ESPN College Football

2011 overall record: 11-2
2011 conference record: 6-2 (2nd, Legends Division)
Returning starters: Offense: 6; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners
QB Denard Robinson; RB Fitzgerald Toussaint; WR Roy Roundtree; WR Jeremy Gallon; LT Taylor Lewan; RT Michael Schofield; DE Craig Roh; LB Jake Ryan; LB Kenny Demens; LB Desmond Morgan; CB J.T. Floyd; CB Blake Countess; S Thomas Gordon; S Jordan Kovacs.

Key losses
WR Junior Hemingway; WR Darryl Stonum; WR/KR Martavious Odoms; TE Kevin Koger; C David Molk; RT Mark Huyge; DT Mike Martin; DE/DT Ryan Van Bergen; DT Will Heininger.

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Denard Robinson* (1,176 yards)
Passing: Denard Robinson* (2,173 yards)
Receiving: Junior Hemingway (699 yards)
Tackles: Kenny Demens* (94)
Sacks: Ryan Van Bergen (5.5)
Interceptions: Courtney Avery* and J.T. Floyd* (2)

Spring answers

1. Quarterback accuracy: Denard Robinson played one series in the public spring scrimmage, but coaches raved about his improved leadership, decision-making and accuracy throughout the spring. The latter two were major issues for Michigan last season. While it is unknown whether Robinson will truly be more accurate until Sept. 1 against Alabama -- Michigan closed all of its practices to the media this spring -- offensive coordinator Al Borges was very confident in Robinson’s potential for his senior season.

2. Cornerback has depth: Two seasons ago, cornerback was the biggest question on Michigan’s team because of youth, inexperience and a lack of talent. That is no longer an issue. The Wolverines have as many as six players they could feel comfortable with come the fall, and that doesn’t include incoming freshman Terry Richardson (Detroit/Cass Tech), the highest-ranked player in Michigan’s incoming signing class. Sophomore Blake Countess could turn into a star, and fifth-year senior J.T. Floyd is the most consistent corner the Wolverines have. They’ll be the likely starters.

3. A featured back is set: Borges made no hesitation: Redshirt junior Fitzgerald Toussaint is going into the fall as his top tailback -- a marked change from what the Wolverines endured last spring and through the first half of last season. Toussaint rushed for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns last season, giving Michigan a dynamic dual running game with Robinson. With major questions at wide receiver and tight end, expect a lot of running from Toussaint and Robinson, especially early in the season.

Fall questions

1. Who is catching the ball: Michigan’s coaches spoke highly of Jeremy Gallon, Jerald Robinson and Roy Roundtree during the spring as their top three receivers, but Robinson has never caught a pass, Gallon has had one season of consistent productivity, and Roundtree saw his numbers plummet last season to 19 catches for 355 yards. Tight end isn’t much better, as the position group has two career catches. Denard Robinson’s two best safety valves -- Junior Hemingway and Kevin Koger -- graduated, so even if Denard Robinson is improved, he might need to hunt to find a reliable receiving option. Incoming freshman Devin Funchess (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) could be an option at tight end.

2. Who is pressuring the quarterback: Michigan took its biggest hits on the defensive line, which saw three starters graduate -- Mike Martin was a third-round draft pick, Ryan Van Bergen signed as a free agent, and Will Heininger graduated -- and its fourth starter, Craig Roh, switch positions. Michigan insists it’ll be OK there. Will Campbell and converted end Jibreel Black will likely start inside, and either sophomore Brennen Beyer or sophomore Frank Clark will start at rush end. The success of Michigan’s defense last season relied on pressure the front four created. With an almost completely new group there, how they fare against opponents will be interesting to see.

3. Punting problems: Somewhere along the way last season, Will Hagerup lost his mojo, much like kicker Brendan Gibbons the year before. A strong-legged punter, Hagerup wasn’t connecting with the ball well and eventually lost his job to freshman Matt Wile. Now entering his junior year, Michigan hopes either Hagerup regains his form or Wile becomes more consistent. The Wolverines’ offense should be fairly prolific, but with a defense searching for pressure early on, it needs to be able to control field position with the punter.

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.

In our most recent Take Two, we debated which position group was the strongest throughout the league. So on the flip side, today's Take Two topic is this: What position group in the league looks most in need of improvement after spring practice?

Take 1: Brian Bennett

The Big Ten had nine receivers drafted into the NFL over the weekend, and overall the league lost its top seven pass-catchers from the 2011 season. So there's no wonder that position looked a little weak across several campuses this spring. Only two players who caught at least 50 passes last year -- Wisconsin's Jared Abbrederis and Iowa's Keenan Davis -- return in 2012. Michigan State lost its top two wideouts in B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin and is relying on wildly inexperienced players to step up there. Ohio State didn't have a player catch more than 14 passes last year, and new coach Urban Meyer criticized the receivers all spring, though Michael Thomas did have a strong spring game. Wisconsin missed Abbrederis (foot injury) this spring and is trying to find someone else to play with consistency at that spot. A.J. Jenkins basically was the passing game for Illinois last year, and now the Illini need more options in their new spread system after losing the first-rounder. Michigan needs to replace Junior Hemingway and is hoping Roy Roundtree bounces back after a subpar junior year stats-wise.

I could go on and on. Very few schools appear settled at receiver right now, and I'd be hard pressed to select a pair of preseason first-team all-conference performers there at this point. While receiver is one position where young players can often have a quick impact, it's also true that the league is lacking proven stars at that spot heading into the season.

