ESPN College Football

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue's Caleb TerBush was walking to class just about a week before last season's opener when his cell phone brought some jarring news.

Offensive coordinator Gary Nord called to tell him Rob Henry had blown out his ACL. With Robert Marve still dealing with his own knee problems, the inexperienced TerBush was suddenly thrust into the starting quarterback role.

It was the second straight year that the Boilermakers had to adjust on the fly at quarterback because of unexpected injuries. But if a silver lining emerged from those tough situations, it could be seen at a recent spring practice when Henry, TerBush and Marve smiled and joked around during some light throwing drills. After two seasons of scrambling for a quarterback, Purdue now has three healthy veterans who have each started at least seven games.

"It's made a huge impact on what we've been able to get done this spring," head coach Danny Hope said. "The very first day of spring practice, we were able to do [quarterback] signals, which we haven't been able to do in the past. That's something you take for granted. We've started off a lot faster on offense and from an execution standpoint."

Newfound quarterback stability provides a key reason why optimism is soaring for Hope's fourth year in charge of the program, but it's not the only one.

Purdue beat Western Michigan in the Little Caesars Bowl last December after finishing 6-6 in the regular season. While those accomplishments can't match the aspirations of Drew Brees' heyday, reaching the postseason still marked an important hurdle to clear. The program hadn't been to a bowl game since 2007, and fan dissatisfaction with Hope was starting to rise. The bowl win brought a new attitude to offseason workouts.

"Everybody seems more mature and more focused on what we want now," running back Akeem Shavers said. "That was the first time for most of us going to a bowl game, so we know now what that feels like and what we have to do to do better and get into a better bowl."

If you're looking for a stealth team in the Big Ten, check out these Boilers. They've got 18 starters back from a team that upset Ohio State and played Penn State to the wire on the road. Ohio State is ineligible to win the Leaders Division because of NCAA sanctions, Penn State and Illinois are going through coaching changes and Wisconsin lost quarterback Russell Wilson and most of its offensive staff. Plus, the Badgers and Nittany Lions have to come to Ross-Ade Stadium.

The players know that they're being slapped with the "sleeper" label in some quarters this spring, and they're not shying away from it.

"We've got a chance," Henry said. "We've got the weapons now. I feel like this is a season of great opportunity for us with the players we have coming back and the experience we'll have on the field. We've just got to stay healthy."

There's finally less worry about health at quarterback. Hope, who also signed four quarterback prospects in this year's recruiting class, had such a logjam at the position that he moved former starter Sean Robinson to linebacker this spring. Now all he has to do is figure out how to use what he has.

Henry is a swift runner and strong leader who was developing into a better passer before his injury. While he's being held out of some drills this spring as a precaution, he says his knee is fully healed and he's ready to go. Marve, the former Miami transfer, was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA this winter after two years of dealing with knee troubles. He said he almost forgot what it was like to move around as freely as he has this spring.

Then there's TerBush, who started all 13 games last year after sitting out 2010 with academic problems. He turned in a respectable season as a rookie starter, completing 61.7 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Hope had a plan to play both Henry and Marve some at the same time last summer before the injuries. He's not yet tipping his hand how things will shake out this year.

The three quarterbacks, each of whom has a reason to be grateful for a second chance, aren't sweating the competition too much.

"It's fun because we've all been around each other throughout the whole process," Henry said. "It's a toss up. If somebody has a hot hand and gets into a rhythm, he's going to keep playing. As the past few seasons have shown us, you never know what's going to happen to the quarterbacks."

At least now the Boilermakers won't be caught trying to develop a new starter right before the season again. The coaching staff could focus on other things this spring, like installing a more aggressive defensive scheme under new coordinator Tim Tibesar, replacing starters on the offensive line and finding solutions at linebacker. None of those problems are as big as not having a quarterback, which is one reason Purdue has its sights set higher than another trip to the Little Caesars Bowl.

"I'm excited about the progress we've made, and I feel like we have some momentum as a football team," Hope said. "We're ready for the next step."

It's time to pass out season grades for the Purdue Boilers.

