ESPN College Football

The wait is finally over for Big Ten players not selected in April's NFL draft.

Free agent deals are finally taking place during a whirlwind week in the post-lockout NFL.

We'll have additional updates as the day goes on, but here's a look at where Big Ten players are landing.

ILLINOIS

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

INDIANA

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

IOWA

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

MICHIGAN

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

MICHIGAN STATE

• WR Mark Dell: Denver Broncos
• LB Eric Gordon: Jacksonville Jaguars
• T D.J. Young: Arizona Cardinals

MINNESOTA

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

NEBRASKA

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

NORTHWESTERN

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

OHIO STATE

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

PENN STATE

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

PURDUE

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

WISCONSIN

• CB Niles Brinkley: Pittsburgh Steelers
• RB John Clay: Pittsburgh Steelers
• QB Scott Tolzien: San Diego Chargers

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

Strongest position: Offensive line

• Top returnees: T Jeff Allen, C Graham Pocic, G Hugh Thornton, G Jack Cornell
• Key losses: G Randall Hunt, T Ryan Palmer
• The skinny: I loved the way this group performed in the second half of the 2010 season, repeatedly punishing opposing defenses with its unbalanced formations. Allen and Pocic both are All-Big Ten candidates and Thornton has 15 career starts under his belt. Losing both Hunt and Palmer hurts, but Illinois should have enough depth to fill the gaps as Cornell boasts starting experience and Corey Lewis, a projected starter before going down with injury, should be back for the season. The line also is entering its second season in coordinator Paul Petrino's system, which should pay dividends.

Weakest position: Wide receiver

• Top returnees: A.J. Jenkins (56 catches, 746 yards, 7 TDs)
• Key losses: Jarred Fayson (38 catches, 355 yards, 1 TD); RB Mikel Leshoure (17 catches, 196 yards, 3 TDs)
• The skinny: Jenkins' return really helps, but Illinois has to develop a lot more depth at receiver in 2011. Leshoure, the team's top running back, finished third on the squad in receptions, and besides Jenkins, no returning wideout recorded more than seven receptions last fall. The run game figures to be good, but Leshoure's departure takes away some big-play explosiveness. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase showed in the Texas Bowl that he can be an efficient passer, but he needs more than one reliable target.

Bear with me here, as I promise I'll have posts on every Big Ten practice before the season. Up next are the Illinois Fighting Illini, who recently hosted the Big Ten Network preseason tour for two practices. I've reviewed the show, and here are some notes and observations.

• The Big Ten Network crew of Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith all agreed that the new coaches, particularly coordinators Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning, have helped change the attitude at Illinois after two subpar seasons. "This team is working harder than I've seen it work," said DiNardo, who also noted that the team isn't as talented as in years past. Petrino was mic'd up for one segment of the show, and his high-energy style came through. Illinois head coach Ron Zook also pointed out a difference among players. "The players are kind of taking over," Zook said. "Not that we didn't have leadership before, but these guys, particularly the upper-class guys, have kind of taken over.”
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase looked very good in drills, and those of who who haven't seen before likely came away impressed with his performance during the BTN interview. Although known for his running ability, Scheelhaase fired a bullet to Jarred Fayson in team drills. True freshman quarterback Chandler Whitmer also had a nice throw to Fred Sykes. "They're two-deep there," DiNardo said of the quarterback spot.
• Scheelhaase talked about how he has been able to gain respect on the team despite his age. "I’m around a bunch of great guys, guys who are willing to give me the respect," he said.
• Martez Wilson always has had an All-American's body, but he seemed to be backing it up with his play in practice as well. Wilson filled his gaps nicely during a 7-on-7 drill, and he made a really nice stop against Jason Ford during the team portion.
• DiNardo and Griffith both talked about how Illinois likely will use a lot of stunts and twists on defense to compensate for its lack of size up front. We saw this a bit from Glenn Foster, a 260-pound defensive tackle. Defensive lineman Corey Liuget looks leaner than he did a year ago, and DiNardo "liked the way he moved around." There also was a pretty good battle between Clay Nurse and weak-side offensive tackle Jeff Allen during a drill.
• The wide receivers looked very good in drills, although the defensive backs seemed to struggle with the exception of physical corner Terry Hawthorne, who Griffith called "a special player." Fayson, Sykes and Chris James all had very good practices. The BTN crew also liked what they saw from Eddie McGee, who we saw working at both receiver and cornerback. If Fayson can stay healthy, he'll form a nice 1-2 receiver combination with A.J. Jenkins.
• Running back Mikel Leshoure looked strong and a bit leaner than last year. Remember this is a guy listed at 240 pounds as a freshman who now checks in at 224. DiNardo said Leshoure has separated himself from the other backs, and Zook basically admitted it, too. "Right now, Mikel probably is the starter," Zook said. "I like his work ethic. He's so much different." Ford also looked good during the practice, cutting back nicely on one play.
• The offense seemed to have the edge in this practice, although Zook noted that Petrino's scheme throws a lot at an opposing defense. The BTN analysts think the new system will not only help Illinois' offensive players but provide the defense with looks other than the spread in practice. Petrino will use plenty of tight ends and fullbacks this year.
• Petrino also explained the strong-side/weak-side philosophy, which puts the offense's strongest players against the defense's weak spots.
• Freshman tight end Evan Wilson is an impressive-looking player, and DiNardo tabbed Wilson as his top newcomer. Petrino also said, "We’ve got a true freshman at tight end that's going to be a really good player." With Zach Becker (foot) out for a while, Wilson should see increased time. Griffith identified wideout Darius Millines as his top newcomer. McGee and rush end Michael Buchanan were the picks for under-the-radar players.

