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Kawann Short didn't make a rash decision on whether to remain at Purdue for his senior season or enter the NFL draft.

He laid out the pros and cons in the days following Purdue's win in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. He talked extensively with his mom, who like any mother, wants her son to earn his college degree. He also reached out to former Boilermakers teammates and current NFL defensive linemen Ryan Kerrigan and Mike Neal.

Short received a third-round grade from the NFL draft advisory board, which didn't disappoint him. He also faced the uncertainty of playing for a new defensive coordinator for the third straight year, as Purdue parted ways with Gary Emanuel after the bowl game.

"Every day is something different, like yeah, should I go, or yeah, should I stay," Short said Friday. "That whole week was pretty interesting."

Ultimately, he decided to return. The desire to boost his draft stock and complete his degree brought him back to Purdue, a team that could make some noise in a wide-open Leaders division in 2012.

The correspondence with both Neal and Kerrigan helped Short during the process. Neal received a fifth-round grade after the 2008 season but opted to return and was selected in the second round of the 2010 draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Kerrigan also finished his career at Purdue, earning unanimous All-America honors as a senior before becoming a first-round pick of the Washington Redskins last April. He starred for the Redskins this past season and made the NFL's all-rookie team.

"Both of their speeches were pretty amazing," Short said.

The big gamble for Short in returning to Purdue is the coordinator change. He excelled in Emanuel's system, earning All-Big Ten honors the past two seasons and recording 12.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss during the span.

Short asked himself questions like: What's next? What scheme will they bring in? Will it mess me up or benefit the whole team?

Like many, he was caught off guard by Emanuel's departure, which took place while players were on winter break. He found out after teammates started calling and texting.

"I thought everything was good," he said. "A couple days later you find out coach is leaving and a new defensive coordinator [is coming in]."

Short has yet to talk with new Boilers coordinator Tim Tisebar, who comes to Purdue from the CFL's Montreal Alouettes.

"I heard he's a pretty good guy, coming from [strength coach Duane Carlisle]," Short said. "I don't think he’ll steer us in the wrong direction. ... I don't know what type of defense he'll run or what scheme. I just have to step up and face it."

Short wants to become one of the nation's elite defensive linemen in 2012. He aims to become an every-down player and improve areas like endurance, flexibility and quickness. He hopes to become a captain again -- "Hopefully, I'll get re-voted," he said with a laugh.

"The draft can make you or break you," Short said. "There's a lot of stuff I know I need to work on."

Indiana made things official Monday afternoon and announced Mike Ekeler and Doug Mallory as its new co-defensive coordinators.

Ekeler comes to IU from future Big Ten member Nebraska, where he coached the linebackers and helped mold players like Lavonte David and Phillip Dillard into stars. Mallory, a very familiar surname to Indiana fans, served as New Mexico's defensive coordinator the past two seasons.

Ekeler will continue to coach linebackers with the Hoosiers, while Mallory, the son of former IU coach Bill Mallory, will work with the safeties.

"I am excited to have Doug, Mike and their families join the IU football family," new Indiana coach Kevin Wilson said in a prepared statement. "They are both great additions to our program, university and the Bloomington community. Both men bring unparalleled character, energy, experience, enthusiasm and winning attitudes. This is a great start to the foundation we are building here."

These are undoubtedly Wilson's most important hires as he forms his staff at Indiana. The Hoosiers' defense has been bad for more than a decade and has prevented the program from consistently competing in Big Ten play. Wilson has the track record and the personnel to make things happen on offense at Indiana, but if Ekeler and Mallory can't get the job done on defense, it won't matter.

I like both hires as individuals -- especially Ekeler -- but I've never been a fan of co-coordinators. It didn't serve Indiana well the past few seasons with Joe Palcic and Brian George. Illinois also encountered problems with Dan Disch and Doug Mallory's brother, Curt, before Ron Zook brought in Vic Koenning as the sole coordinator last year.

Maybe this time the pairing works, but the jury is out.

I'm very interested to see how Ekeler and Mallory will work together. Mallory brings a lot of experience to the table and served as Indiana's defensive backs/special teams coach in 1994-96. Ekeler is a rising star and did great work at Nebraska under Bo and Carl Pelini, but he inherits a much tougher challenge in Bloomington.

Indiana's defensive staff also will include Mark Hagen, who moves over from archrival Purdue to coach the Hoosiers' defensive line and special teams. Although IU hasn't officially announced Hagen's hiring, it's going to happen.