OFFENSE: C

After major injuries ravaged the offensive depth chart in 2010, Purdue found greater consistency this season but didn't put up many "wow" numbers. The Boilers ranked in the middle of the Big Ten in total offense (seventh), scoring offense (seventh), rushing offense (sixth) and pass offense (sixth). They kept a quarterback on the field for an entire season in Caleb TerBush and also used Robert Marve under center quite a bit, including in the signature home win against Ohio State. Coordinator Gary Nord used a lot of personnel as seven players recorded 20 or more rushes and eight players recorded 11 or more receptions. The unit really lacked star power but got the job done for the most part. Put simply, Purdue had an average offense, which is a step up from 2010.

DEFENSE: C-

The defense certainly missed star end Ryan Kerrigan, who showed how good he is this season with the NFL's Washington Redskins. Kawann Short stood out at defensive tackle with 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, but Purdue didn't get enough from the edges and recorded only 21 sacks, down from a league-high 33 last season. The run defense also was a bit of a disappointment. Purdue had more experience in the secondary and some veterans at linebacker but didn't show great playmaking ability, recording just 14 takeaways all season, the second-lowest total in the league. The unit had some good moments in wins against Illinois and Ohio State and had some nice individual pieces in Short and cornerback Ricardo Allen.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-

Purdue was truly a mixed bag on special teams this season. The Boilers excelled in both punting and punt coverage. Freshman Raheem Mostert led the Big Ten in kick return average (31 ypr) and bionic-legged kicker Carson Wiggs booted 16 field goals, six from 40 yards or longer with a long of 53. But Wiggs also had a potential game-winning kick blocked at Rice, the Boilers struggled on kickoff coverage, and special teams miscues proved costly in a 23-18 loss at Penn State. Then again, a special teams play arguably saved Purdue's season as Bruce Gaston Jr. blocked an extra-point try by Ohio State that could have secured a Buckeyes victory. Overall, there was more good than bad here.

OVERALL: C

Purdue was an average football team this season, but average equals bowl berth, which the Boilers will gladly accept for the first time in four seasons. The offense didn't get derailed by Rob Henry's preseason injury, and the defense and special teams made some key plays at key times. It's fair to ask where Purdue football is headed under coach Danny Hope, and the team's performance against Western Michigan in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl will help determine the direction heading into a pivotal 2012 campaign.

Gary Nord's Christmas wish list is pretty short.

It contains one item: A season without major injuries to Purdue's key offensive players.

"I'd love to have that," Nord, the Boilers' third-year offensive coordinator, told ESPN.com this week. "I'm beginning to think that may never happen. I'm beginning to get a bit paranoid."

Paranoid but not panicky.

Nord and the Boilers have received zero luck on the injury front the past two seasons. Nada. Zilch.

In 2010, Purdue played most or all of the season without its top quarterback, top running back and top wide receiver. Weeks before this season's opener against Middle Tennessee, projected starting quarterback Rob Henry tore his ACL during a noncontact play in practice. Quarterback Robert Marve, who has suffered two ACL tears since arriving at Purdue, wasn't ready for the opener because of lingering knee soreness. So Caleb TerBush, academically ineligible for the 2010 campaign, moved into the starting role.

While the injury bug didn't strike as hard during the season, two starting offensive linemen (Justin Kitchens and Peters Drey) went down. Then, in the regular-season finale, top running back Ralph Bolden suffered a torn ACL, his second at Purdue and his third since his senior year of high school.

Bolden's injury puts Nord and the Boilers in an all-too familiar position heading into the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Western Michigan on Dec. 27.

The silver lining: Nord and his staff know how to make adjustments.

"He was probably our fastest guy, so we've lost tremendous speed," Nord said of Bolden. "He was also our best blocking back and he caught the ball out of the backfield very well. When you lose your leading rusher, it's never a good thing. The only bright side is if we had to lose anyone, we have more depth at the running back position than any position on our football team."

While Bolden leads Purdue in both carries (148) and rush yards (674), several other backs have contributed. Akeem Shavers is tied with Bolden for the team lead in rushing touchdowns (6), and seven players have recorded 17 or more carries.

Nord said Shavers will move into Bolden's role. Reggie Pegram and Jared Crank both should see their carries load increase in the bowl game.

