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The book is closed on spring football in the Big Ten, but what did the chapters reveal? Although no games are played during the spring, which fuels optimism for all 12 teams, the 15 practices provide clues for the upcoming season. The Big Ten saw few major injuries to key players, some good news (the NCAA declaring Michigan State WR DeAnthony Arnett eligible for 2012) and some potentially troubling signs.

It's time to revive the power rankings coming out of the spring. We see separation with the top two teams, while Nos. 3-5 are closely matched. The same holds true for Nos. 7-10.

Here they are ...

1. Michigan State: The Spartans' defense looks like the single best unit in the Big Ten entering the season. Spring practice only enhanced our opinion of Pat Narduzzi's group, which has no shortage of stars. While the passing game needs work, Arnett's presence should help, and the Spartans will rely more on their run game with Le'Veon Bell and an improved offensive line.

2. Michigan: Quarterback Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint, who affirmed himself as Michigan's top tailback this spring, form arguably the Big Ten's most dangerous backfield tandem. If Michigan can fill some key pieces on both lines, where there was some shuffling this spring, it will be back in the BCS bowl mix and among the favorites to win the Big Ten crown.

3. Wisconsin: It seems hard to fathom, but Montee Ball appeared to take his game to an even higher gear this spring. The Badgers' star running back will fuel the offense again, although quarterback remains a question mark as Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien arrives this summer. Wisconsin still needs more playmakers to emerge on the defensive line and in the secondary.

4. Nebraska: Tough call on this spot, but the Huskers return their core pieces on offense from a 9-4 team. Footwork-conscious quarterback Taylor Martinez received good reviews this spring, and he should be more comfortable in Year 2 at the helm of Tim Beck's offense. Coach Bo Pelini thinks the defense will be improved and potentially deeper, although the Huskers lose a lot of star power on that side of the ball.

5. Ohio State: There were few dull moments in Ohio State's first spring under Urban Meyer, who began installing an offense unlike any seen in Columbus. After resembling a "clown show" early on, the offense made strides and quarterback Braxton Miller looks like a strong fit for the system. An improved defense, led by linemen John Simon and Johnathan Hankins, should buy the offense some time to get acclimated.

6. Penn State: New coach Bill O'Brien ushered in a historic spring in Happy Valley, and Penn State players for the most part embraced the many changes taking place. The Lions still don't have a quarterback, but they have an excellent running back in Silas Redd and an improved offense line that pleasantly surprised O'Brien this spring. Penn State's defensive front seven, led by linebacker Gerald Hodges and tackle Jordan Hill, might need to carry the team at times.

7. Purdue: Fourth-year coach Danny Hope thinks this is clearly his best team in West Lafayette, and with 18 starters back, it's easy to see why. The Boilermakers are one of the Big Ten's deepest teams at positions like quarterback, defensive tackle, running back and cornerback. Purdue must continue to absorb the new defense installed by Tim Tibesar and fill some key gaps along the offensive line.

8. Iowa: Although Iowa's changes this spring didn't make national headlines like the ones at Penn State and Ohio State, they were very significant. New offensive coordinator Greg Davis began installing a more up-tempo and multifaceted offense that seems to be clicking with senior quarterback James Vandenberg. Jordan Canzeri's ACL injury once again clouds the picture at running back entering the summer, and Iowa needs its young defensive line to grow up in a hurry.

9. Northwestern: The Wildcats showcased one of the league's top wide-receiving corps this spring, and if Kain Colter can improve his passing, the offense should surge. Defense has been Northwestern's bugaboo in recent years, and young players like end Deonte Gibson and cornerback Nick VanHoose stepped forward this spring. It's crucial for the defense to keep making progress if Northwestern wants to maintain its bowl streak.

10. Illinois: There's little doubt Illinois will be a defense-driven team, and the Illini look loaded in the front seven with players like end Michael Buchanan, who turned in a very strong spring, as well as tackle Akeem Spence and linebacker Jonathan Brown. An offense that flatlined late last season began learning a new system this spring and still lacks playmakers at running back and wide receiver. Running back Josh Ferguson's spring-game performance is encouraging.

