ESPN College Football

Hope Leap Day William visits today and trades candy for your tears.

• Pat Harty wonders if new Iowa playcaller Greg Davis is ready for a change in talent level from his days at Texas. DJK was released from his arena football team.
• Denard Robinson is growing as a leader, Al Borges says. Junior Hemingway thinks Michigan will beat Alabama in the 2012 opener. Mike Martin is happy with his showing at the NFL combine.
• Bo Pelini says he's in no rush to fill the coaching vacancy on his staff, even if that means he won't have a dedicated secondary coach for the start of spring practice March 10. Alfonzo Dennard made his case -- a solid, if not spectacular one -- at the NFL combine.
• Ohio State got a commitment from top-rated in-state offensive lineman and ESPNU 150 prospect Evan Lisle.
• Penn State dismissed redshirt freshman defensive end Shawn Oakman without much explanation. New Nittany Lions quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher says he's confident the program can attract elite signal-callers to State College.
• A fullback prospect talks about his visit to Purdue.
• It's a promising sign that Thomas Hammock didn't become the latest assistant to leave Wisconsin.
• NBCSports.com looks at some Big Ten spring storylines.
• If you didn't read Adam's piece about the lack of diversity among Big Ten head coaches, you should.

I'm sorry but you know I have two weakness: children cursing and old people rapping!

• In case you missed it, 13 Penn State trustees tell The New York Times about the difficult decision to fire Joe Paterno. The trustees shouldn't have to defend themselves.
• Wisconsin reportedly will hire Nevada's Andy Buh as its next linebackers coach. Badgers fans shouldn't feel too bad about losing offensive line coach Bob Bostad, who reportedly will ditch Pitt to join the Chicago Bears' staff.
• Although Purdue continues to confirm nothing about coaching arrivals and departures, it looks like the Boilers have landed their new defensive coordinator.
• Joe Rexrode writes that the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry has never been better, both on the gridiron and on the hard court.
• Yet another blue-chip recruit is heading to Ohio State.
• New Penn State coach Bill O'Brien faces plenty of toss-up games in 2012. O'Brien and assistant Stan Hixon talked about joining Penn State's staff in late December.
• Nebraska is using its blowout losses this past season as fuel for winter workouts.
• Former Indiana receiver Damarlo Belcher was relieved to get an invitation to a predraft all-star game.
• Illinois is in the mix to land coveted offensive tackle prospect Logan Tuley-Tillman.
• Michigan State aims for a strong finish to a smallish recruiting class. The Only Colors projects Michigan State's offensive depth chart for the next four seasons.
• Quarterback Philip Nelson talks about how he spurned Wisconsin for Minnesota, Phil Miller writes. The Daily Gopher projects Minnesota's defense in 2012.
• Hypothetically, the line for Michigan-Alabama will put the Wolverines as 7.5-point underdogs. Michigan soon will begin accepting ticket applications for the game.
• Juco quarterback Cody Sokol begins his Iowa career this week. DJK is returning to Iowa, this time to play in the Arena league.

Iowa is no stranger to facing adversity in a bowl game.

In the 2001 Alamo Bowl, the Hawkeyes' first postseason appearance under head coach Kirk Ferentz, running back Ladell Betts couldn't play with a hamstring injury, leaving Iowa without a four-year starter. Iowa turned to Aaron Greving, who racked up 115 rush yards and earned offensive MVP honors in a win against Texas Tech.

The Betts-Greving situation hardly compared to the crisis Iowa faced before the 2010 Insight Bowl. Top running back Adam Robinson had been suspended and subsequently arrested. Top receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos had been arrested on drug charges, leading to an odd news conference where Iowa admitted to finding problems with its drug-testing program for student-athletes. The team also announced that two reserve running backs, Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher, were transferring.

And yet Iowa still won the game, rallying to upset Missouri 27-24.

Another Insight Bowl matchup is on tap Friday night against Oklahoma, and Iowa once again is dealing with some adversity. Sophomore running back Marcus Coker, the team's most productive offensive weapon, is suspended for an undisclosed violation of team policy. There are other potential personnel issues, which Ferentz deflected Tuesday, but replacing Coker's 281 carries and 1,354 rush yards is the big one.

"It's football," Ferentz told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "If our running back had sprained his ankle, he wouldn't play then, either. So you don't surrender and forfeit the game. You keep playing. It happens all year long. Players are in and out. Somebody has to be ready to step in, and everybody else has to help those guys out."

Coker was that guy for Iowa last December, rushing for a team-bowl record 219 yards and two touchdowns against Missouri. But his loss leaves the Hawkeyes with a stable of unproven backs.