Like Bolden, the 5-11, 203-pound Shavers boasts good speed, can catch the ball out of the backfield and has improved his blocking.

"I never really called the game any different when one was in versus the other one," Nord said. "A lot of times I didn’t know which one was in there because they'd roll in and out. If we didn't have Shavers, we would be a little more concerned."

Western Michigan struggles to defend the run (107th nationally), but has been stout in the red zone, tying for sixth nationally (70 percent scoring chances allowed). Bigger backs like Crank and Pegram could be key for Purdue in goal-line situations.

Nord plans to play both TerBush and Marve at quarterback, as he did for most of Big Ten play. While TerBush's ability to stay healthy has provided Purdue some much-needed continuity at quarterback, the offense, like the team, has been up and down.

"This is my third season here, and I've not had a guy started for us in spring that started for us in the fall," Nord said. "To give the offense a legit chance to be as productive as we would like to be, you need to have some continuity from the spring to the fall at quarterback spot.

"Hopefully, we can have that next spring."

It has been an odd game at the Big House so far, although Michigan has to like the result at halftime after some bumps along the way.

Despite allowing an easy touchdown drive to open the game and committing two turnovers, the Wolverines have a comfortable lead. Fueled by opportunistic defense and big plays on offense, Michigan scored 22 unanswered points to end the half.

Wolverines senior defensive tackle Mike Martin had a huge first 30 minutes. He recorded a safety to bail out teammate Devin Gardner, who threw an ugly interception, and had another sack to force a Purdue punt late in the half. The NFL prospect has been dominant. The Wolverines also were helped by a Courtney Avery interception in the red zone to stop a Purdue drive.

It was a bizarre half for the Michigan offense, which piled up 294 yards and 16 first downs but didn't always look smooth. Running back Fitz Toussaint (9 catches, 75 yards, TD) and receivers Jeremy Gallon (2 catches, 65 receiving yards) and Roy Roundtree (2 catches, 61 yards) have been impressive, but ...

Denard Robinson continues to make head-scratching decisions in the passing game. He threw an interception in Purdue territory, his 11th of the season, matching his total from all of last season. Coordinator Al Borges continues to show creativity with his play calls, but he pushed his luck with the deep pass by Gardner, which Purdue easily intercepted.

Purdue's offense looked great on the opening series but picked up 67 of its 119 first-half yards on the possession. Caleb TerBush completed 4 of 5 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, but Purdue also has used Robert Marve under center. The Boilers' run game has been practically invisible, and coordinator Gary Nord must find a way to get Ralph Bolden and the other backs going in the second half.

It was hard to watch Purdue's offense in 2010.

Ravaged by injuries at key positions, particularly quarterback, the Boilers were reduced to a one-dimensional attack that ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring (19.7 ppg), passing (150.8 ypg) and total offense (311.6 ypg). The playbook offensive coordinator Gary Nord had to start the season turned into a leaflet by mid-October.

Fast-forward to Saturday's game against Illinois. Purdue mixed personnel and formations, got plenty of players involved and kept an aggressive Illini defense on its heels in the first half.

The 2011 Boilers' offense isn't the reincarnation of basketball on grass, but it's a fun, creative system to watch. Quarterback Caleb TerBush had a brilliant first half against Illinois, completing 12 of 16 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Eight different Boilers caught passes in the first half, and eight different players ran the ball.

"We've gravitated to this offense," coach Danny Hope said.

Purdue's bad luck on the injury front continued in August when quarterback Rob Henry, the projected starter, suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Robert Marve was bothered by a knee injury, and TerBush, academically ineligible last season, hadn't played in a game since 2009.

The Boilers emphasized the run early as TerBush adjusted to his role. They racked up 200 rush yards or more in three of the first five games. Although the pass game remains a work in progress, TerBush's performance against Illinois is a promising sign.

"The potential of our passing game is getting better," Hope said. "We'll become a more wide-open offense as time goes on, but right now, we're good at running the football. It was really out of necessity from a year ago. We have some good backs, and we've had some success with it."

Top backs Ralph Bolden and Akeem Shavers have combined for 147 carries, 723 rush yards and eight touchdowns. Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert both have two touchdown runs and seven players have 10 or more carries through the first seven games. Four players have recorded 100-yard rushing performances.