ESPN's NFL draft guru Mel Kiper recently completed an extensive and very cool project: ranking the top draft-eligible prospects for each FBS team .

Remember, draft-eligible doesn't mean freshmen or sophomores, even if those guys have the highest NFL ceilings on a team. Here's a look at Kiper's take on every Big Ten team .

You need to be an ESPN Insider to read the whole story, but Kiper's choices are listed below:

Illinois: WR Jarred Fayson
Indiana: QB Ben Chappell
Iowa: DE Adrian Clayborn
Michigan: DT Mike Martin
Michigan State: LB Greg Jones
Minnesota: LT Jeff Wills
Northwestern: LB Quentin Davie
Ohio State: DE Cameron Heyward
Penn State: G/C Stefen Wisniewski
Purdue: DE Ryan Kerrigan
Wisconsin: LT Gabe Carimi

A lot of the usual suspects here, although there are a few surprises as well such as Illinois' Fayson and Minnesota's Wills. I also expected Indiana wideout Tandon Doss instead of Chappell (not a slight against Chappell).

What's your take?

You asked (nicely) for it, and this time, you get what you want.

Remember colleague Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks" list, which examined the top workout warriors in college football for 2010? Ohio State sophomore defender John "Sandman" Simon made the rundown, along with other weight-room stars from around the country.

Several of you loved Feldman's list so much that you wanted me to create a similar one just for the Big Ten. Thanks to help from sports information staffers and strength coaches from around the conference, I've compiled the following list.

I based my selections primarily on weight-room numbers and comments from Big Ten strength coaches.

Not every player submitted made the rundown, and both Wisconsin and Iowa chose not to make any individual player nominations. While I know guys like Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and Wisconsin's J.J. Watt do some serious damage in the weight room, I'd rather only list players who have their schools' support and whose schools provided weight-room data and/or comments from strength coaches.

Penn State didn't provide weight-room statistics but singled out linebacker Michael Mauti, wide receiver Derek Moye and defensive tackle Devon Still for their weight-room performance.

Here are my selections, listed alphabetically by school:

Illinois WR Jarred Fayson 6-0, 215, Sr., Tampa, Fla.

• Bench-presses 405 pounds, squats 500 pounds, power cleans 352 pounds
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds
• Has just four percent body fat

Indiana LB Tyler Replogle 6-2, 238, Sr., Centerville, Ohio

• Bench-presses 455 pounds, leg-presses 760 pounds
• Has 33-inch vertical jump
• Clocked at 4.2 seconds in the shuttle run

Michigan DT Mike Martin 6-2, 294, Jr., Redford, Mich.

• Bench-presses 505 pounds, squats 700 pounds
• Power cleans 430 pounds, hang cleans 475 pounds
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds
• Strength coach Mike Barwis says: "Mike is an absolute warrior. He has a never quit attitude and is a natural born leader. He is one of the most impressive physical specimens I have ever seen."

Michigan C David Molk 6-2, 270, Jr., Lemont, Ill.

• Bench-presses 490 pounds, squats 660 pounds
• Power cleans 420 pounds, hang cleans 440 pounds
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds
• Strength coach Mike Barwis says: "Dave is an outstanding worker and a natural athlete. He is one of the most naturally explosive linemen I have ever trained."

Michigan State LB Eric Gordon 6-0, 228, Jr., Traverse City, Mich.

• Bench-presses 415 pounds
• Squats 600 pounds
• Best 40-yard dash time among Spartans linebackers at 4.52 seconds (Greg Jones clocks in at 4.55)

Michigan State TE Charlie Gantt 6-5, 248, Jr., Farmington Hills, Mich.

• Bench-presses 470 pounds
• Squats 535 pounds
• Has the top 40-yard dash time among Spartans tight ends at 4.72 seconds

Minnesota LB Mike Rallis 6-2, 210, So., Edina, Minn.

• Has increased his bench press from 325 to 365 pounds during the last year
• Power cleans 345 pounds and squats significantly more than 550 pounds
• Strength coach Mark Hill says: "Mike's work ethic exemplifies a guy who wants to succeed. He comes into the weight room every day and shows that he wants to contribute to this team winning. He does everything he needs to do. Mike absolutely attacks his workouts every day."

Minnesota RB DeLeon Eskridge 5-11, 198, Jr., San Francisco

• Has improved his squat from 250 pounds when he arrived at Minnesota to 375 pounds now
• Increased his bench press from 300 pounds to 340 pounds during the last year
• Has increased his power clean from 250 to more than 300 pounds as a Gopher
• Strength coach Mark Hill says: "I’ve been very impressed by DeLeon's improvements. He was a 185-pound freshman who had to play, due to depth issues. He could have used a redshirt year to get bigger and stronger. But to see where he’s gone to achieve the strength, weight, speed, explosiveness and power needed to be a successful Big Ten back says a lot about his hard work."