Ferentz said Jason White, who he describes as "steady" and "dependable," and Brad Rogers, who has mostly played fullback for Iowa, likely will be the team's top two ball-carrying options Friday against Oklahoma. Freshmen Jordan Canzeri and Damon Bullock are the next two in line.

"We'll basically use everybody we have," Ferentz said. "I don't know if I foresee us getting 200 yards like a year ago, and if we did, it will probably be three, four, five guys contributing to that yardage, not one. We'll do it by committee and just see how it goes."

Iowa's passing attack has been very effective at times, especially early in the season when the Hawkeyes employed some no-huddle. Oklahoma ranks just 83rd nationally against the pass.

But the Hawkeyes won't abandon their run game Friday night. Because they can't.

"We have to at least attempt it," Ferentz said. "We're not built to throw it 70 times a game. It's just not our mode of operation. If we get in a situation like that, it's not good. But the group's capable. They've been practicing well and they'll step up and do a good job."

The suspensions of both Coker and freshman Mika'il McCall have once again placed the spotlight on Iowa's running back position, which has seen an extraordinary amount of turmoil since the departure of Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene after the 2008 season. Five promising backs have dealt with off-field issues since Greene's departure.

"I wish I could explain it," Ferentz said. "There's no conspiracy theory or anything like that. We've just had some situations. You have to evaluate each one on an individual basis. We have had our share of transactions and transition. We'll get it settled down again."

When bowl games kick off, Iowa usually finds a way.

When Iowa wrapped up preseason camp, coach Kirk Ferentz left the field despondent about a particular position group.

A defensive line replacing three multiyear starters selected in the NFL draft? Nope.

A secondary that lost two multiyear starters at safety? Guess again.

What about the quarterback spot? Ricky Stanzi, after all, had taken his bionic arm and infectious patriotism to Kansas City.

But Ferentz wasn't fretting about the men throwing passes. He had little faith, however, in the men charged with catching them.

Other than senior Marvin McNutt, an All-Big Ten candidate and a bona fide NFL prospect, Iowa's wide receiving corps left Ferentz feeling empty.

"I was really in the tank about that position," he said. "We really weren't doing very well."

McNutt, who racked up 87 catches for 1,535 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in the past two seasons, shared his coach's concern.

"We thought things were moving a little slow," McNutt told ESPN.com. "And you could see in the first couple games, we didn't click the way we wanted to. I knew we had the talent. Things just needed to happen. When people get a little more game experience, they start playing a little bit better."

Or a lot better.

What looked like a weakness for Iowa has become potentially a major strength as the team opens Big Ten play this week at Penn State. The emergence of junior Keenan Davis and redshirt freshman Kevonte Martin-Manley alongside McNutt, who continues to roll, gives Iowa a formidable receiving corps.

Iowa's big three has combined for 58 catches, 880 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns through the first four games. After McNutt carried the corps in the season opener (140 receiving yards, 2 TDs), both Davis and Martin-Manley have come on strong, particularly during a historic second-half rally against Pitt, when Iowa went to an effective no-huddle pass attack that left its fans drunk with the possibilities for the rest of the season.

The Hawkeyes aren't going to "go 100 percent no-huddle," as Ferentz joked last week, but the receiving corps, along with blossoming junior quarterback James Vandenberg, gives coordinator Ken O'Keefe new ways to stretch the field.

"These guys, if you give them a chance, they need to be making plays," O'Keefe told ESPN.com. "The most fun in football is that receiver position."

Iowa's receivers are having plenty of fun these days.

Davis' emergence is more of a relief than a surprise for the Hawkeyes. The departure of record-setting wideout Derrell Johnson-Koulianos left a void, and most expected Davis to fill it, especially after he made strides this spring and turned heads at the spring scrimmage.

But Davis' progress slowed in August, and he recorded only two catches in the opener. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Davis had a key drop in overtime the next week in Iowa's loss to Iowa State but still finished with five receptions for 95 yards and a touchdowns. He followed it up with a career-best performance in the Pitt comeback (10 catches, 129 yards, TD).

"Keenan Davis is finally realizing his potential a little bit," Ferentz said. "I wouldn't have objected if it happened last year with him. We certainly had plenty of need. ... That's the neat thing about football, especially college and high school football. All players progress at different times. The key thing is that they do progress, and we're starting to see that."

Martin-Manley, a smaller receiver at 6-feet and 205 pounds, plays more in the slot and has benefited from some mismatches in coverage.

"The biggest thing for him was learning where he's going to line up," O'Keefe said. "The second thing is get off the line of scrimmage and run your route, get yourself open. And then once you get all that down, you've got to be able to do it full speed. That's what's happened. He's starting to do some things full speed."

