ESPN College Football

It was Big Ten chat day, and we had a good discussion earlier this afternoon.

In case you missed it, here's the full wrap-up.

Some highlights:

Curt from Des Moines, Iowa: Adam - With the Buckeyes suspended from the BIG championship next year, do you like the Badger's chances of a 3 peat in Pasadena? Who could be a sleeper team in the Leaders division?

Adam Rittenberg: Curt, Ohio State's ban makes Wisconsin the clear-cut favorite in the Leaders division. It's hard to size up Penn State's chances without seeing the new coach, but the Lions will face some obstacles for sure. Could Purdue be a sleeper team? Perhaps. But the Boilers need to upgrade several areas and be much more consistent in 2012.

Myles from Ohio: Hi Adam, how do you think the Big 10 will do this year in bowl games? Particularly Iowa against a hugely talented Oklahoma team and Wisconsin against the 'speedy' Ducks. And what will the Big 10/SEC record be when all is done?

Adam Rittenberg: Myles, this has the potential to be another rough bowl season for the Big Ten. It's imperative the league gets at least a 1-1 split in the BCS games. The Big Ten-SEC matchups look more favorable than they did a year ago, and the Big Ten should win 1-2 of these games. The Big Ten-Big 12 matchups, however, look extremely tough. Would expect the Big Ten to go 0-2.

Illini Zach from Highland Park: Hi Adam, sitting in class with a professor with your same last name. You're a bit more fun though. Why is it that a team near a city like Chicago is struggling to find good recruits and coaches while the Michigans and Ohio States of the world seem to get whoever they please?

Adam Rittenberg: Really? Wonder if it's a long-lost relative? As far as Illinois goes, the Illini had some recruiting success in the Chicago area during Ron Zook's tenure, luring players like Juice Williams and Martez Wilson to Champaign. A lot of it has to do with winning and having tradition. Illinois actually has a great football history, but recent years have brought struggles and inconsistency. If Tim Beckman can win at a reasonable rate, he should be able to recruit well in the Chicago area. Will Illinois beat out Ohio State and Michigan for top recruits? It can happen, but not too often.

Greg from Louisville: As a life long Hawkeye fan and alumni, do you think it's crazy if i'm starting to think Ferentz's time should be up at Iowa? I'm not expecting national championships by any means but for a guy who is getting paid almost $3.7mm, it sure seems like they should be better than they are consistently compete in the top 15 in the nation?

Adam Rittenberg: Greg, while I don't think you should want Ferentz out, you have every right to expect more from a coach making what he makes. The program has backslid since the Orange Bowl, and the Big Ten has become more competitive with the arrival of Nebraska and Wisconsin's surge the past two years. Iowa can get a lot of coaches who can go 7-5 and be paid much less. It's fair to expect Ferentz's teams to win 9-10 games, beginning in 2012.

Mike from Madison: keep hearing from people that oh time of possession means nothing for the Ducks because thata??s how their system operates. But it actually is a huge deal considering it plays right into the hands and strength of this Wisconsin team because the Ducka??s have not yet faced an opponent that is as potent, as efficient, and as consistent on offense as Wisconsin. Looking at the stats, I think that if the Badgers hold onto the ball for 36+ mins they hands down win, 35 mins they have the advantage, 34-35 mins ita??s a close and even match, and anything less than 34 mins the Ducks win. Your thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Mike, Wisconsin will have an edge in time of possession, but Oregon can score on almost every play it runs. I don't think the game necessarily comes down to how long Wisconsin holds the ball. Wisconsin needs to tackle well in space, certainly better than it did against Michigan State in the Big Ten title game. Ball control is important, but Oregon will have chances to score in this game. Wisconsin needs to get the Ducks off of the field.

Thanks again for the questions, and my apologies to those whose questions weren't answered (they come at me rapid-fire!).

Let's do it again soon.

Happy hump day.

• Check out where Big Ten teams finished in SI.com's Andy Staples' post-spring Top 25.
• A really good breakdown of what cost of attendance actually means from the Bylaw Blog's John Infante.
• Although Russell Wilson visited Auburn on Tuesday, he remains interested in Wisconsin as well, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Nebraska's arrival in the Big Ten is part of the seismic shift taking place in college football, Dan Bickley writes in The Arizona Republic.
• Ohio State safety Tyler Moeller is on the mend and expects to play a big role this fall, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The latest APR report helps the image of Ohio State football, Adam Hawkins writes in The Lantern.
• Michigan freshman wideout D.J. Williamson opts to transfer, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. Former Michigan QB Tate Forcier tells colleague Joe Schad he wants to play closer to home. Former Michigan strength coach Mike Barwis takes on a new challenge, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News.
• Minnesota QB MarQueis Gray has a chance to make Minneapolis his town, Michael Rand writes in the Star Tribune.
• The demand outweighs the supply when it comes to Iowa football tickets, Ryan Suchomel writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• Good news for the Michigan schools in the latest APR report. Same goes for Wisconsin, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Illinois coach Ron Zook and former QB Juice Williams make a visit to a Peoria hospital, GateHouse News Service's John Supinie writes.
• Quarterback John Cabot passed up FCS scholarship offers to walk on at Penn State, Eric Shannon writes in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Here's the second half of my interview with Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase.