Northwestern QB Dan Persa 6-1, 210, Jr., Bethlehem, Pa.

• Bench-presses 385 pounds, squats 550 pounds and power cleans 330 pounds, all top marks for Wildcats quarterbacks
• Soon will earn second consecutive "Top Cat" award as Northwestern's top weight-room performer
• Strength coach Larry Lilja says: "Dan is off the charts. No one works harder in the weight room. For his size, I doubt there is any quarterback who can match his numbers."

Northwestern DT Corbin Bryant 6-4, 285, Sr., Chicago

• Bench-presses 475 pounds, squats 600 pounds and power cleans 385 pounds
• Has a 34-inch vertical jump
• Strength coach Larry Lilja says: "He's one of our best workers and a true champion in the weight room."

Ohio State DL John Simon 6-2, 270, So., Youngstown, Ohio

• Bench-pressed 450 and squatted 700 pounds as a high school senior
• Can do 40 bench-press reps at 225 pounds
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds
• Strength coach Jeff Uhlenhake says: "John Simon is the best total package workout guy I’ve ever been around, in college, in the pros, as a coach, anybody. He is amazing."

Purdue T Nick Mondek 6-5, 299, Jr., Naperville, Ill.

• Former defensive lineman bench-presses 435 pounds, squats 605 pounds, power cleans 352 pounds
• Has a 31-inch vertical jump
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds
• Strength coach Jim Lathrop says: "Great worker who really has challenged himself. He has taken the position change and run with it. He is a leader in the weight room."

Purdue S Albert Evans 6-0, 206, Jr., Gary, Ind.

• Bench-presses 355 pounds, squats 500 pounds
• Power cleans 319 pounds
• Strength coach Jim Lathrop says: "Albert has really improved and is establishing himself as a leader."

Illinois has issued its post-spring depth chart, although the list includes one player who likely won't suit up this fall. There's no official link available, but The (Champaign) News-Gazette has the rundown.

Junior offensive tackle Corey Lewis, a contender for a starting spot on the strong side opposite Jeff Allen, suffered a torn ACL in Saturday's spring game and will undergo surgery in the near future. Lewis is listed as the starting strong-side tackle on the post-spring two-deep, but Ryan Palmer now moves into the top spot. Keep in mind that Illinois will use an unbalanced line with strongside and weak side guards and tackles.

Other depth chart nuggets:

• Nathan Scheelhaase and Jacob Charest are listed as co-starters at quarterback, although it's clear that Scheelhaase emerged from spring ball as the frontrunner for the job.
• Walt Aikens, indefinitely suspended following his arrest Friday on felony possession of stolen property charges, is listed as the backup strong safety behind Travon Bellamy.
• Mikel LeShoure is the No. 1 running back ahead of Jason Ford, and while both players will get their share of touches this fall, LeShoure has a chance to be special if he can build on his performance from late last season.
• It's interesting that veteran Clay Nurse is listed as a co-starter at defensive end with sophomore Whitney Mercilus. Nurse underwent offseason shoulder surgery and did everything but full contact drills this spring. Head coach Ron Zook praised Nurse's play and calls him a leader on defense, so Mercilus must have really made an impression.
• Zook singled out defensive tackles Akeem Spence, Glenn Foster and Daryle Ballew for their play this spring, and it's reflected on the depth chart. Foster is listed as a starter at one spot, while Spence and Ballew are co-backups behind veteran Corey Liuget.
• Michael Buchanan is the starter at the new "Bandit" position, a rush end or linebacker-end hybrid, ahead of Nate Palmer.
• Derek Dimke is listed as the starting placekicker ahead of Matt Eller, although the competition should continue there.
• The starting wide receivers are Jarred Fayson, A.J. Jenkins and converted quarterback Eddie McGee. Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino called Jenkins the team's No. 1 wideout this spring.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase first learned about Stefan LeFors in the same way most of us did.

When LeFors blew up as Louisville's quarterback and became a household name in 2004, Scheelhaase, then a middle schooler in Kansas City, followed his story.

"His senior year, ESPN did a special on him," Scheelhaase said. "He spoke sign language because his parents were deaf. I watched that and then I watched this guy and he's a little, 5-[foot-]10 nothing, 180, 185 pounds, and I think they were the No. 1 offense in the country that year."

Scheelhaase is once again watching LeFors, but for very different reasons. Illinois' offense is now under the direction of coordinator Paul Petrino, who served as Louisville's offensive coordinator during LeFors' record-setting run.

Petrino's offense can accommodate different types of quarterbacks -- Ryan Mallett, an NFL style, rifle-armed, drop-back passer, excelled in the system last season at Arkansas -- but it's pretty easy to identify the paradigm for Scheelhaase, an elite athlete who, like LeFors, won't scare anyone with his size.

"He's a lot like Stefan," Petrino said. "Very similar players. He's faster than Stefan was, and he's a redshirt freshman. Stefan didn't play until his redshirt junior year. You just see things they do, the way [Scheelhaase] moves around on the play-action, a lot of the plays he does well were plays that Stefan does well, so a lot of that stuff really reminds you of him."

