ESPN College Football

The NFL draft is a little more than 24 hours away, and our analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have come out with their final mock drafts.

(Let's pause here for a moment of silence for the 2012 mock draft process. May it rest in peace. But never fear, the 2013 mocks are just around the corner!).

There's not a ton of change in Kiper's final first-round mock . Iowa's Riley Reiff is still the top Big Ten player off the board, now at No. 18 to San Diego. Kiper has Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus one spot behind Reiff, to the Bears. The only other Big Ten player he has going in the first round is Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler, at No. 30 to San Francisco.

McShay, along with Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl from Scouts Inc. have undertaken the massive enterprise of mocking the entire seven rounds of the draft . Whew. Here's where they have Big Ten products heading:

Round 1

No. 13: Reiff
No. 25: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
No. 28: Mercilus
No. 30: Zeitler

Round 2

No. 34: Jeff Allen, OT, Illinois
No. 35: Devon Still, DT, Penn State
No. 43: Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
No. 44: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
No. 47: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
No. 51: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
No. 63: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois

Round 3

No. 89: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Round 4

No. 96: Mike Daniels DT, Iowa
No. 97: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
No. 99: Adam Gettis, G, Iowa
No. 106: Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin
No. 118: Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
No. 120: Keshawn Martin, WR, Michigan State
No. 121: Markus Zusevics, OT, Iowa
No. 123: Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
No. 126: Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
No. 132: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska

Round 5

No. 137: David Molk, C, Michigan
No. 150: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
No. 161: Trent Robinson, S, Michigan State
No. 163: Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State
No. 165: DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State

Round 6

No. 207: Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State

Round 7

No. 211: B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State
No. 216: Aaron Henry, S, Wisconsin
No. 219: Dan Herron, RB, Ohio State
No. 221: Derek Dimke, K, Illinois
No. 223: Tyler Nielsen, LB, Iowa
No. 231: Marcel Jones, OT, Nebraska
No. 244: Junior Hemingway, WR, Michigan
No. 247: Bradie Ewing, FB, Wisconsin
No. 248: Kevin Koger, TE, Michigan

A few notables not listed on this seven-round mock: Northwestern WR Jeremy Ebert, TE Drake Dunsmore, and QB Dan Persa; Penn State WR Derek Moye; Minnesota WR Da'Jon McKnight, Michigan DE Ryan Van Bergen, Wisconsin OT Josh Oglesby.

How accurate are these mock drafts? It is almost time to find out. Let's do this for real.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- New Penn State coach Bill O’Brien reiterates he has not watched and will not watch one frame of film from the team’s 2011 season.

That's not necessarily good news for Nittany Lions defenders Gerald Hodges and Jordan Hill. Both men could splice together some impressive highlight reels from last fall.

Hodges, an outside linebacker, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches in his first full season as a starter, leading Penn State with 106 tackles, including 10 for loss and 4.5 sacks, and adding two forced fumbles and an interception. Hill was somewhat overshadowed by fellow Lions defensive tackle Devon Still, the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year, but he had a fine season in his own right, recording 59 tackles, including eight for loss and 3.5 sacks, to go along with a team-high three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

Both men could have bolted for the NFL draft, but both decided fairly early on that they'd return to Penn State and play for a coach who didn't care about what they had done in the past.

"I'm pretty sure [the coaches] heard about my style of play," Hodges told ESPN.com. "But I still feel it's my job to prove myself to them that I can play football, let them know as a man that I can play."

Hodges and Hill both are delivering the right messages this spring to the new coaching staff. O'Brien on Friday called Hodges "what you'd picture in a Penn State linebacker" and said Hodges has had one of the better springs on the squad. O'Brien told ESPN.com last week of Hill: "Excellent player, plays extremely hard and is technically sound."

The two seniors anchor a front defensive front seven that undoubtedly will be the team's strength in the first year of the new regime.

Both men have made position switches this spring that allow them to operate in more space. Hill is playing more at the 3-technique after spending most of last season at the nose (Still played the 3-technique). Rather than lining up over the ball, Hill is looking to shoot gaps between guards and tackles. Hill acknowledges the 3-technique is more of a glamor spot for defensive tackles.

At only 6-1, he’s able to keep his pads low and gain leverage against taller offensive linemen. He's also facing more 1-on-1 blocks, which he welcomes.

"You're playing against these big 6-7 guys, and they can’t reach you sometimes,” Hill said. "It's really an advantage at nose guard, too, because you're playing against 6-5, 6-6 centers and guards. They come at you on a double team, and if you're already at their hips, it's much easier."

Hill has played alongside elite defensive tackles throughout his time at Penn State. As a young player, he studied Jared Odrick, the Big Ten’s co-defensive player of the year in 2009 and a first-round pick in the 2010 draft. He spent last season lined up next to Still, a consensus All-American.

Although Hill is a different type of tackle than Odrick and Still, both of whom stand four inches taller, he took away traits from both. Odrick's motor never stopped, while Still’s drive in his final season made him a different player.

