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Mark Dantonio acknowledges Michigan State has some momentum right now. The Spartans have won 11 games in each of the past two seasons. They come off of a Legends division title and could enter the season as the Big Ten favorite. But they also lose a lot of star power from the 2011 team, namely quarterback Kirk Cousins, a three-year starter and three-time captain, and All-American defensive tackle Jerel Worthy.

Can Michigan State be a better team in 2012, or will the Spartans backslide in their effort to reload?

"There were questions as we left 2010," Dantonio said. "Can we replace Greg Jones and Eric Gordon? Could we replace our punter, Aaron Bates, or [wide receiver] Mark Dell? We were able to do that and progress, so there are great possibilities. Our football team is poised for that, but at the same time we need to guard against being complacent and understand we’re going to be judged game-to-game.

"It's important we bring our energy with us in everything we do, but there's no question we have confidence. There's no question we have continuity. We've built a great foundation to springboard us forward."

The next phase begins Tuesday, as Michigan State kicks off spring practice in East Lansing.

Dantonio discussed the spring and the future with ESPN.com earlier this week.

Some notes:

• Dantonio is "very optimistic" the NCAA will approve wide receiver transfer DeAnthony Arnett to play this coming season. Arnett transferred from Tennessee to Michigan State to be closer to his ailing father in Flint, Mich. He appeared in 12 games for the Vols in 2011 and had 24 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns. "It was a hardship because his father is ill," Dantonio said. "DeAnthony had success at Tennessee. He was happy at Tennessee. He felt like he needed to come home to be near his family. Every Friday afternoon he goes home. He's a great young man, and he cares deeply about his family and wants to be close to them and wants them to have the opportunity to see him play as well." The NCAA recently granted a waiver for Amir Carlisle, a USC transfer, to play immediately at Notre Dame. Carlisle transferred to be closer to his father, who took a position in Purdue's athletic department. Arnett is eligible to practice this spring for the Spartans.
• If Arnett receives his waiver, he'll provide a big boost to a position that Dantonio calls the "most critical" to replenish. Michigan State loses its top three receivers -- B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and Keith Nichol -- from 2011. The Spartans need to get Bennie Fowler and Juwan Ceasar healthy and have some immediate contributions from their incoming freshmen.
• Michigan State has good depth at defensive end, so Denzel Drone will move to tight end, at least for the start of spring ball. Drone has made six starts at defensive end in his first two seasons and has recorded 28 tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He played a bit of tight end as a high school senior. "We can at least look at that position move in the first two weeks," Dantonio said. "He's played enough defensive end that he can go back over there and be a co-starter for us, but I think we need to put our best football players on the field, and if he can be one of those top 11 players, 12 players, 13, 14 players on offense, then we'll leave him there. If not, he'll be one of those top 14 players on defense." In another move, defensive back Dana Dixon will practice at wide receiver this spring but could return to the secondary "in a heartbeat," Dantonio said.
• Defensive tackle will be a fascinating position to watch this spring as Michigan State looks to replace Worthy. Tyler Hoover, a starting defensive end in 2010 who missed all of last season with injury, will move inside this spring. Hoover is up to 297 pounds, Dantonio said. The Spartans also will audition a host of redshirt freshman defensive tackles and sophomore James Kittredge, a transfer from Vanderbilt.
• Michigan State redshirted 19 players last season, a few more than normal, and the spring will provide a proving ground for several of them. Dantonio listed defensive end Shilique Calhoun, linebacker Lawrence Thomas, safety RJ Williamson and cornerback Trae Waynes as freshmen who could have played in the latter part of last season.
• The Spartans are one of only four Big Ten teams to return their entire coaching staff from the previous season. It wasn't easy, as other teams made runs at both Michigan State coordinators, Pat Narduzzi and Dan Roushar, but both men stayed, in part because the school made a stronger financial commitment. "It was natural to me to be very concerned we would lose a coach or two," Dantonio said. "But it gives you a feeling that you’re doing things right here and there's a good working environment. Obviously, all of our guys, we’re going to do everything we can do to hold onto them, and some of that is financially-based."
• Dantonio on quarterback Andrew Maxwell: "Very patient young man, as evidenced by him sitting here and waiting for his opportunity. Very poised, extremely strong arm, very athletic, he was a 6-7 high jumper in high school. He's got size. He’s got great intelligence. He's got a great demeanor among his teammates. The one thing he's missing right now is that experience of going out and doing it on game day on a consistent basis. Kirk always stayed the course and was never knocked out of a football game, so Andrew never had to take the reins of our football team in a critical situation. That's coming for him."
• In terms of leadership, Dantonio said Maxwell's teammates already have accepted him in his new role. Dantonio also listed linebacker Max Bullough, cornerback Darqueze Dennard, offensive lineman Chris McDonald and running back Larry Caper as potential team leaders in 2012.

