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Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer met with the media Wednesday and unveiled a post-spring depth chart. It didn't contain a lot of surprises.

Some of the most interesting items from the depth chart -- and Meyer's comments -- included:

• Doran Grant has risen to co-starter status with Travis Howard at cornerback.
• Spring game sensation Michael Thomas is listed as the backup to Devin Smith at receiver, with Corey Brown and Evan Spencer the other starters there. But Meyer didn't have great things to say about the receivers, calling them one of the most unprepared groups he's ever coached, though they have gotten better. He said they have enough talent "to be functional."
• Jordan Hall is the starting running back, ahead of Carlos Hyde. Not a big surprise there, given Hall's versatility and fit in the Meyer offense. Meyer also said fullback Zach Boren will get carries. "He is someone who can wiggle in space. He is much better than I thought. He can catch and carry the football.”
• Adam Bellamy is ticketed to start at one defensive end spot, with Nathan Williams -- who's coming back from microfracture knee surgery -- listed next to him in parentheses. Michael Bennett is a backup defensive lineman even though Meyer praised his spring performance. "He’s listed as a backup to Johnathan Hankins but that may not necessarily be the case in the fall. It’s hard for me to say that he isn’t one of the four best.”
• Freshman Taylor Decker is pushing Reid Fragel at right tackle. The offensive line shaped up as expected, but Meyer singled out center Corey Linsley for praise. "He was a surprise on offense, but not really a surprise. I just hadn’t seen him play. But he is a journeyman-to-starter player. He has the potential to be a very good player.”
• Meyer also stressed the need for leadership, saying that aspect obviously wasn't very good last year when several seniors earned suspensions. “Talent will get you seven or eight wins. Discipline gets you to around nine. Leadership is when the magic starts happening.”

2011 overall record: 6-7
2011 conference record: 3-5 (fourth, Leaders division)
Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 9; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners
QB Braxton Miller, RB Jordan Hall, TE Jake Stoneburner, T Jack Mewhort, DE John Simon, DT Johnathan Hankins, DT Garrett Goebel, LB Ryan Shazier, S Christian Bryant, S C.J. Barnett, CB Bradley Roby

Key losses
OT Mike Adams, C Mike Brewster, RB Dan Herron, WR DeVier Posey, LB Andrew Sweat, S/LB Tyler Moeller

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Braxton Miller* (715 yards)
Passing: Braxton Miller* (1,159 yards)
Receiving: Devin Smith* (294 yards)
Tackles: C.J. Barnett* (75)
Sacks: John Simon* (7)
Interceptions: Bradley Roby* and Orhian Johnson* (3)

Spring answers

1. System suits Miller: Ohio State's offense will take time to settle in, but it's clear from the spring that the no-huddle, spread system suits quarterback Braxton Miller. The athletic sophomore ran a version of the spread in high school and should flourish in an offense that demands mobility from the quarterback position. Miller completed 24 of 31 passes in Ohio State's spring game; he attempted 37 total passes in his first seven games last fall. Things are changing in Columbus, and Miller should benefit.

2. Simon dazzles: John Simon hasn't played a game for Urban Meyer, but the Buckeyes defensive end already has put himself in an elite group of former Meyer stars. Simon dominated play this spring, so much so that the coaches had to pull him off of the field at times so the offense could get in its work. Meyer made headlines by calling Simon "Tebowish" and later told ESPN.com, "It should be Simonish. He's a next-level type player: leader, character, toughness, commitment. He's elite, elite."

3. Hall, Stoneburner emerge: Meyer spent much of the spring grumbling about Ohio State's lack of offensive playmakers, but he identified two in running back Jordan Hall and tight end Jake Stoneburner. Like Miller, Hall is a player who could flourish more in the spread offense and fill the so-called "Percy position," occupied by former Meyer standout Percy Harvin and others. Stoneburner is a pass-first tight end finally playing in a pass-heavy offense. While he needs to improve his conditioning this fall, he'll play a big role for the Buckeyes.

Fall questions

1. Search for playmakers: Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman are adamant about the need for additional playmakers to emerge around Miller. The Buckeyes might have found one in the spring game in freshman receiver Michael Thomas, who recorded 12 receptions for 131 yards. Whether Thomas can build on his performance in August remains to be seen. Other players to watch include receivers Corey Brown, Devin Smith and Chris Fields, and running backs Carlos Hyde, Bri'onte Dunn and Rod Smith.

2. Offensive line depth: The Buckeyes appear to have a good starting five up front on offense, but offensive line depth remains a big concern entering the summer. Tight end Reid Fragel moved to tackle this spring, and the Buckeyes will need some of their younger linemen like Chris Carter Jr. and Jacoby Boren to grow up in a hurry. Help is on the way from the recruiting trail, but Ohio State can't afford many injuries to its starters.

3. Studying the spread: While Ohio State will be much more interesting to watch on offense under Meyer and Herman, the fact remains that the new system is a dramatic departure from what the Buckeyes ran in the past. Early this spring Meyer likened the offense's performance to a "clown show," and while things improved, the unit is far from a finished product. Meyer and Herman want to operate at an extremely fast past -- think Oregon -- but can only do so if players can execute without drive-killing mistakes.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jake Stoneburner had one of the strangest stat lines in all of college football last season.

It said as much about his potential as a tight end as it did about Ohio State's inability to maximize that potential in an offense that could kindly be described as pass averse.

"It got kind of crazy," Stoneburner told ESPN.com. "Every time I had a catch, I'd score. It's weird. Only 14 catches and seven touchdowns, but I'll take seven touchdowns any day."

The 50 percent touchdown ratio is mind-boggling when you consider Stoneburner's 14 total receptions tied for the team lead.

Stoneburner set the tone for an odd season with four receptions, three of which went for touchdowns, in Ohio State's season-opening victory against Akron. He recorded four catches the following week against Toledo, three of which amazingly didn't wind up in the end zone.

Then he went catch-less for two games. He recorded two receptions for eight yards in the Big Ten opener against Michigan State. The following week, his only reception, a 32-yarder, went for a touchdown at Nebraska.

Stoneburner finished the season with three one-catch, one-touchdown performances.