"It's definitely in the back of your head because you want to keep the defensive line moving, that tradition," Hill said. "As a defensive line, we're all one. If individual success comes from it, it’s because of the guys right next to me. Even with Dev's great success, he had an extraordinary year, [but] without Jack [Crawford], Eric [Latimore], me, that's not possible.

"It's the whole defensive line's effort."

Hodges, who began his Penn State career as a safety, moves from weakside linebacker to the strong side. Like Hill, Hodges' new position allows him to play more in space, a change he welcomes.

And like Hill, Hodges is aware of the tradition at his position at Linebacker U. He's not the first Penn State standout linebacker to shift to the strong side.

"Navorro [Bowman], Sean [Lee] and Paul [Posluszny], those guys, their last years they finally got to play strong side," Hodges said. "As guys' careers move to the end here, their last year, their last two years, they get moved to the strong side and are able to play out in space.

"It's something I take personally and something I take pride in."

Both Hodges and Hill have stood out this spring as Penn State absorbs a different defense under coordinator Ted Roof. Pass coverage will be a bigger emphasis for Hodges, who nearly picked off a short pass in a recent practice.

"Even though he had a great season last year, he's still hungry," middle linebacker Glenn Carson said. "He still wants to get better. That's the one thing that's going to make him a great football player."

Carson sees similar qualities in Hill.

"I'm seeing things from him on tape that you're just wowed by," Carson said. "He's an unbelievable athlete and just like Gerald, he's a hard worker. He's really hungry, chasing his dreams."

With Hodges and Hill leading the defense, Penn State can dream big in 2012.

If you checked out my Big Ten combine post from the morning, I bet you're itching for more information from the big event in Indianapolis. The defensive linemen and linebackers went through their full workouts Monday, and official results are in for seven tests.

While the 40 time and vertical jump don't mean everything, prospects can help themselves with strong numbers before all the major talent evaluators.

Here are some of the Big Ten's top performers among the linemen and linebackers:

Defensive line

• Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus ranked fourth in 40-yard dash (4.68 seconds); tied for eighth in broad jump (9 feet, 10 inches); ranked 13th in 3-cone drill (7.17 seconds).
• Penn State defensive end Jack Crawford ranked 14th in 40-yard dash (4.85 seconds); tied for 11th in broad jump (9 feet, 8 inches); ranked 12th in 3-cone drill (7.15 seconds); and tied for sixth in 20-yard shuttle (4.25 seconds).
• Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin tied for second in bench press (36 reps of 225 pounds); tied for 13th in vertical jump (33.5 inches); and tied for sixth in 20-yard shuttle (4.25 seconds).

Linebacker

• Nebraska's Lavonte David ranked seventh in 40-yard dash (4.65 seconds); ranked eighth in vertical jump (36.5 inches); sixth in 20-yard shuttle (4.22 seconds); and tied for 11th in broad jump (9 feet, 11 inches).
• Iowa's Tyler Nielsen ranked 15th in 40-yard dash (4.74 seconds); tied for first in 60-yard shuttle (11.43 seconds); and tied for 13th in 20-yard shuttle (4.31 seconds).
• Penn State's Nathan Stupar ranked fourth in 60-yard shuttle (11.64 seconds) and tied for seventh in 20-yard shuttle (4.28 seconds).

For more on the combine, check out our NFL draft blog.

We covered all the offensive position groups in our postseason rankings series here, here, here and here. Now it's time to turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive tackle was the strongest position in the league in 2011, so that makes this a competitive situation. There are some major changes from our preseason order as well. Remember this is about overall production, and depth matters along with star power. The top four on this list are really, really strong.

Here we go:

1. Michigan State: The Spartans finished with the top total defense in the Big Ten and one of the best in the nation, and it all started with a dominant front. All-American tackle Jerel Worthy commanded extra attention inside and was joined by Kevin Pickelman and Anthony Rashad White as forces inside. William Gholston was brilliant at times, never more so than in the Outback Bowl win over Georgia. And freshman Marcus Rush turned in an outstanding season at the other defensive end spot. The Spartans had no weaknesses at this position in 2011.

2. Michigan: We projected the Wolverines would make a significant leap in '11, but the amount of improvement still surprised us. The combination of head coach Brady Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, both defensive line coaches at heart, and valuable seniors Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen made this the backbone of Michigan's Sugar Bowl run. The Wolverines were especially tough in short-yardage situations because their defensive front was so stout.

3. Penn State: Big Ten defensive player of the year Devon Still wrecked just about everybody's game plan with a huge senior campaign. Jordan Hill had a solid, underrated year next to him inside. Jack Crawford stayed healthy and contributed 6.5 sacks, while Eric Latimore and Sean Stanley combined for another 7.5 quarterback takedowns.

4. Illinois: Defensive end Whitney Mercilus was a consensus first-team All-American who led the nation in sacks and forced fumbles. Nobody saw that coming. He had good company along the line as well, with guys like Akeem Spence inside and Michael Buchanan at the other end spot. The Illini may have faltered down the stretch as a team, but the D-line stayed strong throughout the year.