The turning point for the receivers, not surprisingly, came in the Pitt game as Iowa fell behind 24-3 late in the third quarter.

"We all looked at each other and said, 'It's time to make plays, men. We know the ball is going to start flying to us,'" McNutt recalled.

Two passes to Davis and one to Martin-Manley put Iowa at the Pitt 5-yard line, where Vandenberg scored two plays later. Iowa's fourth quarter began with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Davis. Martin-Manley then hauled in touchdowns on consecutive possessions, including the game-winner, a 22-yarder with 2:51 left.

"When that happens," McNutt explained, "it builds a lot of confidence for each other as well as us as a receiving corps."

Iowa will need its receivers to be confident and effective as they face by far their toughest defensive test in Penn State.

"We've been making great strides," McNutt said, "but I wouldn't say we think we’re accomplished yet."

If you ever plan on calling the cops on one of my guys again, you go ahead and get two barrels.

• Jerry Kill's top coordinators will try to keep things running smoothly at Minnesota until the boss returns. Gophers players admit they were rattled by Kill's seizure on the sidelines.
• Michigan State is 2-0, but we will really find out what the Spartans are made of this week at Notre Dame. Linebacker Max Bullough has some family ties to the Irish.
• Fumbles remain a problem for the Nebraska offense. The Huskers defensive backs look to step up this week, with or without Alfonzo Dennard.
• Both Ohio State and Miami are fighting some negative national stigmas. Braxton Miller will eventually play a lot, and maybe soon. A booster admitted he's the one who gave three Buckeyes cash at a charity event.
• Penn State's Devon Still is a quiet leader who has matured since the birth of his daughter. The Nittany Lions are trying to move past the Alabama loss. The two-quarterback system, loved by almost no one, will continue.
• An empty backfield with Russell Wilson is a new wrinkle for the Wisconsin offense. The Badgers are changing their signals this week so former assistant Dave Doeren won't steal them.
• Kirk Ferentz says he didn't blackball former Hawkeye receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. DJK has no one to blame but himself, Mike Hlas says. Former Iowa player Brent Greenwood is showing some positive signs after going into an induced coma over the weekend.
• Al Borges plans to put Denard Robinson under center more to help the Michigan tailbacks. Defensive tackle Will Campbell is earning himself some more playing time.
• Illinois safety Supo Sanni had the same injury as Northwestern's Dan Persa and feels Persa's pain. The Illini are turning up the intensity with Arizona State heading to town.
• Kevin Wilson has shown he's willing to roll the dice in key situations. Indiana defensive end Fred Jones has finally put in the hard work, and it's paying off.
• Purdue's Cody Webster is among the nation's top punters after two weeks. Robert Marve should make his season debut Saturday, but Caleb TerBush remains the Boilers' top quarterback.

The Big Ten produces plenty of good players each season, but only a select few make the jump from good to great.

Wisconsin's J.J. Watt was one of them in 2010.

Watt turned in a solid sophomore season in 2009, recording 15.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in his first season as a starting defensive end for the Badgers. I ranked Watt at No. 25 in my preseason player countdown, viewing him as a good player with the potential to be great.

Few could have predicted how great Watt would be that following fall. He completed a meteoric rise by earning second-team All-America honors, made more impact plays than any Big Ten defender and finished the season with 21 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and nine passes deflected. He then became the first Big Ten player selected in April's NFL draft.

Who will be this season's J.J. Watt?

Here are five players who could take the step from good to great in 2011.

Penn State LB Michael Mauti: Hopes have been high for Mauti since he arrived in State College, and he has shown that when healthy, he can be a special player. After missing the 2009 season while recovering from a torn ACL, Mauti was hitting his stride last fall before a late-season shoulder injury. If he can stay on the field this fall, he should do big things as a leader for Penn State's defense.

Ohio State DL John Simon: Simon's teammates billed him as a future All-American as a freshman, and he could meet those expectations in 2011. He recorded 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and two pass deflections in his first season as a starter last fall. A weight-room superstar who's among the nation's strongest players, Simon can play either line spot and could see more time as an edge rusher this season.

Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead: A jack of all trades in 2010, Burkhead is in line to emerge as Nebraska's featured running back this fall. Coach Bo Pelini and offensive coordinator Tim Beck have complete faith in the junior, who has grasped the new offense and comes off of a 951-yard rushing performance in 2010. Burkhead won't appear on our preseason top 25 player countdown, but he could be among the league's top 10 players by season's end.