As Carlos Boozer would say when grabbing an uncontested rebound, "Gimme dat!"

• More on the Big Ten's college football playoff proposal here and here and here.
• Urban Meyer is showing the Big Ten how to compete with the SEC, Bob Hunter writes. Ohio State recruiting target Stefon Diggs will make his college choice Friday.
• Some advice for new Penn State coach Bill O'Brien on how to follow a legend. Penn State students welcome O'Brien back to campus.
• A former Wisconsin administrator faces more misconduct allegations. Eddie Faulkner talks about returning to his alma mater and coaching a new position.
• Some good insight on Iowa's coordinator candidates from The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette crew. Before teaming up on the gridiron at Iowa, Mitchell Keppy and Reid Sealby face off on the wrestling mat.
• Former Michigan Star star Greg Jones gets a ring (Super Bowl) and gives one (engagement) Sunday night. Spartans safety Trenton Robinson claims his civil rights were violated during a traffic stop.
• Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway has his Sugar Bowl swag stolen.
• Michigan sells out its ticket allotment for the season opener against Alabama. In case you missed it, Michigan already has three commits for the 2013 class.
• Minnesota AD Joel Maturi discusses his impending retirement.
• New Illinois offensive coordinator Billy Gonzales took an interesting route in his career. Illini receiver/punter Ryan Lankford will run track this offseason.
• Former Northwestern star Frank Aschenbrenner, who earned MVP honors in the 1949 Rose Bowl, passes away.
• Purdue linebacker Joe Holland gears up for the NFL draft.

Fourteen former Big Ten players will soon be the proud owners of new Super Bowl championship rings.

The league had 23 players on the two Super Bowl squads, and several played key roles in the New York Giants' victory against New England. Michigan product Mario Manningham had five catches for 73 yards, including the spectacular 38-yard reception that sparked the game-winning drive. Illinois' Steve Weatherford averaged 40.8 yards on four punts and placed three inside the Patriots' 10-yard line. It was a tough night for Big Ten tight ends, as Ohio State's Jake Ballard and Wisconsin's Travis Beckum each suffered knee injuries during the game. But both won rings.

The entire list of the 14 former Big Ten players who were on the Giants' championship team is as follows:

• DB Prince Amukamara (Nebraska)
• C David Baas (Michigan)
• Ballard
• Beckum
• OT James Brewer (Indiana)
• C Jim Cordle (Ohio State)
• OT David Diehl (Illinois)
• LB Greg Jones (Michigan State)
• DT Jimmy Kennedy (Penn State)
• Manningham
• OT Kareem McKenzie (Penn State)
• S Tyler Sash (Iowa)
• WR Devin Thomas (Michigan State)
• Weatherford

Several Giants coaches also have Big Ties, including offensive line coach Pat Flaherty (a former assistant at Iowa and Penn State), secondary and cornerbacks coach Peter Giunta (ex-assistant at Penn State), linebackers coach Jim Herrmann (former player and assistant at Michigan), and running backs coach Jerald Ingram (ex-player and graduate assistant at Michigan).

The Patriots had eight former Big Ten players on the roster, led by Tom Brady. While Brady failed to win his fourth title, he did set a Super Bowl record with 16 consecutive completions during the game.

And, of course, Bill O'Brien finished his duties as New England offensive coordinator and can now concentrate on being Penn State's new head coach.

While watching the five-pack of bowl games involving Big Ten teams Monday, I looked for the units that had the speed, athleticism, explosiveness and playmaking ability to be branded as nationally elite.

Sorry, Big Ten fans, but this is a speed game now. It's plainly obvious. And overall, the league seems to be lacking in that category.

Anyway, the one unit that stood out above the rest -- yes, even above Wisconsin's offense -- was the Michigan State defense.

That crew can step on the field with any team in America and hold its own.

The Spartans' defense has elite athletes, like sophomore end William Gholston, who put himself on the national radar with a huge performance featuring five tackles for loss, two sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Gholston overpowered Georgia's offensive line in the Outback Bowl, much like he did with Ohio State's offensive line and other groups. Defensive tackles Jerel Worthy and Anthony Rashad White both had excellent games, and Darqueze Dennard showed why he's one of the league's emerging cornerbacks with two interceptions, including a pick-six.

Michigan State's defense has stockpiled playmakers and depth at all three levels. It's a credit to the team's recruiting efforts, as the unit didn't miss standout linebackers Greg Jones and Eric Gordon much if at all this season. Even if Worthy departs for the NFL, which I expect him to, the Spartans have shown they can reload because of their recruiting.