Also check out Part I.

What was your reaction when you found out Mikel [Leshoure], Martez [Wilson] and Corey [Liuget] all were entering the draft?

Nathan Scheelhaase: I was happy for those guys. Obviously, when you deal with that decision, it's a good thing. Not everybody gets that opportunity, and those guys definitely deserve it. It's definitely a blessing for those guys, and all those guys are ready to take that next step and show what they can do at the highest level. All of us are happy for them. We got to see them all when they came back for the banquet. Everybody was excited that their dreams are coming true.

All those guys have dreamed since they were little kids that they wanted to be in the NFL. Now they get that chance. They're moving full thrust. That's why you recruit, why you go out and try to get good players each and every year. You're always going to be losing guys, and guys need to replace them. When you lose somebody, then it becomes an opportunity to step up, and we have a lot of guys who are looking forward to filling those shoes.

We wish them all the best. They're some great players, did a ton of great things for us here. It's just a blast being here in the locker room with those guys. That's the thing people don't see. All three of those guys were huge in our locker room and really fun to be around. That's probably the part we'll all miss the most.

Who do you see stepping up to fill Mikel's role?

NS: It's everybody. That's for sure. Jason Ford is definitely going to be a breakout player this year, probably will be one of the breakout players in the Big Ten Conference this year. And Mikel will tell you as well as anybody, we have one of the best offensive lines in the country. They can match up with any defensive line they go against. Mikel enjoyed running behind those guys and Jason Ford will as well. I really look forward to him having a great season. Even as much as I did in the running game this year, there's a whole lot more I can do, and there's a lot I can get better at as far as the running game goes.

And then we have guys like Troy Pollard. When Mikel went down in the Michigan game in the first half, Troy was able to come in there. Troy had a big game against Penn State, almost rushed for 100 yards. I look forward to him having a big year and playing more of a role. And we have some guys coming in with this recruiting class.

Is that the biggest challenge for you guys, filling the voids?

NS: That's what it's all about, getting that opportunity. It kind of was the same for me. After we lost Juice [Williams] last year, I got the opportunity to play and was able to do some good things for us. Whenever you get your opportunity in college football, it's your turn to step up. You've got to put that on your shoulders and see what you can do with it. I think we've got guys that are hungry and guys that are ready to go and step in.

Time will tell whether the Great Experiment of Champaign works or not, but one big piece of the puzzle seems to fit.

First-year coordinator Vic Koenning is having a positive effect on the Illinois defense.

Yes, it's still very early, but the Fighting Illini defense is showing promising signs after two games. Illinois limited Missouri to 23 points in the opener -- the Tigers' had averaged 43 points in its previous three games with the Illini -- and kept Southern Illinois out of the end zone last Saturday in Champaign. Despite losing three projected starters in recent weeks -- defensive backs Supo Sanni and Terry Hawthorne to injury, defensive end/linebacker Michael Buchanan to suspension -- the Illini are receiving production from a variety of sources.

Again, there's long way to go, but so far, so good.

"We're playing so much harder, we're tackling better, we're chasing the football better and we're not giving up the big plays," coach Ron Zook said. "That was the biggest problem we were having last year, the big plays. They're playing as a group, they're playing as a unit, they're flying around.

"It's hard to find a play where there's not at least eight guys around the football. It's team defense."

Zook's last phrase is the important one. Illinois never has lacked individual talent during Zook's tenure on both sides of the ball.

The two-deep on defense features heralded recruits like Martez Wilson, Corey Liuget and Whitney Mercilus. But since the Rose Bowl run in 2007, Illinois hadn't played well as a defensive unit, slipping to 67th in points allowed in 2008 and 96th last fall.

Although much of the criticism in 2009 was directed toward Mike Schultz and an offense that took eight weeks to get on track despite a fourth-year starter at quarterback (Juice Williams) and an All-America candidate at receiver (Arrelious Benn), the defense didn't hold up, either. Illinois allowed 102 points in its final two games, losses to Cincinnati and Fresno State.