Michigan DT Mike Martin: Martin has gained respect around the Big Ten without putting up monster numbers. His potential as a next-level player is obvious, and he could take a big step forward this season as Michigan revamps its defense under coordinator Greg Mattison. A starting nose tackle the past two seasons, Martin will be moved around more this season and should drop back in coverage from time to time. Expect many more impact plays from No. 68.

Iowa WR Marvin McNutt: McNutt came to Iowa as a quarterback but has settled in as a receiver, where he'll enter his third season as a starter this fall. With Derrell Johnson-Koulianos gone, McNutt becomes Iowa's clear No. 1 wideout. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior is a legit NFL prospect who stretches the field and makes plays in the red zone. He could be in the mix for national honors this season, especially if new quarterback James Vandenberg blossoms.

As promised, here is an updated list of undrafted Big Ten players who have now found homes with NFL teams.

Players not included on the original list appear in bold.

ILLINOIS

• CB Travon Bellamy, St. Louis Rams
• WR Jarred Fayson: New Orleans Saints
• G Randall Hunt: St. Louis Rams
• WR/QB Eddie McGee: Oakland Raiders
• DE Clay Nurse: New England Patriots

INDIANA

• QB Ben Chappell: Washington Redskins
• WR Terrance Turner: Philadelphia Eagles

IOWA

• P Ryan Donahue: Detroit Lions
• LB Jeremiah Hunter: New Orleans Saints
• TE Allen Reisner: Minnesota Vikings
• LS Andrew Schulze: Atlanta Falcons
• LB Jeff Tarpinian: New England Patriots

MICHIGAN

• T Perry Dorrestein: New York Jets
• CB James Rogers: Denver Broncos
• TE Martell Webb: Philadelphia Eagles

MICHIGAN STATE

• WR Mark Dell: Denver Broncos
• TE Charlie Gantt: Kansas City Chiefs
• LB Eric Gordon: Jacksonville Jaguars
• T D.J. Young: Arizona Cardinals

MINNESOTA

• T Dom Alford: Cleveland Browns
• FB Jon Hoese: Green Bay Packers
• QB Adam Weber: Denver Broncos

NEBRASKA

• K Adi Kunalic: Carolina Panthers
• TE Mike McNeill: Indianapolis Colts
• DE Pierre Allen: Seattle Seahawks
• G Ricky Henry: Chicago Bears
• QB Zac Lee: Seattle Seahawks
• T D.J. Jones: Miami Dolphins
• S Rickey Thenarse: Seattle Seahawks

NORTHWESTERN

• DT Corbin Bryant: Chicago Bears
• LB Quentin Davie: Detroit Lions

OHIO STATE

• G Bryant Browning: St. Louis Rams
• G Justin Boren: Baltimore Ravens
• RB Brandon Saine: Green Bay Packers
• WR Dane Sanzenbacher: Chicago Bears
• DT Dexter Larimore: New Orleans Saints
• CB Devon Torrence: Minnesota Vikings

PENN STATE

• WR Brett Brackett: Miami Dolphins
• LB Chris Colasanti: Indianapolis Colts
• T Lou Eliades: Oakland Raiders
• LB Bani Gbadyu: Oakland Raiders
• DT Ollie Ogbu: Indianapolis Colts

PURDUE

• TE Kyle Adams: Chicago Bears
• WR Keith Smith: Detroit Lions

WISCONSIN

• CB Niles Brinkley: Pittsburgh Steelers
• RB John Clay: Pittsburgh Steelers
• WR David Gilreath: Indianapolis Colts
• QB Scott Tolzien: San Diego Chargers

There will be a day soon when Ohio State doesn't lead off the links. I promise.

• What do we really know about Terrelle Pryor's quarterbacking skills, anyway? Drew Rosenhaus can yell all he wants, but Ohio State can officially stop caring about Pryor now. What would constitute a successful year for Luke Fickell?
• A simple phone call was all it took to renew the Penn State-Pittsburgh rivalry. The only question about the renewal is why it took so long to happen. Reactions from Penn State fans were mixed.
• How would you like to have this diet? Michigan defensive lineman Craig Roh is eating 5,000 calories per day in an effort to bulk up. "It's terrible," he said. "A couple nights ago, I actually threw up because I ate a 2,000-calorie meal. It was just way too much." Brady Hoke is getting ready for his first summer camp as the Wolverines head coach.
• Former Iowa offensive lineman Josh Koeppel was chosen to play on the U.S. national football team. (There's a U.S. national football team?) DJK's former roommate received probation on drug charges.
• Jairus Jones has a chance to play for Michigan State this year despite tearing his Achilles' tendon in spring practice.
• Bubba Starling's chances of becoming a Major League star may be hit or miss, but there's no guarantee for college quarterbacks, either.
• Wisconsin running back Zach Brown is contemplating a transfer to Pittsburgh, Joe Schad reports.
• Danny Hope talked about how he polices his players during Purdue's coaches caravan.
• Northwestern got a commitment from a Philadelphia-area two-way lineman and a receiver from Missouri.