It's high praise for Scheelhaase, but Petrino has high expectations for the quarterback in 2010. Although Illinois hasn't formally named a starting quarterback -- Scheelhaase competed with Jacob Charest and Chandler Whitmer throughout spring practice -- it's fairly obvious that Scheelhaase is the man to beat entering the summer.

The 6-3, 195-pound redshirt freshman took most of the reps with the first-team offense this spring, and made several big plays with both his arm and his feet in four scrimmages.

"Nathan is a fiery guy; he's a really good leader," Petrino said. "He's just a great competitor, and he's going to do whatever it takes to win. He does a real good job running with the ball, making plays. He's worked hard to understand the passing game. He's got a nice, quick release, he knows where he's going with the ball and he's getting more accurate every day.

"If he can do that, we'll be in great shape."

Head coach Ron Zook saw the same fire from Scheelhaase (pronounced SHEEL-house) on the scout team last year, as the true freshman never backed down from the first-team defense. Senior wide receiver Jarred Fayson described Scheelhaase as "a bit before his time" in how he carries himself and his approach to the game.

"A competitive attitude is good to have every day, whether you're a fourth-year starter or you're just trying to get on the field for the first time," Scheelhaase said. "You want yourself to be perfect when you're doing things like that. You don't want to have a bad play, have a bad practice or anything because you want to compete with yourself, compete with others around you and on a bigger level, you want to be better than your opponents."

He admitted having "first-day jitters" at the start of spring ball, well aware of what was at stake following the graduation of Juice Williams, a four-year starter at quarterback. Scheelhaase knows he still must absorb more of Petrino's offense, but he built confidence throughout the spring and brings some versatility to the position.

And while he never shies away from competitive situations, he also doesn't get weighed down by Illinois' unsettled situation at quarterback.

"You're running with blinders on," he said.

And down the road, he hopes to catch up with LeFors.

"He's a fun guy to watch," Scheelhaase said. "He ran their offense well, ran it with confidence. If I can be in his ballpark, if anybody can be in his ballpark, it would be great because he was a great college quarterback."

Here's the second half of my interview with Illinois head coach Ron Zook. For Part I, click here.

Stylistically with these quarterbacks, from what you've been able to see, are they somewhat similar or are there big differences?

Ron Zook: I don't think there are big differences. The one thing I've always said about Jacob Charest is he moves around a lot better than what people think. He's a better athlete than people think. He was a heck of a wrestler in high school, a tough guy. He can drop back and throw it, but he's also got the ability to run around, which is what you think about with Nathan [Scheelhaase] and Chandler [Whitmer]. You get the ball in their hands and let them do the things that they do best.

When you have a quarterback situation like you have, do you look for leadership from those guys or elsewhere, from guys who have played more?

RZ: [The quarterbacks will] have enough pressure on them. Because of the kind of people they are, they're natural leaders anyway. That'll come. I don't think you put the added pressure on them of, 'You've got to be the leaders.' Just like you said, the guys who have been there and done that, the Jason Fords, the Mikel [LeShoures], the Jarred [Faysons], A.J. Jenkins, those are the guys, the offensive linemen. That's what's exciting about the offense, we've got a lot of guys back, a lot of guys that can make plays.

Jarred was a guy who generated a lot of excitement headed into last season. Do you look at him as a guy who can take care of that receiving corps?

RZ: He has so far, and Eddie McGee, he's a leader around here, too. He's been a very vocal guy out there in the 6 a.m.'s. A.J. Jenkins is a completely different guy. He's not the same person he was last year. He's playing with an unbelievable amount of confidence and emotion and running around out there. So all of those guys are going to bring the leadership you want.

On the defensive side, how is Martez Wilson doing? I know it was a big loss when he went down last year.


RZ: It was, because he was the bell cow, and he was a guy that everybody kind of leaned on. Now Ian Thomas has stepped it up, Nate Bussey, Corey Liuget has a lot of playing time. Clay Nurse is out there, he had a shoulder operation and he's doing everything but the doctor's won't let him go full speed. He seems like he's full speed to me. Martez is doing everything. Obviously, when we get into spring ball, he probably won't scrimmage, but the leadership he had before he got hurt is right there again. There's no trade-off.

Is anyone out for all of spring ball? Who will be limited?

RZ: I don't think anyone will miss spring. Martez will be limited in the amount of contact, as will Clay Nurse. Miami Thomas will be back. He should be OK. But in terms of missing spring, right now we have everybody.

Miami was having a really good preseason last year before he got hurt. Is he a guy you're looking for to step up in the secondary?

RZ: I want Miami just to be able to go have a chance. This poor guy has had every joint operated on -- both shoulders, both knees -- and it's always been a freak thing. I would just like for him to be able to do what he loves to do. I'm not going to put any pressure on him. I know he can play. He's just got to get healthy and go out and do it.

Anyone else in the secondary that you're excited to see this spring?

RZ: Tavon Wilson has done an exceptional job, and Terry Hawthorne as well. Both of those guys have been all we felt like they could be. And then Supo Sanni, he's ready to take the next step as well.

Ron, do you take this as an us-against-the-world mentality this year? I know the players weren't satisfied last year, you weren't satisfied. Is there something to prove for everyone?

