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

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

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

ILLINOIS

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

INDIANA

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

IOWA

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

MICHIGAN

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

MICHIGAN STATE

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

MINNESOTA

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

NEBRASKA

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

NORTHWESTERN

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

OHIO STATE

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

PENN STATE

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

PURDUE

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

WISCONSIN

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

You are the weakest link -- goodbye!

• Recruit Kyle Kalis still could end up as a Buckeye, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller is among the nation's top impact freshmen, colleague Bruce Feldman writes (Insider).
• Several interesting Northwestern nuggets in this report from the Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein.
• Minnesota adds a commitment to its 2012 class.
• Onward State's Ryan Beckler has an interesting look at the value of Big Ten student football tickets. Wisconsin's single-game tickets are among the cheapest in the league, Andy Baggot writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• RichRod dishes on Michigan and his future in a Q&A with Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart. The Wolverines' already impressive 2012 recruiting class could be getting bigger, Jim Russ writes in The Detroit News.
• Iowa video interviews with tackle Markus Zusevics and cornerback Shaun Prater.
• A small number of available scholarships contributed to Nebraska losing an in-state prospect to Iowa, Sam McKewon writes in the Omaha World-Herald.
• Wisconsin's latest recruit has a great name.
• Former Purdue players Keith Smith and Kyle Adams are waiting out the NFL lockout, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier. The Boilers add a kicker to their 2012 class.
• Nebraska assistant Ron Brown emphasizes the Husker running back tradition to his players, Brian Christopherson writes in the Lincoln Journal Star.

Linking while I continue to fume about "The Killing" finale ...

• Iowa picked up a defensive end from Nebraska who plays eight-man football. More talk and some video on Iowa recruiting. Broderick Binns says the Hawkeyes will be prepared to finish games this year. Marvin McNutt declared himself healthy.

• Some top prospects are camping at Michigan this week.

• Nebraska has gone 100 percent Cotton. Athlon looks at the Cornhuskers' move to the Big Ten.

• Ohio State should be helped by Tuesday's report by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles clearing the Buckeyes of wrongdoing.

• Joe Paterno and Coach K taped their ESPN event, and JoePa said he wants freshmen to be ineligible. The Nittany Lions are starting to increase the pressure on interested offensive line recruits with roster spots dwindling. The Wall Street Journal includes Penn State and Northwestern on its list of the "last NCAA innocents."

• Purdue's Kyle Adams and Keith Smith are in NFL limbo. The Boilermakers landed an athlete from Florida. Athletic director Morgan Burke says Danny Hope's job is safe.

• Wisconsin is off to a fast start in 2012 recruiting. A Russell Wilson decision is expected before July 1.

• Indiana picked up its fourth commitment in the last 10 days with an offensive lineman.

The Big Ten on Wednesday announced its 2011 Medal of Honor winners. This award goes to a male athlete and a female athlete from each Big Ten school and recognizes a graduating senior who has "demonstrated proficiency in scholarship and athletics."

Five Big Ten football players are among this year's male Medal of Honor winners.

They are:

• Indiana QB Ben Chappell
• Iowa G Julian Vandervelde
• Penn State G Stefen Wisniewski
• Purdue TE Kyle Adams
• Wisconsin T Gabe Carimi

All five players also were named to the Big Ten's fall Academic All-Big Ten team.

Congrats to all the winners.

This possibility was mentioned in one of the lunchtime links, and now it is official: Purdue's Patrick Bade is leaving the Boilermakers' basketball team to try and make it on the school's football team as a tight end.

We've seen plenty of players over the years play both football and basketball or quit one sport to concentrate on another. Rarely have we seen a player who has focused on one sport -- Bade played in 58 games for the basketball team, averaging 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds -- to try another sport midway through his career. Bade is a junior.

Bade, in fact, hasn't played football since his junior year of high school. But he's 6-foot-8, and you can't teach that.

"I’ve seen his junior film, and he looks like a pretty good prospect for us," Purdue coach Danny Hope said. "He’s a big-body guy who plays a position where we have a quite a bit of youth and not a lot experience, so he’ll be able to compete right away. We’re happy to have him aboard.”