As part of a major staff overhaul in December, Zook demoted co-defensive coordinators Dan Disch and Curt Mallory and brought in Koenning (Mallory left for Akron, while Disch remains on staff as linebackers coach). Illinois beat out Georgia for Koenning's services, and the move seems to be paying off.

Here's what cornerback Tavon Wilson told the (Decatur) Herald & Review this week.

"Coach Vic is more of an enforcer. If the [team] leaders are not taking charge, he will. He won't sit around and let practice go mediocre. He will make sure everyone is running to the football on every play. He'll run to the football with you if he has to. That's probably the biggest difference from coaches in the past. Past coaches wouldn't let it slide, but they weren't enforcing it as much as coach Vic would. He doesn't take a play off just like he expects you not to take a play off."

The Illini are receiving strong performances so far from safety Travon Bellamy (19 tackles, 3 tackles for loss), linebacker Ian Thomas (17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery) and Martez Wilson (14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble.

Five players already have recorded multiple tackles for loss in the first two contests.

"Everyone's involved," Zook said. "It's not just one player that's playing hard. They're all playing hard."

The Illinois-Missouri series goes on hiatus after Saturday's clash in St. Louis. For the men wearing orange helmets, it seems like the break can't come soon enough.

Illinois has opened its season against the rival Tigers five times since 2002, including each of the past three years. All five games have produced the same result for the Fighting Illini: 0-1.

Many forecast another opening loss for Ron Zook's crew Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome. Translation: there's no better time for the Illini to step up and get some revenge.

If Illinois wants to make a statement that things are turning around, the Missouri game provides the perfect platform.

"They're all important, but this one has an awful lot of importance on it," Zook told ESPN.com. "Obviously, we haven’t had a lot of success against them."

The Missouri game has been a buzzkill for Illinois in each of the past two seasons. After a run to the Rose Bowl in 2007, preseason No. 20 Illinois entered the dome to face No. 6 Missouri in one of the more anticipated matchups of the 2008 opening weekend.

Game result: Missouri 52, Illinois 42

Illinois season result: 5-7

Optimism had been restored by the time Illinois made the trip to St. Louis last year. Quarterback Juice Williams and receiver Arrelious Benn had returned, linebacker Martez Wilson seemed on the brink of a huge season and the team had gone through a very successful preseason camp. Plus, Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin were no longer on Missouri's roster.

Game result: Missouri 37, Illinois 9

Illinois season result: 3-9

"We were healthy, we were fresh, no one was beat up, we put a big emphasis on it," Zook recalled. "And we get over there and the second play of the game, it was like somebody threw a blanket over us."

Benn and running back Jason Ford both went down with injuries. Wilson suffered a neck injury in the first quarter but remained in the game, only to learn days later that he needed season-ending surgery.

The team never fully recovered, plummeting to a 1-6 start.

As Zook prepares his team for another tough opener against Mizzou, he doesn't stiff-arm what has taken place the past few years.

“Traditionally, Missouri’s probably played if not their best, one of their best games of the year against us," Zook said. "That's the one thing we've tried to stress to our guys. You look at Missouri in the first game of the year, you look at them in the end, and they're not the same team.

"We've got to match the way they're playing."

Illinois isn't as healthy as it was a year ago, as two projected starters in the secondary, safety Supo Sanni and cornerback Terry Hawthorne, will miss the game. Missouri will play without running back Derrick Washington, but the Tigers still have quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who torched the Illini for 319 pass yards and three touchdowns last year.

Redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase makes his first career start for the Illini, who debut a new offense under coordinator Paul Petrino.

"I'm like everyone else, I want to see him play, too," Zook said. "I'm not going to say he’s going to be perfect, but he’ll learn from his mistakes and he'll do a great job."

After last year's loss, Zook and his players lamented that something happened on the bus ride from Champaign to St. Louis. No one could pinpoint the problem, but it zapped Illinois' mojo from a strong camp.

Saturday is a chance to get the momentum back.

"We all have something to prove," defensive end Clay Nurse said. "You can dwell on what your season was like last year, but I'm not one to dwell on that.

"I'm just ready to go out here and show people we can produce and be successful."

Schedule: First practice takes place Thursday at Memorial Stadium. First group hits the field at 4 p.m. ET and the second group at 5:30 p.m. ET. Team practices three times in Champaign before moving to Rantoul, Ill., on Aug. 9, for 15 workouts.

