Gary Nord, Donn Landholm) on both sides of the ball and lose many of their starting skill players on offense.

There's a little more stability on defense, despite the loss of leading tackler Anthony Heygood. Here's the good news and bad news for Purdue entering the spring.

Strongest position -- Defensive back

Key returnees: Senior cornerback Torri Williams, senior cornerback/safety Brandon King, senior safety Dwight Mclean, senior cornerback David Pender

Key departures: Safety Frank Duong (41 tackles, 1 fumble recovery)

The skinny: Purdue returns all four starters from a group that led the Big Ten in pass defense (183.2 ypg) last season. Williams, who received a sixth year of eligibility, can be a playmaker at either cornerback or safety when healthy, and King proved to be valuable at the opposite corner spot. The Boilers likely will lean on their defense early in the season, so expect the back four to play a vital role. The offensive line also could be a strength.

Weakest position -- Wide receiver

Key returnees: Junior Keith Smith, senior Aaron Valentin

Key departures: Greg Orton (69 receptions, 720 yards, 5 touchdowns), Desmond Tardy (67 receptions, 876 yards, 5 touchdowns), running back Kory Sheets (37 receptions, 253 yards, 1 touchdown), Brandon Whittington (25 receptions, 182 yards, 1 touchdown).

The skinny: It seems weird to type this, given Purdue's recent history of producing standout wide receivers, but there aren't many proven targets left for quarterbacks Joey Elliott and Justin Siller. There's a reason why Hope signed four wide receivers and a tight end in his first recruiting class. Purdue needs a playmaker to emerge at wideout, and perhaps more importantly, it needs to upgrade at tight end, a spot that really fell off last year after superstar Dustin Keller departed in 2007. Other potential trouble spots include quarterback, running back and linebacker.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

In case you missed it, Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells took another step toward playing Saturday. We're rolling right along as game day approaches. 

• Big Ten coaches realize what's at stake this weekend, The New York Times' Mike Ogle writes in The Quad blog. 
  
• After being right in the mix at this point last season, Illinois backup quarterback Eddie McGee is waiting his turn behind the surging Juice Williams, Terry Bannon writes in the Chicago Tribune. Illini freshman wideout Jack Ramsey has been cleared academically to play, but he's still filling an invaluable role this week in practice, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald.
• The Indianapolis Star's Terry Hutchens blogs about Indiana's sagging attendance at home games. Maybe a quality opponent or two would help the Hoosiers.
  
• A wide receiver corps besieged by injuries and inconsistency has become a strength for Iowa, Eric Page writes in the Quad City Times. Ricky Stanzi's newfound popularity hasn't affected the Iowa quarterback, the Iowa City Press-Citizen's Andy Hamilton writes in his blog.
  
• Both teams are struggling on offense, but Michigan and Notre Dame historically shine late in games, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. This is nothing like what's happening on the Gulf Coast, but weather could play a factor at Notre Dame Stadium, John Heuser writes in The Ann Arbor News.
  
• The pass rush has become a priority for Michigan State, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press. Spartans center Joel Nitchman is a political junkie, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• Trey Davis got off to a rocky start as Minnesota's center but will have plenty more chances Saturday, Kent Youngblood writes in the Star Tribune. Gophers coach Tim Brewster remembers Montana State's last major upset, Scott Mansch writes in the Great Falls Tribune.
  
• Are the Buckeyes holding back on offense? Coordinator Jim Bollman won't tell, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Wideout Brian Hartline thinks so, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Wells likely won't be 100 percent Saturday, and cornerback Donald Washington might not reclaim his starting job.
  
• A report says Penn State defensive linemen Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma will remain suspended Saturday, but Koroma doesn't know his status, The Daily Collegian reports. The Penn State-Syracuse rivalry has lost its luster, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror.
  
• Purdue's David Pender has faced Oregon quarterback Justin Roper before and recognizes the challenge the Boilers will face Saturday, Tom Kubat writes in The Journal and Courier. Coach Joe Tiller isn't concerned about Purdue's all-time wins record, Stacy Clardie writes in The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
  
• P.J. Hill's early fumbles don't worry his Wisconsin coaches, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Badgers get a big boost Saturday when linebacker Jonathan Casillas returns, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- I'm covering Purdue's media day festivities throughout the morning. Check back later for plenty of Boiler updates (I always wanted to write that).

For now, here are three questions facing Purdue this fall:

How will the team navigate its challenging schedule?

The Boilermakers didn't make it easy on Tiller in his final season. A normally manageable nonconference schedule turns treacherous this fall, as Purdue plays Oregon, Central Michigan and annual rival Notre Dame. Purdue also has road games against Ohio State and Michigan State. The good news is both the Oregon and Central Michigan games are at home, where Purdue went 5-2 last season. Having a senior quarterback like Curtis Painter usually helps, but the schedule provides both Painter and Tiller several chances for validation. Big games have recently been the knock on Purdue, and the slate is filled with them.

Who will step up to replace the production of wide receiver Dorien Bryant and tight end Dustin Keller?