Hope has been trying to add depth at tight end following the departure of seniors Kyle Adams and Jeff Lindsay. Recruit Carlos Carvaja joined the team in May, and junior college transfer Sterling Carter participated in spring practice. The Boilermakers also have sophomore Gabe Holmes, who had one catch last season.

Whether Bade turns out to be a notable addition remains to be seen. Purdue fans can only hope this hardwood-to-tight-end transition works out as well as it did for Antonio Gates.

Purdue

2010 overall record: 4-8

2010 conference record: 2-6 (T-9th)

Returning starters

Offense: 8; defense: 9; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

QB Rob Henry, RB Ralph Bolden, WR Antavian Edison, WR Justin Siller, LT Dennis Kelly, DT Kawann Short, CB Ricardo Allen, LB Dwayne Beckford, S Logan Link, K Carson Wiggs

Key losses

DE Ryan Kerrigan, LB Jason Werner, TE Kyle Adams, RB Dan Dierking, WR Cortez Smith

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Rob Henry* (547 yards)

Passing: Rob Henry* (996 yards)

Receiving: Cortez Smith (434 yards)

Tackles: Logan Link* (91)

Sacks: Ryan Kerrigan (12.5)

Interceptions: Ricardo Allen* (3)

Spring answers

1. Henry makes strides: Rob Henry began the spring as Purdue's No. 1 quarterback, and he only helped himself throughout the session. Coach Danny Hope called Henry the team's most improved player during the offseason, and the team agreed by voting the sophomore as a co-captain for the 2011 season. The subplot is the impending return of Robert Marve, the Miami transfer who began last season as the starter before a torn ACL. There's a lot invested in Marve, but Henry seems like the team's choice.

2. Edison lights it up: Purdue got a bad break when the NCAA inexplicably denied receiver Keith Smith a sixth year of eligibility. The team needed other wideouts to emerge this spring, and Antavian Edison answered the bell. The junior speedster stood out in several scrimmages, and Purdue would be wise to get the ball in his hands as much as possible this fall. Edison and Justin Siller give Purdue a nice 1-2 punch in the passing game.

3. Shavers steps forward: Ralph Bolden will return from a torn ACL this season, but Purdue should have more options in the backfield. Junior college transfer Akeem Shavers turned in a solid spring, earning the team's top newcomer award on the offensive side. The 5-11, 200-pound Shavers runs with power and should be able to spell Bolden or potentially take on a larger role. Purdue's coaches want to use multiple backs in the offense, and Shavers certainly will be in the mix.

Fall questions

1. Marve, Bolden return from injuries: Torn ACL's wiped out Purdue's projected starting offensive backfield in 2011, but Marve and Bolden both will be back in the mix this summer. Both players have had multiple ACL tears, so it will be interesting to see how they respond on the field. Marve needs a strong preseason to leapfrog Henry at quarterback. Bolden, meanwhile, is viewed as the team's top option at running back and could have practiced full-go this spring but was limited as a precaution.

2. Replacing Superman: Purdue loses only two defensive starters, but when one is Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kerrigan, it's a concern. The team lacks depth at defensive end and really needs veteran Gerald Gooden to get healthy and produce consistently this fall. Robert Maci and Ryan Russell took the first-team reps this spring and had their moments, as Russell earned the defense's top newcomer award. Still, this certainly will be a position to watch going forward.

3. Tight end: Other than defensive end, this is the other spot where Purdue loses a lot because of graduation. Kyle Adams and Jeff Lindsay both depart, and the coaches are looking for others to step in. Gabe Holmes exits the spring as a potential No. 1 option, although junior college transfer Sterling Carter also is in the mix. If Purdue can solidify this spot, it could have a pretty potent offense this fall.

Purdue entered the offseason with significant depth concerns at two positions: defensive end and tight end.

While the Boilers likely will have a tough time replacing All-American Ryan Kerrigan at defensive end, they've been proactive about addressing the tight end spot. After adding junior college tight end Sterling Carter in December, Purdue announced Tuesday it has signed Carlos Carvajal, a high school tight end from, you guessed it, Florida.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Carvajal, ranked as the nation's No. 28 tight end by ESPN Recruiting, will join the program this summer.