What's new: Uh, like, everything. Ron Zook is still the head coach, but he has six new assistants, including coordinators Paul Petrino (offense) and Vic Koenning (defense). Illinois is breaking in new systems on both offense and defense, and redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase takes over at quarterback following the departure of four-year starter Juice Williams. The new-look staff has some familiarity, as Petrino, quarterbacks coach Jeff Brohm and tight ends coach Chip Long all worked together at Louisville during the Cardinals' juggernaut days. Illinois needs a No. 1 wide receiver to emerge after Arrelious Benn's departure to the NFL.

Sidelined: Strong-side offensive tackle Corey Lewis, a projected starter this spring, sustained a torn ACL in spring ball and likely will miss the season. Illinois needs a strong camp from Ryan Palmer as he steps into a featured role.

Key battle: Illinois has two experienced defensive line pieces in Clay Nurse and Corey Liuget, but the other two spots should bring plenty of competition. Glenn Foster had a nice spring and could be the answer at the second defensive tackle spot, while several players, including Michael Buchanan and Nate Palmer, compete at the "bandit" position.

New on the scene: Although veteran Eddie McGee can shift from wide receiver to quarterback if needed, true freshman Chandler Whitmer likely is a play away from the field. Whitmer enrolled early and impressed the coaches with his knowledge this spring. He enters the fall as Scheelhaase's backup. Also keep an eye on safety Trulon Henry, a junior college transfer and Benn's older brother. He enters camp as the backup to Supo Sanni at free safety.

Breaking out: Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins nearly left Illinois in the winter before deciding to stay and turn around his career. Zook and Petrino raved about Jenkins this spring, and he'll likely be Scheelhaase's top target. Running back Mikel LeShoure will carry the load after a very impressive finish to 2009. Cornerback Terry Hawthorne also could have a big year after making an impact as a freshman last fall.

Back in the fold: Illinois really missed Martez Wilson, and the middle linebacker finally gets to hit people again in camp after being fully cleared by doctors. Wilson suffered a herniated disk in his neck in the 2009 opener against Missouri and underwent season-ending surgery. The one-time, can't-miss recruit has one final chance to break out. Cornerback Miami Thomas also returns after tearing his ACL in camp last year.

Quoting: "The players, we didn't execute. People want to jump on the coaches and blame the coaches. The last time I saw coach Zook catch a pass or make a tackle, they were wearing leather helmets. It is on us now. They brought in new coaches, but at the end of the day, we're the ones playing." -- defensive end Clay Nurse

My colleague Heather Dinich had a great idea to examine offenses and defenses in the ACC that need repair and see which ones are on the fastest road to recovery. I'm totally stealing this concept for the Big Ten.

Let's start on the offensive side:

IN NEED OF REPAIR

1. Minnesota: The Gophers not only made a dramatic switch in style from the spread to the pro set last fall, but they incorporated a complex, and some would say convoluted, system of calls. The results weren't pretty, as Minnesota ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring (20.9 ppg), rushing (99.5 ypg) and total offense (306.5 ypg). Minnesota twice was shut out in league play.

2. Illinois: Despite having loads of experience at both quarterback and wide receiver, Illinois floundered on offense for more than half a season. The Illini struggled under new coordinator Mike Schultz, finishing 10th in the league in pass offense after leading the Big Ten in 2008. Quarterback Juice Williams, a four-year starter, was briefly replaced during Big Ten play as the Illini scored 17 points or fewer in six conference games.

3. Ohio State: Another Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl championship make it easy to forget how much Ohio State struggled on offense for most of 2009. Ohio State finished last in the Big Ten in passing (173.6 ypg) and seemed to be operating in no-mistakes mode for much of the fall. Terrelle Pryor and his teammates got it together in Pasadena, but Ohio State finished a middling 68th nationally in total offense for the season.

FASTEST ROAD TO RECOVERY

1. Ohio State: The Rose Bowl showed the Buckeyes' offense what it could be, and the unit took some steps forward this spring. Pryor looked a lot more comfortable both in practice and at the spring game, and while his mechanics might never be perfect, his footwork is much better. A veteran offensive line played well down the stretch last fall and should be even better in 2010, especially if Mike Adams locks down the left tackle spot.

2. Minnesota: The Gophers should be a better offense this fall for several reasons. They have experience at quarterback and a guy in Adam Weber who has succeeded earlier in his career. New coordinator Jeff Horton has simplified the system, a welcome change for players who went through information overload last fall. While the run game is a big question mark, the offensive line returns in full and drew favorable reviews from Weber and the coaches in spring ball.