Against Illinois, Nord used wide receiver Justin Siller, a former quarterback, in the Wildcat formation and constantly moved players to different spots.

"No one can key on one guy," Hope said. "It's the way that our offensive staff and our offensive coordinator goes about their business in manufacturing different ways to get the ball into playmakers' hands. That's what it's all about."

Although TerBush remains Purdue's starter at quarterback and Marve didn't play against Illinois, Hope wants to keep both signal callers involved for the stretch run.

"Robert is a special athlete and potentially a very special quarterback," Hope said. "He's too good not to be in the games helping us win."

What looked like a pivotal game for both Purdue and Illinois could turn out to be just that.

If so, the Boilers will be a team to watch in the Leaders division during the second half of the season. The Fighting Illini, meanwhile, could be headed for very bad things after winning their first six games, their best start since 1951.

Purdue dominated Illinois for the first three quarters before holding on in the fourth to win 21-14. The 23rd-ranked Illini will depart the BCS standings and the national polls Sunday.

After scoring three quick touchdowns in the first half, Purdue turned to its defense to seal the win. Illinois didn't get in the red zone until 8:36 remained in the game and got on the scoreboard for the first time moments later. As was the case last week against Ohio State, Illinois found its offensive rhythm far too late in the game.

The Illini entered the game ranked seventh nationally in third-down conversion percentage (53.1), but Purdue prevented them from moving the chains with its pressuring defense (Illinois converted just 6 of 17 attempts). Led by defensive tackle Kawann Short, who had a monster game, the Boilers recorded five sacks and made life miserable for Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase.

Purdue also found its quarterback in junior Caleb TerBush, who fired two first-half touchdown passes and completed 16 of 25 passes. Robert Marve didn't see any action, and it seems like the Boilers will move forward with TerBush as their man under center. Although Purdue didn't do much offensively in the second half, coordinator Gary Nord had a creative game plan against a talented Illinois defense today.

After scoring 79 points in its first two Big Ten games, the Illini have managed just 21 in their past two. Scheelhaase hasn't been nearly as sharp as he was earlier in the season, and while A.J. Jenkins recorded eight catches, he didn't reach the end zone. Things only get tougher next week for Ron Zook's squad, which visits Happy Valley and faces arguably the Big Ten's best defense in Penn State.

Earlier this week, Brian Bennett discussed the significance of Illinois-Purdue as a potentially season-turning game for both teams.

If the first half is any indication, Purdue will be a team to watch in the second half of Big Ten play.

The Fighting Illini? Uh oh.

Purdue dominated the first half at Ross-Ade Stadium, surging to a 21-0 lead against No. 23 Illinois at the break. The Boilers are building on a nice effort at Penn State and putting it together in all three phases, while the Illini look shell-shocked coming off of their first loss.

Regardless of how this game ends, Purdue has found its quarterback in Caleb TerBush. The junior has been brilliant against his home-state school, completing 12 of 16 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Credit Purdue offensive coordinator Gary Nord for being creative with his personnel. The Boilers have run a bit of Wildcat with Justin Siller and gotten several backs involved, including Raheem Mostert, who has a 21-yard touchdown run.

Illinois looks very shaky in all three areas, including the kicking game, where it muffed a punt and continued to have adventures on punt returns. The muffed punt turned into a Purdue touchdown, although Illinois didn't help itself with a personal foul penalty after holding the Boilers on third down. Put bluntly, Illinois isn't surviving the mistakes it did earlier in the season, while a mistake-ridden Purdue squad has cleaned up its act.

Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is struggling for the second consecutive week, completing just 5 of 10 passes for 51 yards. Illinois recorded only three first downs with Scheelhaase in the game before going to Reilly O'Toole, who briefly provided a spark before an ill-advised deep throw was picked off by Ricardo Allen. Opposing teams are finding out that when A.J. Jenkins is taken out of the game, Illinois doesn't have much else on offense.

Barring a major turnaround, Illinois could be headed for its second consecutive loss, which would increase chatter about a second-half collapse.

Purdue, meanwhile, is 30 minutes away from making a statement to the rest of the Big Ten.

Don't sleep on the Boilers.