The number of young Spartans defenders who have seen the field and contributed in the past two seasons also signals a shift. Michigan State started only one senior on defense Monday -- safety Trenton Robinson -- and had six sophomores or freshmen in the starting lineup.

I don't know how long the Spartans can hang onto defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, but he's got it going right now and will be rewarded with a raise later this winter.

We've seen other great defenses in the Big Ten, both this season and in other years. Ohio State soon should be able to elevate its defense to traditional levels. Nebraska had elite defenses in 2009 and 2010 before falling off this season. Iowa's defense was brilliant in 2009, but since has taken significant steps backward. Penn State's defense held its own in Big Ten play but showed its weaknesses against Houston's wide-open spread in the TicketCity Bowl. Michigan's defense is on the way up under Greg Mattison. Illinois' defense performed at an elite level for much of the season, but now moves on without coordinator Vic Koenning.

But if Big Ten squads are looking for examples to compete nationally in bowls on the defensive side -- looking at you, Wisconsin -- Michigan State should be it.

It's final exam season on campuses around the Big Ten, and we here at the Big Ten blog have some grades to hand out, too. Brian and I will be grading each Big Ten team -- offense, defense and special teams -- before the bowl season kicks off.

First up, the Michigan State Spartans.

OFFENSE: B

Michigan State had to reinvent itself on offense in 2011 as a revamped offensive line made it tough to consistently rush the football. Thanks to senior quarterback Kirk Cousins and his array of weapons, the Spartans still ranked among the league's top five in both scoring (30.8 ppg) and total yards (390.4 ypg). Michigan State was a pass-first unit for much of the season and had success, and the run game emerged late behind Le'Veon Bell, Edwin Baker and a line that gained confidence and built chemistry. While it's amazing that the Spartans won a division title with the league's worst rushing offense, they really seemed to put the pieces together after a poor performance against Nebraska on Oct. 30. Coordinator Dan Roushar had a great scheme in the Big Ten title game against Wisconsin.

DEFENSE: A-

It became clear early on that Michigan State had great potential on defense, and the unit was among the nation's elite for much of the season. Despite losing two four-year starters at linebacker (Greg Jones and Eric Gordon), the Spartans actually improved in the front seven. Defensive tackle Jerel Worthy anchored the crew, and dynamic young players like William Ghoslton, Denicos Allen, Max Bullough and Marcus Rush contributed. Johnny Adams was arguably the Big Ten's top cornerback and safeties Trenton Robinson and Isaiah Lewis combined for eight interceptions. Michigan State displayed excellent depth for much of the season. If not for a few struggles against Wisconsin, the unit would have received an A.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C+

The Spartans weren't bad in the kicking game and had some strong points, particularly on returns with dynamic senior Keshawn Martin. Kicker Dan Conroy was solid and punter Mike Sadler performed decently in his first season. But Michigan State ranked in the middle of the pack in both net punting and kickoff coverage, and special teams played a role in two of the team's three losses. MSU allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown against Notre Dame, and Lewis was flagged for running into the punter in the Big Ten championship, effectively ending the game.

OVERALL: A-/B+

Michigan State had another strong season and took a step closer to becoming a Big Ten power. If not for a few plays against Wisconsin, the Spartans would be heading to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 24 years. It was a very good season that nearly became great.

As both Wisconsin and Michigan State are finding out, the difficult step from good program to potential powerhouse must be taken in hostile territory.

Make no mistake: both programs have made significant strides in the past year and a half. They shared a Big Ten championship in 2010. They recently have put players on the national radar such as J.J. Watt, Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Javon Ringer, Montee Ball and Greg Jones. They're both recruiting well and have coaches (Bret Bielema and Mark Dantonio) who are unlikely to jump ship. Since the start of the 2010 season, neither team has lost a game in its own stadium.

But as we've seen the past two weeks, neither Wisconsin nor Michigan State has truly arrived. The reason: The Badgers and Spartans both struggle to win signature road games.

The issue seems more pronounced with Michigan State than Wisconsin -- more on that in a bit -- but it's separating these two programs from truly putting themselves in the upper echelon.

The Spartans and Badgers are not alone in their struggles. Road wins against good teams have been especially hard to come by this season. Home teams are 18-8 in Big Ten play, and the only division title contender with a home defeat is Ohio State, which fell to Michigan State on Oct. 1.

"You know in this league you're going to go in and get punched in the mouth," Michigan coach Brady Hoke said. "You better punch back."

Michigan State and Wisconsin must start punching back more often.