Take 2: Adam Rittenberg

The league undoubtedly loses a lot at receiver, but I'm going with the guys throwing the passes, not catching them. Great quarterbacks can make adequate receivers good and good receivers great. It rarely works the other way around. The Big Ten doesn't lose as many standout quarterbacks as it does receivers, but the league says goodbye to three of its best in Wisconsin's Russell Wilson, Michigan State's Kirk Cousins and Northwestern's Dan Persa. Wilson energized Wisconsin's offense with his strong arm and athleticism, and while his accomplishments were overshadowed by those of teammate Montee Ball, he'll be sorely missed. While Danny O'Brien is a nice addition, he's not Russell Wilson. Cousins and Persa also leave significant voids in East Lansing and Evanston, respectively. While Kain Colter is a great athlete and Andrew Maxwell has been groomed for the spotlight, both men have a lot to prove.

The overall quality of quarterback play in the league needs a boost in 2012. Remember that the Big Ten failed to have a team ranked in the top 35 nationally in pass offense in 2011. Nebraska's Taylor Martinez, Illinois' Nathan Scheelhaase and Minnesota's MarQueis Gray must become a lot more consistent. Ohio State's Braxton Miller and Indiana's Tre Roberson must grow up. Michigan's Denard Robinson needs to cut down on his interceptions and add reliability to his repertoire. Iowa's James Vandenberg has to get a lot better on the road. Purdue and Penn State need a quarterback to separate himself from the pack. There are many more familiar names at quarterback, but if they don't make strides, the Big Ten once again will be grounded on offense.

Many Bothans died bringing us this information.

• Jim Delany will seek some input from players for their perspective on the Rose Bowl. More coverage of the BCS meetings here and here.
• Authorities say former Minnesota linebacker Gary Tinsely died of an enlarged heart.
• Iowa got a commitment from an Ohio defensive tackle, its third D-line recruit in the '13 class so far. Marvin McNutt may have to wait a while to hear his name called.
• Nebraska's Lavonte David may be undersized, but his production is awfully large. Sam McKewon recaps the Huskers' spring.
• Kyle Meinke breaks down all of Michigan's draft hopefuls. Junior Hemingway's draft stock is on the rise.
• Whether Bill O'Brien wants to win now or win later may help him decide who his starting quarterback will be. Matt McGloin may still be the last man standing.
• Ricky Wagner wants to follow in the line of greatness at left tackle for Wisconsin.
• Whitney Mercilus talks about his draft season.
• Ohio State's Mike Adams could be a "boom or bust" prospect.
• Jerel Worthy could break Michigan State's first-round drought. The Spartans' spring game draft said a lot about how some players are viewed.
• Damarlo Belcher is Indiana's best hope for a draftee.
• Purdue kicker Carson Wiggs wants to be Mr. Irrelevant.

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

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

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

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

Round 1

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

Round 2

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

Round 3

No. 89: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Round 4

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

Round 5

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

Round 6

No. 207: Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State

Round 7

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

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

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

Here's your hump day linkage.

• Check out the latest from the BCS meetings here and here and here. Dennis Dodd writes the Rose Bowl will have to relinquish more tradition to remain in the playoff mix.
• Looks like "The Victors" will play at JerryWorld after all on Sept. 1.
• No surprise here, but Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell (knee) will miss the spring game. Spartans' NFL prospects look forward to a big draft weekend. Joe Rexrode writes about the first lady of Michigan State football, who recently passed away.
• Ohio State's Michael Bennett shares some interesting thoughts on the new coaches. Jim Tressel returns to Columbus but doesn't talk football. The Bowtie slams media outlets critical of Ohio State.
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio spearheaded the idea of spring scrimmages against other teams.
• Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz seems to be opening up to more new ideas. Ferentz's accessibility is a welcome change, Pat Harty writes. Iowa is in the market for more neutral-site football games.
• Brady Hoke discusses the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, Ohio State's academic majors sign and other topics. Michigan WR Junior Hemingway boosts his draft stock into the middle rounds.
• Rod Woodson discusses his Purdue career, the current Boilers program and other topics in this Q&A.
• Whitney Mercilus might not be Illinois' only early round selection. It doesn't make the waiting game any easier for Illini draft prospects.
• ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay says Northwestern QB Dan Persa is "limited" as a pro prospect. An interesting look at Northwestern's new partnership with Under Armour.
• Steve Heiser writes Penn State should stop scheduling non-league nobodies. Bill O'Brien's assistants hit the recruiting trail.
• More on the measure approving alcohol sales at TCF Bank Stadium. Some praise for Minnesota's new athletic director.
• Athlon Sports wonders whether Nebraska can win the Big Ten this season.
• Wisconsin's offense struggled in the two-minute drill Tuesday. The Badgers' A.J. Fenton has a new look, literally and figuratively.

If Al Borges had his preference, Michigan would be running more of a pro-style offense. That's clearly the future for the Wolverines and the type of players they have been recruiting.

But Borges is no dummy. He knows he has Denard Robinson at quarterback for one more year. Michigan wisely did not try to cram Robinson into an ill-fitting system last year, as Borges adjusted his offense to his star player's unique talents. That worked out pretty well, as the Wolverines went 11-2 and won the Sugar Bowl.