Greg Orton was often overshadowed by Bryant, but the senior has been consistent and should fit in nicely as a featured receiver. Purdue will ask for more from Desmond Tardy and continued contributions from running back Kory Sheets, who caught 30 passes last season. The spotlight also will be on junior-college transfers Aaron Valentin and Arsenio Curry, who weren't brought in to watch. Valentin joined the team this spring and got adjusted to the system, while Curry must play catchup in camp. Keller was a unique talent and can't be duplicated, but junior Kyle Adams brings some experience to the tight end spot.

Who will fill the playmaking gaps on defense?

The Boilermakers lost their best pass rusher in end Cliff Avril and their best overall defender in cornerback Terrell Vinson. Of the two units, the line looks to be in better shape to fill the void, especially with Alex Magee and Ryan Baker occupying the interior. The secondary is a different story, but Brandon King's move from safety to corner could be a good solution, especially if safety Torri Williams can finally stay healthy. Junior-college transfer Dwight Mclean should provide depth at safety, but Purdue will look for more from cornerbacks David Pender and Royce Adams.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

This will be the first of three parts as I break down the Big Ten defensive backs. Check back for rankings of safeties and cornerbacks. Despite losing several standout cornerbacks (Justin King, Jack Ikegwuonu, Terrell Vinson), the league returns a bunch of top-end players and teams have filled in the gaps nicely. 

Here's the rundown:

1. Ohio State -- All four starters are back, led by Thorpe Award frontrunner Malcolm Jenkins, who likely would have been a first- or second-round draft pick had he left school after last season. Fellow cornerback Donald Washington is suspended for the first two games but should make a significant impact when he returns. Ohio State would like more interceptions from safeties Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman, who had none last year but still combined to break up nine passes.

2. Penn State -- King's ability to shut down an opponent's top receiver will be missed, but Penn State still has good depth at cornerback with emerging junior A.J. Wallace, returning starter Lydell Sargeant and Tony Davis, who started every game at corner in 2006 before moving to safety during an injury-plagued junior season. Anthony Scirrotto is arguably the top playmaking safety in the conference with 10 career interceptions.

3. Michigan -- The Wolverines might feature the league's best cornerback tandem in senior Morgan Trent and sophomore Donovan Warren, who combined for 93 tackles and 13 pass breakups last season. They need some help at safety after the loss of all-conference selection Jamar Adams, but Stevie Brown played well as a reserve last year and Brandon Harrison has experience and versatility.

4. Michigan State -- Safety Otis Wiley backslid a bit last year but should recapture the form of 2006, when he ranked seventh in the Big Ten in tackles and had 10 pass breakups. The Spartans ranked fourth in the league in pass defense last year and have good depth at cornerback behind veteran Kendell Davis-Clark.

5. Illinois -- Vontae Davis will push Jenkins for the title of Big Ten's best cornerback. He ranked sixth in the league in both interceptions and pass breakups last year. Dere Hicks and Miami Thomas provide depth at the other corner spot, but Illinois must replace safeties Kevin Mitchell and Justin Harrison, who combined for 155 tackles, six interceptions and 24 pass breakups last season. If guys like Travon Bellamy, Nate Bussey and Bo Flowers perform, this group will move up the list. 

6. Iowa -- There's hope here despite the losses of starting cornerbacks Charles Godfrey and Adam Shada, both honorable mention All-Big Ten selections last season. Senior Bradley Fletcher received ample experience the last two years, but the Hawkeyes would like another solid corner or two to emerge. Both starting safeties return to brace the unit. 

7. Wisconsin -- Shane Carter is a budding star at safety after leading the league with seven interceptions last season, but much like other areas on the Badgers' depth chart, health has been a bugaboo. If cornerbacks Allen Langford and Aaron Henry bounce back from ACL injuries, the unit should be strong. If not, there will be plenty of pressure on young defensive backs like Mario Goins and Jay Valai.

8. Purdue -- The Boilermakers lost their best cover man (Vinson) from a unit that ranked seventh in the league against the pass last season. To avoid a drop off, they need better play from Royce Adams and continued production from David Pender. If safety Torri Williams can finally stay healthy after a rash of ailments, Purdue's secondary should be stable. 

9. Northwestern -- This unit no longer has any excuse to be a liability. Safety Brendan Smith returns from a shoulder injury to provide the playmaking punch the Wildcats sorely lacked last season. Smith and Brad Phillips form an experienced tandem at safety, while junior cornerback Sherrick McManis should benefit from an inconsistent first season as the starter. If Justan Vaughn or a redshirt freshman (Jordan Mabin, Michael Bolden) solidify the other corner spot, Northwestern should be respectable. 

10. Indiana --  Leading tackler Austin Thomas returns at strong safety, but cornerback is the biggest question on the team. The Hoosiers lost both starting corners, including all-conference performer Tracy Porter, who ranked second in the league with six interceptions. Six players are in the mix for the two jobs, including senior Chris Phillips. If the cornerback spot is stabilized, Indiana should leapfrog several teams. 

11. Minnesota -- The personnel is there for a turnaround, but it's tough to rank the Gophers much higher without seeing junior-college transfers Tramaine Brock, Trae Simmons and Simoni Lawrence. If those players perform like coach Tim Brewster thinks they will, Minnesota will be much improved. Brock brings a much-needed edge to the back four. But the Gophers can't rely much on returning players after last season's disaster.