"I guess you could say I had a knack for getting in the end zone," he said, "but we also didn't really throw it that much."

Ohio State attempted only four passes in a win at Illinois. The lone completion? A 17-yard touchdown to guess who? While Stoneburner recorded only five catches in Ohio State's first seven Big Ten games, the team averaged a measly 15 attempts and 6.6 completions during the span.

Ohio State finished 115th nationally in pass offense. Only six FBS teams, including all three service academies and Georgia Tech, attempted fewer passes than the Buckeyes (245).

Those days are over. Jim Bollman has exited, Urban Meyer and Tom Herman have arrived, and Ohio State's pass offense received a spring awakening in recent weeks. The spread has come to C-Bus, and a player who never approached his ceiling in the previous system can't be happier.

"We don't huddle," Stoneburner said. "It's nonstop, fast-paced, throwing the ball everywhere, read-option, triple-option. It's something we definitely had to get used to, but I'm loving the offense."

Stoneburner should. He came to Ohio State after recording 168 receptions, including 28 touchdowns, for nearby Dublin (Ohio) Coffman High School. Unlike his predecessors, who basically served as extra offensive linemen, Stoneburner arrived at Ohio State as a big receiver who grew into the tight end spot.

He was a pass-first player who at first expressed concern about moving positions. The reason: "I knew they didn't get the ball," he said of the tight ends.

Former Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel raved about Stoneburner since the spring of 2009, but Stoneburner recorded just two receptions that fall. He followed it up with 21 in 2010 but saw the total cut by one-third last season.

Meyer's hiring changes everything for the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Stoneburner.

"He's known for spreading the wealth with the ball," he said. "Having athletic tight ends and guys who can catch the ball, it gives us more opportunities in space to get open."

Stoneburner spent much of the spring watching Aaron Hernandez, who starred at tight end for Meyer at Florida, recording 68 catches for 850 yards as a senior before becoming a fourth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots.

"Seeing Hernandez make all those plays makes someone like me pretty happy," Stoneburner said. "It's something I've been waiting for since I graduated high school, being able to go out there knowing you're going to get the opportunity to get the ball more than once or twice a game.

"It's a pretty good feeling."

Meyer identified Stoneburner and running back Jordan Hall as two potential playmakers who emerged this spring. Ohio State's lack of proven depth at receiver is no secret, and Stoneburner will be featured in the passing game.

Herman, the team's offensive coordinator, also is excited about Stoneburner's potential, although he needs to see dramatic improvement in one area.

"I see a big guy with great body control, good hands, good feet, decent speed," Herman told ESPN.com. "Jake's just got to get in better shape. Jake's a much worse player on the fifth play of the drive than he is on the first play of the drive. For him to be our bell cow in the throwing game and really doing the things we want to be able to do in the running game, he needs to be a guy that we can try to run into the ground and he keeps asking for more because he's in such great shape."

The pace of the new offense shocked Stoneburner's system. In the first 7-on-7 session of the spring, he estimates Ohio State logged 40 reps in 15 minutes.

"Just nonstop, go, go, go," he said. "The first day, I was exhausted."

Stoneburner's summer will be all about conditioning. Herman doesn't want the senior to lose weight or strength, but Stoneburner has to be an every-down player.

"The kid's not used to that," Herman said. "I'm not upset at him for it, but we've identified a problem and now it's up to him and our strength staff and his coaches and myself to come up with solutions."

Stoneburner shouldn't have trouble staying motivated. The more he stays on the field, the more passes will be thrown his way.

Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller thinks Stoneburner can eclipse 40 receptions this season.

As for the touchdown trend?

"We'll keep it going," Miller said with a smile.

Don't expect another 14-and-7 season from No. 11.

"I'll take seven touchdowns again," Stoneburner said, "but as long as I can get some more catches, I'll be happy."

We're reviewing all three Big Ten spring games from the weekend. It's time now to look back on Urban Meyer's first spring game at Ohio State.

You can find coverage of the Buckeyes' game here, here and here.

Star of the game: Quarterback Braxton Miller completed 24 of 31 passes for 258 yards. The surprise star was Michael Thomas, who caught 12 balls for 131 yards to lead all receivers.

How it went down: Meyer signaled a change in direction right away, having players line up for 1-on-1 circle drills to start the spring game, as teammates and coaches raucously cheered them on.

And then the Buckeyes took the field and looked like a much different team, one that could actually throw the ball around. The two squads combined for 443 passing yards and attempted 55 throws in the Scarlet's 20-14 victory over the Gray.

“We’re going to be a very balanced offense; that was very imbalanced,” Meyer said. “However, that was done for a reason. We’re taking one of the worst passing teams in America a year ago, and we’ve got to find out if we can do that. People can stop the run. We know that.

“We know we can run at quarterback. We didn’t run it one time today. What we don’t know -- and, unfortunately, even after the spring game I still don’t know -- is if we can throw the ball. That was the objective today. I have a better opinion of some guys now.”

The Buckeyes used only about 30 percent of Meyer's playbook and were without running back Jordan Hall, who was held out for precautionary reasons. After a spring-long search for a playmaker in the passing game, they may have unearthed one in the freshman Thomas, whom Miller continually looked toward. The two played together at a high school all-star game in Florida before Thomas went off to prep school.

Meyer also gave some high marks to Miller.

“He had a very good spring, a very productive spring, but once again we grade our guys real hard," Meyer said. "First-rounders, that’s how I evaluate [quarterbacks] because I’ve had some first-rounders. He has a lot of talent.”

Linebacker Ryan Shazier led the defense with eight tackles and a sack. Adam Griffin, son of two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, had an interception against Miller. Several potential defensive contributors sat out with injuries, while defensive lineman John Simon played sparingly.

A crowd of 81,112, the largest spring game attendance so far this year, was on hand for Meyer's Horseshoe debut. And in case anyone was wondering, Meyer continued the tradition of singing "Carmen Ohio" with the players after the game.

"I'm a big fan of tradition, and this is a school where we don't have to create a whole lot of tradition," Meyer said.

Three spring games are on tap Saturday around the Big Ten, and we're taking a look at each one.

Let's finish today's roundup by examining the LiFE Sports Spring Game at Ohio State.