Jerry Kill has talked repeatedly about building a foundation at Minnesota on concrete, not sand.

The first-year coach better hope rock bottom is made out of concrete. Because that's where the Gophers are living after the first half at Purdue, which leads 31-3.

We thought the Gophers had hit rock bottom last week in Ann Arbor, when Michigan whipped them 58-0 in the Jug game. But no. This is rock bottom. Has to be.

No disrespect to Purdue, which is making plays on both sides of the ball and capitalizing on most of Minnesota's many errors. Purdue's defense has smothered Minnesota, getting terrific line play from Kawann Short, Ryan Russell and others, as well as a pick-six from star CB Ricardo Allen.

That said, the Gophers are the worst major-conference team in America. It's amazing to think they opened the season with a near upset at USC. Feels like years ago. Time will tell where Minnesota ranks among the worst teams in Big Ten history. The Gophers aren't there yet -- not close -- but they have to get this turned around.

Freshman Max Shortell started his second consecutive game at quarterback but quickly exited. Junior MarQueis Gray, who missed the Michigan debacle with a toe injury, entered the game and had his first pass attempt picked by Allen and returned to the end zone.

Minnesota's first-half offensive numbers: three turnovers, three points, six first downs, 6-of-13 passing, 35 rush yards on 16 carries. Ugh.

Purdue's offense has looked decent, and coordinator Gary Nord made a great call against a Minnesota blitz as Robert Marve hit O.J. Ross on a bubble screen for an easy 12-yard touchdown. Marve stepped in for Caleb TerBush, who completed 9 of 14 passes. The Boilers' rushing attack hasn't been great, although Akeem Shavers is providing a bit of a spark.

One area Purdue must cut down is penalties. The Big Ten's most penalized team already has been flagged five times. It will cost Purdue later in the season.

Getting closer to game day ...

• Penn State looks for a much-needed signature win. Weather is forcing Penn State to close some grass parking lots around Beaver Stadium. JoePa is nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Lions assistant Jay Paterno wants fans to stay classy this weekend.
• Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez reiterates the Big Ten is happy with 12 members, Andy Baggot writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Both Michigan and Michigan State still have plenty to prove, Lynn Henning writes in The Detroit News.
• Colleague Michael Rothstein profiles Michigan defensive coordinator and master recruiter Greg Mattison. Former Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez says Denard Robinson remains at his best in the shotgun.
• The Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine goes inside the numbers following Week 1.
• Ohio State should have both Jaamal Berry and Jordan Hall on the field this week, but expect Carlos Hyde to get the start at running back, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Meanwhile, Ohio sports merchandise retailers might be rooting to see more of a different Buckeyes running back, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Nebraska's chancellor isn't gloating about the Big 12's potential demise, Tom Shatel writes in the Omaha World-Herald. Huskers' safety Daimion Stafford wants to show he's more than a one-hit wonder, Brian Christopherson writes in the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Iowa QB James Vandenberg isn't new to playing in tough road environments, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Don't expect any alternate unis from Iowa, although here's a funny suggestion.
• Illinois' top offensive linemen aren't looking for any respites, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune. Illini coach Ron Zook tells Herb Gould about a busy summer where both of his daughters got married.
• Northwestern RB Adonis Smith likes to be yelled at, Tina Akouris writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Michigan State's Todd Anderson seems to be transitioning well to fullback.
• Jerry Kill's staff continuity creates a strong bond, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press. Sid Hartman thinks Minnesota can go bowling.
• Kevin Wilson is pleased with how Indiana has responded from its season-opening loss. Hoosiers QB Ed Wright-Baker learned a lot from the Ball State game film.
• Purdue offensive coordinator Gary Nord knows all about Rice, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier. The Boilers pick up a 2012 recruit.

Ohio State's appearance before the NCAA's infractions committee is under way, and we'll have reaction later today on the blog.

Now, to the links.