5. Wisconsin: The Badgers didn't have many household names on the defensive line, and certainly no one stood out like J.J. Watt the year before. But Bret Bielema relied on a solid group of veterans that helped the team finish third in the league in total defense and fifth in sacks. Patrick Butrym, Louis Nzegwu, Brendan Kelly and Ethan Hemer were part of a group that played better than the sum of its parts.

6. Ohio State: The Buckeyes had one of the best defensive players in the league in John Simon, who had 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks in a breakout season. Tackle Johnathan Hankins emerged as a disrupter at 335 pounds. But Ohio State didn't get its usual production elsewhere on the line, got beat up as the season went along and lacked depth, which is one reason why Urban Meyer went out and signed so many pass rushers in his first recruiting class.

7. Nebraska: The biggest disappointment from the preseason, as the Huskers tumbled from their No. 1 ranking last summer. Jared Crick's season-ending injury hurt the production, but he was not putting up huge numbers before he tore his pectoral muscle. Cameron Meredith, Baker Steinkuhler and Eric Martin had some nice moments, but Nebraska wasn't nearly as fierce up front as we thought it might be.

8. Purdue: Kawann Short turned in his best season, with 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks from his interior spot, while Bruce Gaston and Gerald Gooden provided solid support. But the Boilermakers' pass rush off the edge lacked explosiveness until freshman Ryan Russell started to come on late in the season. Everyone except Gooden returns, and with a new position coach Purdue hopes this unit can go from decent to great in 2012.

9. Iowa: Another disappointing crew, as the Hawkeyes proved it's not easy to replace three draft picks off the defensive line and simply reload. Mike Daniels and Broderick Binns were the senior anchors, but Iowa's pass rush was sluggish until late in the season. And there wasn't a whole lot of depth behind them. This group loses three starters and will be extremely young in 2012.

10. Northwestern: We ranked the Wildcats 10th in the preseason as well, but we still expected better things out of this group. Northwestern generated very little pressure on opposing quarterbacks and ranked last in the Big Ten in sacks. Vince Browne, a projected all-conference pick in the summer, had a subpar season with only 3.5 tackles for loss after putting up 15.5 in 2010. It's clear this group needs to get better for Northwestern to take the next step.

11. Minnesota: The Gophers weren't as terrible on the defensive front as they were in 2010, when they finished last in the nation with only nine sacks. In fact, they more than doubled that total with 19 last season. Still, it was a mostly anonymous crew that gave quarterbacks too much time to carve up the secondary in the passing game. Jerry Kill still needs to find more playmakers at this position.

12. Indiana: The Hoosiers had problems all over the defense, and the line was no exception. Adam Replogle and Larry Black gave the unit some veteran leadership in the middle, but Indiana resorted to playing a lot of kids at the defensive end spots. The results were about what you'd expect.

The North team recorded a 23-13 win against the South in Saturday's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and several Big Ten players contributed to the victory.

Big Ten players factored in all the scoring for the North squad. Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson and Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins both fired touchdown passes, and Purdue kicker Carson Wiggs connected on three field goal attempts, including a 28-yarder that helped seal the win with 4:11 left. The North starting offensive line featured four of five players from the Big Ten.

Other than Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins and Illinois left tackle Jeff Allen, all of the Big Ten players in the game competed for the North squad.

Wilson started for the North and led three offensive series, two of which resulted in points. He finished the game 4 of 7 passing for 45 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Cousins was the third quarterback from the North squad to see the field and fired a 41-yard touchdown pass to Arizona State's Gerell Robinson early in the third quarter. Cousins finished the game 5 of 11 passing for 115 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Wiggs connected on field goal attempts of 27, 28 and 32 yards and missed a 37-yard try in the closing minutes.

Other Big Ten notables:

• Michigan State safety Trenton Robinson had two tackles and a fumble recovery
• Ohio State wide receiver DeVier Posey had a 33-yard reception
• Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David had four tackles
• Penn State defensive end Jack Crawford had three tackles
• Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin had three tackles
• Illinois wideout A.J. Jenkins had a 26-yard reception
• Michigan State tight end Brian Linthicum had a 9-yard reception
• Penn State cornerback D'Anton Lynn had two tackles
• Wisconsin punter Brad Nortman averaged 43.7 yards on three attempts and also had one kickoff, while Wiggs had five kickoffs.
• Ohio State running back Dan Herron had six carries for 14 yards and two receptions for 4 yards
• Wisconsin long-snapper Kyle Wojta had one tackle
• Wisconsin fullback Bradie Ewing had one carry for 1 yard

North team starters included: Wilson, Ewing, Linthicum, Ohio State left tackle Mike Adams, Ohio State center Mike Brewster, Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler, Penn State guard Johnnie Troutman, Crawford, Martin and Robinson. Jenkins and Allen both came off the bench for the South squad.

Pre-draft season is right around the corner, and the nation's premier all-star game, the Senior Bowl, takes place Jan. 28 in Mobile, Ala.