"Carlos is an excellent prospect at a position we need to add some depth," Purdue coach Danny Hope said in a prepared statement. "He brings athleticism and height, and has the potential to be a great complement to Gabe Holmes, Sterling Carter and all of our tight ends."

Holmes exited the spring as Purdue's top tight end, but Carter also will be in the mix. The Boilers lose top tight end Kyle Adams, the team's leading receiver last fall, along with Jeff Lindsay.

This move along with Carter's signing underscores how much Purdue values the tight end position in its offense.

It's time to bring back the spring superlatives series, which examines the strongest and weakest positions for each Big Ten team in spring ball.

Let's start off with Purdue, the Big Ten squad furthest along in its spring session.

Strongest position: Offensive line

• Key returnees: LT Dennis Kelly, RG Ken Plue, C Peters Drey, LT Nick Mondek, G Rick Schmeig
• Key losses: LG Justin Pierce
• The skinny: Purdue has a lot of questions to answer at the offensive skill positions this spring, but the line looks solid. How solid? "I believe it's going to be the strength of our offense," coordinator Gary Nord recently told me. Purdue boasts experience at every position, particularly with Kelly and Plue. It won't be hard for this group to develop chemistry before the 2011 season. Although Purdue's offensive numbers dipped in 2010, the Boilers showed they could run the ball at times and should have a much more dynamic unit this coming season. You could make a case for the secondary here as well, but the amount of returning experience along the O-line puts it over the top.

Weakest position: Tight end

• Key returnees: None (newcomer Sterling Carter is an intriguing prospect)
• Key losses: Kyle Adams (team-high 36 catches for 244 yards); Jeff Lindsay (nine catches for 72 yards)
• The skinny: Purdue had a small senior class in 2010 and tight end is one of few positions that took a hit because of graduation. Adams was a reliable target for Purdue's quarterbacks, and his presence will be missed. Nord and coach Danny Hope want to feature the tight end and hope Carter, a junior college transfer, provides an immediate boost. There's a little more uncertainty at receiver after the NCAA denied Keith Smith a sixth year of eligibility, so Purdue will be looking for tight ends to emerge if young receivers like Antavian Edison and O.J. Ross don't continue to make strides. Running back also could fit here if Ralph Bolden doesn't return to form following a torn ACL.

Spring football has arrived in the Big Ten!

Purdue hits the practice field later today for the first of 15 spring workouts. I'll post a spring snapshot for each Big Ten squad as they open practice, so let's get started with the Boilermakers.

The big story: The Boilers are taking nothing for granted. After a season in which so many key players went down with injuries, Purdue is moving forward with the pieces it has. Rob Henry enters spring ball as the No. 1 quarterback as Robert Marve continues to recover from ACL surgery. The Boilers hope running back Ralph Bolden returns to form following his own ACL surgery, but they like their other options in the backfield as well. All-Big Ten receiver Keith Smith won't be back, so Purdue will move forward with Justin Siller, Antavian Edison and others.

Position in the spotlight: Quarterback. Offensive coordinator Gary Nord really likes what Henry brings to the offense, and the rising sophomore will have a chance to establish himself as the starter this spring. Caleb TerBush also will be a factor after being academically ineligible for the 2010 season. TerBush continued to practice with the team and should challenge Henry and Marve when Marve returns.

Coaching changes: Gary Emanuel is now the team's only defensive coordinator after sharing the title with Donn Landholm last season. Emanuel will continue to coach the defensive line, while Landholm will work with the outside linebackers. Danny Hope also hired two new assistants: wide receivers coach Patrick Higgins and linebackers coach Phil Elmassian, who returns to Purdue after working with the Boilers defensive backs in 2003.

Keep an eye on: Tight end Sterling Carter and running back Akeem Shavers. Both junior college transfers should make an immediate impact for Purdue. The Boilers lose top tight ends Kyle Adams and Jeff Lindsay, so Carter will make a strong push for the starting job. Hope wants to stress the run game and Shavers provides depth in the backfield alongside Bolden and rising sophomore Reggie Pegram.

Spring game: April 9

As promised, I wanted to catch you up on how the Big Ten draft hopefuls performed Saturday at the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando.

The East squad rolled to a 25-8 victory against the West as its defense forced three first-half fumbles and recorded a safety. Several Big Ten players contributed to the East's dominant defensive performance, including Ohio State linebacker Brian Rolle, who forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage.