Hope you're enjoying Big Ten spring wrap-up day on the blog.

Don't forget: Big Ten chat today at 2 p.m. ET. See you there.

• Nebraska's arrival and divisional play makes the Big Ten up for grabs in 2011, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. The Big Ten Network analysts pick the division winners.
• Ohio State receiver Dane Sanzenbacher sees a symmetry to his draft snub, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Take a look at the signed compliance form that could doom Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel.
• Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy is soaring up the 2012 draft boards, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal. A spring snapshot of Michigan State from The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Scott Dochterman. The Spartans' Tony Lippett is among colleague Bruce Feldman's spring standouts (Insider).
• Beating Notre Dame and Ohio State is personal for Michigan recruit Joe Bolden, Kyle Warber writes.
• The pistol formation could play a key role in Nebraska's offensive structure this fall, Sam McKewon writes in the Omaha World-Herald. A look at Nebraska's first 2011 opponent: Tennessee-Chattanooga.
• Penn State QBs coach Jay Paterno has an idea of who will start, but he isn't telling, Jerry DiPaola writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Lions players weigh in on the death of Osama bin Laden, Jeff Rice writes in the Centre Daily Times.
• More on Wisconsin's recent commitment from quarterback Bart Houston, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Check out Illinois DT Corey Liuget's draft journey to San Diego.
• Iowa's undrafted players continue the waiting game, Andy Hamilton writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos' former roommate reaches a plea deal.
• A cool video about Minnesota walk-on defensive back Chase Haviland.

During my Big Ten chat Wednesday, Dan from B1G Country asked about any NFL draft bargains from the conference this year.

With the draft set to begin Thursday night, I thought this would be a good time to look at some Big Ten players who might benefit teams in the middle or later rounds, or even as free-agent pickups.

Here's one potential bargain from each Big Ten squad (heights and weights according to ESPN's Scouts Inc.).

ILLINOIS
Randall Hunt, G, 6-6, 318
The skinny: Hunt anchored a formidable Illinois offensive line that helped Mikel Leshoure and others run wild in 2010. He shut down Baylor's Phil Taylor in the Texas Bowl and brings a sturdy frame to the interior line. Hunt wouldn't be a bad choice in the later rounds.

INDIANA
James Brewer, T, 6-6, 323
The skinny: I'm hesitant to call Brewer a bargain because he could be off the board early in the draft. Indiana had another tackle, Rodger Saffold, taken with the first pick of the second round in 2010. Brewer has the size to be good at the next level, and if he's still available on the third day, he'd be a nice pick.

IOWA
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, WR, 5-11, 202
The skinny: The character questions are there, but DJK was an extremely productive player at Iowa and could be a nice late-round addition for a team. He's a strong route runner with good speed and good hands, and he can stretch defenses. If a team is willing to take a bit of a risk, it could be rewarded.

MICHIGAN
Stephen Schilling, G, 6-4, 308
The skinny: Schilling played a ton of football at Michigan and helped the Wolverines to a record-setting offensive performance in 2010. His measurables might not blow teams away, but he's a smart, solid lineman who could be a nice addition in the middle to later rounds.

MICHIGAN STATE
Eric Gordon, LB/S, 5-11, 224
The skinny: Overshadowed by fellow linebacker Greg Jones for much of his career, Gordon quietly produced at an extremely high rate for Michigan State. You could argue he was the Spartans' best linebacker during the second half of the 2010 season. Gordon turned in an impressive performance on pro day and would be a nice pickup late in the draft or as a free agent.

MINNESOTA
Adam Weber, QB, 6-3, 221
The skinny: Some Gophers fans might scoff at this, but I always felt Weber got a raw deal during his college career. He played for three different offensive coordinators, never complained about it and still set a bunch of team records. While his junior season was a disappointment, Weber did some good things last fall and drew respect around the Big Ten. Not a bad pick in the later rounds.

NEBRASKA
Eric Hagg, S, 6-1, 209
The skinny: Hagg is a playmaker, as he showed with a team-high five interceptions plus a school-record 95-yard punt return for a touchdown against Texas. He also brings versatility to the table, having played a safety-linebacker hybrid role last fall for the Blackshirts. Hagg has played on an elite college defense and would be a good get in the middle to late rounds.