The Senior Bowl on Wednesday announced the 24 Big Ten players who will be participating in this year's game. Eight Big Ten squads are sending players to Mobile.

Here's the full list (part of which had been revealed earlier):

IOWA

• DT Mike Daniels
• WR Marvin McNutt

MICHIGAN

• DT Mike Martin
• C David Molk*

MICHIGAN STATE

• QB Kirk Cousins
• TE Brian Linthicum
• S Trenton Robinson

NEBRASKA

• LB Lavonte David
• CB Alfonzo Dennard

OHIO STATE

• LT Mike Adams
• C Mike Brewster
• RB Dan Herron
• WR DeVier Posey

PENN STATE

• DE Jack Crawford
• CB D'Anton Lynn
• DT Devon Still
• G Johnnie Troutman

PURDUE

• K Carson Wiggs

WISCONSIN

• FB Bradie Ewing
• P Brad Nortman
• WR Nick Toon*
• QB Russell Wilson
• LS Kyle Wojta
• G Kevin Zeitler

*injured and will not participate in game

It's a strong contingent that features the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (Still) and 21 all-conference selections.

My apologies for posting this a bit late, but the initial invitations list is out for the 2012 NFL scouting combine, which takes place next month in Indianapolis. This list does not include the five Big Ten juniors who have declared for the draft.

Let's check out which players made the initial list (a full list will come out later this month).

Quarterbacks

• Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
• Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

Running backs

• Dan Herron, Ohio State

Wide receivers

• B.J. Cunningham, Michigan State
• Junior Hemingway, Michigan
• A.J. Jenkins, Illinois
• Keshawn Martin, Michigan State
• Marvin McNutt, Iowa
• DeVier Posey, Ohio State
• Nick Toon, Wisconsin

Offensive linemen

• Mike Adams, Ohio State
• Jeff Allen, Illinois
• Mike Brewster, Ohio State
• Marcel Jones, Nebraska
• David Molk, Michigan
• Josh Oglesby, Wisconsin
• Markus Zusevics, Iowa

Defensive tackles

• Jared Crick, Nebraska
• Mike Daniels, Iowa
• Mike Martin, Michigan
• Devon Still, Penn State

Defensive ends

• Jack Crawford, Penn State

Outside linebackers

• Lavonte David, Nebraska
• Tyler Nielsen, Iowa

Cornerbacks

• Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
• Antonio Fenelus, Wisconsin
• D'Anton Lynn, Penn State
• Shaun Prater, Iowa

Safeties

• Trenton Robinson, Michigan State

Kickers

• Derek Dimke, Illinois
• Carson Wiggs, Purdue

Punters

• Brad Nortman, Wisconsin

There are no Big Ten tight ends, inside linebackers or long snappers on the initial list.

I'm a bit surprised not to see several names, including Penn State WR Derek Moye. Still, wide receiver was a position of strength for the Big Ten in 2011, along with defensive tackle.

Joe Paterno and other Penn State coaches told Devon Still last season that he needed to assert his leadership. The defensive tackle was a little reluctant to do so, knowing he was only a junior and that other teammates had already been elected captains for the 2010 season.

But once the Outback Bowl arrived, Still decided that was his time to take over. While the Nittany Lions lost to Florida on New Year's Day, Still looked like a new man. He had a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss in that game and hasn't really slowed down since.

"I feel like a light clicked for me," he told ESPN.com this week. "I looked over my season and felt like I had been real inconsistent. I wanted to focus on being dominant every game. I focused on that going into the bowl game so I could hit the ground running this season."

Still has hit a lot of things this season, mostly quarterbacks and running backs. He's a big reason why Penn State has one of the top defenses in the country, continually blowing up plays in the middle of the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder has 10 tackles for loss and two sacks through seven games, building a strong case for Big Ten defensive MVP honors.

"He's a big, imposing guy," said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, whose team managed only one field goal against the Nittany Lions in a 13-3 loss. "Every time you see Penn State on cutups, he's typically showing up. He's got great size, he's very active and he's a tough guy to handle one-on-one."

Still has always had impressive physical gifts. But he had trouble staying healthy early in his career. He tore his ACL in what would have been his true freshman season, then broke his ankle in fall camp the following year. He returned that year for the regular-season finale. Still says he didn't get used to playing full-time until last season.

What really has changed for him, though, is his drive. Still and his girlfriend had a daughter, Leah, 18 months ago. That increased responsibility in his personal life carried over onto the football field.

"I know I have to do things so my daughter will look up to me, and I have to set the same example for my teammates," he said. "It's just knowing that I'm trying to be successful not only for myself but in order to support my family. When I go out there on the field, I just think of her and I try to play as hard as I can."

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley noticed a difference in Still's approach after Leah was born.

"He knows there's a responsibility on his shoulders not only on the field but off it," Bradley said. "He's done a great job of managing both. He comes to practice every day with a purpose."

Every opposing offensive coach notices Still, too. He's the first player they have to account for if they want any chance of scoring on Penn State, which is allowing just 11.8 points per game this season. Predictably, Still has seen near constant double-teams in recent weeks.