RZ: In football, there's always something to prove. They know this: The only way you're going to get respect is you've got to go do it. From that standpoint, I don't think there's any question we have a lot to prove. They want to go out and show people that they're better than the result of last year. And as a coaching staff, you always want to prove that you're better than what your previous year was.

Is it important to keep a positive environment this spring? You mentioned the negative recruiting that went on and some of the negativity around the program? Is it important to keep things as upbeat as you can?

RZ: Our guys have never been negative. That hasn't been the issue. The positive attitude we've got going right now is as good as it's ever been around here. As I said, we've got to go do it. We've got to prove that we can do it. We've got a lot of young guys, but we've also got a lot of guys with experience. I like the feel of this team right now. I like how they're working, I like the attitude, and I like how they're competing.

I'm man enough to admit mistakes, so here's one: I haven't given special teams nearly enough attention in the blog. As we saw throughout the 2009 regular season and bowl season, the kicking game often makes the difference in the final outcome.

Consider this a fresh start.

Let's take a look at who's back, who's gone and how the special-teams units look for each Big Ten squad in 2010. We'll start with the first six teams (by alphabetical order) and examine the other five later Tuesday.

ILLINOIS

• Kicker: Derek Dimke and Matt Eller both return. Dimke went 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts (all beyond 30 yards) after taking over for Eller, who struggled in his second year, connecting on only 4 of 11 attempts.
• Punter: Senior Anthony Santella returns after ranking sixth in the league in punting average (41.3 ypp).
• Kick return: Troy Pollard is back, but Arrelious Benn and A.J. Jenkins both depart. Illinois finished ninth in the league last fall in this category (19.3 ypr).
• Punt return: Jarred Fayson and Jack Ramsey both come back. Illinois ranked last in the league in punt returns in 2009 (4.2 ypr)
• Quick thoughts: Illinois needs to upgrade its kicking game to have any shot at turning things around in 2010. The return game really struggled (114th nationally in punt returns, 105th in kick returns), and kickoff coverage wasn't good, either (90th). Dimke provided a nice spark late in the season, but Illinois has too much talent not to make a bigger splash in returns.

INDIANA

• Kicker: Sophomore Nick Freeland returns after connecting on 14 of 25 attempts in 2009. Redshirt freshman Mitch Ewald and senior Nick Ford also are in the mix here.
• Punter: Junior Chris Hagerup is back after finishing eighth in the league in punting average (40.5 ypp).
• Kick return: Ray Fisher, who led the Big Ten in kick return average (37.4 ypr), is gone. Wide receiver Tandon Doss, who led IU with 25 runbacks, returns for his junior season.
• Punt return: Indiana loses Fisher but brings back Doss. The Hoosiers finished second in the Big Ten in punt returns last fall (10.3 ypr).
• Quick thoughts: Fisher is a major loss in the return game, but Doss certainly has the ability to fill the void. Indiana must figure things out on field goals, as it ranked last in the Big Ten in percentage last fall (.560). The offense should be pretty dynamic in 2010, so any help the kicking game provides would be huge. Indiana covered punts well but needs to improve on kickoffs after finishing 93rd nationally (23.2 ypr).

IOWA

• Kicker: Daniel Murray handled all of Iowa's field goals in 2009, connecting on 19 of 26 attempts. Junior Trent Mossbrucker also returns.
• Punter: Senior Ryan Donahue will contend for All-Big Ten honors this fall after averaging 40.9 yards per punt in 2009.
• Kick return: Senior Derrell Johnson-Koulianos is back after finishing second in the league in kick return average (31.5 ypr). Running back Brandon Wegher and wideout Paul Chaney Jr. also are back.
• Punt return: Senior Colin Sandeman is back, and he'll compete with Chaney and possibly others for the top job.
• Quick thoughts: Special teams should be a major strength for the Hawkeyes in 2010. Johnson-Koulianos showed against Ohio State how dangerous he can be on kickoff returns. Donahue and Murray are two of the league's more experienced specialists. Iowa's coverage units fared well in 2009, ranking ninth nationally in kick coverage (18.4 ypr) and 21st in punt coverage (5.7 ypr).

MICHIGAN

• Kicker: The Wolverines must replace Jason Olesnavage, who connected on 11 of 15 attempts in 2009.
• Punter: Michigan suffers a big loss here as Ray Guy Award finalist Zoltan Mesko departs. Mesko led the Big Ten in punting average (44.5 ypp).
• Kick return: Wideout Darryl Stonum is back after averaging 25.7 yards per runback with a touchdown in 2009. Michigan's No. 2 option, Martavious Odoms, also returns for 2010. The Wolverines ranked third in the Big Ten in kick returns last fall (23.8 ypr).
• Punt return: Junior Hemingway is back after leading U-M in punt returns (8.6 ypr). Odoms had six punt returns last fall, though Michigan could look to its younger players here.
• Quick thoughts: Replacing Mesko won't be easy, and Olesnavage quietly turned in a strong season, especially from long range. Incoming punter recruit Will Hagerup will step into the fire right away for the Wolverines. Kick returns should be a strength, and Michigan did a decent job on coverage last year, ranking 20th in punt coverage and third in the Big Ten in net kickoff coverage.