3. Illinois: Talent isn't the problem at Illinois, but players still have to learn a new system under coordinator Paul Petrino and fill some big production holes at quarterback, receiver and offensive line. I really like the run game potential with Mikel LeShoure and Jason Ford, and if Illinois can solidify its offensive line, the backs should take a lot of pressure off of a young quarterback like Nathan Scheelhaase. Illinois can certainly get it done on offense this fall, but there's work left to do.

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."

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Paul Petrino wasn't present for the disastrous 2009 season at Illinois, but he knew things had changed with the Fighting Illini very early this spring.

Petrino, the team's new offensive coordinator, needed only one practice to see a difference. Actually, half a practice.

"You could see it as they hit the wall in the middle of practice," he said. "Just the speed and the intensity that we went about practice with, it shocked their system."

The wall got pushed back throughout the spring, to the point where players could complete a workout without falling flat. But the demands that Petrino, new defensive coordinator Vic Koenning and four other new assistants brought to spring practice never let up.

Last Tuesday, in practice No. 12 of 15 this spring, Illinois ran 93 plays during team drills. Koenning determined that the defense's performance in those 93 plays was unacceptable, so he made the entire unit do 93 up-downs.

"I've never done 93 up-downs after practice [before]," senior linebacker Martez Wilson said. "And the only reason we're doing it is because we aren't doing what we need to do."

After a poor defensive effort in one of the scrimmages this spring, Koenning had players do a pursuit drill until he "got tired of blowing the whistle."

"I wanted to see who was going to tap out," Koenning added. "We had a couple guys try to tap out and that exposed 'em."

Illinois has been exposed the last two seasons as one of the nation's biggest underachievers.

The program appeared to have turned the corner in 2007. Illinois made a surprise run to the Rose Bowl, and head coach Ron Zook continued to sign nationally ranked recruiting classes, bringing in the No. 12-rated class in 2007 and the No. 16-rated class in 2008. The talent was in place to take another step, but Illinois, as has been the case too often in the last quarter-century, backslid and went 8-16 the next two years.

"We didn't reach our potential, and there are a lot of reasons for that," Zook said. "That's the thing that we have to do this year."

Many thought a 3-9 season would signal the end for Zook, whose struggles to convert heralded recruits into consistent winners also cropped up at Florida. Ultimately, athletic director Ron Guenther not only stuck by his head man but gave Zook the resources, specifically two-year contracts with competitive salaries, to revamp his staff and attract top candidates. Zook fired four coaches, including offensive coordinator Mike Schultz, demoted both of his defensive coordinators and hired six new assistants.

The new coaches boasted impressive credentials, none more so than Koenning, who had rebuilt or enhanced defenses at Kansas State, Clemson, Troy, Wyoming and Memphis. Petrino had coached some of the nation's most dynamic offenses at Arkansas and Louisville, and was looking to branch out from older brother Bobby and take total control of a unit.

This spring, Koenning and Petrino began installing their schemes and terminology, which will take time to sink in. But their instant impact on the team went beyond X's and O's.

"We've turned the wick up," Zook said. "When we say something, this is what we want, this is what we're going to get. There's pretty much a line drawn in the sand now."

After last Monday's practice, Zook went into the locker room and started talking with the wide receivers, the group that Petrino directly oversees.

"Coach Petrino, he coaches hard now, and it's great, and they love it," Zook said. "And [the receivers] said, 'Man, where'd you get that guy?' Because the time they walk out that door until the time they walk in the door, they're held accountable for every single thing."

It's a welcome change for the players after two disappointing years.

"A lot of times, you see guys in the pros and they go to another team and people say, 'Oh, their career is revitalized,'" defensive end Clay Nurse said. "It's the same thing here. You've got a new coach coming in here, he's snapping that whip, he's not taking any nonsense from us.

"And that's good for us. It's something we need."

To call this season pivotal would be an understatement for Illinois, and there are plenty of question marks. The Illini lose quarterback Juice Williams, a four-year starter, and have virtually no experience back at the position. They also must find answers along both lines, in the secondary and with the kicking game.

Some talent remains, but talent has never been the problem at Illinois. Coaching must be a bigger factor for the Illini, and the process has started this spring.

"The thing I like is seeing us come together as a team," Zook said. "That all comes from the coaches. We're all saying the same things, we're all about the same things, and the players are buying in. They're realizing, too, that the best chance of them reaching their goals is everyone having the same goal."

For the Illinois Fighting Illini's young quarterbacks, getting hit is just the start.

Illinois is allowing quarterbacks Jacob Charest, Nathan Scheelhaase and Chandler Whitmer to take on contact this spring. The three survived Saturday's scrimmage without injury, and will go live again in another scrimmage this week and in the spring game April 24 at Memorial Stadium. Although head coach Ron Zook admittedly is a bit nervous about seeing his quarterbacks shedding the no-contact jerseys, he and his assistants believe it's necessary.