So the full-fledged movement to a pro style can wait another year.

"We have pieces of our offense that are still very pro style, like our passing game," Borges told ESPN.com. "But we're still very much a spread because of Denard, and we'll continue to be because that is the best thing that suits his skill set. We'll have some plays under center at times, and we were very productive at those last year. But because of Denard's running ability, that will never be a prominent part of our offense."

The most frequent and often tiresome question around the Michigan offense is how much Robinson will run the ball. Borges found a nice balance last year, using it as a weapon but also keeping his quarterback mostly healthy. He sees no reason to alter that formula.

"I don't see his role changing any," Borges said. "We may up the ante a little bit with him throwing a couple more times a game. But any change will be subtle and hardly noticeable."

Robinson completed only 55 percent of his passes last season and threw 15 interceptions, the most in the Big Ten. That obviously has to improve. Borges said he's been working on Robinson's footwork and hip placement. Another year in the system should also help.

"He's probably at the top of the list of guy who just understand better," Borges said. "Last year at this time, he couldn't call the play. Now he can call the play with no problems at all. We're still working hard on his fundamentals to get him better that way, but his understanding is so much better than it was a year ago."

Borges also knows he has another strong option in the backfield in running back Fitz Toussaint, who emerged as a star midway through last season and finished with more than 1,000 yards rushing.

"He didn't really come on until the fourth or fifth game of the season," Borges said. "Now he'll be in there from the beginning and show his worth from Day 1. If he stays healthy, he can have a hell of a year."

Michigan has good depth at running back with Vincent Smith, Stephen Hopkins and Thomas Rawls returning. Borges said the coaching staff is taking "a hard look" at redshirt freshman Justice Hayes this spring.

Wide receiver isn't quite as deep with Junior Hemingway gone and Darryl Stonum dismissed from the team. Roy Roundtree, Jeremy Gallon and Drew Dileo are the returning veterans, and Borges said redshirt sophomore Jerald Robinson has looked very good early on in spring practice. Some incoming freshmen will likely have a chance to contribute as well.

Roundtree might hold the key to the group. He had 72 catches for 935 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore but caught just 19 balls for 355 yards last season. Borges has moved Roundtree to flanker, which was Hemingway's spot a year ago.

"Playing flanker, I think you'll see Roy's numbers go back up," Borges said. "He's in great shape, running well and catching the ball right now in our first couple of practices. He's playing as well as he's played since I've been here. He's learned how to run the routes and read the coverages, and he has a big-play dimension to him. If he stays in one piece, I look for him to have a big year."

Just don't look for Michigan to change too much else this year on offense.

We had the Leap Day version of the Big Ten chat earlier today, and it was a mostly constructive one. Here's a full transcript.

Not surprisingly, there were several questions about my story on the Big Ten's limited history of African-American football coaches.

While I expected a lot of criticism for this piece, I think most folks are missing the point and not reading the entire story. I don't think the Big Ten is racist. I think the athletic directors look for the best candidates and, for the most part, consider African-American coaches, who have, no matter what you think you know, faced an uphill climb to get these high-profile, highly visible jobs. I think the league's participation in the minority coaches forum is terrific.

It's noteworthy, however, that as the numbers of African-American football coaches increase nationally -- because they're qualified, not because they fill a quota -- we haven't seen any in the Big Ten. That doesn't mean we won't soon, as the story points out. But one African-American coach has been hired in the Big Ten in the past 20 years. That's unusual, given the recent surge.

To say Big Ten teams are always hiring the best coaches is absurd. While some teams have landed their first choices, others have not. And there have been several bad hires in this league. Minnesota AD Joel Maturi practically admitted to me he should have hired Charlie Strong rather than Tim Brewster -- not because Strong is African-American, but because he has turned out to be a better coach. And for those of you who think African-American coaches don't face resistance because of their skin color, look at Strong. He should have had an FBS job at least two years earlier than he did.

It's also absurd to ignore the pool of qualified African-American coaching candidates has grown substantially in recent years. Why else would we see the hiring numbers increase nationally?

Many of you are appalled or disgusted with my story. That's fine. But it's an issue worth raising because of the national trend, and it's one I'll continue to monitor going forward.

Some highlights from the chat:

Dan from Springfield, Ohio: Adam, Who do you see making the biggest splash as a freshman in the B1G this coming year? Also who do you think will be named preseason Offensive and Defensive POY?

Adam Rittenberg: Dan, I think Noah Spence has a chance to help Ohio State immediately. Spence and Adolphus Washington should get playing time right away as freshmen. Montee Ball is a lock for preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The preseason Defensive POY will be more interesting because of all the player departures around the conference. Ohio State's John Simon would be a candidate. So would Penn State's Gerald Hodges. And I think Michigan State's Will Gholston deserves consideration.

Frank from Galveston: After saying he wasn't leaving, Nebraska secondary coach Corey Raymond goes to LSU which leaves Bo Pelini with a huge hole to fill. How will coach Raymond's departure affect Nebraska?

Adam Rittenberg: Frank, the timing is unfortunate, and there could be an impact in recruiting, but the long-term effects should be minimal. Bo Pelini knows how to coach defensive backs, and he'll find a good replacement for Raymond. Pelini's track record of producing NFL-quality DBs should be enough of a selling point for Nebraska to overcome Raymond's departure rather easily.