Hagen spent the past 11 seasons at Purdue, the past two as the Boilers' linebackers coach. The Indiana alum is no stranger to coaching line play as he worked with Purdue's defensive tackles for most of his tenure in West Lafayette and helped to mold players like Mike Neal and Alex Magee. He's a strong recruiter in the state and in the region.

Overall, I like these hires for Wilson at IU, but it all comes down to whether the co-coordinator thing can actually work.

Purdue's recent struggles in defending the run just don't add up.

The Boilers have had their share of outstanding defenders the last two seasons, particularly in the front seven. Remember these names?

• All-Big Ten end Ryan Kerrigan has recorded 20 sacks, 30 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles in the last pwo seasons.
• Tackle Mike Neal recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks last fall before becoming a second-round pick in the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
• Linebacker Jason Werner racked up 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles last fall.
• Safety Torri Williams recorded 167 tackles in his final two seasons as a Boilermaker.
• Tackle Alex Magee was a third-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs after finishing his Purdue career in 2008.
• Another lineman who played in 2008, Ryan Baker, is now with the Miami Dolphins.

With so many individual standouts, how has Purdue finished last in the Big Ten in rushing defense in each of the past two seasons?

"It's everybody against the run," co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Gary Emanuel told me Tuesday night. "It's not just the front seven, it's not just the back end. It's everybody, together."

Purdue has struggled to find that cohesion on a consistent basis. Gaps haven't always been controlled. The line hasn't always fit where it's supposed to. And when opposing ball-carriers break through the first wall of defenders, tackles haven't always been made.

Enter Emanuel, a seasoned defensive line coach whose extensive résumé includes a previous stint at Purdue from 1997-2004. He worked alongside current Boilers head coach Danny Hope from 1997-2001 and mentored standout linemen like Anthony Spencer, Shaun Phillips and Akin Ayodele.

When Emanuel returned to West Lafayette, he saw a defense that had the parts but didn't always play well as a whole.

The best news?

"The biggest thing is we don't have guys with a bunch of egos," Emanuel said.

Kerrigan sets the tone for the group. He's one of the nation's best pass rushers, but you'd never guess it if you met him off the field.

Emanuel sees similarities between Kerrigan and the other stars he has coached, including Spencer, Phillips and former Boiler Rob Ninkovich.

"They loved football, they didn't have egos, they loved practicing, they loved to play, they were interested in learning and they wanted to be good," Emanuel said. "He's [Kerrigan] probably one of the more coachable big-time players I've been around. He has no ego at all."

Kerrigan and junior end Gerald Gooden have taken charge of the group, but Emanuel also likes his young linemen like Kawann Short, Brandon Taylor, Justin Kitchens and Bruce Gaston, a true freshman who should see the field this fall. He hopes the sum of the parts finally stuffs the run in 2010.

"You have to do some scheming, but it’s basically fundamentals: emphasize tackling a little bit more, having a system of tackling, having a team that runs to the ball, emphasizing 11 hats to the ball," Emanuel said of his preseason plan. "It's a work in progress.

"It’s not going to be fixed overnight, but it has to be."

The Big Ten preseason player rankings, based on past performance and 2010 potential, continue with ...

No. 23: Karl Klug, Sr., DT, Iowa, Sr., 6-4, 258

2009 numbers: Led Big Ten defensive tackles in tackles with 65 (ranked 49th overall in the league); finished second on the Hawkeyes in tackles for loss (13) and recorded four sacks, two forced fumbles and five pass breakups.

Most recent ranking: Unranked in the 2009 postseason player rankings.

Making the case for Klug: Adrian Clayborn gets most of the hype on Iowa's defensive line, but Klug is the glue guy. He has started only one season but has been a part of the defensive line rotation since 2008. Much like former Iowa standout Mitch King, Klug is an undersized defensive tackle who consistently makes his way into the offensive backfield, recording 18 tackles for loss and six sacks in his career. As several standout defensive tackles (Jared Odrick, Mike Neal, Doug Worthington) depart the Big Ten and others move into primarily pass-rushing spots (J.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward), Klug has a chance to be the league's top interior defensive lineman. Head coach Kirk Ferentz singled out Klug this spring, telling me, "If you surveyed any 10 of our players now, at least nine of them would tell you, maybe 10, that Karl Klug is one of our best leaders and one of our best players."

The rundown

• No. 25: Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt
• No. 24: Illinois RB Mikel LeShoure

Who are the most irreplaceable players in the Big Ten? These aren't necessarily the best players, but the guys who teams really can't afford to lose.