Wisconsin isn't far away from making the jump. The Badgers' past four losses -- three road, one at the Rose Bowl -- have come by only 22 points. Their only losses this season -- at Michigan State and at Ohio State -- ultimately resulted from allowing long pass plays in the final minute of the game. And in each contest, the Badgers rallied furiously in the fourth quarter, erasing deficits of 14 points at Michigan State and 12 points at Ohio State.

But the Badgers aren't doing the little things needed to beat good teams on the road. They had punts blocked in each of the games, leading to touchdowns for their opponents. They struggled to get off the field on defense, as MSU and OSU combined to convert 19 of 36 third-down attempts. They didn't control possession time and struggled on punt and kickoff coverage. And in crunch time, they either failed to execute on defense (Michigan State) or had a communication breakdown (Ohio State).

"Every year on the road, it's tough to get a win," Bielema said. "And if you inflict wounds on yourself, it's nearly impossible. We did too many things that cost us the game."

Wisconsin cleared some of its road hurdles in 2010, rallying to win at Iowa and beating Michigan in the Big House for the first time since 1994. The Badgers recorded three consecutive road wins in the Big Ten for the first time since 2006, Bielema's first season.

But in what many believed was Wisconsin's defining stretch of 2011, the Badgers came up short away from home. It cost them a potential shot at the national title and possibly more.

"It's not like we embarrassed ourselves the last two weeks," Bielema said Monday. "There's plenty of teams around the world of college football that were higher ranked than we were that got pounded pretty good by people that weren't ranked or weren't good teams. So I understand why people are upset. And, believe me, there's no one who will be more upset than me, but we didn't make a fool out of ourselves.

"We lost a couple of plays, a couple of games on the heartaches that will last for a lifetime."

Michigan State can't make the same claim about its struggles away from Sparta.

The Spartans' two losses this season -- at Notre Dame and at Nebraska -- have come by a combined score of 55-16. Their two losses in 2010 -- one road, one at the Capital One Bowl -- came by a combined score of 86-13.

"That's one of the things we talked about ... if we're going to win the conference or have an opportunity to be close to it, we've got to go on the road and win," Dantonio said. "We have won 12 straight games here at home. We've not lost since '09 at home. So we're doing things pretty well here. ... But nevertheless, you've got to go on the road and win. It's a tough environment all over this conference, but you've got to embrace that and be successful there."

Like Wisconsin, Michigan State has taken some steps on the road. It clinched a share of the league title last November with its first win at Penn State since 1965 -- two years after falling to the Nittany Lions 49-18 in a game with similar implications. The win at Ohio State marked Michigan State's first in Columbus since 1998.

But the lopsided losses to Notre Dame and Nebraska signal Michigan State has a long way to go to be a consistently good road team.

"No matter where we play, no matter what stadium, what field, what fan base we have to go against, we still have to be willing to go up and step to the challenge and respond," Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy told ESPN.com. "It's all about a mindset. We just have to go out there, quiet the crowd early and just play your brand of football."

Michigan State's brand this season has been outstanding defense. The Spartans rank in the top six nationally in points allowed, yards allowed and passing yards allowed. Even in the two road losses, Worthy and his fellow defenders have performed well.

The Spartans' problems have come on offense. Michigan State has scored just 26 points and averaged just 288.6 yards on the road. The Spartans have committed six of their 11 turnovers in the three road contests.

It's no wonder Dantonio says his team must take a different mindset on the road -- "more of a defensive posture," he said.

"That's good for him to say," Worthy said. "It shows the confidence he has in our defense."

Of the top six Big Ten title contenders, Wisconsin and Michigan State have the most favorable remaining schedules. Both teams must go on the road twice, and while neither the Badgers nor Spartans face a ranked team away from home -- Wisconsin visits Minnesota and Illinois; Michigan State visits Iowa and Northwestern -- recent history shows they can't take any game for granted.

If both squads survive, they could reunite Dec. 3 in Indianapolis.

Five lessons from the week that was in Big Ten football.

1. Wisconsin has Big Ten's best team and the league's best player: Not a huge revelation, but we needed to see Wisconsin and Russell Wilson against some decent competition. Nebraska came calling Saturday night, and Wilson and his Badgers teammates rudely welcomed the Huskers to their new league. Wisconsin piled up 48 points and 486 yards on Nebraska, leaving coach Bo Pelini to say he was "embarrassed" by his team's defensive effort. The Big Ten isn't a great conference this season, but it has a great team in Wisconsin, which has few potential stumbling blocks left on its regular-season schedule. Wilson, meanwhile, put himself right in the Heisman Trophy discussion with a near spotless performance, dazzling the crowd with both his arm and his legs.