11. Minnesota: The second spring of the Jerry Kill era brought greater comfort for both players and coaches alike. Quarterback MarQueis Gray made strides in his second spring session as the starter, although the Gophers are still looking for more weapons to surround No. 5. The defensive line should be an improved group after several lifeless seasons. Minnesota still needs to develop depth in the secondary and at wide receiver.

12. Indiana: After playing an insane number of freshmen in 2011, Indiana began to reap the benefits this spring. An influx of junior-college defenders, including linebackers David Cooper and Jacarri Alexander, also should boost a unit that needs all the help it can get. The Hoosiers have some nice building blocks on offense at both quarterback (Tre Roberson) and running back (Stephen Houston, Isaiah Roundtree), but they still have a lot of work to do before the season.

Here are your lunchtime -- wait for it -- links.

• Playoffs are on the minds of Big Ten leaders as they gather in Chicago today.
• Penn State coach Bill O'Brien says he'd like to play Pitt on an annual basis, but the schedule may not allow it to happen. A decision on the Lions' starting quarterback should be coming soon. Penn State has gone to great lengths to help restore its reputation.
• Michigan receiver Jerald Robinson had his hearing on a misdemeanor charge postponed. A one-time Wolverines recruiting target says Michigan doesn't pressure prospects into committing. Tate Forcier signed with a CFL team.
• Le'Veon Bell is earning some high praise at Michigan State.
• Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke wants to preserve the Rose Bowl tradition.
• Concussions caused Ohio State's Andrew Sweat to walk away from football. Tom Dienhart analyzes the Buckeyes' schedule.
• Indiana's Kevin Wilson won't follow Tom Crean's lead and start recruiting eight- or ninth-graders.
• Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was asked about the debate over compensating players in a talk with students.
• Versatility will be key as former Gopher fullback Jon Hoese tries to make the Green Bay Packers.
• An Ohio linebacker has taken notice of Illinois and Tim Beckman.
• The married life suits Bret Bielema just fine.
• Kirk Ferentz went on the road to talk about what's happening with Iowa football.
• Nebraska's nutritionist talks about how to feed a bunch of hungry Huskers. The Lincoln Journal Star's countdown of the Cornhuskers' top 100 most memorable touchdowns takes a look at the beginning of the Triplets.

Three new head coaches. Fourteen new coordinators. Quarterback competitions. New faces everywhere. The Big Ten had it all during spring football.

Here are five lessons we learned about the league this spring:

1. Big Ten offenses are speeding up: Tempo was a huge theme for offensive coordinators we spoke with around the league this spring. Defenses are catching up to the spread in college football, so offenses are speeding up to stay a step ahead. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer talked about mimicking Oregon with a no-huddle spread attack, and even conventional offenses like Iowa's and Penn State's will have no-huddle elements and an emphasis on maximizing snaps. It's a myth that the spread offense is new to the league -- teams like Purdue and Northwestern have run it for more than a decade -- but most Big Ten teams have spread elements and want to keep the pedal down as much as possible.

2. Bill O'Brien is building momentum but still needs a quarterback: First-year head coach Bill O'Brien has taken the necessary steps to win over Penn State's fan base. Now he needs to do what he does best: identify a quarterback and develop the signal caller for the 2012 season. The spring didn't provide much separation as Matthew McGloin, Rob Bolden and Paul Jones adjusted to O'Brien's complex, NFL-style offense. Bolden's struggles in the Blue-White Game might have closed the window on his chances, although no decisions have been announced. O'Brien told ESPN.com he wanted to reduce the candidate pool from three to two before fall camp. Penn State needs a significant upgrade at quarterback after the past two seasons, and the O'Brien effect must pay off for the Lions this fall.