Randy from Michigan: Adam, do you think that Junior Hemmingway can make an impact in the NFL? I personally thought that he carried the team on his shoulders when they needed him the most (look at the Sugar Bowl). He has the ability to make catches in traffic, even when he is well defended. Does this counteract the 0.2 or whatever, that he is behind some other good receivers in the 40 yard dash?

Adam Rittenberg: Randy, I absolutely think Hemingway can be a good pro receiver. Look at how he produced when healthy at Michigan. Look at how he finished his career at the Sugar Bowl. And look at how he performed at the combine. The guy has momentum right now, and he's showing just how effective he can be. While he likely won't be picked that high, I think a team can get a great value in Hemingway.

Matt from DC: To follow up: Obviously you are dead right about the SEC being the biggest obstacle because of their proximity to the bowl sites but I just don?t see how any school?s fan base, unless a blue blood like UT, OU, UM, OSU, USC, PSU, could travel to neutral sites two times in a couple of weeks. What conference would agree to let their team in a four team playoff play at neutral sites where the breakdown is 70-30 against them in the first semi?

Adam Rittenberg: Good points here, Matt. The hard part is that the regional sites would have to be assigned well in advance because of planning purposes. It would be impossible to decide to play a neutral site game in Indianapolis or Atlanta or Detroit two weeks before the game. The commissioners could assign these sites in advance and then have the higher-seeded teams play closer to home, but like you say, it would still be tough for fans.

Thanks again for the questions. I'll be on vacation in early March, so our next chat takes place March 21.

Hope Leap Day William visits today and trades candy for your tears.

• Pat Harty wonders if new Iowa playcaller Greg Davis is ready for a change in talent level from his days at Texas. DJK was released from his arena football team.
• Denard Robinson is growing as a leader, Al Borges says. Junior Hemingway thinks Michigan will beat Alabama in the 2012 opener. Mike Martin is happy with his showing at the NFL combine.
• Bo Pelini says he's in no rush to fill the coaching vacancy on his staff, even if that means he won't have a dedicated secondary coach for the start of spring practice March 10. Alfonzo Dennard made his case -- a solid, if not spectacular one -- at the NFL combine.
• Ohio State got a commitment from top-rated in-state offensive lineman and ESPNU 150 prospect Evan Lisle.
• Penn State dismissed redshirt freshman defensive end Shawn Oakman without much explanation. New Nittany Lions quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher says he's confident the program can attract elite signal-callers to State College.
• A fullback prospect talks about his visit to Purdue.
• It's a promising sign that Thomas Hammock didn't become the latest assistant to leave Wisconsin.
• NBCSports.com looks at some Big Ten spring storylines.
• If you didn't read Adam's piece about the lack of diversity among Big Ten head coaches, you should.

And the nominees for best lunchtime links are ...

• Michigan's Junior Hemingway still maintains that he caught a touchdown at the end of the Iowa loss. Iowa's Mike Daniels is healthy now after an injury-filled senior season and hopes to make an impression at the combine.
• Mike Martin didn't achieve his goal of breaking the NFL combine record for bench-press reps, finishing five behind teammate David Molk. Both were among the top performers in their position groups.
• An Ohio defensive back and Wisconsin running back gave their commitments to Michigan State over the weekend.
• Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne still has amazing energy at 75, but he doesn't plan to overstay his welcome.
• Ex-Ohio State running back Dan Herron told NFL executives his side of the story about his suspension.
• Penn State might not have any 2013 commitments yet, but the Nittany Lions are being active all over the country in recruiting. Former players reflected on the tumultuous end to last season at the combine.
• New NCAA kickoff rules could lessen the impact for Minnesota return specialist Troy Stoudermire.
• Former Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger is joining Paul Chryst's new staff at Pittsburgh. Could Bret Bielema lose yet another assistant coach?
• Former Illinois kicker Derek Dimke talks about his experience at the NFL combine.
• The Sporting News looks at burning questions for every Big Ten team this spring.

Spring practice is just around the corner, but there was plenty of action on the field at the NFL combine this weekend in Indianapolis.

While the evaluations continue today and Tuesday, several position groups have completed their testing. Let's take a look at the top performances from Big Ten players. Some standouts in the workouts: Michigan WR Junior Hemingway, Illinois WR A.J. Jenkins, Michigan State WR Keshawn Martin, Iowa G Adam Gettis and Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson.

Before looking at position groups, we'll examine the top overall performers to date.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE (through Sunday)

40-yard dash

• Illinois' Jenkins tied for fourth (4.39 seconds)
• Michigan State's Martin tied for 13th (4.45 seconds)

Bench press

• Michigan C David Molk ranked second with 41 repetitions of 225 pounds
• Michigan DT Mike Martin tied for third with 36 repetitions

Vertical jump

• Michigan State's Martin tied for fifth at 39.5 inches
• Illinois' Jenkins tied for ninth at 38.5 inches

Broad jump

• Michigan WR Junior Hemingway tied for 10th at 10 feet, 4 inches
• Illinois' Jenkins tied for 10th at 10 feet, 4 inches

3-cone drill

• Michigan's Hemingway ranked second at 6.59 seconds
• Northwestern TE Drake Dunsmore tied for fourth at 6.73 seconds

20-yard shuttle

• Michigan's Hemingway ranked second at 3.98 seconds
• Northwestern's Dunsmore tied for fourth at 4.03 seconds
• Ohio State RB Dan Herron ranked sixth at 4.04 seconds
• Iowa WR Marvin McNutt ranked ninth at 4.07 seconds
• Wisconsin's Wilson ranked 10th at 4.09 seconds

60-yard shuttle

• Michigan's Hemingway tied for third at 11.16 seconds
• Michigan State's Martin tied for third at 11.16 seconds
• Northwestern's Dunsmore tied for 14th at 11.47 seconds

Now onto the position groups ...