Despite a strong week of practice, Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien had a rough outing for the West team, completing 2 of 5 passes with a fumble that fellow Big Ten teammate Randall Hunt recovered in the end zone for a team safety.

As for some of the other Big Ten notables:

• Penn State running back Evan Royster (EAST) had nine carries for 38 yards and a 4-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter
• Indiana receiver Terrance Turner (EAST) recorded two receptions for 20 yards, while Purdue tight end Kyle Adams (EAST) had two catches for 13 yards
• Iowa punter Ryan Donahue (EAST) averaged 38 yards on five punts, placing two inside the 20-yard line
• Michigan State linebacker Eric Gordon (EAST) recorded four tackles
• Ohio State's Rolle (EAST) had two tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup
• Penn State defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu (EAST) recorded a sack and a quarterback hurry

Despite his touchdown run, Royster's stock dropped during the week, colleague Todd McShay explains . Donahue earns some praise in the Shrine Game blog , while our experts detail a tough afternoon for both Tolzien and Adams.

All in all, not the greatest performance for the Big Ten contingent.

The Senior Bowl is up next this week, and I'll have updates on how the Big Ten players perform in Mobile.

The East-West Shrine Game is right around the corner, and our experts have some more thoughts on the practices leading up to Saturday's contest.

Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien continued an impressive week Wednesday, earning some praise in the practice buzz blog .

The Scouts Inc. crew writes: "He put a lot more zip on his passes and the ball was really coming off his hand well. He showed better than expected arm strength."

That's certainly a good sign for Tolzien, who must prove himself physically but has all the tools from the neck up to succeed in the NFL.

Big Ten tight ends Kyle Adams (Purdue) and Charlie Gantt (Michigan State) also made an impression during practice.

Adams did the best job of catching the ball. He is the most consistent route-runner and shows good focus in traffic. Gantt is the best blocker of the three. .... Adams and Gantt have a chance as late-round guys.

Good news for those guys. Adams merited a mention in Tuesday's practice blog for his blocking.

I'll have a full recap how how the Big Ten contingent performed in the Shrine Game on Monday.

There were quite a few awards updates on Monday, so I've consolidated them into one easy-to-read post.

You can thank me later.

MAXWELL AWARD (Player of the Year)

Sixteen semifinalists have been announced. The field will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 22, and the winner will be announced Dec. 9 on the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show.

The Big Ten representatives are:

• Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
• Michigan QB Denard Robinson
• Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi

CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD (National Defensive Player of the Year)

Sixteen semifinalists have been announced. The field will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 22, and the winner will be announced Dec. 9 on the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show.

The Big Ten representatives are:

• Ohio State CB Chimdi Chekwa
• Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn
• Michigan State LB Greg Jones
• Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
• Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt

JOSEPH V. PATERNO AWARD (Coach of the Year)

In its inaugural year, the award recognizes a coach based on success on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. Three finalists will be selected Dec. 6, and a winner will be announced Dec. 18.

Fifteen semifinalists have been selected, including four from the Big Ten. Paterno isn't eligible for the award.

• Wisconsin's Bret Bielema
• Iowa's Kirk Ferentz
• Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald
• Ohio State's Jim Tressel

WUERFFEL TROPHY

The award is given to the college player who best combines community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Ten finalists have been selected, and the winner will be announced Dec. 7.

• Indiana QB Ben Chappell
• Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins
• Penn State G Stefen Wisniewski
• Purdue TE Kyle Adams

Nine Big Ten players are among the 121 semifinalists for the 2010 William V. Campbell Trophy (formerly the Draddy Trophy), which is known to many as the "Academic Heisman."

Each NCAA school is limited to one nominee, who "must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship." The semifinalists include 47 FBS players, so it's a pretty impressive percentage from the Big Ten.

Here are the Big Ten's semifinalists:

• Illinois P Anthony Santella
• Indiana QB Ben Chappell
• Iowa G Julian Vandervelde
• Minnesota QB Adam Weber
• Northwestern K Stefan Demos
• Ohio State G Bryant Browning
• Penn State G Stefen Wisniewski
• Purdue TE Kyle Adams
• Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien

A list of 15 finalists will be announced Oct. 28, and the winner will be named Dec. 7 in New York. Former Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel was the last Big Ten recipient in 2003.