3. Fresh faces bring greater accessibility: The Big Ten has a reputation of being a buttoned-up, closed-doors league when it comes to accessibility. And in some respects, the label holds true to this day. But new faces and new approaches have created a more open feel around the conference. Penn State opened up some spring practices to media for the first time in recent memory. Ohio State hosted thousands of students at an practice, creating very cool scenes like this. Open practices at Iowa seems like a pipe dream, but one of the nation's least accessible programs had more interaction with the media this spring than in recent memory. Hawkeyes coaches are taking to the Twitterverse, and there's even talk that Kirk Ferentz might start tweeting soon. While I'm sure mentioning this will jinx us, the increased accessibility is a welcome change.

4. Nebraska isn't lacking confidence: The Huskers didn't steamroll through the Big Ten in their first go-round, as some expected, but a somewhat bumpy ride didn't damage their confidence, either. Led by junior quarterback Taylor Martinez, Nebraska players are openly discussing the national championship as a goal for 2012. The Huskers last played for the title after the 2001 season, which marks their most recent BCS bowl appearance. Coach Bo Pelini is comfortable with the title talk, and Nebraska points to an offense that returns mostly intact, a defense with potentially more depth and arguably the Big Ten's best special teams units as reasons to believe. As wide receiver Kenny Bell told me, "It's a big jump to go from a 9-4 to a 13-1 or a 14-0 season. But if you don't believe wholeheartedly in a goal, there's no point in trying to chase it."

5. Spartans look loaded on the lines: Most football games are won at the line of scrimmage, and Michigan State is positioned to win plenty of them this fall. The Spartans' defense could be the Big Ten's best unit in 2012, and it starts up front with freakish end William Gholston, veterans Tyler Hoover and Anthony Rashad White, newcomer James Kittredge and others. Perhaps more important, Michigan State's offensive line is taking shape after a choppy 2011 season that brought injuries and personnel shuffling. This could be the deepest offensive line in coach Mark Dantonio's tenure, and the Spartans will try to re-establish themselves as a power running team with top ball-carrier Le'Veon Bell back in the fold.

Adam Rittenberg talks about some of the key Big Ten players to keep an eye on this season.

2011 record: 11-3
2011 conference record: 7-1 (Legends Division champions)
Returning starters: Offense: 5; Defense: 8; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

DE William Gholston, DE Marcus Rush, LB Denicos Allen, LB Max Bullough, LB Chris Norman, CB Johnny Adams, CB Darqueze Dennard, S Isaiah Lewis, RB Le'Veon Bell, LT Dan France, C Travis Jackson

Key losses
QB Kirk Cousins, DT Jerel Worthy, WR Keshawn Martin, WR B.J. Cunningham, S Trenton Robinson, RB Edwin Baker, TE Brian Linthicum

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Le'Veon Bell* (948 yards)
Passing: Kirk Cousins (3,316 yards)
Receiving: B.J. Cunningham (1,306 yards)
Tackles: Max Bullough* (89)
Sacks: Denicos Allen* (11)
Interceptions: Isaiah Lewis* and Trenton Robinson (4)

Spring answers

1. Defensive depth: Michigan State returns eight starters off one of the best defenses in the country, and the coaching staff might have been most excited this spring about guys who didn't play much last year. Linebackers Darien Harris and Taiwan Jones, defensive ends Joel Heath and Shilique Calhoun and defensive back Trae Waynes all had impressive practices and showed that they're ready to contribute and push the starters. The Spartans won't have much drop off if their first-stringers need a break or get injured. That gives this defense a chance to be scary good in 2012.

2. The Bell tolls: Le'Veon Bell asserted himself at the end of last year as the team's top tailback, overtaking Edwin Baker. And after appearing to get called out by coach Mark Dantonio for being complacent early in the spring, he turned in some dominant efforts. At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, he's a rumbling freight train with surprising nimbleness in the open field. Do not be surprised to see him emerge as a superstar back this season if he remains focused.