Quarterback

• Wisconsin's Wilson ranked second in 40-yard dash (4.55 seconds); sixth in vertical jump (34 inches); fourth in broad jump (9 feet, 10 inches); fifth in 3-cone drill (6.97 seconds) and second in 20-yard shuttle (4.09 seconds)
• Michigan State's Kirk Cousins ranked 12th in 40-yard dash (4.93 seconds); 14th in vertical jump (28.5 inches); tied for ninth in broad jump (9 feet, 1 inch); seventh in 3-cone drill (7.05 seconds); 12th in 20-yard shuttle (4.5 seconds)

Running back

• Michigan State's Edwin Baker tied for 10th in 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds); tied for 12th in bench press (20 reps of 225 pounds); tied for 12th in vertical jump (35 inches); and tied for 14th in 20-yard shuttle (4.31 seconds).
• Ohio State's Dan Herron ranked seventh in bench press (22 reps of 225 pounds); tied for 12th in vertical jump (35 inches); tied for 12th in broad jump (9 feet, 9 inches); sixth in 3-cone drill (6.97 seconds); second in 20-yard shuttle (4.04 seconds); and fifth in 60-yard shuttle (11.6 seconds).
• Wisconsin FB Bradie Ewing tied for fifth in vertical jump (36.5 inches); tied for fifth in broad jump (10 feet); tied for 14th in 3-cone drill (7.14 seconds); tied for fifth in 20-yard shuttle (4.16 seconds); and seventh in 60-yard shuttle (11.81 seconds).

Wide receiver

• Illinois' Jenkins tied for fourth in 40-yard dash (4.39 seconds); tied for seventh in vertical jump (38.5 inches); and tied for eighth in broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches).
• Michigan State's Martin ranked 11th in 40-yard dash (4.45 seconds); tied for fourth in vertical jump (39.5 inches); tied for 14th in broad jump (10 feet, 2 inches); tied for eighth in 3-cone drill (6.85 seconds); tied for 10th in 20-yard shuttle (4.13 seconds); and tied for second in 60-yard shuttle (11.16 seconds).
• Michigan's Hemingway tied for third in bench press (21 reps at 225 pounds); tied for eighth in broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches); ranked first in 3-cone drill (6.59 seconds); tied for first in 20-yard shuttle (3.98 seconds); and tied for second in 60-yard shuttle (11.16 seconds).
• Wisconsin's Nick Toon ranked 12th in bench press (18 reps at 225 pounds) and ranked 12th in vertical jump (37.5 inches).
• Iowa's Marvin McNutt tied for 13th in vertical jump (37 inches); ranked fifth in 20-yard shuttle (4.07 seconds); and ranked 12th in 60-yard shuttle (11.62 seconds).
• Ohio State's DeVier Posey tied for 10th in broad jump (10 feet, 3 inches) and tied for 12th in 20-yard shuttle (4.15 seconds).

Tight end

• Northwestern's Dunsmore ranked fifth in 40-yard dash (4.64 seconds); tied for fifth in bench press (21 reps at 225 pounds); fifth in vertical jump (35.5 seconds); seventh in broad jump (9 feet, 9 inches); first in 3-cone drill (6.73 seconds); first in 20-yard shuttle (4.03 seconds); and third in 60-yard shuttle (11.47 seconds).

Defensive line (workouts take place Monday)

• Michigan's Martin tied for second in bench press (36 reps of 225 pounds)

Offensive line

• Iowa G Adam Gettis ranked third in 40-yard dash (5 seconds); tied for third in vertical jump (31.5 inches); second in broad jump (9 feet, 4 inches); tied for ninth in 20-yard shuttle (4.65 seconds)
• Iowa T Riley Reiff tied for eighth in 40-yard dash (5.23 seconds);
• Illinois T Jeff Allen ranked 15th in 40-yard dash (5.28 seconds); tied for 14th in broad jump (8 feet, 6 inches)
• Michigan's Molk ranked first in bench press (41 reps at 225 pounds);
• Wisconsin G Kevin Zeitler tied for third in bench press (32 reps at 225 pounds); tied for 14th in vertical jump (29 inches); eighth in 20-yard shuttle (4.61 seconds)
• Penn State G Johnnie Troutman tied for eighth in bench press (31 reps at 225 pounds)
• Ohio State C Mike Brewster tied for 13th in bench press (29 reps at 225 pounds); ranked 15th in 3-cone drill (7.73 seconds); tied for sixth in 20-yard shuttle (4.6 seconds)

The four sweetest words in the English language: "You wore me down."

• A blue-chip cornerback from New Jersey continued Ohio State's impressive recruiting run. Eli Woodard chose the Buckeyes over Rutgers.
• Reports have Bill O'Brien completing his staff with Miami of Ohio assistant Charlie Fisher. A film about Joe Paterno that was completed just before he died will be shown this weekend.
• Introducing some more new Iowa players here, here, here and here.
• Discussing the NFL draft chances of Mike Martin, David Molk and Junior Hemingway.
• Michigan and Ohio State are battling for the services of Ohio prep running back Deveon Smith.
• Some familiar names will be attending Nebraska's junior day.
• Illinois coach Tim Beckman says leaving Toledo was the hardest decision he's ever made.