When: 1:30 p.m. ET, Saturday

Where: Ohio Stadium

Admission: Tickets are $7 in advance and $15 on game day (cash only). Ohio State students and children under 6 are admitted free. Stadium gates open at 10 a.m. ET. Parking is free at lots around stadium except West Stadium and East Stadium lots.

TV: The Big Ten Network will televise the game live. It will also stream live online at BTN2Go.

Weather forecast: Partly cloudy, temperatures between 49-54 degrees, 10-20 percent chance of rain, winds at 13-14 mph.

What to watch for: The Buckeyes will pit the Scarlet team (coached by offensive coordinator Tom Herman) against the Gray team (coached by defensive coordinator Luke Fickell). The coaches held a draft Thursday morning, and here are the rosters. Herman's squad definitely looks stronger on offense with starting quarterback Braxton Miller and four of five projected starters along the offensive line. Fickell's team is stronger in the defensive back seven. The coaches have been talking trash to one another on Twitter (@CoachTomHerman, @CoachFick, @CoachVrabel50, @CoachZachSmith). Good times.

It's the first spring game under new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who, along with Herman, has spent the spring installing his up-tempo, spread offense. Don't expect the Buckeyes to show too much Saturday, but the fact they'll be running a no-huddle, spread-based offense with unique personnel groupings and triple-option elements will be a sight to behold for Ohio State fans. It will be interesting to watch the flow of the offense and how many breakdowns occur. Miller won't be live, but he'll be in the spotlight as he runs a system suited to his skill set, but still complex and new.

Meyer has been candid about the need for Ohio State to develop more weapons around Miller. Will a perimeter player or two emerge Saturday? It's possible. Running backs Jordan Hall (Gray) and Carlos Hyde (Scarlet) and tight end Jake Stoneburner, who should see his receptions total skyrocket in this offense, also will be worth watching.

The defense went through some offseason changes, but the scheme will remain mostly the same as Luke Fickell takes over as coordinator. It will be interesting to watch young defenders who played a lot in 2011 but will be counted on even more this season, players like defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, cornerback Bradley Roby and linebacker Ryan Shazier.

Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett will occasionally give their takes on a burning question facing the league. We'll both have strong opinions, but not necessarily the same view. We'll let you decide which blogger is right.

Today's Take Two topic is this: Last season, defensive tackle was clearly the strongest overall position group in the Big Ten. What position will be the best throughout the league in 2012?

Take 1: Brian Bennett

I'm tempted to go with linebacker, where some high-profile players and future stars are scattered throughout the conference. But my pick is running back.

There's some major star power at the position this year in the Big Ten, starting off with last year's Heisman Trophy finalist and record breaker, Wisconsin's Montee Ball. While Ball is the obvious choice for preseason offensive player of the year, he could get pushed by some other backs, including Nebraska's tough-as-nails Rex Burkhead, who ran for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Even with last year's No. 2 league rusher (Iowa's Marcus Coker) gone, the position is still stacked with guys like Penn State's Silas Redd, who we both think is primed for a huge season; Michigan's Fitz Toussaint, who ran for more than 1,000 yards despite not taking over lead rushing duties until the eighth game of the season; and Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, who came on strong late last season and looks great this spring.

Purdue has some very capable runners in Akeem Shavers, Akeem Hunt and Doug Gentry, and Ralph Bolden is coming back from an ACL injury. Ohio State has a potentially strong group with Carlos Hyde, Jordan Hall, Rod Smith and freshman Bri'onte Dunn. Stephen Houston showed some good things for Indiana last year, and transfer Isaiah Roundtree had a big spring game. Minnesota is high on junior college import James Gillum. And don't forget James White at Wisconsin, who could start for most teams in the country.

Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern have some question marks at tailback. But overall, running back is where the Big Ten's bread will be buttered this season.

Take 2: Adam Rittenberg

A good choice, Bennett, as the Big Ten returns six of its top seven running backs and would have brought back all seven if not for Marcus Coker's transfer. But my experience covering this league has taught me to never overlook the defensive line. The D-line once again will be the Big Ten's strongest group in 2012.

Sure, the league loses standouts like Devon Still, Whitney Mercilus and Jerel Worthy. But you could substitute the names Aaron Maybin and Mitch King after the 2008 season, or Brandon Graham and Jared Odrick after 2009, or J.J. Watt and Corey Liuget after 2010. The Big Ten always finds ways to reload up front, and this year will be no different. There might not be as many familiar names as there are at running back, but that soon will change.

Let's start off with the top returning linemen, Ohio State's John Simon and Purdue's Kawann Short, both of whom earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011. Both men will contend for All-America honors, and could be potential first-round picks in the 2013 class. Then you have a guy we're both excited about: Michigan State defensive end William Gholston. He's a physical freak, as you recently detailed, and has the potential to dominate games and become one of the nation's truly elite defenders in 2012. I'd also include Penn State defensive tackle Jordan Hill in this group of known commodities with the potential for very big things this season. Penn State's overall depth along the defensive line should be better this year.

Now for some lesser-known names who could have breakout seasons. Let's start at Illinois with defensive end Michael Buchanan and defensive tackle Akeem Spence. Buchanan is poised for a big year, as he showed in Illinois' spring game, while Spence is a next-level player who could follow Liuget's path this season. Speaking of defensive tackles, watch out for Ohio State's Johnathan Hankins, a very big man who can do very big things this season. The Buckeyes' heralded incoming freshmen should only bolster their line.

Michigan loses two standout linemen (Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen), but it's hard to imagine the Wolverines falling back much at all up front. Nebraska boasts good depth at the defensive end spot and could see a big year from a guy like Cameron Meredith.

While there are some question marks around the league, including an unproven line at Iowa, teams like Northwestern and Minnesota should be improved up front.

When Ohio State's Jordan Hall began watching tape of Florida and Iowa State, he didn't compare himself to the players carrying the football.

He'll leave that to others. Hall was more interested in how his new coach, Urban Meyer, and his new offensive coordinator, Tom Herman, used running backs. He immediately liked what he saw.

"I like being in the open field, just being one-on-one with defenders," Hall recently told ESPN.com. "And that's where they put you. I'm excited."