3. O-line on the way up: Michigan State mixed and matched on the offensive line early last season because of injuries and inexperience. By the end of the season, the group was playing well. This spring, the line features six players who have started and much more maturity. That's one reason why Bell excelled this spring, as the Spartans' power running game looked much better. This figures to be the best and deepest O-line in Dantonio's tenure, and the offense could lean more on the ground attack while the passing game finds its wings.

Fall questions

1. Catching on: The top receivers coming out of spring were redshirt freshman Andre Sims Jr., little-used sophomore Keith Mumphery and Jeremy Langford, who made the switch from running back in the middle of spring practice. In other words, there's a dire lack of experience at the position that Keshawn Martin, B.J. Cunningham and Keith Nichol patrolled so well. Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett was cleared by the NCAA for immediate eligibility on Thursday, and that should help. The Spartans are also going to need Tony Lippett and Bennie Fowler -- their two veterans even though both lack much receiver experience themselves -- to get healthy and for some true freshmen to make an impact. If there's a glaring concern for this year's team, it's definitely at this spot.

2. Maxwell's house: Michigan State feels confident that Andrew Maxwell, a fourth-year junior who sat behind Cousins the past three seasons, can make a smooth transition into the starting quarterback job. But Maxwell doesn't have much game time under his belt, and we won't know whether he can bounce back from adversity until it happens on the field this fall. It didn't help that he missed the last couple weeks of spring practice with a knee injury. The Spartans need him to stay healthy, or else they will have to turn to redshirt freshman Connor Cook. And a new quarterback could struggle with such a green receiving group.

3. Worthy replacements: Jerel Worthy skipped his senior season and wound up as a second-round NFL draft pick after an All-America campaign. The Spartans have a host of players looking to replace him at defensive tackle, with Vanderbilt transfer James Kittredge stepping up late in spring practice to assume the No. 1 reps. Depth won't be an issue, but it remains to be seen whether any of his successors have the kind of game-changing ability that Worthy brought when he was fully engaged. Nothing boosts a defense quite like a disruptive force in the middle of the line. We know the Spartans' defense will be good. Can it be great without a player like Worthy up front?

Mel Kiper Jr. has revealed his first Big Board for the 2013 draft, and it looks very promising for the Big Ten and for one school in particular.

Michigan State is the only team with three players listed among Kiper's top 25 for 2013.

Here's the full Big Ten contingent:

No. 11: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State (underclassman)
No. 12: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan (underclassman)
No. 14: Johnny Adams, CB, Michigan State
No. 15: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
No. 17: William Gholston, DE, Michigan State (underclassman)
No. 21: Le'Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State (underclassman)
No. 24: Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin

A very interesting list indeed. While Kiper sees the Big Ten's drought of top-10 picks continuing for another year, he has seven players from the league in the top 25. Four of the selections are underclassmen, including Hankins, who Ohio State players and coaches raved about this spring. At 6-foot-3 and 335 pounds, Hankins is the type of defensive tackle who boasts the size and quickness combo that makes NFL personnel evaluators drool.

Kiper and Todd McShay have very different views of Wisconsin's Wagner, who McShay pegs at No. 2 overall in his 2013 rundown. Michigan's Lewan is getting a lot of love from the draft analysts and will enter the season with some lofty expectations.

While Gholston and Adams appear on a lot of mock drafts for 2013, Bell's inclusion is interesting. Bell has impressed me ever since his freshman year at Michigan State, and his size-speed combo projects well to the next level. But to see him pegged in the first round -- ahead of Wisconsin running back Montee Ball and others -- is noteworthy.

Kiper also runs down his top 5 seniors by position for the 2013 draft. Some interesting notes: Wisconsin's Ball is the top senior running back, while Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is the No. 5 senior wide receiver. Ohio State's John Simon and Illinois' Michael Buchanan are the top two senior defensive ends.