In fact, Illinois' new-look offensive staff is doing all it can to make April feel like October for the quarterbacks.

"We’ve just got to get them as much game-type experience, live action, as they can get, and simulate the game as much as we can so they’re tested and ready to go when the season comes," Illini quarterbacks coach Jeff Brohm told me. "This is a sport where tough guys play. You’ve got to be tough, you’ve got to be physical, you’ve got to be able to take a little criticism. You’ve got to be able to handle it when things go wrong, how you’re going to respond.

"And the players have responded."

Brohm admits it's a work in progress and doesn't downplay the situation in Champaign. Illinois has a new offensive coordinator in Paul Petrino, three new offensive assistants and a new offensive system. Of the three quarterback candidates, only Charest, a sophomore, has experience at the college level, after playing in four games (starting one) last season.

Brohm also provides honest assessments of each quarterback at this stage:

Charest: "More of your drop-back passer, not real mobile."

Scheelhaase: "Extremely athletic, can run, just not a very polished passer at this point, and it’s not his strength."

Whitmer: "He's not real big. He throws the ball extremely well, but he’s not real mobile."

Petrino's offense ideally wants a quarterback who can sling the ball and operate in an NFL-style system. Ryan Mallett certainly met those demands last year at Arkansas, and it's why he's considered the nation's top quarterback prospect for the 2011 NFL draft. At Illinois, the coaches are prepared to adjust the scheme to fit their personnel, and Brohm said the quarterbacks will throw on the move and run some zone read, as they did under the previous regime.

Scheelhaase and Charest both made big plays in Saturday's scrimmage, and while Scheelhaase has generated the most buzz this spring, Zook said, "they've all had their days when they've had the upper hand."

When will the coaches decide on a starter? The sooner, the better. Zook wants to find the quarterback who best learns from his mistakes this spring.

"We do have a lot of young guys, and right now, it’s hard to tell who’s going to be the guy," Brohm said. "We would like to do it by the end of the spring, but that’s not going to be a guarantee. We're going to make sure we make the right decision."

Brohm doesn't expect the quarterbacks to be hit in fall camp, citing the injury risk so close to the season. But from now until Sept. 4, when Illinois meets Missouri in St. Louis, the quarterbacks will be challenged every possible way in practice.

"We just want them to get under the fire and see what it’s really like out there," Brohm said. "We’re trying to demand the best and make sure that they leave this field knowing, ‘I put myself in the game situation every single rep I had, and pretended the pressure was on the line.’

"If we do that, then we’ve done everything we can.”

Without doing a scientific study, I'd guess that quarterback competitions account for at least 50 percent of the preseason discussion in college football. Until a starter is officially announced, we all want to know about practice progress, candidate separation, leadership ability and skill sets.

At least two Big Ten quarterback races should hold our attention, according to colleague Bruce Feldman.

Feldman breaks down the top 10 quarterback competitions of the spring, and both Penn State and Illinois made his list. Penn State aims to replace Big Ten co-MVP Daryll Clark and has three young candidates -- Kevin Newsome, Matt McGloin and Paul Jones -- in the mix this spring. Another heralded recruit, Robert Bolden, arrives this summer.

Illinois loses four-year starter Juice Williams and will turn to Jacob Charest, Nathan Scheelhaase or Chandler Whitmer. Eddie McGee, the team's former backup quarterback, will focus on playing wide receiver.

Penn State comes in at No. 6 on Feldman's list. He writes: "Newsome saw limited action last year, but still has the most seasoning of the bunch. Jones, the early enrollee, has impressed teammates with his arm. Newsome runs well and is such a good athlete that, like Clark once upon a time, people thought he'd made a good linebacker or safety."

Illinois comes in at No. 9, and Feldman writes: "The most experienced option is Charest, who started two games last year. Keep an eye on Whitmer. I was impressed by him when I saw him at the Elite 11. And he is already impressing his coaches out there, too."

The spring superlatives series, which examines the strongest and weakest positions for each Big Ten team, wraps up with Illinois.

After a tumultuous offseason, the Fighting Illini have no shortage of issues this spring. But there aren't as many glaring holes as you might think. Illinois needs to identify a capable quarterback or two, replace wideout Arrelious Benn and fill some gaps on both lines. The defense should be stronger with coordinator Vic Koenning and the return of linebacker Martez Wilson from a neck injury.