Hall watched former Florida standouts Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey and Percy Harvin, three of the Gators' top playmakers during Meyer's tenure as coach.

"They're more shiftier, speed guys who can make people miss and make plays in the open field," Hall said. "That's really where this offense puts you. That's what I like to do."

Ohio State's new offense hasn't been an ideal fit for every player. The Buckeyes ran a dramatically different system under the previous regime, a pro-style, ball-control, slower-paced scheme that would kindly be described as conservative. Spring practice has been a struggle at times -- Meyer likened the offense's play to a "clown show" at points early in the session -- and players are continuing to learn the signals, plays and accelerated pace the new coaches want.

But the transition has gone smoothly for Hall, whose speed and versatility help in this type of scheme. It's not a stretch to wonder if Hall's ceiling will be higher in Ohio State's new offense than it ever could have been in the previous system. In February, I pegged him as the top candidate to play the so-called "Percy position," a reference to the receiver-running back role Harvin had under Meyer at Florida.

According to ESPN The Magazine's Zach Schonbrun, Meyer said Hall is currently "the closest" to filling the Harvin role.

The 5-foot-9, 198-pound senior can run the ball (100 carries, 408 yards, two TDs last season). He can catch the ball (12 receptions, 114 yards, three TDs last season). He also can be effective in space, having returned 44 kickoffs and 36 punts in the past two seasons.

Meyer last week cited Hall and tight end Jake Stoneburner as two playmakers who have emerged this spring. Asked what Meyer's feedback has been for him this spring, Hall replied, "Just keep it going."

"I'm still lining up in the backfield, catching passes out of the backfield, screens and stuff like that," Hall said. "I'm just trying to get in the open field and in space."

At times, Hall will line up wide with another running back, Carlos Hyde, in the backfield. Given Ohio State's lack of depth at wide receiver, a position about which Meyer has expressed concern throughout the spring, putting multiple backs on the field together seems to make sense.

"It just makes the defense have to cover the whole field, really," Hall said.

Hall acknowledged the offense has endured some hiccups, especially with signals early in the spring. But he sees steps being made by quarterback Braxton Miller, Hyde and others, and he has high hopes for the unit come September.

"We can be real good," he said. "I know we can score a lot of points."

Urban Meyer discussed both his past and Ohio State's future on the Big Ten Leaders division teleconference Wednesday.

The first topic has gained a lot of traction this week after a Sporting News story about the end of his tenure at Florida. The story alleges that Meyer left the Gators program in shambles, created a culture of enabling and gave far too much freedom to players like former star receiver Percy Harvin. Although there was a Big Ten nugget in the piece by Matt Hayes -- relating to the post-signing day flap between Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema and Meyer -- the story focused on Meyer's time in Gainesville.

Meyer responded Wednesday.

"My family and I love Florida, we still do, we always will," he said. "I'm not sure where a three-month [Sporting News] investigation shows up. I'm extremely proud of what our players and coaches accomplished."

Meyer acknowledged that he did give preferential treatment to certain players who performed well both on and off the field. He took a similar approach at both Utah and Bowling Green, and will do the same at Ohio State.

"If you go to class, you're a warrior, you do things the right way on and off the field and you're completely committed to helping us win, you're going to get treated really good," Meyer said. "You're going to get nice gear, you're going to get to move off campus.

"Guys that don't go that hard and aren't committed, it's real difficult. You can't please everyone."

Meyer said several times that he didn't understand the intent of the accusations -- throwing good players "under the bus" -- or the timing. But he went out of his way to make one thing clear.

"If you would bold that for me, underline it: There is no NCAA violation," he said. "There was not one turned in."

Meyer did talk a bit about his current team and its progress in learning a new offense. He sounds pleased with quarterback Braxton Miller's intangibles, but like many others, Miller has a way to go in absorbing the system.

Meyer said the Buckeyes showed promise in the perimeter run game during Monday's practice but lag behind in the passing attack. It's no secret Ohio State needs more help at the skill spots, areas Meyer has talked about a lot since his arrival in Columbus.

He identified tight end Jake Stoneburner and running back Jordan Hall as two players who have looked good this spring.

"Those are our two playmakers now on offense," he said, "but that's obviously not near enough."

Fullback Zach Boren also weighed in on the new offense in C-Bus.

"Last year, it was much more of an I-formation, kind of a pro-style thing," Boren said. "This year, it's all about spreading the field and making vertical plays, getting the ball up and down the field with speed. … It's guys on the outside playing more in space. We're not going to line up with the fullback and tight end in the box."

Our series ranking each position group from the 2011 Big Ten season comes to a close today with the final group, and one that is often overlooked but is always important: special teams.

Special teams is a broad spectrum, so we're combining performances in punting, kickoffs and field goals to come up with each team's position on this list.

And away we go:

1. Nebraska: Boy, did we mess this up in the preseason by ranking the Huskers 11th out of 12. Though we wrote at the time that Nebraska would almost certainly outperform its low rankings, we thought replacing star punter/kicker Alex Henery would be tough. Not really, as Brett Maher was one of the best punters and kickers in the league and the country. Freshman Ameer Abdullah was a star in kick returns, finishing ninth nationally in that category. So just remove one of the ones from that preseason number, and then we've got it right.

2. Purdue: The Boilermakers were mostly mediocre on offense and defense but did some great work on special teams. Freshman Raheem Mostert led the nation in kickoff returns, while sophomore Cody Webster finished second in punting. The strong-legged Carson Wiggs tied Maher for most field goals made in the league, though he still needs to improve his accuracy. Blocked kicks helped secure wins over Middle Tennessee and Ohio State, but Purdue lost on a blocked field goal try at Rice.

3. Penn State: When Anthony Fera returned from suspension and took over field goal duties, the Nittany Lions' special teams became truly special. Fera hit 14 of 17 field goals after Penn State had looked very shaky in that area early in the year, and he was also one of the league's top punters. Chaz Powell and Justin Brown were dangerous return men.

4. Ohio State: The Buckeyes ranked among the top third of Big Ten teams in just about every special-teams category. Field goal kicker Drew Basil made a dozen in a row at one point, and Ben Buchanan was solid at punter. Jordan Hall added some big returns.