The Big Ten has had some odd choices for preseason offensive player of the year -- Terrelle Pryor in 2009 -- but this year's pick should be obvious. Wisconsin running back Montee Ball won the award after the 2011 season, and he's back in Madison for his senior year. Ball, one of two Heisman Trophy finalists returning for 2012, should be the preseason pick, end of story. We'll save you the suspense about our preseason player rankings: Ball will be No. 1.

But the preseason pick for OPOY often doesn't mean much. In fact, the preseason pick hasn't won the postseason award since Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith in 2006. Smith, by the way, is the last Big Ten player to win the Heisman Trophy.

2007
Preseason pick: Michigan RB Mike Hart
Winner: Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall

2008
Preseason pick: Ohio State RB Chris Wells
Winner: Iowa RB Shonn Greene

2009
Preseason pick: Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
Winner: Wisconsin RB John Clay

2010
Preseason pick: Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
Winner: Michigan QB Denard Robinson

2011
Preseason pick: Michigan QB Denard Robinson
Winner: Wisconsin RB Montee Ball

Ball will be the favorite, but he's far from a shoo-in. There are several players who should challenge the Wisconsin star this season, and we've listed four of them in the accompanying poll. Vote and let us know who you think has the best chance to beat Ball for the offensive player of the year award.

Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead, Penn State running back Silas Redd and Michigan's Robinson are obvious choices. Burkhead and Redd carried their respective offenses as times last season, and both logged more than 240 carries (Burkhead had 283, the second most in the league behind Ball's 307). Burkhead plays for a unit that should see more balance and more weapons develop this season, but he remains the top ball-carrying option. Redd, meanwhile, might once again be Penn State's only viable offensive threat if the quarterback situation doesn't improve.

While Robinson's inclusion undoubtedly will spark some snide remarks, the guy has won the award before and remains one of the nation's most exciting offensive players. He's entering his third season as Michigan's starter, and if he can cut down on interceptions and become a more consistent passer, he'll be in the mix for both league and national awards.

The fourth choice was tough, and I considered several candidates, including Ohio State QB Braxton Miller, Iowa QB James Vandenberg and Michigan RB Fitzgerald Toussaint. Any of them could contend for offensive player of the year honors, as could several others. But I've always thought Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell could be a potential superstar in this league. As Michigan State transitions back to a run-heavy offense behind an improved offensive line, Bell will have a chance to shine.

What say you? Be sure and vote in the poll.

Here's your Thursday linkage.

• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany reveals a proposal that would create playoff access for the best conference champs. It's important for the Big Ten to protect its Rose Bowl partnership.
• Athletic directors Dave Brandon (Michigan) and Mark Hollis (Michigan State) weigh in on the playoff issues.
• Penn State is moving defensive lineman Kyle Baublitz from end to tackle. Lions coach Bill O'Brien has "a pretty good idea" of how the team's quarterback situation will shake out. O'Brien understands the challenges he faces at Penn State.
• Take it from Minnesota coach Jerry Kill: "You hang around with turds, you'll finish third."
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio likens Le'Veon Bell to former Ohio State great Keith Byars. The Kirk Cousins-Keith Nichol connection could continue with the NFL's Washington Redskins.
• Tom Mulhern projects what Wisconsin's depth chart looks like coming out of the spring. The Badgers pick up a verbal commit for 2013.
• Kawann Short's decision to stay at Purdue could pay off for the standout defensive tackle.
• The Big Ten can embrace both the Rose Bowl and the national title, Tom Shatel writes.
• Iowa is paying lower guarantees for nonconference games this season. Like Iowa's other receivers, Kevonte Martin-Manley could see his production surge in the new offense this fall.
• A breakdown of Illinois' 2012 schedule.
• Assistant Ron Brown's remarks shouldn't be tolerated at a public institution like Nebraska, Blair Kerkhoff writes.
• Ohio State assistant Kerry Coombs has settled in well to his new role.
• A look inside draft night for Michigan's Mike Martin.
• Indiana linebacker Jeff Thomas gets a tryout with the Buffalo Bills (subscription required).