NORTHWESTERN
Quentin Davie, LB, 6-4, 238
The skinny: Davie entered the 2010 season as a solid NFL prospect and started off strong but disappeared at times down the stretch. He made big plays throughout his career and boasts good size as an outside linebacker. Davie could help a team as a late-round or free-agent addition if he gets back to his 2009 form.

OHIO STATE
Dane Sanzenbacher, WR, 5-11, 182
The skinny: If I were an NFL general manager, I wouldn't hesitate to draft Sanzenbacher. He lacks ideal measurables but makes up for it with football intelligence and a fearless approach to the game. Sanzenbacher has great hands and became Ohio State's top threat in the red zone this season. He stood out at the Senior Bowl and would be an excellent pick in the middle rounds.

PENN STATE
Evan Royster, RB, 5-11, 212
The skinny: Royster is a patient runner with good vision who could thrive in the right situation at the pro level. His slow start to the 2010 season is a concern, but he picked things up down the stretch and boasts a productive college résumé. If a team needs a running back in the late rounds, Royster would be a nice choice.

PURDUE
Keith Smith, WR, 6-2, 224
The skinny: There's risk here as Smith comes off of tears in two knee ligaments, but a team could get a major steal if the Boilers receiver can stay healthy. He has the size to excel at the pro level and might have been the Big Ten's top receiver had he stayed on the field last season. Smith is a class act who has a chance to be a solid NFL receiver.

WISCONSIN
Scott Tolzien, QB, 6-2, 209
The skinny: He might never be a full-time starter in the NFL, but teams certainly can benefit from having Tolzien on the roster. He's an extremely smart player who makes up for mediocre measurables with superb intangibles. Tolzien is accurate and efficient, and he'll prepare harder than anyone. If a team needs a quarterback in the later rounds, Tolzien would be a great pick.

As the Big Ten world turns ...

• Michigan State players will receive their Big Ten championship rings after the spring game, Greg Johnson writes in The Grand Rapids Press. Spartans linebacker Max Bullough says he has learned from his mistake, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal. Quarterback Kirk Cousins hits on several interesting topics in a Q&A with The Detroit News' Matt Charboneau.
• Minnesota's MarQueis Gray didn't have the best spring game, but neither did many top Big Ten quarterbacks, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
• Colleague Urban Meyer is a T-Magic fan and likes Nebraska in this year's Big Ten race, Sam McKewon writes in the Omaha World-Herald. Nebraska students are stepping up their game as the Big Ten move approaches, Brian Christopherson writes in the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Ohio State might have caught a break with the Notice of Allegations, CBSsports.com's Dennis Dodd writes. Some good news for the Buckeyes as they add to their 2012 recruiting class, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch. The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto writes The Vest should stay, but only if he truly apologizes.
• Purdue might be best known for producing NFL quarterbacks, but the Boilers also have churned out quite a few stud defensive linemen, Adrian Alderete writes in the Purdue Exponent.
• This year's NFL draft could be the best ever for Illinois, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette. Illinois running back Jason Ford isn't helping himself at a critical time, Mark Tupper writes in the (Decatur) Herald & Review.
• Michigan AD Dave Brandon shares his thoughts on the late Jim Mandich.
• Who says a former Penn State long snapper can't become a YouTube star? Lions offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski is ready for the NFL call, Jerry DiPaola writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
• The future of Iowa receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos remains unclear, Andy Hamilton writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Hawkeyes draft hopeful Christian Ballard reportedly tests positive for marijuana use.
• Despite a productive career at Wisconsin, John Clay's NFL draft prospects are a bit hazy, Jim Polzin writes in The Capital Times. New Badgers linebackers coach Dave Huxtable played a key role in landing the team's latest recruit, Mark Massoglia writes in the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.

Let's begin with the teams that played spring games Saturday and then move on from there ...