Strongest position: Running back

• Key returnees: Mikel LeShoure (108 carries, 734 rush yards, 5 TDs); Jason Ford (97 carries, 588 rush yards, 4 TDs); Justin Green (19 carries, 88 rush yards, 2 TDs); Troy Pollard (11 carries, 67 rush yards).
• Key losses: Daniel Dufrene (63 carries, 277 rush yards, 3 TDs); quarterback Juice Williams (143 carries, 507 rush yards, 3 TDs).
• The skinny: Illinois' offense had its problems in 2009, but the running back position wasn't one of them. The Illini return one of the Big Ten's best tandems in LeShoure and Ford. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, LeShoure exploded for 184 yards and two touchdowns on only just 11 carries in the season finale against Fresno State. Ford has 12 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons and should be a force in the red zone this fall. Green could be primed for a breakout season, though he'll have a tough time taking carries away from LeShoure or Ford. Illinois boasts depth here but needs the offensive line to step up.

Weakest position: Quarterback

• Key returnees: Jacob Charest (28-for-56 passing, 382 pass yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs); Eddie McGee (25-for-47 passing, 303 pass yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs).
• Key losses: Juice Williams (131-for-227 passing, 1,632 pass yards, 12 TDs, 7 INTs, 507 rush yards, 4 TDs).
• The skinny: Say what you want about Williams, but he left Illinois as one of the most productive players in team history, not to mention a four-year starter. His departure leaves things totally wide open at quarterback for new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino. Charest showed some promise in limited work last year, and McGee gets one final shot at quarterback after being shifted to wide receiver for most of 2009. If those two don't work out, Illinois will look to redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase or true freshman Chandler Whitmer, an early enrollee. Don't be surprised to see the Illini use multiple quarterbacks this fall.

Word of the day: Farokhmanesh.

It will be on the test.

• Wisconsin backup quarterback Curt Phillips sustained a knee injury in Saturday's scrimmage, Jim Polzin writes in The Capital Times. The Badgers picked up their first commitment for 2011.
• Missed this one from last week, but Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith outlines improvements for the team's football practice facility, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Ohio State has the talent to do big things, but it needs to gain the mental edge, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• A look at the Big Ten expansion candidates from Paul Trembacki of the Northwest Indiana Times.
• Yahoo! Sports' Matt Hinton breaks down an Iowa team that seems to decide its fate in the final two minutes of games.
• Night football is a hit everywhere, and Michigan Stadium should be no exception, annarbor.com's Michael Rothstein writes. Finalizing a night game was just the first item on AD David Brandon's lengthy to-do list, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News.
• Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart breaks down Minnesota and Michigan State as the teams begin spring practice.
• Juice Williams had a disappointing senior season at Illinois, but don't count him out for the NFL, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• The (Bloomington) Herald-Times' Dustin Dopirak looks at five big issues for Indiana this spring (subscription required).
• Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald (die-hard White Sox fan) stops by New York Yankees camp to visit with pal Joe Girardi, Marc Carig writes in The Star-Ledger.

Arguably no FBS head coach in the country wants to get back on the practice field more than Illinois' Ron Zook. Illinois underwent a major staff overhaul following a disappointing 3-9 performance in 2009, as Zook hired two new coordinators (Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning), fired four assistants, demoted two others, replaced two coaches and hired another (Ron West). After losing the momentum from the 2007 Rose Bowl run, Zook needs to get things back on track in 2010. His roster remains talented but includes question marks at quarterback, offensive line and secondary.

Illinois opens spring practice March 30, and Zook recently took some time to preview the spring.

Is there a greater excitement than usual for spring ball after all the changes in the offseason and the struggles last year?

Ron Zook: Yeah, there is. As a coach, you're always excited about spring ball because it gets you back on the field and you look forward to that. I wish we could start tomorrow. The enthusiasm around here, the energy, the players, it's an exciting time. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.

Had you ever been through an offseason like this one before, with so many changes?

Zook: Yeah. Any time you change jobs, it's the same kind of thing. But the good thing about this is it's almost like changing jobs, but you know everybody. You know what's going on, you know all the kids and what's going on with them and what buttons you have to push there. From that standpoint, it's neat because you know the deal.

You've had a chance to be around these new coaches for a bit of time now. What have you learned about them?

Zook: I don't know if I've learned anything new, but it's a lot of fun. I told my wife, being around Paul, he's an offensive Ron Zook. Vic is a very, very thorough guy, reminds me of guys that I've coached with in the NFL. It's fun. We think alike in terms of where we're headed and the things we have to do. From that standpoint, it's been a breath of fresh air. It's been really fun.