The 2012 Big Ten season doesn't kick off for six-and-a-half months, but spring football is just around the corner. All 12 Big Ten squads will hit the field next month for the first of 15 spring practices. There are plenty of new faces, as the winter months brought an unprecedented number of coaching changes to the Big Ten. Should be a fun and exciting spring around the conference.

Let's take a quick look at the Leaders Division:

IOWA

Spring practice start date: March 24
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• New coaching flavor: For the first time in the Kirk Ferentz era, Iowa will welcome new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Phil Parker isn't exactly new, having served as Iowa's defensive backs coach throughout Ferentz's tenure, but he now takes charge of the defense for the first time. Will he continue running Norm Parker's scheme or shake things up? Iowa also will have a new offensive coordinator (yet to be named) and several new position coaches, including Reese Morgan, who moves from offensive line to defensive line.
• Running back auditions: Iowa once again needs to identify a featured back after Marcus Coker transferred to Stony Brook in January. Coker basically was the team's rushing attack in 2011, accounting for 77.3 percent of the rushing yards and 61.9 percent of the carries. Jordan Canzeri and Jason White will compete with several other unproven players this spring. The good news is Iowa has had little trouble developing backs. Keeping them is another story.
• Reloading the defensive line: The running backs might get more attention, but defensive line is Iowa's most pressing need entering the spring. The Hawkeyes lose three starters from last season's squad, including NFL prospect Mike Daniels at defensive tackle. While D-line historically has been a strength for Iowa, the Hawkeyes haven't had so much uncertainty in quite some time. Morgan, who hasn't coached on the defensive side, has his work cut out this spring.

MICHIGAN

Spring practice start date: March 17
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Defensive line rotation: It's a good thing coach Brady Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison focus so much on the defensive line. The unit needs some extra attention this spring after losing standouts Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen. The defensive tackle spot will be particularly interesting. A lot of eyes will be on Will Campbell to see if the big man can finally blossom. Quinton Washington and others are in the mix.
• Receiving orders: Michigan needs to develop more options in the passing game this spring. The team loses top wideout Junior Hemingway, and Darryl Stonum was dismissed from the squad in January following another legal issue. Roy Roundtree needs a big spring as he looks to re-establish himself as the team's No. 1 wideout after a production drop-off last season. Tight end Kevin Koger also departs, creating an opportunity for others.
• Al Borges' offense, Take 2: The new offense had some highs and lows in Year 1, and Michigan will be looking to establish greater consistency this season. It'll be interesting to see how a full year in the system impacts quarterback Denard Robinson. Robinson must cut down on his interceptions after tossing 15 last season. The Wolverines also are looking for an offensive line anchor following the departure of All-American center David Molk.

MICHIGAN STATE

Spring practice start date: March 27
Spring game: April 28

What to watch:

• Take it to the Max: Andrew Maxwell's time has arrived as he steps in for three-year starter and three-time captain Kirk Cousins at quarterback. It's a tall order, but Maxwell has been groomed for this moment and has shown good potential in practices. He'll be working with a new set of leading receivers, including Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett, who hopes to be cleared to play for the upcoming season. Maxwell must establish himself as a team leader this spring.
• We're not Worthy: All-American Jerel Worthy is gone, and Michigan State needs a replacement for the standout defensive tackle. While Anthony Rashad White returns at the other D-tackle spot, the Spartans don't have much overall depth at the position. It'll be interesting to see what the coaches do with Micajah Reynolds, who has bounced between defensive line and offensive line during his career. It's a big spring for Vanderbilt transfer James Kittredge and a host of players who redshirted last season, including Damon Knox.
• Receiving orders: Arnett seemingly would be Michigan State's No. 1 receiver if he's ruled eligible by the NCAA, but there are no guarantees and the Spartans must identify other options this spring. Bennie Fowler showed promise in 2010 before being slowed by a foot injury last season. He needs a strong spring. Michigan State also is moving Tony Lippett back to receiver from cornerback, where he started several games last season. Lippett is an excellent athlete who can provide a boost on the edge. The Spartans also will be looking for more from tight end Dion Sims.

MINNESOTA

Spring practice start date: March 22
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• The search for a pass rush: Minnesota should be improved on offense in Year 2 of the Jerry Kill era, but the team could sink or swim depending on the defense. It starts up front with a defensive line that hasn't generated much pressure for several years. Coordinator Tracy Claeys wants to be aggressive, but can he find difference-makers? The Gophers haven't had an elite pass-rusher since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008.
• Supporting cast on offense: Although quarterback Marqueis Gray had his ups and downs last season, he accounted for most of Minnesota's offense, leading the team with 966 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Gray needs more help if the Gophers intend to take the next step this season. Minnesota will be looking for a featured running back this spring, as Donnell Kirkwood and others are in the mix. The Gophers also need more options at receiver after losing Da'Jon McKnight.
• Troy Stoudermire: Stoudermire turned heads last spring with some big hits from the cornerback spot. After receiving an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA in January, he'll look to deliver more punishment. Minnesota desperately needs leaders and playmakers to emerge in the secondary, and Stoudermire's return could be huge after he missed most last season with a broken bone in his forearm.