Let's take a team-by-team look at who they are:

Illinois: Offensive tackle Jeff Allen. Illinois already has lost one starting offensive tackle to injury in Corey Lewis (ACL), placing a major burden on Allen to protect a young starting quarterback. Allen has started two seasons and should contend for All-Big Ten honors this fall. He drew praise from the coaches this spring for absorbing Paul Petrino's new offense, and he'll anchor the line at weak-side tackle. If he goes down, Illinois likely will turn to Craig Wilson, who has played mostly special teams in his career.

Indiana: Quarterback Ben Chappell. History shows that for Indiana to have a chance at a bowl game, it needs to put up a lot of points. The running game has been inconsistent the past few years, but Chappell is poised to have a big senior season through the air. The Big Ten's third-leading passer in 2009 will have a bunch of weapons at his disposal, led by first-team, all-conference wide receiver Tandon Doss. Indiana has virtually no experience behind Chappell and would turn things over to a redshirt freshman (Dusty Kiel or Edward Wright-Baker).

Iowa: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi. This isn't a knock against backup James Vandenberg, who certainly proved himself last fall at Ohio State. But Iowa is simply a different team with Stanzi on the field, drawing confidence from him through his ups and downs. You could see how much Stanzi meant to his teammates on offense after he went down against Northwestern last November. Although offensive tackle Riley Reiff, defensive end Adrian Clayborn or safety Tyler Sash certainly can make their case to be in this spot, Stanzi is the player who shapes Iowa's success more than any other player. He's got the 'it' factor.

Michigan: Cornerback Troy Woolfolk. Woolfolk provides leadership and some experience in a Wolverines secondary that looks pretty shaky even with him on the field. The thought of Woolfolk being out would certainly raise the anxiety level among Michigan fans. Woolfolk had some good moments last fall and has a chance to be a very solid Big Ten cornerback this year. He also can play safety in an emergency. Given Michigan's lack of depth in the defensive backfield, Woolfolk's presence is crucial.

Michigan State: Linebacker Greg Jones. This one is pretty obvious. Not only has Jones led Michigan State in tackles in each of his three seasons on campus, but he's the undisputed leader on defense. Without Jones' tackling and play-making ability in the offensive backfield, an average Michigan State defense would be a lousy one. Although the Spartans boast some depth at linebacker with Chris Norman, Eric Gordon and incoming freshmen William Gholston and Max Bullough, Jones is the one guy the coaches are counting on for a ton of production.

Minnesota: Safety Kyle Theret. There's not an obvious choice for the Gophers, but the team's defense lost some major experience after safety Kim Royston broke his leg this spring. Theret, who was suspended during spring ball but should return, has started 32 games at safety. He ended the 2009 season on a strong note with two interceptions and a tackle for loss in the Insight Bowl. If Royston can't return or is limited, Theret will have to lead a young Gophers' secondary.

Northwestern: Quarterback Dan Persa. Persa hasn't even started a game for Northwestern, so how can he be labeled as irreplaceable? First off, no other Wildcats quarterback has game experience, while Persa appeared in 10 contests last fall. Backup Evan Watkins remains a bit raw, and Northwestern will have a true freshman, most likely Trevor Siemian, as its third-stringer this season. Persa already has established himself as a team leader, and he would create problems if he went down.

Ohio State: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Another easy choice, as Pryor has started 22 of Ohio State's past 23 games at quarterback. Although the Buckeyes have won games without major contributions from Pryor, the offense will be shaped around him more this fall. He'll need to build off of what he showed on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. Backups Joe Bauserman and Kenny Guiton lack game experience, and Ohio State would need everyone else to step up around the quarterbacks to survive without Pryor.

Penn State: Running back Evan Royster. An experienced running back can be a young quarterback's best friend, and Royster certainly qualifies as a veteran. He has started the past two seasons for the Nittany Lions, racking up 2,405 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Penn State needs big things from Royster this fall as an inexperienced signal caller takes over for Daryll Clark. Backup running back Stephfon Green has shown flashes, but he lacks Royster's consistency.

Purdue: Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. We'll find out if running back Ralph Bolden is replaceable this season, but Purdue doesn't want to see anything happen to Kerrigan. The senior is one of the nation's top pass rushers, and he's the most experienced member of a defensive line that loses standout tackle Mike Neal. Kerrigan led the Big Ten with 13 sacks last fall and will make life easier for those around him. Aside from Gerald Gooden, Purdue looks a little thin at D-end.

Wisconsin: Quarterback Scott Tolzien. If Tolzien's value wasn't known after the 2009 season, it became even clearer during spring ball after backup Curt Phillips tore his ACL. Tolzien led the Big Ten and ranked 22nd nationally in pass efficiency (143) last season, completing 64.3 percent of his passes. He limits major mistakes and spreads the ball around well to his receivers. Redshirt freshman Jon Budmayr has talent but lacks game experience and looked shaky this spring. Wisconsin would much rather let Budmayr have more time to prepare.