It's time to finish off our 2012 spring game recaps with a review of Michigan State's Green and White Game from Saturday.

You can find coverage of the scrimmage here, here, here and here

Stars of the game: Defensive ends Marcus Rush and William Gholston. Rush had 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss, while Gholston had a safety and a pass break-up while spending much of the day in the offensive backfield.

How it went down: There was little doubt going into this game that defense would rule the day, as the Spartans return the bulk of a top 10 defense from last year and their offense, still finding its legs in the passing game, missed some key contributors. And so it was, as the White team -- featuring six returning defensive starters -- beat the Green team 14-2. The Green team's only score was that Gholston safety.

"I think we played pretty well, as you can tell by the score," linebacker Denicos Allen said. "We are still developing into a really great defense, and I think we can be better than last year's unit. We have more experience this year but are still young and have to continue to develop."

Connor Cook had to play quarterback for both teams because projected starter Andrew Maxwell is out with a knee injury. Cook completed 20-of-45 passes for 294 yards and threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Andre Sims Jr. with seven seconds left in the first half.

"He grew enormously, I think, in terms of playing in this type of environment, having to play every play also with the TV type situation," head coach Mark Dantonio said. "I think he was very calm in the huddle and did some good things."

The tailbacks were also limited, as Le'Veon Bell played just one series and Larry Caper came out quickly after suffering a minor injury. Nick Hill came through with 19 carries for 95 yards and a TD, but the running was tough going for the most part. Counting sacks, the Green team produced minus-10 yards rushing for the day, and both teams combined for just 59 yards on 38 carries.

You can thank a dominating defense for that. The Spartans got a scare when Gholston was slow to get up after Hill's touchdown and limped off the field, but he was reported to have only a bruised knee. The defensive line looked really impressive.

"I think we have four or five really good defensive ends," Dantonio said. "Shilique Calhoun was a factor today. Obviously, William Gholston and Marcus Rush are very good. I thought Joel Heath did some good things as well."

One of the offensive highlights was provided by a defensive player, as cornerback Johnny Adams switched sides and caught a 45-yard pass.

"He's got big-play ability," Dantonio said. "He's a guy maybe we can flip around a bit. We'll see how that transpires when we get everyone here."

We wrap up our 2012 spring game previews now with -- last but not least -- the defending Legends Division champion Michigan State Spartans. Here are your Green-White essentials.

When: 1 p.m. ET Saturday

Where: Spartan Stadium

Admission: Free. Parking is free around the stadium. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.

TV: The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network and streamed live BTN2Go.

Weather forecast: High of 48 degrees, Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain.

What to watch for: Michigan State makes this a real competition and held its player draft on Wednesday. Here are the rosters for the game. Running backs coach Brad Salem will coach the Green team, while receivers coach Terrence Samuel will coach the White.

Fans won't be able to see new starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell, who has a sprained knee. But they'll get a long look at redshirt freshman Connor Cook, who will take lots and lots of reps while quarterbacking both squads. One of the things Spartans supporters will want to see is how the wide receiving corps looks after the team lost its top three wideouts from a year ago and the only experienced receivers, Bennie Fowler and Tony Lippett, got hurt this spring. Andre Sims Jr. appears to be the leader of the group for now, but Jeremy Langford is an intriguing athlete. And there will be plenty of eyes on Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett, who may or may not be eligible this year.

Though the squad will be split, the spring game will offer a chance to see how good the Michigan State defense is. Defensive tackle is one of the few question marks, and it appears that James Kittredge has made a move this spring. Emerging defensive players like Joel Heath, Shilique Calhoun and Darien Harris will also get a chance to strut their stuff.

The offensive line and running game have improved this offseason. But given the inexperience at quarterback and receiver and the fact that top tailback Le'Veon Bell will be limited, don't expect an offensive showcase on Saturday.

Michigan State held its spring game player draft this afternoon. It's always a fun event, as the seniors pick teams and everyone takes it pretty seriously, with Mark Dantonio serving as the commissioner. It's like a fantasy league come to life.