5. Michigan State: We ranked the Spartans No. 1 in the preseason, and they came up with some game-changing plays, particularly in the first game against Wisconsin and in the Outback Bowl win over Georgia. But statistically speaking, Michigan State was average in most aspects of the kicking game. But Mike Sadler had some big moments punting, and Keshawn Martin did excellent work on punt returns.

6. Wisconsin: A tough team to rank, as there was both good and bad here. Jared Abbrederis led the nation in punt return average at 15.8 yards per attempt. Brad Nortman was a very reliable punter, while Philip Welch made five of his six attempts at field goals, something the Badgers didn't need very much with Montee Ball assaulting the end zone. But we can't ignore the big special-teams breakdowns against Michigan State and Ohio State that had as much as anything to do with ruining a potential undefeated season.

7. Michigan: The Wolverines weren't outstanding at any one area on special teams, but they proved much better than the No. 12 ranking we saddled them with in the preseason. Brendan Gibbons solidified what looked like a scary place-kicker situation and played a large role (along with brunette girls) in the Sugar Bowl victory. Michigan was also strong in punt returns and kick coverage, though its punting and kickoff returns left much to be desired.

8. Iowa: The good news first: Iowa led the league in net punting, thanks to a strong showing by senior Eric Guthrie in his first year starting. Now the bad: The Hawkeyes ranked second-to-last in kickoff coverage, and Mike Meyer missed six of his 20 field goal attempts, including both tries in the humbling loss to Minnesota.

9. Minnesota: Even without premier return man Troy Stoudermire, who missed most of the year with an injury, the Gophers ranked fifth in the league in kickoff returns, and they led the league in kickoff coverage. But a team that punted as much as Minnesota did in 2011 needed to do better than 11th in the conference in that category. Bonus point for the perfectly executed onside kick in the Iowa win.

10. Northwestern: The Wildcats' defense got the brunt of the blame in Northwestern's losses, but special teams didn't hold up its end of the bargain, either. Northwestern made only six field goals all year and ranked near the bottom of the conference in most categories. The bright spot was a league-best punt return unit.

11. Indiana: Mitch Ewald went 13-of-16 on field goals, but the Hoosiers weren't very good in most other areas. They returned more kickoffs than anyone in the Big Ten -- a product of a crummy defense -- but didn't do enough with them in finishing 108th nationally in that stat.

12. Illinois: Ron Zook didn't help his case to be retained as head coach through the performance of his special teams, a part of the game that was supposed to be his field of expertise. Illinois was simply dreadful in creating advantageous field position, finishing last in the nation in kickoff returns and third-to-last in punt returns. The Illini also weren't very good at kickoff coverage, though at least Derek Dimke made 10 of 12 field goals. Even that was marred by his missed 42-yarder at the end of a 10-7 loss at Penn State.

Running back Jordan Hall, wide receiver Corey Brown and linebacker Etienne Sabino are among those needing strong offseasons for Ohio State.

As many know by now, Ohio State couldn't land recruiting target Stefon Diggs, who on Friday ended a drawn-out and moderately annoying decision-making process by choosing to stay home and play for Maryland.

Ohio State had saved a roster spot for Diggs, rated as the nation's No. 3 athlete and No. 13 overall prospect by ESPN Recruiting. The thought is that Diggs, who played both running back and wide receiver in high school and displayed excellent quickness, potentially could fill a spot that looms large in Urban Meyer's offense.

It's a receiver/running back hybrid, better known as "The Percy Position" because of Percy Harvin, who stood out for Meyer at Florida. Harvin recorded more than 400 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in each of his three seasons with the Gators, topping out at 764 rush yards and 858 receiving yards in 2007. He scored 10 touchdowns in 2007 and 17 in 2008.

Although Meyer didn't really find another Harvin in his final two seasons at Florida -- Jeff Demps filled the role at times -- he knows what an effective and dynamic hybrid player can do for his offense.

And while Ohio State addressed numerous needs in its decorated 2012 recruiting class, namely defensive line, the Buckeyes didn't appear to fill the Percy position.

From SI.com:

"The question I have is, do we have that dynamic player on offense?" said Meyer. "Where's the Ted Ginns of the world? Were they hiding [last] year? I hope we have those guys. That's a big concern of mine right now."

It's possible Ohio State can fill the Percy position from the current roster. Talented players could easily get lost in the ultra-conservative offensive scheme the Buckeyes employed last season. Ohio State barely passed the ball. On the other hand, no wide receiver caught more than 14 passes (Devin Smith and Corey Brown led the team, along with tight end Jake Stoneburner). Senior DeVier Posey would have easily eclipsed that number had he been eligible all season, but Ohio State's receiving corps was a weakness.

Ohio State signed three wide receivers in the 2012 class: Michael Thomas (already enrolled), Frank Epitropoulos and Ricquan Southward. But all are bigger players, seemingly more suited to receiver than a hybrid position. If one could see time at the Percy position, it would likely be Southward.

There are some hybrid candidates among returning players:

• Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, Sr. in 2012): Meyer's offense might be the system Hall has been waiting for. He has had the potential to be a hybrid player, but hasn't been in an offense than encouraged it. Hall logged 99 rushing attempts in 2011, but also caught 12 passes for 114 yards (9.5 ypc). He boasts good speed as a return man, and has a similar size profile to Harvin's. Don't be surprised to see Hall's role increase under Meyer.
• Corey "Philly" Brown (5-11, 182, Jr. in 2012): Brown tied for the team lead in receptions, and averaged 14.6 yards per catch with a touchdown. He didn't record any carries, but rushed for 3,000 yards in high school and also ran track. Like Hall, he fits the size/speed profile Meyer usually wants for this spot.
• Devin Smith (6-3, 190, So. in 2012): Smith tied for the team lead in receptions, and seemed to have good chemistry with quarterback Braxton Miller. He had no carries in 2011, and might be better suited as a wide receiver rather than in a hybrid role. It'll be interesting to see how the coaches use him in the spring.

Whether Ohio State finds an answer from the current roster or the incoming recruits, you can bet Meyer and his staff will make the Percy position a priority in 2013 recruiting.