• If you want to pick on Indiana's football past, don't expect Kevin Wilson to play along, Andy Graham writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required). Hoosiers freshman quarterback Tre Roberson has stood out in practice.
• Florida Atlantic's coaching vacancy could interest Purdue offensive coordinator Gary Nord, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier. Stacy Clardie breaks down the keys to Purdue's 2011 season.
• Minnesota freshman offensive lineman Tommy Olson is quickly moving up the depth chart, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
• New Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas arrives with a strong reputation, especially for hiring coaches, David Haugh writes in the Chicago Tribune. The Illini are looking for young receivers to step up.
• A veteran Northwestern team is oozing confidence. Wildcats linebacker Bryce McNaul is counting the days until his brother returns from Afghanistan, Tina Akouris writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Ohio State's linebacker competition heats up, Doug Lesmerises writes in The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller focuses on learning the offense, Bill Rabinowitz writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• Michigan State freshman linebacker Lawrence Thomas will miss at least a week with a shoulder injury. Spartans juco transfer Fou Fonoti is in the mix for a starting offensive tackle spot, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• Michigan moves Brandon Herron from strongside linebacker to the weak side, annarbor.com's Kyle Meinke writes.
• Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is ready to blossom this fall, Ryan Suchomel writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Five things to watch during Iowa's scrimmage on Saturday.
• It's back to business for JoePa at Penn State, Jeff Rice writes in the Centre Daily Times. Black Shoe Diaries previews Penn State's tight ends.
• Good news for Wisconsin as quarterback Jon Budmayr's elbow injury doesn't appear serious. The Badgers are taking no chances with linebacker Chris Borland in camp, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The football field is Nebraska coach Bo Pelini's sanctuary, Steven M. Sipple writes in the Lincoln Journal Star. Colleague Chris Fallica writes Nebraska must reverse recent trends to win a Big Ten title in Year 1.

It's time to bring back the spring superlatives series, which examines the strongest and weakest positions for each Big Ten team in spring ball.

Let's start off with Purdue, the Big Ten squad furthest along in its spring session.

Strongest position: Offensive line

• Key returnees: LT Dennis Kelly, RG Ken Plue, C Peters Drey, LT Nick Mondek, G Rick Schmeig
• Key losses: LG Justin Pierce
• The skinny: Purdue has a lot of questions to answer at the offensive skill positions this spring, but the line looks solid. How solid? "I believe it's going to be the strength of our offense," coordinator Gary Nord recently told me. Purdue boasts experience at every position, particularly with Kelly and Plue. It won't be hard for this group to develop chemistry before the 2011 season. Although Purdue's offensive numbers dipped in 2010, the Boilers showed they could run the ball at times and should have a much more dynamic unit this coming season. You could make a case for the secondary here as well, but the amount of returning experience along the O-line puts it over the top.

Weakest position: Tight end

• Key returnees: None (newcomer Sterling Carter is an intriguing prospect)
• Key losses: Kyle Adams (team-high 36 catches for 244 yards); Jeff Lindsay (nine catches for 72 yards)
• The skinny: Purdue had a small senior class in 2010 and tight end is one of few positions that took a hit because of graduation. Adams was a reliable target for Purdue's quarterbacks, and his presence will be missed. Nord and coach Danny Hope want to feature the tight end and hope Carter, a junior college transfer, provides an immediate boost. There's a little more uncertainty at receiver after the NCAA denied Keith Smith a sixth year of eligibility, so Purdue will be looking for tight ends to emerge if young receivers like Antavian Edison and O.J. Ross don't continue to make strides. Running back also could fit here if Ralph Bolden doesn't return to form following a torn ACL.

Spring football has arrived in the Big Ten!

Purdue hits the practice field later today for the first of 15 spring workouts. I'll post a spring snapshot for each Big Ten squad as they open practice, so let's get started with the Boilermakers.

The big story: The Boilers are taking nothing for granted. After a season in which so many key players went down with injuries, Purdue is moving forward with the pieces it has. Rob Henry enters spring ball as the No. 1 quarterback as Robert Marve continues to recover from ACL surgery. The Boilers hope running back Ralph Bolden returns to form following his own ACL surgery, but they like their other options in the backfield as well. All-Big Ten receiver Keith Smith won't be back, so Purdue will move forward with Justin Siller, Antavian Edison and others.