2. Illinois is hard to kill: The Fighting Illini remain a flawed team prone to some mind-numbing mistakes, but they're also a team that has learned how to win. For the third consecutive week they made enough plays at critical points to prevail with a victory. After the defense fueled wins against Arizona State and Western Michigan, the offense stepped up in the second half against Northwestern. Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins turned in a record-setting performance and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase grew up a bit as Illinois twice rallied from deficits to win 38-35. The Illini must start limiting turnovers and penalties, which will eventually prove costly, but they have shown plenty of fight so far this season. With an extremely favorable schedule, Illinois should continue to rack up wins.

3. Ohio State's offensive problems run deep: Some Buckeyes fans were hopeful that freshman quarterback Braxton Miller would solve the team's inability to move the ball against good defenses. Miller looked like a true freshman against Michigan State, which got in his face and put him in a phone booth to limit his running abilities. Joe Bauserman actually outplayed Miller while coming on in relief in the fourth quarter, possibly creating some controversy there. Buckeyes fans now must hope the return of running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey and Mike Adams will turn things around. They should help, but the truth is Ohio State is limited at quarterback and will be hard pressed to change that this month against Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin. Unless the defense and special teams come through in a big way, this team is going to continue to struggle.

4. The Michigan schools can play a little D: It's not a major shock to see Michigan State stifling opposing offenses, although the Spartans did lose two standout linebackers (Greg Jones and Eric Gordon) from the 2010 team. Still, coordinator Pat Narduzzi has his group playing at a very high level, as Michigan State fell 10 seconds short of becoming the first team since 1982 to shut out Ohio State in Columbus. The bigger surprise is Michigan, which couldn't get much worse on defense but clearly has made strides under coach Brady Hoke and coordinator Greg Mattison. Michigan on Saturday recorded its first shutout since 2007, its first shutout against a Big Ten opponent since 2001. Aside from the wild Notre Dame game, Michigan has allowed just 20 points this season.

5. Penn State's offense remains messy: This was the perfect day for Penn State's offense to break out, build confidence and maybe, just maybe, get clarity at the quarterback spot. The Lions faced an Indiana team coming off of a horrendous defensive performance at North Texas and ranked 95th nationally against the run. But rather than take a step forward, Penn State backslid for much of the game. The Lions failed to score a touchdown on five red zone opportunities, twice committing turnovers in the red zone. Quarterback Matthew McGloin outplayed Rob Bolden, but not by much, and the offensive line was inconsistent. Penn State needs to figure things out before facing Iowa next week in a game that could chart the course for the rest of the season.

During Michigan State's practice Monday, linebacker Max Bullough went over to the players on the scout team and delivered a simple message.

We need you guys.

"I just wanted to relay to them how important they were," Bullough said. "Without the scout team, you're not ready for the game. A lot of those guys are big-time recruits. They're having a heck of a senior year [in high school] and they come here expecting to do all these big things and then they get put on scout team. That kind of hits them hard.

"I never had to go through that."

That's the thing about Bullough. He hasn't paid his dues. He hasn't slogged on the scout team and spent years buried on the depth chart. He has been fast-tracked to a major role.

When Michigan State issued its depth chart for tonight's season-opener against Youngstown State, Bullough appeared as the No. 1 middle linebacker. The other two linebacker spots list co-starters, but the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Bullough stands alone.

"Max deserves that opportunity to be the clear-cut starter," coach Mark Dantonio said.

Bullough came to Michigan State with big-time accolades, enrolled early, was labeled in spring ball as a true freshman who would see time and appeared in all 13 games last season, recording 23 tackles. With former All-American Greg Jones moving on, Bullough is the next man in at middle linebacker.

"He was waiting in the gate," Dantonio said. "He came here with the idea that he would be an understudy for one year and then step into that position."

Bullough has indeed made a rapid rise, but he's not about to apologize for it. He won't be a sheepish leader just because he's a sophomore.

The coaches have tabbed him Michigan State's starting middle linebacker for a reason, and he fully intends to run with the role.

"When camp came around," Bullough said, "it really hit me in the face and I was like, 'Alright, I’ve got do this. This is my job. This is who I am. And if I don't do it, it's not going to get done. We're going to be a better football team if I do this.'"

Bullough has led before, serving as a captain for two years at St. Francis High School in Traverse City, Mich., where he helped the team win two state championships. He comes from a family steeped in college football: his grandfather, father and two uncles played for Michigan State, while his other grandfather and another uncle played for Notre Dame.

He has no shortage of resources, whether it's family members, former teammates like Jones or current teammates like senior safety Trenton Robinson.

The best advice he's received?

"To not be afraid to step up and be the leader," Bullough said. "What's the worst that’s going to happen? Most likely you're going to get the respect that you deserve and we're going to move forward and be a better team because of it."

Bullough didn't encounter any resistance in camp.