In no surprise, junior defensive end William Gholston was the first pick, by the White team (remember, seniors did the drafting). Both teams have to finish up the entire position group after a player is taken, so the Green team took the other starting defensive end, Marcus Rush.

The second overall pick, by the Green team, was middle linebacker Max Bullough. Then the picks went like this:

Green: C Travis Jackson

White: OT Dan France

Green: TE Dion Sims

White: LB Denicos Allen

Green: CB Trae Waynes

White: S Isaiah Lewis

Green: DT James Kittredge

White: FB Niko Palazeti

Green: RB Le'Veon Bell

White: WR Andre Sims Jr.

It's interesting that Bell went so late, but the truth is he probably will be limited in the spring game, making him less valuable for this kind of draft. James Kittredge's selection seems to indicate he may be in line to start opposite Anthony Rashad White inside. Receiver may be the least experienced position on the team, so it's no wonder that position went last. Sims' selection shows you who the players think is the top wideout in camp right now (remember, Bennie Fowler and Tony Lippett are hurt). In fact, Jeremy Langford, just moved over to receiver, was the second wideout taken, while DeAnthony Arnett was third. With Andrew Maxwell out, the quarterbacks weren't a part of the draft.

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

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

Take 1: Brian Bennett

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

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

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

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

Take 2: Adam Rittenberg

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

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

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

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

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

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

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A funny thing happened to Michigan State on the way to Indianapolis last year.

The Spartans finished 11th in the Big Ten in rushing yet came within a running-into-the-punter penalty of potentially going to the Rose Bowl. Teams aren't supposed to win big in the Big Ten without a powerful running attack.

But Michigan State did things a different way last season, relying on a seasoned quarterback (Kirk Cousins) and two senior receivers (B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin) to make up for a subpar ground game. Mark Dantonio's team doesn't have the luxury of experience in the passing game in 2012, but the Spartans could lean on a more effective running game this season.

"I definitely feel like that will happen," lead tailback Le'Veon Bell said.

That's more than just the usual spring optimism. The Spartans struggled to produce rushing yards early last season in large part because of an inexperienced offensive line that was plagued by injuries. It was easier to get that group to pass block for a few seconds, which was all the time Cousins needed to unload the ball.

Those early 2011 troubles, though, have led to an advantageous 2012 situation for the offensive line. Six players who started games last year are back and healthy this spring, allowing the unit to concentrate more on run blocking.

"We want to show everyone that we can run the ball and be a great O-line, one of best in the Big Ten," senior guard Chris McDonald said. "So we're trying to focus on that and put it on our shoulders. If we can do that, our running backs can do great things."

Michigan State has runners who are capable of greatness. Even with Edwin Baker unexpectedly leaving early for the NFL, the backfield is in good hands with Bell, senior Larry Caper and sophomore spark plug Nick Hill. Bell's potential in particular gives reason for excitement.

He got off to a strong start as a freshman before fading down the stretch and reversed that curve as a sophomore. Bell took over as the Spartans' primary back late last season, running for at least 86 yards in five of the last eight games, including a 106-yard effort against Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game. He led the team with 948 yards on the season.

Baker's departure cleared the way for Bell to be the unquestioned starter this spring, but Dantonio raised eyebrows earlier this month with comments about "complacency" when asked about his junior running back. Dantonio told ESPN.com that his remarks were misinterpreted, but they sure made their way to Bell's ears no matter the intent.

"I definitely took that as motivation," Bell said Thursday. "Coach D doesn't really direct his words toward anyone, but he makes sure people know they don't have a starting job locked up. I don't want to be complacent, and I see myself as a leader of the running backs."

By all accounts, Bell has turned up his play in recent days. Teammates were buzzing about his performance in Thursday's practice, in which they said he ripped off several long runs.

"Le'Veon is juking people out of their shoes and jumping over people," tackle Dan France said. "It's pretty impressive to watch."