"At the beginning of the season, I don't think teams paid so much attention to me and I was able to make big plays," he said. "Now, a lot of teams are scheming against me. I'm seeing a lot of trap blocks, because they're trying to get me up the field and out of the play."

That's keeping Still away from the quarterback more, and he knows he can't just try to bust through the line of scrimmage recklessly. But as he's occupying two blockers, he's freeing up teammates such as Jordan Hill and Jack Crawford to make plays. And that's just fine with him.

"As long as we keep playing the style of defense we've been playing, I'm happy," he said.

Still will have a different challenge this week at Northwestern. The Wildcats have two mobile quarterbacks in Dan Persa and Kain Colter who can elude pressure. They also play an up-tempo style that often prevents defenses from subbing on the defensive line. Those 300-pounders can tire out against a no-huddle. Still saw that earlier this year against Indiana and says he and Hill are doing extra conditioning work this week to get ready for the test.

The real burden, however, falls on Northwestern to find a way to deal with Still.

"He's probably impacted 40 or 50 plays where his ability to get up the field has caused just complete and total chaos in the backfield," Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "We hope we can find a way to get him blocked. Nobody has blocked him yet, watching him on tape. And that's the hallmark of a great player."

Penn State's defense had no room for mistakes last week.

One breakdown, one tiny miscue in the second half might have been enough for Temple to score an historic upset. Not only did the defense not falter, however, it essentially won the game.

The Nittany Lions came up with three turnovers, including a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions, and pitched a second-half shutout. The Owls, who had been averaging more than 40 points a game, managed just 197 total yards. Linebacker Michael Mauti's diving interception set up the winning touchdown as Penn State eked out a 14-10 victory.

It was the second straight week that the defense was asked to carry the load. Against Alabama, the offense scored only 11 points, most of that coming on a late touchdown. But if you think the Lions' defensive players are getting tired of constantly having to go back on the field after the offense stalls, think again. They said last week's game actually brought the entire team closer together.

"It wasn't just an offensive/defensive thing," defensive end Jack Crawford said. "We said, 'We have to get this ball back for the offense. We have to shut out this game, end this game.' We kind of pulled each other through and kept doing what we have been doing and end the game."

Head coach Joe Paterno, coaching up in the press box once again, said he felt like the team had a long way to go as it finished off that narrow victory against the Owls. But after talking to players and coaches who were on the sidelines, he felt much more encouraged about the way they bonded.

"There was a bunch of guys who were pulling for each other," he said. "The defense was talking to the offense about, 'Hey we're going to get the ball back for you guys.' So, there was not a defeatist attitude on it. I think that defensively we made some things happen and then the offense took advantage of it."

That might be the way this season has to go for Penn State. If it is to contend in the Big Ten Leaders Division, the defense likely will have to lead the way for the offense.

Paterno still hasn't settled on a quarterback between Matt McGloin and Rob Bolden, and neither player has yet thrown a touchdown pass this season. The offensive line does not look overpowering, and the Nittany Lions are ranked 103rd nationally in total offense.

At least the defense is playing at a high level. Decimated by injuries a year ago, that side of the ball is now blessed with better health and newfound depth at several positions. Penn State currently ranks second in the Big Ten and ninth nationally in total defense. And it can still do more, players say.

"Last week at Temple, we really showed up for the second half big time," safety Drew Astorino said. "But I still don't think we've put it together for four quarters yet."

Paterno had asked his defense to come up with more turnovers, and it responded with three takeaways against the Owls.

"That's something we need to continue to build on," said defensive end Sean Stanley, who had a sack and two forced fumbles against Temple. "Joe had been on us in practice to get turnovers, and it was good that we could finally produce. It ended up helping us win the game."

Getting consistent pressure on the quarterback was a problem for last year's team, but that has improved this season with a healthy Crawford, Stanley playing the best football of his career and defensive tackle Devon Still controlling the inside. The Nittany Lions haven't always sealed the deal when they get that pressure, as they have only four sacks thus far. Stanley said finishing those plays has been a focus in practice this week.

Defense clearly is Penn State's strongest attribute right now. If that side of the ball has to continue picking up the slack for a struggling offense, that's what it plans to do without complaint.

"We never point fingers, never blame each other with something like this, because we know it's a team thing," Crawford said. "And we know, if they don't score a touchdown, that reflects on us, too. We might not be challenging them hard enough in practice. It's on all of us. We try to encourage them and they try to encourage us. And that's how we're going to get back as a team. If we start pointing fingers, there's going to be more tension on the team and it's going to break down."

Greetings from cloudy Ann Arbor. This place could use some lights.

• Loren Tate wonders if Illinois has become a "small-market operation."

• The Virginia game means a family reunion for Indiana's Paul Phillips (subscription required).

• Jordan Bernstine is making his move after four injury-riddled years at Iowa. Marc Morehouse breaks down the Iowa State matchup. An inside look at the Cy-Hawk Trophy discussions.

• Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs has kept the edge that helped him crack the lineup as a walk-on. Desmond Howard is keeping quiet about details of his ceremony Saturday night.

• Michigan State has a chance to land the state's top prospect for the third straight year. Freshman Nick Hill will take over as the Spartans' primary kick returner.

• Jerry Kill is looking for a party -- specifically at Minnesota home games.

• Nebraska receiver Jamal Turner is ready to offer more after showing an exciting glimpse of his potential. Why are the Huskers so young and inexperienced on the offensive line? Blame Bill Callahan, Dirk Chatelain writes.

• Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter was once ticketed for Stanford but feels at home in purple.

• Career backup Nate Oliver doesn't regret his choice to come to Ohio State. The Buckeyes should have a full complement of four tailbacks versus Toledo. The three players suspended for last week's game received $200 at a charity event.

• Penn State defensive end Jack Crawford is on solid footing now. Gerald Hodges is ready for a bigger role against Alabama this year. Area flooding is making travel to the game difficult for some fans.

• Purdue is readying for some Texas heat this weekend as it looks to start 2-0 for the first time since 2007.

• Wisconsin is confident that linebacker Chris Borland will regain his old form. The Badgers' nonconference schedules haven't been intimidating, and they say that's mostly because of poor timing.

Wisconsin is 1-0. Michigan State should be 1-0 after tonight, barring a disaster.

East Lansing forecast for 7 p.m. (via National Weather Service): 86 degrees, with 13 mph winds and a 20 percent chance of rain.

On to the linkage:

• Russell Wilson lived up to the hype for Wisconsin. The Badgers won with style points as the nation was watching. Montee Ball and James White provided the backfield some very productive balance (and Ball helped my fantasy team take an early lead on Rittenberg's). Bret Bielema put more key players on special teams.

• This could be the most talented Michigan State team in decades. One of Mark Dantonio's first recruits, Joel Foreman remains a fixture for the Spartans on the offensive line. A primer on tonight's game, which Michigan State should win easily.

• Lions247.com reports that Rob Bolden will start at quarterback for Penn State. Jack Crawford says he's all the way back from last year's foot injury, and he's ready to shore up the troublesome defensive end spot.

• The Columbus Dispatch reports that the three latest suspended Ohio State players received gift bags for attending a charity event they hadn't cleared through the compliance office. Doug Lesmerises breaks down the Buckeyes position by position.

• Minnesota is hoping a little more speed can help it improve the nation's least productive pass rush from a year ago.

• Illinois is looking to be more consistent and actually put two winning years together back to back for the first time in 19 years. Tavon Wilson is a film-room nut for the Illini.

• Iowa's defensive line still looks deep despite so many NFL departures. Marc Morehouse breaks down the Tennessee Tech game.

• Michael Rosenberg spins the tale of how Brady Hoke came to be Michigan's man. Receiver Junior Hemingway is hoping for a healthy, highly productive year. The Wolverines must worry about Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder. Graham Couch defends his stance that Carder is a better quarterback than Denard Robinson.
  
• Whither Dan Persa?

• Nebraska linebacker Alonzo Whaley needed a wake-up call but says his focus is in the right place now. True freshman Tyler Moore, who is expected to start at right tackle, is a rare breed.

• Despite the disheartening Rob Henry injury, Purdue says it's ready for Saturday's opener. The Boilers are paying Middle Tennessee $850,000 to come to West Lafayette, but Kent State funded half that figure.

• Kevin Wilson is disappointed in the ticket sales for the Indiana-Ball State game in Indianapolis (subscription required). The Hoosiers enter the season with all kinds of unknowns.

• The Big Ten needs to be ready to pounce on more expansion, Drew Sharp writes.

Depth chart indecision day marches on with the Penn State Nittany Lions, who -- surprise, surprise -- didn't name a starting quarterback on their depth chart for Saturday's season opener against Indiana State.

Sophomore Rob Bolden and junior Matt McGloin are listed as co-starters for the opener. It's not a major shock, but I'm not sure what else the Penn State coaches need to evaluate at this point. Bolden and McGloin competed throughout spring ball and into fall camp. Both have started games. Is there still no clear separation? Hard to believe. Don't be surprised to see Penn State play both men against Indiana State before the Week 2 showdown with Alabama.