The Big Ten postseason position rankings march on with the running backs. The running back rankings evaluate the entire position group, although superstar players affected the placement, too. Certain groups of running backs ran behind better offensive lines than others, and we took that into account when compiling the rankings.

Check out the preseason running back rankings here.

Onto the rundown ...

1. Wisconsin: Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball built on a strong finish to 2010 and took his game to another level in 2011. The Big Ten offensive player of the year headlined a Wisconsin rushing attack that led the Big Ten and ranked 11th nationally. While James White had a reduced role this past season, he still averaged 5.1 yards a carry and racked up 713 rush yards and six touchdowns. Ball also contributed in the passing game with 24 receptions, six of which went for touchdowns.

2. Nebraska: Rex Burkhead wore an "N" on his helmet, but it might as well have been an "S" on his chest. The player nicknamed "Superman" triggered a Nebraska rushing attack that ranked 15th nationally. Burkhead racked up 284 carries for 1,357 rush yards and 13 touchdowns. Although the Huskers didn't show a ton of depth at the position, young players like Ameer Abdullah have bright futures.

3. Ohio State: Although a quarterback (Braxton Miller) led the pass-averse Buckeyes in rushing, Ohio State had several capable ball carriers this past season. Carlos Hyde contributed early in the season and finished with 566 rush yards and six touchdowns on 106 carries. Dan Herron provided a spark after returning from suspension, averaging five yards a carry. Jordan Hall also tallied 100 carries and averaged more than four yards per rush.

4. Michigan: The coaches entered the season looking for a featured back and got one as Fitzgerald Toussaint emerged midway through the season. Toussaint racked up 120 yards or more in four of Michigan's final five regular-season games and displayed superstar potential at times. Although Toussaint and quarterback Denard Robinson had the bulk of the carries, reserves Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw both averaged more than six yards per carry.

5. Penn State: Much like Ohio State, Penn State relied heavily on its ground game to account for a shaky passing attack. Sophomore Silas Redd shouldered the burden, particularly during the month of October, when he led the FBS with 703 rush yards, including five 100-yard games. Redd finished with 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns, and Stephfon Green stepped up later in the season and had six rushing scores. Burly sophomore Curtis Dukes averaged 5.8 yards a carry.

6. Purdue: The Boilers had a featured back in Ralph Bolden but also had very good depth at the position. It showed up in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, which Bolden missed with a torn ACL. Akeem Shavers led the way and others contributed, too. Purdue finished the season with two 500-yard rushers in Bolden and Shavers, while freshman speedster Akeem Hunt averaged 8.7 yards on 33 carries.

7. Iowa: The Hawkeyes were a bit of a dichotomy in 2011, as they finished last in the Big Ten in rushing but had the league's top rusher for part of the season in Marcus Coker. Despite being suspended for the Insight Bowl, Coker finished second in the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,384) and 15th nationally in rushing average (115.3 ypg). He had 281 carries, while no other running back had more than 31, so it was a one-man show for Iowa in 2011.

8. Michigan State: The Spartans' rushing production went down in 2011, as Michigan State went from 64th nationally in rushing to 78th. MSU ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing for much of the season and finished 11th. But the team's struggles had more to do with a new-look offensive line than the running backs. Le'Veon Bell came on strong late in the season and rushed for 948 yards and 13 touchdowns. Edwin Baker's numbers went down, but he added 665 rush yards and five scores.

9. Illinois: Here's another team that had a quarterback (Nathan Scheelhaase) as its leading rusher, but Illinois also featured multiple options at running back. Although Jason Ford had an up-and-down season, Troy Pollard and Donovonn Young proved to be capable ball carriers. Young averaged 5.2 yards a carry and scored seven touchdowns, while Pollard averaged 7.2 yards a carry and had 488 rush yards and two scores.

10. Indiana: Although the Hoosiers have plenty of issues to address going forward, the running back spot appears solid. Stephen Houston started the final eight games and established himself as the featured back with 802 yards and eight touchdowns on 151 carries (5.3 ypc). Houston was productive in Big Ten play and a nice complement to quarterback Tre Roberson. D'Angelo Roberts and Matt Perez both added four touchdowns.

11. Northwestern: Echoing a common theme, Northwestern's top rusher was a quarterback (Kain Colter). While the offense has been productive the past few years, the Wildcats haven't found an elite featured back since Tyrell Sutton graduated. Jacob Schmidt was solid for stretches, and young backs Treyvon Green and Adonis Smith contributed at times. Mike Trumpy might still be the best of the bunch, but his season was cut short by a knee injury.

12. Minnesota: Although quarterback MarQueis Gray ran the ball well (966 rush yards, 6 TDs), Minnesota needs more from the running back spot going forward. Duane Bennett and Donnell Kirkwood both averaged less than four yards per carry, and the Gophers had only two 100-yard rushing performances from a running back.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Nate from Moline, Ill., writes: Hey Adam,I read your article about Illinois hiring Gonzales and the positives and negatives associated with it. I agree that it's great that's he's been around a TON of winning, has produced a great amount of NFL talent, and is an excellent recruiter. However, I don't agree with some of the negatives. LSU's offense has been pretty efficient. They just haven't ranked higher because they have struggled with QB play.

Adam Rittenberg: Nate, that's a good point. I was only noting that hiring LSU's pass game coordinator a few days after the BCS title game debacle might sway fan perception a bit. Billy Gonzales is a very good recruiter and developed plenty of NFL wide receivers at Florida. It'll be interesting to see how he fares as the primary playcaller at Illinois. LSU has struggled at the quarterback position, while Illinois has had mixed results with Nathan Scheelhaase. It'll be important for Gonzales to help Scheelhaase recapture the form he showed early this season and in the 2010 Texas Bowl. It's interesting that Illinois' last two offensive coordinators -- Gonzales and Paul Petrino -- both have worked with wide receivers more than quarterbacks.

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Michael from St. Louis writes: In the final third of the season, it felt like Nebraska was held back most by its lack of a down-field passing threat, particularly on third-and-long. Would Taylor Martinez overhauling his throwing mechanics help matters in 2012, or would it do more harm than good?