"The seniors are where it's hardest to earn respect because they've been here," he said. "I talked to them and we discussed leadership things all the time, what we should do here, who we should talk to. And I think we've really come a long way. Our team has great chemistry to begin with, so it's really easy for guys to stand in front."

Bullough will stand in the heart of the Spartans' defense tonight when he makes his first career start. He saw the field a bit in Michigan State's base package last season but spent more time in nickel and on special teams, where he tied for second on the squad with 13 tackles.

But his field time will spike this season, along with his responsibilities. Bullough is determined to prove he can shoulder the burden, despite his age.

"I haven't been able to do it, obviously, because we haven't had a game," he said. "That's the final step to give the concrete to my position, the concrete to my job as a leader. That's really going to make it or break it these next few weeks."

When a team loses two of the most productive linebackers in its history, it hopes the other defensive units can pick up the slack.

Michigan State could have such a luxury in 2011.

To be clear, the Spartans aren't scrambling at linebacker. They like their young players such as Max Bullough, TyQuan Hammock and Denicos Allen. But it's unrealistic to think they won't miss Greg Jones and Eric Gordon, four-year starters who combined for 796 tackles in their careers.

Now here's the good news: when asked to identify the position groups that made the most strides this spring, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio started off with the secondary. Then he brought up the defensive line.

Cornerback Johnny Adams was among the team's top spring standouts, a fact not lost on his teammates, who selected him with the first pick in the spring draft. Dantonio also singled out sophomore safety Isaiah Lewis for his performance this spring. Lewis is in the mix to replace Marcus Hyde at strong safety.

"He played a lot on special teams [in 2010], but he can be a phenomenal player for us," Dantonio said. "Our secondary has a chance to be very, very good. If you really watched our spring game, I thought we've got more depth than we've had across the board. Our guys have a very good handle on what they're doing because they know it so well."

The defensive front might be an even bigger key to the Spartans' season. Jones not only made a ton of tackles at middle linebacker, but he was Michigan State's top blitzer the past few seasons.

The Spartans want more pass-rushing production from a line that had only three players record more than three sacks in 2010 (Jerel Worthy, Tyler Hoover and Johnathan Strayhorn). Michigan State loses three of its top four leaders in tackles for loss (Jones, Gordon and Colin Neely). Worthy is the only returning player with more than 3.5 tackles for loss in 2010.

While Worthy is already generating attention as a potential top 10 pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the coaches liked what they saw from other linemen like William Gholston, Anthony Rashad White, Hoover and Marcus Rush.

"We've got depth," Dantonio said. "We've probably got six, seven, eight guys who are going to be playing."

I think the Rapture has arrived in Chicago.

• An interesting look at the autograph problem at Ohio State from The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises. The Ohio State scandal is becoming worse than the USC mess, Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel writes. The latest on quarterback Terrelle Pryor's future here and here.
• Wisconsin's pursuit of Russell Wilson shows growth in the program, Tom Oates writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin is guaranteed to make $1 million from facing Northern Illinois at Soldier Field, Ryan Wood writes in the (DeKalb) Daily-Chronicle.
• Big Ten commish Jim Delany plays hardball in Nebraska about Big Ten Network distribution, Steven M. Sipple writes in the Lincoln Journal Star. Some Huskers recruiting updates from the Omaha World-Herald's Sam McKewon.
• Michigan will unveil its throwback unis for the Notre Dame game Friday night, annarbor.com's Rich Rezler writes. If they look like this, ugh. The Ohio State scandal doesn't cause much of a stir among ex-Michigan players, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News.
• Penn State fans can celebrate Pryor's downfall, but Pryor likely wouldn't have brought down PSU, Jared Shanker writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News. More on the what-ifs surrounding Pryor and Penn State here and here.
• Quarterback recruit Wes Lunt has Illinois in his mix of college possibilities, Cody Westerlund writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Iowa fans shouldn't get carried away with preseason accolades, Mike Hlas writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Iowa's facilities renovation will affect parking at Kinnick Stadium, Emily Schettler writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• More on Patrick Bade's transition from hoops to football at Purdue, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• The Lansing State Journal's Joe Rexrode checks in with Michigan State quarterback recruit Tyler O'Connor. Greg Jones repeats as MSU's male Athlete of the Year.

The Hope and Concern series marches on with the Michigan State Spartans.

Biggest reason for hope: Depth at the skill positions

Michigan State's recruiting and development have really paid off at spots like running back, wide receiver, defensive back and linebacker. The Spartans bring back veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, all three of their primary running backs, B.J. Cunningham and several other contributors at receiver and multiple tight ends who can make plays. On the defensive side, the secondary once again should be solid with players like safety Trenton Robinson and cornerback Johnny Adams, who came on strong this spring. Although Greg Jones and Eric Gordon will be missed at linebacker, the Spartans should have enough there with Chris Norman, Max Bullough, TyQuan Hammock, Denicos Allen and others.