Other depth chart nuggets:

• Sophomore John Urschel and senior Johnnie Troutman are listed as co-starters at right guard. Veteran DeOn'tae Pannell has emerged at left guard -- at least for now -- ahead of Mark Arcidiacono. There are no surprises on the rest of the first-team line.
• Silas Redd is listed as Penn State's starting running back ahead of Brandon Beachum. Curtis Dukes is the third-stringer, while Stephfon Green, who rejoined the team last week, doesn't appear on the depth chart.
• Sophomore Shawney Kersey and junior Justin Brown are listed as starting wide receiver alongside All-Big Ten candidate Derek Moye. Devon Smith is the backup to Brown.
• Sophomore Glenn Carson translated a strong preseason camp into the starting middle linebacker spot ahead of classmate Khairi Fortt. Michael Mauti has shifted to outside linebacker, where both he and Gerald Hodges will start. Former starter Nate Stupar is listed as Mauti's backup. In case it isn't obvious, Penn State is loaded at linebacker.
• Senior Eric Latimore, who missed most of the 2010 season with a wrist injury, is listed as a starting defensive end opposite Jack Crawford. Promising redshirt freshman Kyle Baublitz will back up Latimore.
• Senior Chaz Powell has edged junior Stephon Morris for the starting right cornerback spot.
• Anthony Fera is listed as a backup at punter, kicker and holder, most likely the result of his citation for purchase/possession of alcohol by a minor last month. Junior Evan Lewis is Penn State's top kicker for the opener, while Alex Butterworth will handle the punting duties.
• Only two redshirt freshmen appear as backups on Penn State's depth chart: Baublitz and outside linebacker Mike Hull.

A few questions and answers for ya. Enjoy the last weekend before the season!

John from Au Gres, Mich., writes: Hi Adam,I really enjoy the blog, I check it out daily. Rethink your prediction of "worst case" for Michigan State, 5-7 or 6-6. A 7 loss season for MSU means they lose every competitive game on the schedule (ND, tOSU, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Wiscy, and Northwestern). Two of those are home games. Think about your reference to 2010, you only point out the losses at Iowa and to Alabama on the road. Don't the get credit for winnin at Michigan, at Happy Valley and at Northwestern? They were at least 3-2 in tough road games in 2010. 10-2 isn't a bad best case, but so much rides on that tOSU game. Win that one, and look out.

Adam Rittenberg: John, I totally agree with you about the Ohio State game. It sets the tone for the rest of the Spartans' season, as the Buckeyes are the only Big Ten team (besides Nebraska) that Mark Dantonio hasn't beaten in his MSU tenure. Keep in mind that this is a worst-case scenario, and yes, Michigan State could lose all of its road games plus Wisconsin and maybe Michigan at home. The road wins against Michigan, Penn State and Northwestern were nice last year, but all three of those teams went 7-6. Meh. If things go badly -- Kirk Cousins injury, offensive line struggles, defense doesn't generate as many turnovers -- a seven-loss season is possible.

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Vasav from Tokyo writes: 7 years later...inviting them back. I've got a sick feeling. I know we can't make it go away. I hope we don't make ourselves fools twice. I like that Dave Brandon is a feisty sonofa*****.But mostly...I really don't know what to think of this. Good or bad? There's not much upside, and there's a ton of downside. But Michigan Arrogance is back. And that cannot be a bad thing.

Adam Rittenberg: Vasav, I love the move, but then again, I'm not a Michigan fan who still cringes whenever Appalachian State is mentioned. It shows Dave Brandon has a sense of humor, and its a smart branding opportunity because more people are going to pay attention to that game rather than one against another FCS school (Appalachian State could be FBS by then, who knows). Sure, it'd be terrible if Michigan lost again to Appalachian State, but the Wolverines shouldn't put themselves in that position again. Either way, from an outside perspective, it's interesting.

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Justin from Upper Arlington, Ohio, writes: Adam, are there actually an inordinate amount of leg injuries in West Lafayette over the past five years? Or does it just seem that way because of the timing in which they have occurred and the high profile positions (i.e., offensive skill positions) that have been affected the most? If the former, do they need to take a look at their strength and conditioning program; the turf on which they practice and play; the Omega-3 fatty acid content of their training table, etc.?

Adam Rittenberg: Justin, the conspiracy theories are out there, but these all could be unfortunate isolated incidents. The fact that most of the injuries have involved high-profile players undoubtedly brings more attention to the situation. That doesn't mean Purdue isn't very concerned about the rash of knee injuries. The school has to evaluate at all the areas you list. Purdue in March hired a new director of sports performance in Duane Carlisle, who comes from the San Francisco 49ers. It's important for the athletic department to continue to be proactive about this topic, but pinning down the problem isn't easy.

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Tyler from Omaha writes: Adam,Like any Husker fan, I travel to away games quite frequently. I've met some great fans (namely Auburn and Virginia Tech), and some not so great (Colorado and Missouri). I'm planning on trips to Madison, Minneapolis, and Ann Arbor this year, with trips to the rest of the B1G over the coming years. What can I expect?

Adam Rittenberg: Tyler, I think you'll enjoy yourself in those three cities. There's great tailgating before games, particularly in Madison, but also in Ann Arbor and Minneapolis. You'll probably encounter some knucklehead fans, who are everywhere, but for the most part you'll be treated well. You're also seeing three exceptional stadiums: the Big House, Camp Randall (my personal favorite) and TCF Bank Stadium, which is new but terrific. Both Madison and Ann Arbor will be buzzing the night before games, so definitely take a walk around downtown. Minneapolis is a huge city with plenty of things to do.