Position in the spotlight: Quarterback. Offensive coordinator Gary Nord really likes what Henry brings to the offense, and the rising sophomore will have a chance to establish himself as the starter this spring. Caleb TerBush also will be a factor after being academically ineligible for the 2010 season. TerBush continued to practice with the team and should challenge Henry and Marve when Marve returns.

Coaching changes: Gary Emanuel is now the team's only defensive coordinator after sharing the title with Donn Landholm last season. Emanuel will continue to coach the defensive line, while Landholm will work with the outside linebackers. Danny Hope also hired two new assistants: wide receivers coach Patrick Higgins and linebackers coach Phil Elmassian, who returns to Purdue after working with the Boilers defensive backs in 2003.

Keep an eye on: Tight end Sterling Carter and running back Akeem Shavers. Both junior college transfers should make an immediate impact for Purdue. The Boilers lose top tight ends Kyle Adams and Jeff Lindsay, so Carter will make a strong push for the starting job. Hope wants to stress the run game and Shavers provides depth in the backfield alongside Bolden and rising sophomore Reggie Pegram.

Spring game: April 9

Robert Marve is still on the mend following his second ACL surgery and will be limited to seven-on-seven and a few other drills during spring practice.

Caleb TerBush has done plenty in practice but appeared in only one game -- way back in 2009 -- because academic issues kept him off the field last season.

Rob Henry started six games last fall but battled a nasty hand injury and is only just a rising sophomore who a year ago seemed more likely to see the field at safety than quarterback.

Given these facts, it is safe to assume Purdue's quarterback competition is wide open? Not exactly.

"I'm not going to consider it wide open," Boilers offensive coordinator Gary Nord told ESPN.com on Friday. "I'm planning on Rob Henry being the starting quarterback and going through spring. We've got Caleb TerBush and Sean Robinson slotted at the No. 2 spot. And we'll have to wait and see how Marve rehabilitates and recovers from the knee."

Purdue opens spring practice Wednesday and holds its spring game April 9.

Marve, who transferred to Purdue from Miami and started the first four games last fall before tearing his ACL, still could work his way back into the starting mix. But after a season where Purdue lost so many key offensive players to injury, the team can't take anything for granted.

Coach Danny Hope made it clear last month, telling me, "I'm not going to put all my eggs in those baskets."

"[Marve] was a starter when he got hurt," Nord said, "and our rule of thumb is you can't lose your starting position via injury. But this situation is going to be interesting. Robert Marve is an unbelievably talented young man. I don't see how you keep him out of the offense in some way.

"He's going to help us win football games, there's no question about that."

But Nord feels comfortable with Henry as his top option when Purdue hits the practice field.

The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Henry led Purdue to victories in his first two career starts before suffering a laceration on his throwing hand in a blowout loss to Ohio State. Henry led the team in rushing with 547 yards and four touchdowns but had some ups and downs as a passer, completing 53.1 percent of his attempts with eight touchdown strikes and seven interceptions.

"I'm very comfortable with him," Nord said. "He's extremely calm and intelligent, has a very good head on his shoulders from a quarterback standpoint and a good demeanor about him. We have to continue to work on his between-the-tackles passes, throwing the ball up the field within the pocket.

"He's realized that and he's been working very hard on it in the offseason."

We looked at the recruiting needs for the Legends division earlier today. Now let's take a look at what the teams are looking for in the Leaders division.

As a reminder, I tried to look at positions that have depth issues for the 2011 and/or the 2012 seasons.

ILLINOIS

Linebacker: Martez Wilson's early departure to the NFL leaves a void at middle linebacker, and Illinois also says goodbye to playmaker Nate Bussey and reserve Aaron Gress. Ian Thomas comes back and Jonathan Brown showed a spark, but Illinois has to rebuild some depth in its defensive midsection.

Wide receiver: Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino wants to run the ball, but quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase showed in the Insight Bowl that he can be an effective passer. A.J. Jenkins returns to serve as Scheelhaase's No. 1 option in 2011, but Illinois needs other pass-catching options to emerge.

Quarterback: The Illini have lost two scholarship quarterbacks (Jacob Charest and Chandler Whitmer) in each of the past two seasons, creating a depth issue behind Scheelhaase. Given Scheelhaase's style of play, Illinois needs other options under center and must address this position with this class.