MICHIGAN STATE

• Kicker: The Spartans suffer a big loss here, as first-team All-Big Ten selection Brett Swenson departs. Swenson went 19-for-22 on field goals last fall and led the Big Ten in kick scoring (101 points).
• Punter: Senior Aaron Bates returns after finishing fifth in the league in punting average (41.6 ypp).
• Kick return: Wide receiver Keshawn Martin is back after becoming arguably the Big Ten's most dangerous return man last fall. Michigan State needs a No. 2 option here.
• Punt return: Martin did a nice job on punt returns in 2009, averaging 7.4 yards per runback.
• Quick thoughts: Swenson leaves a major void at kicker, as Dan Conroy and Kevin Muma compete to replace the back-to-back All-Big Ten selection. Martin really blossomed on returns during Big Ten play and could be a huge X-factor for Michigan State this fall. The Spartans' coverage teams were average in 2009. If Conroy and/or Muma can hold their own on field goals, special teams could be a real strength for Mark Dantonio's team.

MINNESOTA

• Kicker: Eric Ellestad is back for his senior year after connecting on 13 of 17 field-goal attempts, with all the makes coming from within 40 yards.
• Punter: Minnesota loses Blake Haudan, who had a very solid 2009 season, ranking third in the league in average (42.6 ypp). Sophomore Dan Orseske will step in this fall.
• Kick return: Wideout Troy Stoudermire is back after once again getting a ton of action on returns, recording 43 runbacks for 1,057 yards (24.6 ypr). Duane Bennett and Hayo Carpenter are possible No. 2 options.
• Punt return: Sophomore wideout Bryant Allen is back after averaging 12.2 yards on six runbacks last fall. Minnesota led the Big Ten in punt return average (14.7 ypr), although the Gophers also had the fewest opportunities (9).
• Quick thoughts: Haudan was a very solid punter in 2009, so Orseske will have some big shoes to fill. Stoudermire and Allen are fine options on returns, and Ellestad did a nice job on the kicks he should make. Minnesota really struggled on kickoff coverage, ranking 102nd nationally (24.1 ypr). If the offense starts slow again this fall, Minnesota will need to be sharp in the kicking game.

Illinois Fighting Illini

The class

Recruits: 20 (19 high school seniors, one junior college player, three players enrolled early)

Top prospects: Chandler Whitmer gives the Illini another option at quarterback as the team tries to replace four-year starter Juice Williams. Wide receiver Darius Millines, a last-minute addition, bolsters the receiving corps, while safety Earnest Thomas will get a chance to play right away in the secondary.

Sleepers: Linebacker Mark Wilson should help a group that regains the services of Martez Wilson this fall. Arguably the team's most intriguing prospect is junior college safety Trulon Henry, the older brother of former Illinois star Arrelious Benn. Henry served nearly five years in prison for armed robbery but has turned his life around and should help in the secondary.

Needs met: Time will tell if Illinois addressed its need in the secondary, as players like Henry and Thomas need to contribute right away. Losing safety Corey Cooper to Nebraska hurt, but embattled head coach Ron Zook and his new-look staff closed recruiting well with players like Millines and Brandon Denmark. The wide receiver position should once again be strong this season.

Analysis: The class isn't drawing high marks, which puts pressure on the coaching staff to develop players for a make-or-break 2010 season. Illinois held onto Whitmer, which could be key, and finished strong after the class looked bleak in early December. If the defensive recruits can come in and contribute this fall, Illinois might be able to stabilize itself on that side of the ball.

Scouts Inc. grade: C-minus

What Ron Zook said:

• "The strengths are the linemen and obviously the receivers. If you go back and you look at who we lost, we filled in the positions. ... Hopefully, we're getting to a point where we don't have to continually count on freshmen playing. Although I think there will be some guys [in this class] who have a pretty good opportunity to do that."
• "Darius [Millines] is an unbelievable athlete, he can run like a deer. He probably surprised a lot of people down there because he committed early to West Virginia. Doc Holliday really had a great relationship with him, and he's at Marshall now. I think he has a chance to be a special guy. Jarred Fayson said, 'Coach, he's one of us.' That makes me feel good."
• "There's been a lot of negative recruiting going on, but that's part of it. People don't have to say anything. They just take the articles that are written and show them. You're defending your manhood, you're defending everything about you every time you go out there."

Before the season, I ranked Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn as the Big Ten's best player, using the criteria of past accomplishments and future potential.

And while Benn didn't have the type of season that he hoped for and that most of us expected, his past achievements and, most important, his NFL potential led to his decision to enter the NFL draft. Benn will announce he's turning pro later today, sources tell ESPN's Joe Schad.

This was the decision we expected all along. The only question seemed whether Benn's subpar season, the prospect of playing in a more receiver-friendly offense in 2010 and the chance to play with his older brother would keep him in Champaign.

I can't fault Benn at all for making this move, especially with all the uncertainty surrounding the Illinois program right now. The NFL scouts I've spoken to love the guy, and despite this season, Benn still projects extremely well to the next level.

His departure shouldn't surprise Illinois one bit, though the wide receiver/tight end position looks rather thin heading into 2010, when new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino implements his system. Illinois likely will consider moving Terry Hawthorne back to receiver after a solid freshman year at cornerback. Jarred Fayson will have to take on a much bigger role next fall after battling injuries this season.