NEBRASKA

Spring practice start date: March 10
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Star search on defense: No Big Ten defense loses more star power than Nebraska, which must replace linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, the league's top performers at their respective positions. David's departure is especially critical, as Nebraska lacked depth in its defensive midsection last season. Although Nebraska played most of the past season without defensive tackle Jared Crick, it needs some difference-makers to emerge in all three levels of the defense this spring.
• Papuchis takes over: Like Iowa, Nebraska promoted a position coach to defensive coordinator, as John Papuchis takes control of a unit that fell short of expectations last season. Papuchis is young and energetic, and his rapid rise mirrors that of his boss, Huskers head coach Bo Pelini. Although no system overhaul is expected, it will be interesting to see how Papuchis puts his imprint on the defense this spring.
• Taylor Martinez's maturation: Despite two years as the starter and the support of his coaches, Martinez enters a pivotal spring. Although Martinez remained healthy last season and showed improved decision-making at times, he also completed just 56.3 percent of his passes and didn't break off as many long runs. A full year in Tim Beck's offense could pay off for Martinez this spring, but he needs to continue to make strides. It will be interesting to see if the coaches even entertain the possibility of a competition, or if backup Brion Carnes gets more reps.

NORTHWESTERN

Spring practice start date: March 3
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Colter and the QB race: Northwestern will have a quarterback competition this spring as it looks for Dan Persa's replacement, but the hope among many is for Kain Colter to take control. Colter stepped in for Persa last season and emerged as the team's best all-around offensive weapon. But he needs to improve his arm strength and his accuracy and show he can be a more complete quarterback at this level. Although Colter will be on the field no matter what in the fall, he has the opportunity in spring ball to solidify himself as the starting quarterback.
• Young defenders: The defense has been a big problem for the past year and a half, and Northwestern needs to identify more playmakers before September. The good news is the Wildcats played a lot of young players last season, particularly late in the season. Northwestern needs its youth to mature, beginning in the spring. Keep an eye on players such as defensive end Tyler Scott, safety Ibraheim Campbell, linebacker Collin Ellis and cornerback Daniel Jones. Northwestern needs several of them to take the next step.
• Spotlight on the secondary: Few Big Ten units struggled more than Northwestern's secondary did last season. Making matters worse, the Wildcats lose three starters, including All-Big Ten safety Brian Peters and cornerback Jordan Mabin, a four-year starter. If Northwestern ever intends to turn the corner as a program, it needs to build better depth in the secondary, whether it's through recruiting or from moving players from other positions. It'll be interesting to see how the group performs this spring.

Back from some basketball moonlighting:

• Kirk Ferentz's staff changes show that he's not a major overhaul kind of guy. Mike Hlas weighs in with some thoughts on the Hawkeyes' coaching moves.
• Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon isn't sold on the idea of a college football playoff. Junior Hemingway was the victim of a burglary.
• Ohio State AD Gene Smith says he's among those open to the playoff idea.
• The Big Ten is being practical with its playoff proposal, Dan Wetzel writes.
• Police have denied that they used unnecessary force in a traffic stop of former Michigan State defensive back Trenton Robinson. A Cleveland-area wide receiver accepted a spot as a preferred walk-on for the Spartans.
• Fundraising will be a huge part of the next Minnesota AD's job. The Minnesota president talks about why Joel Maturi's retirement needed to happen this year.
• Jared Crick is healing and trying to get ready for an NFL career.
• SI.com is no fan of Penn State's recruiting class, giving it an 'F'. The Joe Paterno memorial services cost about $29,000.
• Danny Hope expects that changes on staff will help improve Purdue's defense.
• New Wisconsin assistant Eddie Faulkner can use his experiences as a Badger to be an effective recruiter.

Our postseason rankings of each position group from the 2011 Big Ten season took a short hiatus last week as signing day madness placed its grip on all of us.

Never fear, though, as the rankings are back in full force today, moving on to the receivers and tight ends as we round out our offensive skill positions.

We're looking for depth and not solely star power at the top here. This is how the preseason rankings looked. Some of these groups were undoubtedly hurt by inexperienced or underachieving quarterbacks, so we had to figure out how to weigh their performances in that light. Let's see how the list shakes out after the year ended:

1. Michigan State: The Spartans had the best combo at wideout with seniors B.J. Cunningham, a physical deep threat and No. 1 receiver, and Keshawn Martin, a speedster who could do all sorts of different things in the offense. Together, they combined for 2,083 receiving yards and 16 touchdown catches. Keith Nichol provided a solid third option who made the catch of the year in the Big Ten, if not all of college football, against Wisconsin. Tight end Brian Linthicum had 364 yards receiving and played a key role in the Outback Bowl win over Georgia.

2. Wisconsin: Depth? Hardly. But the Badgers got the most out of their front-line players. Starting wideouts Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis combined for 1,859 yards yard and 18 touchdowns. Eight of tight end Jacob Pedersen's 30 catches went for touchdowns. And don't underestimate the importance of the receivers and tight ends in the Wisconsin running game.

3. Northwestern: The Wildcats' wideouts likely would have put up better numbers if Dan Persa had stayed healthy all season. As it stood, Northwestern still got another outstanding year out of Jeremy Ebert (75 catches, 1,060 yards, 11 TDs). Kain Colter, when he wasn't playing quarterback or running the ball, managed 466 receiving yards. Demetrius Fields and Christian Jones were among the other contributors. First-team All-Big Ten tight end Drake Dunsmore was the team's No. 2 pass-catcher with 455 yards and six scores.