• OHIO STATE: Spring game reaction from colleague Brian Bennett, The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Bill Livingston, The Sporting News' Matt Hayes and The Columbus Dispatch's Bob Hunter.
• WISCONSIN: Spring game reaction from the Wisconsin State Journal's Tom Oates, the Wisconsin State Journal's Tom Mulhern and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus. The poor quarterback play during the game was compounded by the news Curt Phillips will miss the 2011 season following a third knee surgery.
• ILLINOIS: Spring game reaction from the Daily Herald's Lindsey Willhite, The (Champaign) News-Gazette's Loren Tate, The (Decatur) Herald & Review's Mark Tupper and the Alton Telegraph's Pete Hayes.
• MINNESOTA: Spring game reaction from the Star Tribune's Jim Souhan and Phil Miller here and here, and the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press' Marcus Fuller.
• In case you missed the Ohio State/NCAA/Jim Tressel news from this morning, check out some information here and here and here and here.
• Check out the details of Bo Pelini's revised contract at Nebraska from the Lincoln Journal Star's Steven M. Sipple. Incoming Huskers freshman running back Aaron Green doesn't focus on the competition, only himself, Jon Nyatawa writes in the Omaha World-Herald.
• A team-by-team look at Big Ten spring football from the Lincoln Journal Star. The Big Ten's recent struggles show in the past few NFL drafts, annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow writes.
• The Rob Bolden watch continues, and here are 12 reasons the Penn State quarterback stays or goes, statecollege.com's Mike Poorman writes. A spring snapshot of the Nittany Lions from The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette's Marc Morehouse. Penn State might have a tougher time replacing running back Evan Royster than you may think, Dustin Hockensmith writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News.
• Converted defensive lineman Dan France makes an impression on offense for Michigan State, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal. Don't forget about Nick Hill in a crowded Spartans offensive backfield, George Sipple writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Indiana made the right call by suspending running back Darius Willis for a game, Andy Graham writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).
• Michigan coach Brady Hoke attends Ball State's spring game but doesn't wear any red, Doug Zaleski writes in the Muncie Star Press. Former Wolverines cornerback Cullen Christian reportedly will join Ray Vinopal at Pitt.
• Iowa is a "milk carton" team in 2011, Ryan Suchomel writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. The Des Moines Register's Sean Keeler sits down with DJK.
• Ryan Kerrigan's versatility makes the Purdue defensive end a coveted draft prospect, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- When the preseason polls come out in August, the Iowa Hawkeyes likely won't be included.

That's not a bad thing.

Iowa didn't receive a single vote in the preseason AP Poll in 2002. The Hawkeyes went on to win 11 games and reach the Orange Bowl.

After winning 31 games and two Big Ten titles between 2002-04, Iowa entered the 2005 season ranked No. 11 nationally. It went 7-5 that year.

Despite a strong finish to the 2008 season, the Hawkeyes squeaked into the preseason rankings (No. 22 AP, No. 21 Coaches'). They were nationally relevant but hardly overhyped. And after a major scare against FCS Northern Iowa in Week 1, Iowa slipped out of the polls. It responded with a team-record 9-0 start and finished the season ranked seventh in both polls after winning the Orange Bowl.

The respect Iowa and its rabid fans crave arrived last summer as the Hawkeyes debuted in the Top 10 in both polls. Some even listed Iowa as a fringe national title contender. The team stumbled to 7-5 before a dramatic win in the Insight Bowl.

"When we start kind of off the radar, not in the Top 25, we always seem to raise expectations, within the program, especially," senior tight end Brad Herman said. "It's very easy to slip into the hype, people always patting you on the back and then you lose one or two games and all of a sudden the sky is falling. History shows that's the case."

Hawkeyes' veterans like Herman and defensive tackle Mike Daniels know what it's like to be both hyped and somewhat forgotten. There's no doubt how they'd rather be viewed.

"Iowa guys, we love to play with a chip on our shoulder," Daniels said, "and being under the radar just makes that chip even larger."

It's also a familiar realm for Iowa players.

Most of them weren't decorated recruits. They play for a program that would much rather list the number of walk-ons it has sent to the NFL than brag about the number of five-star prospects it signs each February.

Iowa players aren't used to hearing how great they are, and Kirk Ferentz and his assistants make sure it stays that way. Although Hawkeye football is the biggest show in the state, the team sometimes goes out of its way to avoid the media spotlight.

The underdog mentality is ingrained in the culture here, and it has helped on fall Saturdays.

"That's the tradition," defensive end Broderick Binns said. "Coach Ferentz looks for guys who are willing to work hard, have good character, who aren't going to be [jerks]. It's not tradition for coach Ferentz to bring in a guy that's four or five stars, who's all glamorous. Iowa's not about that. We're all about, 'Put your feet in the ground and go to work.'"

Iowa will go to work this fall without the potential distractions/pressure brought on by preseason accolades. The Hawkeyes' star power is gone, and the team must fill gaps at nearly every position.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi, a three-year starter and a local cult hero, has departed for the NFL. Iowa loses three multiyear starters along the defensive line, including a likely first-round pick (Adrian Clayborn) and a likely second-rounder (Christian Ballard). Both starting safeties depart (Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood) along with receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, tight end Allen Reisner and standout punter Ryan Donahue. Iowa returns only five starters on both sides of the ball.

It'll be an uphill climb for respect, but the Hawkeyes don't mind.

"We all have a goal: the Big Ten championship," Herman said. "That's something we state at the beginning of every single season. Being under the radar kind of relieves the pressure a little bit. We aren't really being talked about right now, and that's fine. Nothing changes around here."