Best of luck to Rejus, a player I always enjoyed watching and getting to know these last few years.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Illinois lost star wide receiver Arrelious Benn early in today's game against Missouri, and the Fighting Illini are in big trouble at halftime.

There's no update yet on Benn but I'll post one as soon as I get it.

After combining to score 76 points in its last two meetings with Mizzou, the Illini offense has done next to nothing so far. Quarterback Juice Williams has struggled to get much going down the field, and Florida transfer Jarred Fayson seems to be the only wide receiver contributing. The Illini defense is keeping Missouri out of the end zone, but how much longer can it hang on?

With a brutal start to Big Ten play, Illinois can't afford to lose this game, though Benn's status could be the bigger concern.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Damn, I missed football.

• Indiana drew a big crowd but a shaky performance on the field, Terry Hutchens writes in The Indianapolis Star.
• Ohio State's defensive line uses its talented personnel to feature several different looks, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Michigan State freshman Edwin Baker relishes the chance to contribute so early in his career, Steve Grinczel writes.
• Penn State attempts to defend its nonconference schedule, Joe Juliano writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Lions lose a reserve linebacker.
• Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez hopes to survive "the most miserable week" of his coaching career, Christine Brennan writes in USA Today.
• Illinois wide receiver Jarred Fayson plays to honor the memory of his brother, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune.
• The optimism oozing from Minnesota's program is still greeted with a degree of skepticism, Jim Souhan writes in the Star Tribune.
• Possibly more injury trouble for Wisconsin defensive end Louis Nzegwu, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It's hard to believe 10 years have passed since Ron Dayne and Wisconsin's last Big Ten title, Jim Polzin writes in The Capital Times.
• The Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine breaks down the numbers for Week 1 in the league.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

A sense of pride splashed over Ron Zook Monday as the Illinois head coach stood in the back of the offensive meeting room.

Zook watched as senior quarterback Juice Williams and offensive coordinator Mike Schultz reviewed practice tape. Schultz quizzed Williams on his every move, and Williams countered with the right responses.

	Scott Boehm/Getty Images
	Juice Williams is looking forward to the Illini’s matchup with Missouri on Saturday.

"A lot of times Coach Schultz will say, ‘Why did you go there?’" Zook recalled. "And as you hear [Williams] regurgitate the answer, it makes you feel good, a little pride that, ‘Hey, here’s a guy who’s come an awful long way.’ He’s able to explain that this is why he went with the ball some particular place and why he did what he did with no hesitation.

"To me, that’s a guy who has a pretty good grasp on what we’re trying to do.”

It's a good sign for a player who often draws mixed reviews. Everyone has an opinion on Juice Williams.

They admire his natural gifts and question his decision-making skills. They laud his mobility but rip his passing mechanics. Some remember his brilliance at Ohio State in 2007, when he convinced Zook to go for a fourth-and-1 in Illinois territory late in the fourth quarter, moved the chains and then ran out the clock to upset the top-ranked Buckeyes. Others recall the total offense records he set in three different stadiums last fall, including the Big House.

He has been called a catalyst and an underachiever.

But Williams has made it difficult to totally buy into him. Take last season, for example.

In Illinois' first seven ballgames, he passed for 16 touchdowns, ran for five scores and threw seven interceptions. In the final five games, he passes for six touchdowns, ran for none and tossed nine picks.

“That’s just part of life and playing the position of quarterback," Williams said of the conflicting views on his play. "Everybody’s going to have things to say. Some things are going to be positive, some will be negative. You’ve got to take the good with the bad and try to make the best out of it.”

As Williams begins his final season Saturday against Missouri in St. Louis (ESPN, 3:40 p.m. ET), there's a growing sense that he'll finally put together all the pieces this fall. He's the Big Ten's most experienced quarterback, and he has the league's best wide receiving corps at his disposal.

Most importantly, a player who had no quarterbacks coach in high school and admits he was extremely raw when he arrived in Champaign has a much stronger hold on the position.

"Being a fourth-year senior, a guy who has been through this a few times, I’m probably more mentally prepared than ever before," Williams said. "That comes along with experience. The more mentally prepared you are, the better off you are in a game situation.

"I know what to expect for the most part, and we’ll see what I can do come Saturday.”

Williams will operate in more or less the same offense that led the Big Ten in passing (269.3 ypg) and ranked third in scoring (28.7 ppg) last fall. Rather than install a new scheme, Schultz adapted to what Illinois had used under previous coordinator Mike Locksley.

As Schultz learned the system, Williams was right there with him.

"It was my challenge to learn what they called everything," Schultz said. "They may call a four route a four route, and I might have called a four route a dry route. So we’d sit there and he’d tell me the terminology and how they called things. He helped me through that."

Zook has often said Williams took too much blame for Illinois' shortcomings last year, but the coach acknowledges that limiting turnovers is the top priority for the quarterback this fall. Illinois is deeper at both wide receiver and running back, with additions like wideout Jarred Fayson and the physical maturity of backs Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure.

Schultz wants to make sure Williams uses all of his weapons and manages the game the right way.

"Managing the offense to me means getting the ball to the right people, being in the right place with the ball, getting into the right play," Schultz said. "That’s basically what we’ve been trying to work on with Juice since I’ve been here, making sure we do a great job of managing the offense.