4. Iowa: Marvin McNutt was good enough to elevate this entire group. He led the Big Ten in receiving yards, finishing with 82 catches for 1,315 yards and 12 scores. Keenan Davis contributed 50 catches for 713 yards. But Davis and Kevonte Martin-Manley didn't help enough after strong starts to the season. Iowa didn't get a lot of production in the passing game out of its tight ends, either, with C.J. Fiedorowicz leading the way at 16 catches.

5. Michigan: The Wolverines didn't have any receivers finish in the top 10 in the league in the key categories, but what they had was a fairly deep group that knew how to go up and get Denard Robinson's throws. Though Roy Roundtree's numbers went way down from 2010, Junior Hemingway (699 receiving yards) emerged as a big-time playmaker. Jeremy Gallon came up with some key plays in huge spots as well. Tight end Kevin Koger gave Robinson a reliable safety valve and was a key cog in the offense.

6. Illinois: At first glance, A.J. Jenkins' tremendous numbers (90 catches, 1,276 yards, eight TDs) would make you think the Illini deserve to be ranked higher. But Jenkins did most of his work in the first half of the season; like the rest of the Illinois offense, his stats fell off a cliff in the second half. And he didn't have much assistance, as Spencer Harris and Darius Millines combined to record only half his number of catches. Jon Davis was the team's third-leading pass-catcher at tight end.

7. Purdue: It was quantity over star power for the Boilermakers, whose top four pass catchers — Justin Siller, Antavian Edison, O.J. Ross and Gary Bush — all had at least 29 receptions and 300 yards. Edison led the way with 584 yards. Tight ends Crosby Wright and Gabe Holmes combined for 29 catches. Purdue needs more playmaking ability from the tight end spot, something the team tried to address in this recruiting class.

8. Penn State: Evaluating the Nittany Lions receivers is tricky because the quarterback play was so inconsistent. Derek Moye was once again one of the most dangerous deep threats in the league, but a foot injury and an overall inability to get him the ball limited his production to 654 yards and only three scores. Justin Brown, who will likely be the team's go-to guy in 2012, put up good stats, while Devon Smith got a chance to flash his speed and averaged 16.1 yards per catch. The tight ends were rarely used in the passing game; expect that and a whole lot more to change under Bill O'Brien.

9. Nebraska: The Huskers must improve their overall passing game to take the next step as a program, and that includes a receivers group that had an up-and-down season in 2011. The good news is that Kenny Bell emerged as a potential star as a redshirt freshman. But Brandon Kinnie and tight end Kyler Reed failed to build on strong 2010 campaigns and were invisible for large stretches. Nebraska must hope Quincy Enunwa and Jamal Turner develop to go along with Bell.

10. Indiana: No one was more disappointing at this position in 2011 than the Hoosiers, whom we had pegged at No. 4 in our preseason list. DaMarlo Belcher, who led the league in receptions in '10, got himself booted off the team in midseason. Injuries hit the group hard as well. Kofi Hughes paced the group with 536 yards and found the end zone three times. Tight end Ted Bolser made only 14 receptions. We expected more from a Kevin Wilson offense.

11. Minnesota: Jerry Kill made finding playmakers at receiver a top priority in this recruiting class, and it's easy to see why. Da'Jon McKnight had a decent season (51, 760 and 4). After that, though, things dropped off quickly and the Gophers lacked players who could stretch the field. Tight end Eric Lair managed fewer than one-third the amount of catches he had in 2010.

12. Ohio State: Injuries, inexperience and suspensions combined to make this a difficult year for Buckeyes' receivers. No one had more than 14 catches all season, and no one topped 300 receiving yards. Things would have gone better if DeVier Posey hadn't been suspended for all but two regular-season games. Devin Smith showed potential as a true freshman, including his game-winning grab against Wisconsin. Tight end Jake Stoneburner scored seven times, but most of those came early in the year.

The Big Ten pioneered the use of replay review in college football, so it's only fitting that we look at the system trends within the league.

Following the lead of my colleagues in the Big 12, ACC and Big East, I reached out to the Big Ten to obtain the most recent replay statistics. Replay played a major role in the Big Ten title race in 2011. Who can forget the replay reversal at the end of Michigan State-Wisconsin I that awarded the Spartans the game-winning touchdown on a Hail Mary at the end of regulation? Replay also played a big role at the end of the Michigan-Iowa game, as Junior Hemingway's near touchdown catch late in regulation was ruled incomplete and Michigan went on to lose 24-16.

Replay officials also reviewed whether Ohio State's Braxton Miller had crossed the line of scrimmage before firing the game-winning touchdown pass to Devin Smith against Wisconsin (he did not).

Let's take a look at the numbers:


The average number of reviews per game has remained about the same, in the 1.7-1.75 range. The reversal percentage has increased slightly since 2009, but it's interesting to see the number of coaches' challenges went down from 2010 to 2011. Perhaps it's because so few challenges are successful (just two in 42 challenges since 2009).

Fans might be pleasantly surprised to see the average review time also has decreased since 2009, which surely pleases Big Ten coordinator of football officials Bill Carollo. The Big Ten has gone from behind the national average by 15 seconds in 2009 to ahead of it by nine seconds this past season.