Fifth in a series examining key players departing, staying and arriving at Big Ten schools.

Going ...

Joey Elliott, QB: Elliott made the most of his only season as the Boilers' starter, putting up All-Big Ten caliber numbers on the field and displaying tremendous leadership off of it. He ranked second in the Big Ten in both passing yards (3,026) and touchdown passes (22), and he helped Purdue to a 4-4 record in league play after a hard-luck start.

Mike Neal, DT: The Big Ten had so many outstanding defensive linemen in 2009 that Neal seemed to get lost in the shuffle, but his contributions will be missed this fall. Boasting brute strength and strong run-stuffing skills, Neal ranked second on the team in sacks (5.5) and third in tackles for loss (11.5). The Green Bay Packers thought enough of Neal to select him in the second round of April's draft.

---

Staying ...

Keith Smith, WR: Smith became the latest Purdue wideout to top the Big Ten's receiving charts, leading the league with 1,100 receiving yards and tying for the league lead with 91 receptions. He had seven games of seven or more receptions and six 100-yard receiving performances. Smith aims for back-to-back All-Big Ten honors this season as Purdue's undisputed No. 1 wideout.

Ryan Kerrigan, DE: Other Big Ten defensive ends drew more national acclaim, but Kerrigan led the league and finished third nationally in sacks with 13. His performance in a win against Ohio State (3 sacks, 4 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles) will go down as one of the best in Purdue history, as he earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors. Kerrigan certainly will be on opponents' radar this fall.

---

Coming ...

Robert Marve, QB: The Miami transfer made a strong impression this spring and appears to have the inside track to the starting job in 2010. Marve's ability has never been in question, but his coaches and teammates have seen him mature in his time away from the spotlight. If Marve continues his evolution this summer and into the fall, Purdue could be very dangerous on offense.

O.J. Ross, WR: Purdue isn't exactly strapped for wide receivers, but Ross is a guy who could see the field early in his career. He's undersized at 5-10 and 175 pounds but brings tremendous speed and quickness to the field. Ross fits the mold of former Purdue standouts Dorien Bryant and Vinny Sutherland, receivers overcame their lack of size to put up monster numbers.

More revolving door ...

• Indiana
• Michigan State
• Wisconsin
• Penn State

A quick programming note: posting likely will be lighter today and Tuesday as I prepare a comprehensive review of spring football in the Big Ten, which will appear Wednesday on the blog. Of course, I'll post any Big Ten news here as soon as it breaks. That is all.

• Ohio State safety Tyler Moeller expects to be fully cleared to hit in August, and when it happens, look out, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Jim Tressel wants the Ohio state high school championship game at The Shoe, while Canton officials will fight to keep it, Todd Porter writes in the Canton Repository.
• Michigan's make-or-break game in 2010 comes against its in-state rival, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. Spring ball went as planned for Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, Mark Synder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema and his staff now get richer if they take the Badgers bowling, Jennifer Zettel writes in The Badger Herald.
• After spending time at several positions, John Stipek has found a home as Michigan State's starting center, David Goricki writes in The Detroit News. Michigan State will capitalize on a favorable schedule and go 9-3 this fall, Tim Staudt writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• Spring ball is done at Illinois, but the hard work is just starting for Illini players, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette.
• Former Purdue defensive tackle Mike Neal is freaking strong, Lori Nickel writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Iowa honors longtime assistant athletic trainer John Streif, Rick Brown writes in the Des Moines Register.

The 2010 NFL draft is in the books, so let's take a look at the 34 Big Ten players who heard their names called in New York. When the full list of undrafted free agents comes out, I'll post it later in the week.

ROUND 1

• Michigan DE Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 13 overall
• Iowa LT Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay Packers, No. 23 overall
• Penn State DT Jared Odrick, Miami Dolphins, No. 28 overall

ROUND 2

• Indiana LT Rodger Saffold, St. Louis Rams, No. 33 overall (first pick of Round 2)
• Illinois WR Arrelious Benn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 39 overall
• Penn State LB Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys, No. 55 overall
• Purdue DT Mike Neal, Green Bay Packers, No. 56 overall
• Iowa LB Pat Angerer, Indianapolis Colts, No. 63 overall