Adam Rittenberg: Michael, you mean you don't like the T-Magic shot put? His mechanics are what they are, and I don't know how much tweaking you can expect. He did throw the ball well at times, like in the games against Ohio State and Northwestern. But I also think Nebraska's wide receiving corps will be much better in 2012 as players like Kenny Bell and Jamal Turner get another year of experience under their belts. Most offenses aren't built to succeed in third-and-long, and Nebraska's is no exception, but I do see the Huskers getting more production in the passing game and particularly more YAC (yards after catch) from Bell and the others.

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Josh from East Lansing, Mich., writes: What do you expect out of Michigan States receivers for next year? Gaining Arnett was a big addition, but outside of him nobody is proven. Do you think Aaron Burbridge and Juwan Caesar can be a big enough impact as freshmen to make MSU a top team for next year?

Adam Rittenberg: Josh, young players certainly will have opportunities to see the field in 2012 for Michigan State. DeAnthony Arnett should be in the mix if he gets his NCAA waiver. Bennie Fowler didn't play much this season but showed some promise in 2010 and likely will be a part of the plan. After that point, you're looking at young guys like Burbridge and Ceasar. I also think Michigan State will return to more of a run-based offense in 2012 with a more experienced offensive line and Le'Veon Bell back in the fold.

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Eric from Chicago writes: Adam,There's one issue related to the Penn State situation that never gets addressed. Being that Paterno, Curly, McQuerry, et al interviewed in front of a grand jury why was every thing such a shock to Penn State when this news became public? Penn State knew about this months before it became public so how did they not have a plan in place for handleing it from a public relations standpoint?

Adam Rittenberg: Eric, I'd disagree that this issue hasn't been discussed. It's very much in the minds of Penn State fans and alumni who want answers from the school's administration. The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News reported Jerry Sandusky being the subject of a grand jury investigation back in March. People at Penn State clearly knew about the report, but it certainly seemed like the school was unprepared for the storm in November. Penn State has been playing catchup from a public relations standpoint from the beginning.

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Paul from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: Hey Adam, what are the odds that Cardale Jones could make a push against Braxton Miller? I love Braxton, but Cardale looks like a Vince Young re-incardalded(haha). Braxton might be a better runner, but Cardale sure looks like a solid runner with a rocket for an arm. Am I crazy? Also what about the running backs? What is the order looking like?

Adam Rittenberg: Paul, I'd say you're a bit nuts on the Miller-Jones thing, but who knows? Maybe I'll be the crazy one a year from now. I do think Miller will thrive in Urban Meyer's offense, which will give him much more freedom to create and make plays, which is what he does best. Although Ohio State should keep other quarterbacks in the mix, the coaches seem very excited about Miller and for good reason. The running back rotation will be very interesting, to say the least. Jordan Hall has experience and versatility as a guy who can catch passes out of the backfield. Smaller backs typically thrive in the spread, and both Hall and Jaamal Berry seem to fit the profile. Berry has to get his off-field issues straightened out, but he's clearly a talented player. I'm interested to see what happens to a guy like Carlos Hyde, who looked good at times during the 2011 campaign but might not be the best fit for this system.

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Dam from Miami writes: Read your column about football players running track in the spring. Was curious if any B1G football players play any other sports like basketball? I know in the late 90's early 2000's there were many football athletes who doubled to play basketball as well like Julius Peppers, Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzales, etc...

Adam Rittenberg: Dam, it's becoming less and less common as football is a year-round activity and specialization is encouraged more these days. You see football players run track in other leagues more than you do in the Big Ten. As a guy who grew up cheering for Cal's Tony Gonzalez at both Memorial Stadium and Harmon Gym, I wish we'd see it more. The Big Ten has had some football players also play basketball, like Michigan State wide receiver/forward Matt Trannon. Purdue tight end Patrick Bade played two years of basketball for the Boilers before joining the gridiron squad, but he no longer does both.

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Keith from Phoenix writes: Hi Adam love the blog. A lot has been made about how UM's schedule is hard in 2012 similar to how hard MSU's was in 2011. My question is whose schedule is harder? They are similar in the challenging road games but MSU had Wisconsin and UM at home after a bye week while UM travels to Dallas to take on Alabama and has MSU at home. Another key factor is how OSU improves under Urban Meyer compared to Luke Fickell.

Adam Rittenberg: Keith, it's a little tough to assess this without knowing how good certain teams will be in 2012. But it appears as though Michigan will play a tougher schedule than Michigan State did this past season. The Alabama opener increases the degree of difficulty by a lot. Like MSU, Michigan will visit both Notre Dame and Nebraska -- the two places where the Spartans stumbled during the regular season. I also think Michigan will face a much better Ohio State team than the one the Spartans faced this season. But again, it's hard to tell at this point. We should get a very good gauge of the Michigan program after the 2012 season.

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Jesse from Superior, Wis., writes: Will Russell Wilson's performance at Wisconsin this season encourage other athletic quarterbacks to consider Wisconsin a place to excel? I think Wilson's numbers prove that a quarterback with skills can have plenty of success, especially under Bielama. Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Jesse, Wisconsin's appeal for quarterbacks certainly has increased because of Wilson. The Badgers have a highly touted QB recruit (Bart Houston) arriving next year, and Bielema said he heard from several quarterbacks looking to transfer (Dayne Crist among them). The key for Wisconsin going forward is replacing offensive coordinator Paul Chryst. Wilson thrived under Chryst, and Chryst's system can prepare quarterbacks for the next level. Wisconsin will keep a similar identity on offense with its next coordinator, but the new coach and the new assistants on the offensive side will be integral in luring signal callers who boast Wilson's skill set and potential.

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Lance from Greensboro, N.C., writes: Adam,Just read your chat transcript. I'm a little surprised that you'd be against a 16 team playoff, and even have problems with an 8 team. While I'm not a playoff fan myself, if there is one I think you have to give automatic bids to the conference champs. Even if you limit this to the BCS conferences, that means 6 of the slots are taken, which doesn't give much room for deserving at-large teams. And if you don't give bids to the other FBS conference champs, that seems unfair. If you don't give automatic bids, you really hurt deep balanced conferences where it's really hard to run the table and help top heavy conferences (remember when FSU played for a national championship every year because there was no way they'd ever fail to go 8-0 in the ACC?). What do you think?