His moves are especially impressive given his size. Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar said the 6-foot-2 Bell is up to 242 pounds this spring, though Bell said that measurement came "after a big dinner." He plans to play more in the 235-pound range. Still, that is a load to bring down in the open field.

"I don't know how he does it, to be that big and move like that," safety Isaiah Lewis said. "He's just gifted."

Roushar said Michigan State will have the capability of putting both Bell and Caper, a 211-pounder who was one of the team's top rushers in 2009, in the backfield together at the same time. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound Hill can offer a change of pace with his quickness.

"We've got to get our tailbacks touches this season," Dantonio said.

And if so, the Spartans should finish higher than 11th in the league in rushing.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- I'll have much more from Michigan State in the days and weeks to come, but here are a few notes of interest:

• Wide receiver Tony Lippett suffered an ankle injury and "could be out for a while," offensive coordinator Dan Roushar said. Roushar said Lippett had been playing very well and losing him hurts a very inexperienced group.
• The Spartans moved Jeremy Langford from running back to wideout earlier this week to give him a look. "On his first day, he was pretty darn productive," Roushar said. "We were impressed with him."
• Coaches have singled out linebacker Darien Harris, defensive end Joel Heath and center Jack Allen as young players who are emerging. Harris is playing with the first team at linebacker with starter Chris Norman out this spring with an injury. Head coach Mark Dantonio called him "one of the exciting surprises of the spring." Heath is backing up William Gholston and is impressive looking at 6-foot-6, 277 pounds. Allen is a redshirt freshman who's pushing for time at center and at guard.
• Defensive end Shilique Calhoun drew some advance praise to start the spring based on his work with the scout team last year. But defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said he told Calhoun he's been disappointed with his play this spring and hopes he isn't just a scout-team wonder. Narduzzi hopes that will motivate Calhoun, who's very athletic.
• Lead tailback Le'Veon Bell is up to 242 pounds, Roushar said. Tackling him in the open field won't be fun.
• Dantonio said the petition for DeAnthony Arnett to become immediately eligible has been sent to the NCAA. The Spartans are hopeful they'll get a ruling on the Tennessee transfer by the end of the month. Dantonio said Arnett still needs to be viewed like a freshman since this is his first spring ball.
• Narduzzi said Kurtis Drummond has a solid lead on redshirt freshman RJ Williamson in the battle to replace Trenton Robinson at safety. Narduzzi described Williamson's inexperience as someone "eating baby food right now who's not ready for whole food."

Hope you're having a better week than Bobby Petrino:

• The rich get richer: Ohio State got a commitment from one of the nation's top tight ends. Not to be outdone, Michigan received a verbal pledge from a blue-chip linebacker.
• The Wolverines are already thinking about Alabama and Ohio State.
• Wisconsin lined up in practice with tailbacks Montee Ball and James White on the field at the same time and could employ that look this season. Jon Budmayr remains upbeat about returning despite a long road ahead.
• Illinois assistant Billy Gonzales refuted a report that he was attacked by Percy Harvin while he was a coach at Florida.
• The role of the tight end could be making a comeback in the Iowa offense. Reese Morgan has a mighty challenge on his hands as he moves over to coach the defensive line.
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio says Le'Veon Bell is his lead tailback -- for now. Receiver Keith Mumphery is drawing some high marks in practice.
• Tre Roberson still needs to get better to hold onto the Indiana quarterback job.
• Bill O'Brien has made himself at home at Penn State.
• Minnesota reached a new stage of mourning by returning to practice, including Gary Tinsley's roommate, Keanon Cooper.
• The idea of a spring scrimmage against another team intrigues some Big Ten coaches, though Bo Pelini is an opponent.
• Tim Tibesar has brought some new defensive drills to Purdue.
• Traditional power backs could be going the way of the dodo, Rob Oller writes.
• Nick VanHoose nearly went to Indiana, and now he has a chance to start at cornerback for Northwestern.