Biggest reason for concern: The offensive line

Line play is the area separating Michigan State from elevating its program from good to great. The coming season should provide a good gauge on whether the Spartans can take the next step as they must improve on both sides of the ball. The defensive line could be an area of strength, but there are significant questions up front after Michigan State lost both starting tackles and center John Stipek. Converted defensive linemen like Dan France and Blake Treadwell will be integral this fall, especially France, who should enter the season as the team's starting left tackle. The coaches think the line will be more athletic, but can a new-look group come together and play consistently?

More Hope and Concern

• Purdue
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Minnesota
• Penn State

Now we get to the good stuff: Player of the Year polls. In mid-May. Gotta love it.

The race for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year isn't easy to forecast. The league loses most of its elite defenders, including five linemen selected in the first round of last month's NFL draft. A former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year -- Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones -- also departs along and four underclassmen who would factor into this year's race -- Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt, Illinois DT Corey Liuget, Illinois LB Martez Wilson and Iowa S Tyler Sash -- also are NFL bound. Eight Big Ten squads lose their leading tacklers from 2010.

So who's left? Nebraska hasn't played a game as a Big Ten member, but the Huskers might have the top two choices for Defensive Player of the Year. Defensive tackle Jared Crick and linebacker Lavonte David both earned second-team All-America honors in 2010 and are poised for big senior seasons. Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy also is very much on the NFL draft radar for 2012, and several Big Ten defensive backs could contend for the award, including dynamic Purdue sophomore cornerback Ricardo Allen. The Big Ten hasn't had a defensive back win the award since Ohio State safety Mike Doss in 2002, but that could change this fall.

It's your turn to weigh in on the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year field.

At long last, polls have arrived for the Big Ten blog. Here's your chance to weigh in on the big questions around the conference, so please take advantage.

Let's kick things off with a look at the most difficult Big Ten player to replace in 2011. Every team loses some key seniors, and seven Big Ten underclassmen declared for the NFL draft. The league had six players selected in the first round of the draft, each of whom could be categorized as irreplaceable.

Then again, while Wisconsin will have a tough time filling in for All-American defensive end J.J. Watt, the No. 11 overall pick in the draft, quarterback Scott Tolzien, who was undrafted, might be tougher to replace. Several Big Ten defenders leave major voids, including All-American Ryan Kerrigan from Purdue and Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget.

The league's toughest player to replace might see the field this season. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor will be eligible to play Oct. 8 against Nebraska, but his presence certainly will be missed during a five-game suspension to begin the fall.

Some teams are in better shape to replace their stars than others, but there are a handful of Big Ten players who definitely will be missed. It's your turn to weigh in.

I apologize for the delay, but it's finally time to examine the Big Ten's top candidates to reach 100 tackles or more in the 2011 season. We've already looked at the league's top touchdown scorers (15 or more), 1,000-yard rushing candidates, sack-masters, 3,000-yard passers and top interceptors.

The Big Ten had six players record 100 or more tackles in 2010: Michigan linebacker Jonas Mouton (117), Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs (116), Penn State linebacker Chris Colasanti (112), Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson (112), Northwestern safety Brian Peters (107) and Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones (106). Seven Big Ten defenders reached the 100-tackle mark in 2010, led by Jones (154) and Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer (146).

Nebraska star linebacker Lavonte David actually is the Big Ten's leading returning tackler after recording 154 stops in 2010.

Let's be clear that tackles don't mean everything, and there have been some mediocre defenders who end up high on the tackles charts. I've also noticed that some of the Big Ten's historically elite defenses, like Ohio State, rarely have players approach 100 tackles. This can be attributed in part to good team defense and also to being on the field for fewer plays. So if a player from your favorite team doesn't appear below, it might not be a bad thing.

Still, 100 tackles is a milestone and several Big Ten players should approach it.

Here are the top candidates:

1. Nebraska LB Lavonte David: He set a team single-season record for tackles in 2010 and should be able to surpass 100 stops for the second consecutive year. David recorded 10 tackles or more in eight contests in 2010 and had 15 stops or more three times. It'll be interesting to see how he adjusts to Big Ten offenses, but he's too good not to be around the ball.

2. Northwestern S Brian Peters: I'm not sure Northwestern wants to have a safety eclipse 100 tackles again, but Peters once again could be the team's go-to tackler as it loses two multiyear starters at linebacker. He recorded 10 tackles or more in six games last fall.