Adam Rittenberg: Lance, a 16-team playoff would be a logistical nightmare with different schools having final exams at different times and so forth. I'd be in favor of an eight-team playoff if it was organized the right way. I might be in the minority, but I still believe the bowl experience is a nice reward for the players. I'm also not crazy about having the Big East champ or the ACC champ in a playoff every year, especially over more deserving teams that didn't win their league. I would have liked to have seen Arkansas in a playoff this year. Same for Stanford. I didn't need to see Clemson or West Virginia. I'd rather tweak the BCS formula or have a committee select the eight most deserving teams based on a specific criteria. The champions from leagues like the SEC, Big 12 and most likely Big Ten and Pac-12 would be in the playoff most seasons, but I don't think there should be automatic bids.

It's time to pass out grades for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

OFFENSE: D

Uncertainty surrounded the unit heading into the season after the departure of starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor and the suspensions of three other starters. But the Buckeyes' offensive struggles reached new lows in the first half of the season before freshman Braxton Miller emerged at quarterback. Ohio State looked lifeless in losses to Miami and Michigan State, nearly suffering its first shutout at home since 1982. The Buckeyes won a game at Illinois despite completing just one pass and attempting only four. Coordinator Jim Bollman infuriated fans with ultra-conservative game plans, even though Miller, the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year, raised hope for the future with his play-making ability. An inexperienced receiving corps struggled mightily, the offensive line was inconsistent, but the backs performed decently, especially when Dan Herron returned from suspension. But Ohio State ended up 107th nationally in total yards and 117th in passing. Not good.

DEFENSE: C+

The defense kept the Buckeyes in several games and won one against Illinois to spark a three-game win streak. But the typical dominance associated with the unit didn't show up nearly as much in an atypical season. Ohio State had good players in all three levels of the defense -- lineman John Simon, linebacker Andrew Sweat, safety C.J. Barnett -- but lacked the all-around depth that's normally a given in Columbus. The defense struggled for chunks of games -- the second half at Nebraska, the first half at Purdue, the first half against Penn State -- and had no answers for rival Michigan in the regular-season finale, a 40-34 loss. While much was made about the offensive stars involved in the tattoo parlor scandal, Ohio State lost a ton of defensive production from the 2010 team, and it showed. The unit still finished 24th nationally in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B

After a shaky season on special teams in 2010, the Buckeyes rebounded for the most part this fall. They ranked in the top 25 nationally in both punt coverage and kickoff coverage. Specialists Ben Buchanan and Drew Basil were, for the most part, pretty solid, and Jordan Hall had a decent year on returns. Still, it's impossible to look past the extra-point attempt Ohio State had blocked against Purdue that would have given the Buckeyes a 21-20 lead in the final minute (Ohio State went on to lose in overtime).

OVERALL: D+

After dominating the Big Ten for the better part of Jim Tressel's tenure as coach, the Buckeyes faced unique and difficult circumstances this season. Players and coaches both were thrust into new and challenging roles. Still, even the more pessimistic prognosticators figured Ohio State would win more than six games. The Buckeyes lost more Big Ten games this season than they had in the previous six combined. That's a precipitous drop. While there's hope for the future with Miller and Urban Meyer, Ohio State would just as soon forget this season.

Ohio State's infractions case with the NCAA came to an end today after the events leading up to it had played out -- at least publicly -- for almost exactly one year. Here is a timeline of the Buckeyes' trying times:

April 2, 2010: Then-Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel gets his first email from Columbus lawyer Chris Cicero informing him that quarterback Terrelle Pryor and other players were trading their team memorabilia to local tattoo-parlor owner Edward Rife in exchange for tattoos. Tressel does not inform any of his superiors about this.

Dec. 7, 2010: The U.S. attorney’s office discovers Ohio State football memorabilia in a raid of Rife's business.

Dec. 23, 2010: Ohio State announces that Pryor, running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, offensive tackle Mike Adams and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for trading their memorabilia. All five players are allowed to play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, thanks to some lobbying by the Big Ten. The Buckeyes would go on to defeat Arkansas in the game.

Jan. 13, 2011: Ohio State unearths Tressel’s emails with Cicero, igniting an investigation.

Feb. 19: A group of Buckeyes players are paid $200 by booster Robert DiGeronimo for attending a charity event in Cleveland.

March 8: The school announces that Tressel will be suspended for the first two games of the 2011 season and will be fined $250,000. His bosses voice their support of Tressel, with school president E. Gordon Gee infamously saying, "I'm just hopeful the coach doesn't dismiss me."

March 17: Tressel’s suspension is extended to the first five games of the season.

May 30: Athletic director Gene Smith forces Tressel to resign. Luke Fickell is named interim coach.

July 8: Ohio State announces it has vacated all wins from the 2010 season and is self-imposing two years' probation stemming from the Tressel/tattoo controversy. The school later also says it will return its proceeds from the Sugar Bowl.

Aug. 12: Ohio State goes before the NCAA Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis.

Sept. 1: Less than 48 hours before the season opener against Akron, running back Jordan Hall and defensive backs Travis Howard and Corey “Pittsburgh” Brown are suspended two games each for accepting cash from DiGeronimo at the charity event.

Sept. 20: Ohio State publicly disassociates itself with DiGeronimo, who had given more than $70,000 to the athletic department in the previous 25 years.

Oct. 7: Posey is suspended an additional five games, while Herron and linemen Marcus Hall and Melvin Fellows are suspended one game for being overpaid for summer jobs at a company owned by DiGeronimo.

Nov. 3: The NCAA sends another notice of allegations to Ohio State concerning the DiGeronimo accusations. The NCAA says the Buckeyes will face a "failure to monitor" charge. The Buckeyes respond by stripping themselves of five total scholarships over a three-year period.

Nov. 28: Ohio State hires Urban Meyer as its new head coach. Meyer and Smith both say they are not worried about any serious NCAA penalties. Smith says there is no precedent for receiving a bowl ban in cases similar to this one.

Dec. 20: The NCAA doles out its punishment to Ohio State: a 2012 postseason ban, the loss of four scholarships on top of the school's own reduction, an extra year of probation and a five-year show-cause penalty for Tressel.