The position rankings move on to the wide receivers and tight ends, who will be grouped together. The Big Ten remains a defense-first conference, but I really like the depth at receiver and, to a lesser extent, tight end throughout the league. Although star power was considered, I put a very strong emphasis on overall depth and 2010 potential here.

This was the toughest position to whittle down to five (actually, six), but here goes ...

1. Michigan State: Sure, there's a lack of star power entering the season, but trust me, that will change. There's not a deeper group of receivers and tight ends in the Big Ten than this one. Veterans B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell anchor the receiving corps, and dangerous speedster Keshawn Martin will play a much bigger role in the offense this season. Converted quarterback Keith Nichol also joins the mix there. Michigan State also boasts three talented tight ends, including Mackey Award watch list members Charlie Gantt and Brian Linthicum.

2. Indiana: The Hoosiers return two of the Big Ten's top five receivers in Tandon Doss, a first-team all-conference selection, and Damarlo Belcher. They also add experience with Terrance Turner and exciting young players like Duwyce Wilson and Dre Muhammad. Overall depth is a bit of a question mark, but both Doss and Belcher will get the attention of opposing defensive backs after combining for 1,732 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last fall. Max Dedmond returns at tight end after recording 18 receptions in 2009.

3. Wisconsin: I'm not completely sold on this entire group, although receiver Nick Toon and tight end Lance Kendricks should contend for All-Big Ten honors this fall. Isaac Anderson and David Gilreath both boast a ton of experience, but must take the next step in their development. Wisconsin could use a rebound season from Kyle Jefferson, and walk-on Jared Abbrederis continues to make plays in practice and should be a contributor this fall.

4. Purdue: Surprised by my choices so far? You won't be when the season starts. Like Michigan State, Purdue's depth will reveal itself this fall. The Boilers are led by Keith Smith, a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2009 and the league's top returning receiver (1,100 yards). He's joined by two veterans in receiver Cortez Smith and tight end Kyle Adams. But the real boost could come from young players like Antavian Edison and Gary Bush, as well as Justin Siller, the team's former starting quarterback who brings size and big-play ability to the perimeter.

T-5: Penn State: I'm tempted to rank the Lions a little higher but want to see how the entire group performs this season, provided they get the ball thrown to them. Derek Moye has all the tools to be an All-Big Ten receiver after recording 48 receptions for 765 yards and six touchdowns last season. Graham Zug is a very solid target who reached the end zone seven times in 2009. Although Chaz Powell moves to defense, Penn State boasts several exciting young wideouts like Devon Smith. Tight end is a big question mark after the departures of Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler.

T-5. Iowa: The Hawkeyes boast the league's top big-play tandem at receiver in Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt. DJK is on track to become the team's all-time leading receiver this fall, and McNutt averaged 19.8 yards per catch and scored eight touchdowns in 2009. I like the potential of guys like Keenan Davis and Paul Chaney Jr., who returns from a knee injury. Tony Moeaki is a major loss at tight end, but Allen Reisner returns and talented freshman C.J. Fiedorowicz enters the fold.

Just missed the cut: Ohio State, Michigan

Up next: Quarterbacks

More rankings ...

• Defensive line
• Linebacker
• Secondary
• Offensive line
• Running backs

Purdue wrapped up spring practice Wednesday, and today the Boilermakers announced their awards for the spring session. It's interesting that both of Purdue's top quarterbacks, Robert Marve and Caleb TerBush, made the list. Perhaps the QB competition will go on longer than we think.

Each award lists one offensive player and one defensive player.

Without further ado ...

Most Improved Award: Quarterback Caleb TerBush and linebacker Dwayne Beckford

Newcomer Award (most progress in first spring practice at Purdue): Quarterback Robert Marve and linebacker Will Lucas

Pit Bull Award (player who exemplifies and sustains tenacity and intense play): Tight end Kyle Adams and defensive end Gerald Gooden

Hammer Award (top hitters): Fullback Jared Crank and safety Logan Link

Purdue players are scheduled to report for fall camp Aug. 6 and begin practicing Aug. 7.