"There’s no doubt we have some kids that we feel have a chance to be good performers, but for them to be good performers, we need to get them the ball in the right situations."

The Missouri game has brought a mixed bag for Williams. Last year, he set the total offense record at Edward Jones Dome with 461 yards, racking up 451 pass yards and five touchdowns. But Illinois lost, 52-42.

In 2007, Williams was knocked out of the game after completing 6 of 9 passes in another Illini defeat.

"Somehow, we have to come up with a victory this time," he said. "It's one of the more anticipated games of the year for our program. The atmosphere of the crowd is probably second to none, playing in a pro stadium, you’ve got half [Illinois] and half [Missouri] fans out there, the trash-talking goes on."

Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon got an early start on the trash talking through his Twitter page. Not surprisingly, Williams was Weatherspoon's target.

"Squeeze the pulp out of Juice," Williams recalled. "That was very unique and original. It's what makes the game fun. You’ve got to have some trash-talking going on. I know, coming from him, it was nothing personal.

"I didn’t take it as disrespectful at all. I found it kind of funny.”

Having fun is a goal for Williams in his final season. He didn't have enough as an overmatched freshman, and last season brought more lows than highs.

But with an increased knowledge of the game, Williams expects to enjoy his final spin around the Big Ten.

"It’s a lot easier to have fun with the game because you know what you’re doing, you know what to expect," he said. "You have had some success in the past, and it’s a whole lot easier to go out there and have fun and do what you love to do.

"I realized that the more I smile, the more I enjoy myself out there, the better I play.”

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The Big Ten preview marches on with a look at the best, the new, the surprising and the disappointing.


1. Offensive player of the year: Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn gets the nod in a close race with Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark. Benn has the league's most experienced quarterback (Juice Williams) at his disposal, and he headlines one of the deepest receiving corps in the country. Florida transfer Jarred Fayson should take some of the attention away from Benn, who has done everything but catch touchdowns and should see his total increase this fall.


2. Defensive player of the year: Navorro Bowman put up amazing numbers last fall despite not starting the first few games, and the Penn State junior linebacker should be even better this fall. Bowman will benefit greatly from Sean Lee's return to the field, and his speed won't go to waste in a talented Nittany Lions front seven. Michigan State's Greg Jones, Michigan's Brandon Graham and Northwestern's Corey Wootton all could contend here.


3. Newcomer of the year: I've got a feeling Keith Nichol will wind up as Michigan State's starter at quarterback, and the Oklahoma transfer shouldn't disappoint. His athleticism gives the Spartans' offense a new element, and he has improved as a passer and should be able to capitalize on a good group of wide receivers and tight ends. Illinois' Fayson and Wisconsin defensive lineman J.J. Watt are also good candidates.


4. Comeback player of the year: Penn State's Lee is a no brainer here. A second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2007, Lee has had no setbacks in his recovery from a torn ACL that cost him all of last season. Lee is the type of player who shouldn't miss a beat as he returns to the Lions defense and teams with Bowman to form arguably the nation's best linebacker tandem.


5. Freshman of the year: Gotta go with a Michigan quar
terback, and my pick is Tate Forcier. Enrolling early should pay off for Forcier, who fits Rich Rodriguez's offense and showed promising signs in the spring game. Denard Robinson will push Forcier and could end up with this award by season's end, but Forcier appears to be a bit more polished and should benefit from the veterans around him.


6. Most exciting player: Whether you love or loathe Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, it's hard to take your eyes off of him. His size and speed is truly unique, and he finds ways to extend plays and pull off dazzling moves. Pryor struggled with his passing last fall but made strides during the offseason and could become a complete quarterback that opposing defenses fear.


7. Coach of the year: Jim Tressel wins the award for the first time (wow) as an Ohio State team with a few more question marks than normal wins another league title. The Buckeyes affirm their ability to replace national award winners and fill gaps at running back, linebacker and cornerback. I could also see Iowa's Kirk Ferentz or Michigan State's Mark Dantonio winning here.


8. Game of the year: When it comes to determining the league champ, the Ohio State-Penn State game on Nov. 7 is the obvious choice. The Buckeyes carry a 15-game conference road win streak into the season, but their last Big Ten road loss came against Penn State in 2005. The Nittany Lions have been dominant at Beaver Stadium since 2005 and could enter the game undefeated with a shot at returning to Pasadena. Though Ohio State-Penn State will be huge, no game means more to the Big Ten as a whole than Ohio State-USC on Sept. 12.


9. Surprise team of the year: No obvious choice here, but I'm going to buy into Illinois. With so many offensive weapons, particularly at wide receiver, there's no reason why the unit shouldn't surge this fall. I really liked the vibe I got from linebacker Martez Wilson, who will finally meet expectations after moving to the middle. Several other squads could fit in here -- Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota -- but I'll go with the Illini.


10. Team that will disappoint: Wisconsin worries me. The quarterback competition didn't produce a ton of clarity, and there are depth questions at linebacker and in the secondary. Bret Bielema's Week 1 depth chart is filled with unproven players. A favorable schedule might save the Badgers, but I'm not sold. Michigan could be the pick if it stumbles out of the gate.