Heading into the spring, players are going to have new coordinators on both sides of the ball, some new things being thrown at them. Do you have to manage expectations or does the bar have to be set really high right away?

Zook: The expectations and the excitement is there. That's just how the coaches are. They bring it. To me, the biggest question is we have to try and get through spring and get everybody in the right place. It's a little bit different when you're putting in a new offense and a new defense, making sure you've got guys in the right place. The other thing you see is guys are starting all over. Everybody gets a clean slate and everybody gets an opportunity to prove themselves.

With the quarterback spot, it's always hard to lose a four-year starter [Juice Williams]. How do you look at that group going into the spring? How much attention will you devote to that spot?


Zook: Everybody's paying attention to that because that's the one position that usually is going to dictate the success of your team in the long run. It's exciting. The fun thing about it is the competition is going to be intense. Everybody is starting on the same foot, that's the great thing. Everything's new, so no one's got an [edge], even though Jacob Charest, he's the one guy who's got some playing time. Eddie McGee as well, but Eddie has spent as much or more time at wide receiver as he has at quarterback. That will throw an added mix into it. Jacob and Eddie are the two that have playing time. Nathan [Scheelhaase] is a guy we've been very, very excited about and high on. And then Chandler Whitmer's come in, and I've been very, very impressed with the way he's handle things, the 6 a.m. drills, the way he's competing. Him and Nathan both are up here all the time, in the offices, by themselves watching tape, which is a good sign.

Paul mentioned the importance of building the offense around whoever emerges as the starter. How important is it to have some separation, maybe one or two guys, by the end of the spring?

Zook: I don't think you can go in saying we want them to separate. You have to go in and see what it is. The great thing is [Petrino has] done it with a pure drop-back passer, he's done it with a mobile guy that can run around and make things happen. The thing you have to do at quarterback is do what they do. It was good when you had Juice and Eddie because the offense really didn't change.

My basketball responsibilities caused me to fall behind on monitoring pro days at Big Ten schools, but I'm back in football mode now. Four Big Ten schools -- Illinois, Michigan State, Penn State and Northwestern -- all held their annual pro days on Wednesday, and here are some highlights.

ILLINOIS

• Wide receiver Arrelious Benn certainly helped himself by clocking a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash, more than a tenth of a second faster than his time (4.48) at the NFL combine.
• Wide receiver/tight end Jeff Cumberland clocked a 4.46 in the 40. Cumberland boasts excellent size, but his pass-catching ability has been questioned.
• Tight end Michael Hoomanawanui ran a 4.83 in the 40.
• Quarterback Juice Williams had his first chance to work out before NFL scouts, while guard Jon Asamoah sat out pro day with a shoulder injury that has limited him since Senior Bowl practice.

MICHIGAN STATE

• Wide receiver Blair White continued a strong pre-draft performance by running the 40 in 4.46 seconds, improving on his time from the combine (4.5). He also recorded a 33.5-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 10 feet.
• Defensive end Trevor Anderson ran a 4.66 in the 40, had a 37-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 10 feet, 7.5 inches.
• According to The Detroit News, cornerback Jeremy Ware ran an unofficial time of 4.37 in the 40, while safety Danny Fortener, running back A.J. Jimmerson and cornerback Ross Weaver all ran better than a 4.5.

PENN STATE

• Quarterback Daryll Clark said he clocked a 4.61 in the 40-yard dash after not running at the combine because of a hamstring injury.
• Linebacker Navorro Bowman said his 40 time improved to 4.61 seconds (he had a 4.72 in Indy).
• Linebacker Josh Hull improved substantially on his poor 40 time at the combine (4.91 seconds) by clocking a 4.71 on Wednesday.
• Linebacker Sean Lee improved his 40 time from 4.74 seconds in Indianapolis to unofficially 4.55 Wednesday.
• Defensive tackle Jared Odrick said he improved on his 40 time, recording several attempts below five seconds after clocking a 5.03 at the combine. He also improved on his broad jump.
• Tight end Andrew Quarless said he ran the 40 in the 4.5 range Wednesday after recording a 4.69 in Indianapolis.
• Tackle Dennis Landolt and defensive end/linebacker Jerome Hayes both said they had 24 reps in the 225-pound bench press.
• Former Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli worked out for scouts Wednesday as he tries to revive his pro career.

NORTHWESTERN

• Quarterback Mike Kafka continued a strong pre-draft performance on pro day, reportedly hitting on almost every throw.
• Wide receiver Andrew Brewer recorded a 4.60 in the 40, a 39-inch vertical leap, a 10-foot broad jump and a short shuttle run of 4.08 seconds.