INDIANA

Secondary: The Hoosiers simply haven't had enough Big Ten-ready defensive backs in recent seasons. This might be a recruiting need for several years as Indiana has to begin building a talent base in the secondary.

Quarterback: Kevin Wilson has done wonders with quarterbacks at his previous coaching spots, but he needs talented players who can flourish in his system. Ben Chappell's departure leaves Indiana with no proven options at quarterback. Although the Hoosiers bring back all of their reserves, they should keep looking for the right answer under center.

OHIO STATE

Wide receiver: All-Big Ten receiver Dane Sanzenbacher departs, and DeVier Posey is suspended for the first five games of 2011, pending appeal. Ohio State hasn't developed much depth at wideout in recent seasons, and a capable freshman could put himself into the mix.

Quarterback: Ohio State needs someone to take the snaps during Terrelle Pryor's suspension, and it's unknown whether Joe Bauserman or Kenny Guiton will be the answer. The Buckeyes also must address life after Pryor in this recruiting class.

PENN STATE

Offensive line: The Lions began addressing this need with last year's class and will continue to do so with the 2011 crop. Getting the offensive line in order is the biggest key to Penn State reclaiming a place among the Big Ten title contenders. Penn State loses standout guard Stefen Wisniewski and will have more departures after the 2011 season, so building depth is paramount.

Defensive line: Penn State lacked a dynamic pass rusher in 2010 and could bolster the end spot, but it can't neglect the defensive tackle position, either. Ollie Ogbu departs and Devon Still will be gone after the 2011 season. Although Jack Crawford returns at end, the depth there could be enhanced through recruiting.

PURDUE

Running back: The Boilers should avoid a depth disaster like the one they endured in 2010, but they can't take any chances, either. Coach Danny Hope and offensive coordinator Gary Nord want to run the ball a lot and they need more options to emerge around Ralph Bolden and Al-Terek McBurse. There are opportunities for freshmen to emerge here.

Tight end: Purdue should be fine at receiver in 2011, but it loses starting tight end Kyle Adams, the team's top pass catcher, as well as backup Jeff Lindsay. Expect the Boilers to address the tight end position in the 2011 class, as it is a big part of the plan on offense.

WISCONSIN

Secondary: The Badgers lose a multiyear starter at safety in Jay Valai this season, and three more starters (safety Aaron Henry and cornerbacks Antonio Fenelus and Devin Smith) will depart after the 2011 season. It's important to start building depth with this class.

Wide receiver: Wisconsin benefits from Nick Toon returning for his senior year, but the overall depth at receiver isn't great. David Gilreath, Isaac Anderson and Kyle Jefferson all depart and with Toon gone after the 2011 season, the Badgers need to find playmakers to complement Jared Abbrederis.

Pass rusher: J.J. Watt's early departure to the NFL draft creates a potential depth issue at defensive end. Returning starter Louis Nzegwu and David Gilbert both are good options, but the Badgers are young and unproven after those two. Young players like Beau Allen will take on bigger roles in 2011, and the team could use an incoming player or two to emerge.

Purdue on Tuesday announced the hiring of Patrick Higgins as its new receivers coach.

Higgins spent the last six seasons at BYU, where he coached the outside receivers and served as special-teams coordinator. He'll continue to assist Purdue in the kicking game -- an area of concern the last two seasons -- and work alongside Boilers special-teams coordinator J.B. Gibboney. Higgins knows coach Danny Hope and worked with Boilers offensive coordinator Gary Nord at UTEP.

“I am extremely excited about joining the Purdue staff,” Higgins said in a statement. “I’ve known coach Hope for a long time, and have great respect for him and his program. I am also looking forward to reconnecting with coach Nord, who I was fortunate enough to work with at UTEP. I feel blessed and honored to be a part of the Boilermaker coaching staff and am looking forward to winning the Big Ten title and going to the Rose Bowl."

Higgins replaces veteran Purdue aide Brian Rock, who recently left to become offensive coordinator at Kent State. He inherits a receiving corps that likely will be led by All-Big Ten wideout Keith Smith, seeking a sixth year of eligibility after tearing ligaments in his knee in September. Smith should find out about the sixth year next month.