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Mike from Allentown, Pa., writes: Hey Adam,I was wondering if you could explain, or maybe shoot down, the double standard I keep reading about on the blog. Why is it that Larry Johnson is held to a different standard than a position coach at other schools? Specifically, I keep reading about how Penn State's D-Line won't be able to re-load (partly due to injuries) with the talent they currently have on the roster. Why does it seem like there's a lack of faith that LJ can't coach up the younger guys to step up, and make an impact? It just seems like a QB coach as say Alabama can reload the QB position, but LJ can't? I'm not saying Penn State should be ranked #2 in the nation, but Alabama lost a lot of experience at QB but everyone has faith they can reload. What would it take for LJ to get on that level, and get the same respect as others who are the best at coaching a given position?

Adam Rittenberg: Mike, I have a ton of respect for Larry Johnson, and it wouldn't surprise me if he develops Penn State's defensive line this season. But you're looking at a group that underperformed last season, and there are some depth issues at end because of injuries. Several Big Ten coaches told me Pete Massaro, who suffered a knee injury during spring, was Penn State's best threat on the edge. Can Jack Crawford stay healthy and reach his potential? Who else steps up at defensive end? Penn State reloaded for years under Johnson, but last year represented a drop-off and there are additional question marks entering this fall. But that doesn't mean he can't get it done again.

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Mike from Richmond, Va., writes: Ridiculous that you have Persa so high on your list. Based upon the unknow, if this were basketball the seeders would have dropped NW several seeds for this injury.Argue this: given what we know right NOW, Cousins has the much better chance at success leading his team than Persa.

Adam Rittenberg: Mike, you bring up some good points. We compile the top 25 list before preseason camp because we need to complete it before the season. When camp started, Persa's injury didn't appear to be as big of a question mark as it does right now. If we were starting the top 25 now, we might have dropped him a bit lower. But Persa still could be very effective for Northwestern, particularly with his passing and decision-making. Yes, his feet are a big part of his game, but he could be a different type of player and still very effective. Cousins has a chance to be very good, too. Both he and Persa have excellent receivers and tight ends. Cousins has the better running backs, while Persa has a more seasoned offensive line. It'll be interesting to see how they fare.

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Marty from Omaha writes: Does anybody in the B1G have a better throwback 70s look than Marcel Jones?

Adam Rittenberg: I love it, Marty. Very impressive fro/beard combo. He's the retro tackle.

Defensive end doesn't project to be the Big Ten's strongest position in 2011.

The league had four defensive ends -- Wisconsin's J.J. Watt, Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan, Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and Ohio State's Cam Heyward -- selected in the first round of April's NFL draft. That's a lot of star power lost in one night.

Despite the exodus, the Big Ten has several promising defensive ends who could become big names by the end of the season. Six of them were selected for the Ted Hendricks Award preseason watch list. The Hendricks Award recognizes the nation's top defensive end.

The Big Ten nominees are:

• Broderick Binns, Iowa, senior
• Vince Browne, Northwestern, senior
• Jacks Crawford, Penn State, senior
• Cameron Meredith, Nebraska, junior
• Ryan Van Bergen, Michigan, senior
• Nathan Williams, Ohio State, senior

Only two of these players -- Browne and Meredith -- earned first or second-team all-conference honors in 2010. That doesn't mean several players won't emerge as candidates for the Hendricks Award.

Binns and Crawford look to bounce back from disappointing seasons in 2010. Van Bergen is excited about Michigan's return to the 4-3 defense, a scheme where he thinks he can thrive. Ohio State will look to Williams as a leader for a defense that loses seven starters. Another Ohio State defensive lineman, junior John Simon, could appear on this list later as he likely will play more at defensive end.

We're doubling up on fresh faces today as camps open around the league. This series looks at freshmen, redshirt freshmen, transfers or returnees ready to move into much bigger roles this season for each unit on a team.

Let's examine Penn State:

Offense: John Urschel, OG, Soph., 6-3, 284

Urschel emerged as the starting right guard after spring practice and will try to hold onto that this fall while battling DeOn'tae Pannell. Urschel made one start as a redshirt freshman against Indiana. Penn State hopes he can replace Stefen Wisniewski and be part of a more dominant offensive line. As a side note, Urschel is an outstanding student just like Wisniewski. The math major has a 4.0 GPA.

Defense: Kyle Baublitz, DE, Fr., 6-5, 261


Baublitz showed his potential by registering two sacks in the Blue-White spring game. A redshirt freshman who enrolled in January 2010, he could provide depth to a position that is looking for more top-flight contributors. Penn State has seniors Eric Latimore and Jack Crawford at the end spots, but both have had health issues. The Nittany Lions need to develop a more productive pass rush, and Baublitz could push for playing time with a big fall camp.

Special teams: Sam Ficken, K, Fr.

The Nittany Lions need to find a replacement for the departed Collin Wagner at place-kicker. Perhaps Ficken could be that guy. After all, Penn State gave him a scholarship in the 2011 class, which is rare for kickers. Ficken booted a 52-yarder in high school, but he'll have to beat out Anthony Fera and David Soldner this fall.