If nothing changes this fall, Iowa will find itself in plenty of tightly contested contests. Drama has been the norm for Iowa the past few seasons.

In 2008, the team dropped four of its first nine games by five points or fewer and faced No. 3 Penn State as an underdog. A 24-23 victory against the Nittany Lions transformed Iowa into a clutch team. The Hawkeyes won their next five games decided by five points or fewer and rallied for wins in eight of their first nine games in 2009.

But Iowa's fortunes turned last fall. All five of its losses came by seven points or fewer, including three straight to end the regular season. A team that prides itself on finishing strong repeatedly crumbled in the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes responded in the bowl game against Missouri, rallying for a 27-24 win, but players and coaches agreed the season was a disappointment.

"We're sitting there at 7-2 and lost three games by 10 points, so what can we do to do better in those situations?" Ferentz said. "That's what we're focused on. It comes down to a lot of little details and giving ourselves a chance. ... The reality is we were pretty good from October 2008 to November 2010. I look at it more that way. I'm not a peak-and-valley person. You can't afford to be if you're a coach."

Iowa appeared to go through some valleys in the offseason as several off-field issues cropped up followed by 13 players being hospitalized in January with rhabdomylosis. The team's celebrated strength program came under fire, but an internal investigation found no specific cause for the hospitalizations and Iowa has moved forward.

"We handled the rhabdo situation very well," Herman said. "Everybody was more pulled together as [the criticism] was coming down on us. It's going to benefit us in the fall for sure."

Iowa has its share of uncertainty entering the fall. Can quarterback James Vandenberg steady the ship after a gutsy performance in relief of Stanzi in 2009? Can Daniels and Binns help the defensive line reload? Who fills the gaps at safety, linebacker and wide receiver?

To these questions, the Hawkeyes say ask away. They'll have answers when September rolls around.

"You've got 11 guys on the field who are just mad at the world," Daniels said. "That's the way we would like to play."

So then all the county judges started shouting "More Quiche, More Quiche!"

• A good Wisconsin spring primer from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus. The Badgers would love to get hoops player Mike Bruesewitz on the football field, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• The Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi predicts Urban Meyer will take over for Jim Tressel at Ohio State in 2012.
• Purdue's Justin Kitchens switches from defensive line to offensive line, Rivals.com's Brian Neubert writes.
• Adrian Clayborn and Ricky Stanzi stand out at Iowa's pro day, NFL.com's Gil Brandt writes. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, meanwhile, had to work out off campus, Scott Doctherman writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
• Penn State's first commit for 2012 brings versatility to the offensive line, Philip Cmor writes in the Altoona Mirror.
• Minnesota coach Jerry Kill gears up for spring ball in this interview with Bob Sansevere. Murray Warmath's former players reflect on the life of the late Gophers coach, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune.
• Nebraska's Ciante Evans wants to succeed All-American Prince Amukamara at cornerback this fall, Dan Hoppen writes in the Omaha World-Herald.
• Denard Robinson is acclimating to Michigan's new offense, Mark Synder writes in the Detroit Free Press.

Mitchell: Well, if the shoe fits ...
Cam: They don't, they're comically large.

• Illinois AD Ron Guenther likes the direction of the school's football program, Chris Hine writes in the Chicago Tribune. It's a coin flip whether Guenther remains AD beyond July 1, Loren Tate writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Former Indiana coach Bill Lynch returns to his alma mater (Butler) as an associate AD. The Indianapolis Star's Terry Hutchens weighs in on Indiana's surprising staff turnover.
• There's a lot to like about Nebraska's revamped coaching staff, Tom Shatel writes in the Omaha World-Herald. The Lincoln Journal Star's Steven Sipple and Brian Christopherson discuss Nebraska's assistant coaching changes.
• Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State are among the must-see teams this spring, Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart writes.
• A new film chronicles former Michigan football player (and U.S. president) Gerald Ford and the stand he took for a black teammate in 1934, John Niyo writes in The Detroit News.
• Former Iowa receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos wants a chance to apologize to coach Kirk Ferentz.
• Michigan State's 2012 recruiting class could have an Ohio flavor to it, Matt Dorsey writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Minnesota coach Jerry Kill does a Q&A with Off-Tackle Empire. Former Gophers linebacker and captain Mike Sherels joins the staff as a special assistant to Kill.
• The TCU rematch buzz has died down, and Wisconsin is still on track to open the 2011 season against UNLV, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Ohio State and Penn State make offers to juniors, while Northwestern adds to its 2011 class.
• Three Ohio State football players visit a cancer patient.