3. Penn State LB Michael Mauti: Sure, he only had 67 tackles last fall, but Mauti is poised for a breakout season if he can stay healthy. Mauti has a chance to put up Posluszny/Connor tackle numbers as he continues to mature. Penn State will be a more linebacker-driven defense this fall, and several players -- Mauti, Nathan Stupar, Gerald Hodges -- could challenge for 100 tackles.

4. Iowa S/CB Micah Hyde: Hyde had 82 tackles from the cornerback spot in 2010 and should see that number increase if he plays more safety this fall. Although an Iowa linebacker like James Morris certainly could climb up the tackles chart this fall, Hyde seems to have a knack for being around the football.

5. Purdue S Logan Link: After leading the team with 91 tackles in 2010, Link is poised for another productive season. Purdue has some question marks in the seven front seven, and it will rely on Link and other defensive backs to move down and make plays against the run.

6. Indiana LB Jeff Thomas: Thomas finished last season with 82 tackles, five shy of team leader Tyler Replogle. As Replogle departs, Thomas will move into a more featured role at linebacker and should definitely be in the mix for 100 tackles or more. Indiana's defense also could spend a lot of time on the field this fall, giving Thomas plenty of tackle opportunities.

Also keep an eye on the following players:

• Michigan LB Kenny Demens and S Jordan Kovacs
• Iowa LB James Morris
• One of Michigan State's LBs (Chris Norman, Max Bullough, TyQuan Hammock)
• Illinois LB Ian Thomas
• Minnesota LBs Gary Tinsley or Mike Rallis

Michigan State

2010 overall record: 11-2

2010 conference record: 7-1 (T-1st)

Returning starters

Offense: 6; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

QB Kirk Cousins, RB Edwin Baker, WR B.J. Cunningham, G Joel Foreman, DT Jerel Worthy, CB Johnny Adams, S Trenton Robinson, LB Chris Norman

Key losses

WR Mark Dell, TE Charlie Gantt, LT D.J. Young, C John Stipek, LB Greg Jones, LB Eric Gordon, CB Chris L. Rucker, P Aaron Bates

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Edwin Baker* (1,201 yards)

Passing: Kirk Cousins* (2,825 yards)

Receiving: Mark Dell (788 yards)

Tackles: Greg Jones (106)

Sacks: Jerel Worthy* (4)

Interceptions: Trenton Robinson* (4)

Spring answers

1. D-line solidifies: Although Michigan State loses a lot at linebacker, the coaches haven't altered their expectations for the defense, in large part because their confidence in the front four. The defensive line should be a strength as several players made strides this spring. Gifted sophomore William Gholston could be on the verge of a breakout season as he settles in at end, where the Spartans also will use Tyler Hoover and Denzel Drone on the edges. Tackle Anthony Rashad White had a good spring and forms a nice interior tandem with All-Big Ten candidate Jerel Worthy.

2. Two-way Tony: Redshirt freshman Tony Lippett was the star of spring ball in East Lansing. He practiced at both cornerback and receiver and made plays in both spots. He capped a strong session with a 57-yard reception and a pass breakup in the spring game. Michigan State's coordinators are fighting over Lippett, and he could see time on both sides of the ball this season.

3. Adams emerges: When Michigan State's seniors held their spring game draft last week, Johnny Adams was the first name called. Adams, a junior cornerback, turned in a very strong spring and drew a lot of praise from the staff. Michigan State needs a No. 1 corner as Chris L. Rucker departs for the NFL, and Adams looks ready to answer the bell. "As a safety, you can just be like, 'Leave that to Johnny,'" safety Trenton Robinson told The Grand Rapids Press. "You just look over and you know Johnny’s got it on lockdown."

Fall questions

1. Offensive line: The Spartans' success could hinge on a revamped line that must replace three starters from the 2010 team. While the coaches see more athleticism up front, which stems in part from several players making the switch from defense, there's no substitute for experience and continuity. The line must continue to jell this summer, as players like Dan France, Travis Jackson and Blake Treadwell move into big roles.

2. Linebacker rotation: Greg Jones and Eric Gordon made a ton of plays for Michigan State, and their production will be tough to replace. Returning starter Chris Norman is back, but Michigan State likely will have sophomores Max Bullough, Tyquan Hammock and Denicos Allen assume bigger roles. Jones and Gordon always were around the football, and the Spartans need the same qualities in their next generation of linebackers.

3. Punter: Go ahead and laugh if you'd like, but no punter in America played a bigger role in his team's success than Aaron Bates did last fall. Bates not only averaged 45 yards per punt but completed passes on trick plays that led to wins against both Notre Dame and Northwestern. Redshirt freshman Mike Sadler is set to succeed Bates at punter, although he'll have to hold off senior Kyle Selden.