ROUND 3

• Iowa CB Amari Spievey, Detroit Lions, No. 66 overall
• Illinois G Jon Asamoah, Kansas City Chiefs, No. 68 overall
• Minnesota WR Eric Decker, Denver Broncos, No. 87 overall
• Penn State LB Navorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers, No. 91 overall
• Iowa TE Tony Moeaki, Kansas City Chiefs, No. 93 overall

ROUND 4

• Northwestern DE Corey Wootton, Chicago Bears, No. 109 overall
• Ohio State DE/LB Thaddeus Gibson, Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 116 overall
• Wisconsin TE Garrett Graham, Houston Texans, No. 118 overall
• Iowa LB A.J. Edds, Miami Dolphins, No. 119 overall
• Northwestern QB Mike Kafka, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 122 overall
• Wisconsin DE/LB O'Brien Schofield, Arizona Cardinals, No. 130 overall

ROUND 5

• Illinois TE Mike Hoomanawanui, St. Louis Rams, No. 132 (first pick of fifth round)
• Northwestern CB Sherrick McManis, Houston Texans, No. 144 overall
• Michigan P Zoltan Mesko, New England Patriots, No. 150 overall
• Penn State TE Andrew Quarless, Green Bay Packers, No. 154 overall
• Minnesota LB Nate Triplett, Minnesota Vikings, No. 167 overall

ROUND 6

• No Big Ten players selected

ROUND 7

• Penn State TE Mickey Shuler, Minnesota Vikings, No. 214 overall
• Michigan State CB Jeremy Ware, Oakland Raiders, No. 215 overall
• Iowa RT Kyle Calloway, Buffalo Bills, No. 216 overall
• Indiana DE Jammie Kirlew, Denver Broncos, No. 232 overall
• Ohio State DT Doug Worthington, Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 242 overall
• Ohio State S/CB Kurt Coleman, Philadelphia Eagles, No. 244 overall
• Indiana CB/KR Ray Fisher, Indianapolis Colts, No. 246 overall
• Michigan LB/S Stevie Brown, Oakland Raiders, No. 251 overall
• Ohio State LB Austin Spitler, Miami Dolphins, No. 252 overall
• Penn State LB Josh Hull, St. Louis Rams, No. 254 overall

Here are the selections according to Big Ten team:

Illinois: 3
Indiana: 3
Iowa: 6
Michigan: 3
Michigan State: 1
Minnesota: 2
Northwestern: 3
Ohio State: 4
Penn State: 6
Purdue: 1
Wisconsin: 2

Quick thoughts:

• Three of the biggest draft steals from the Big Ten were pass-catchers in 2009: Illinois wideout Arrelious Benn, Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker and Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki. Benn had first-round skills but a fourth-round college résumé. Decker most often was compared to former Broncos wideout Ed McCaffrey, and if healthy, he could do big things in Denver. If Moeaki stays healthy, the Chiefs might have found the next Tony Gonzalez. Kirk Ferentz puts Moeaki right up there with Dallas Clark in Iowa's top tight ends.
• Love the Colts' pick of Angerer, who could be a very good pro in a great situation in Indy. With Angerer and Indiana's Fisher going to Indianapolis, the Colts now have drafted 26 Big Ten players under Bill Polian.
• Northwestern's Kafka also goes to a very good situation in Philly, as the Eagles love to pass the ball and will run some shotgun.
• Penn State's Lee, Purdue's Neal, Wisconsin's Schofield and Northwestern's Wootton and McManis could all be steals for their teams. Health has been an issue for Lee, Schofield, Wootton and McManis, so they need to find ways to get on the field and stay there.
• It was interesting how one Big Ten left tackle, Indiana's Saffold, rose up the draft boards late in the process, while another, Iowa's Bulaga, dropped.
• Ohio State had four players drafted, but this has to be the Buckeyes' weakest draft class in recent memory. I thought Gibson would go in the second or third round, but Worthington, Coleman and Spitler barely made the cut. Did Jim Tressel deserve Big Ten Coach of the Year over Ferentz? The case looks stronger now.
• Draft snubs included Michigan State wide receiver Blair White, Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark and Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott. Warren was the only Big Ten junior not to get drafted. His decision to leave looked reasonable at the time, but he clearly could have used another year in Ann Arbor. All four players have reportedly signed free-agent deals.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Several photos line the wall outside Danny Hope's office at the Mollenkopf Center, commemorating Purdue's string of bowl appearances under former head coach Joe Tiller.

Hope's first season at the helm of the Boilermakers' program won't make it to the wall. There's no bowl championship trophy, no pictures of players and coaches wearing T-shirts and shades in the dead of winter. Hope's players don't tote any bowl swag, because they didn't get any.

A 5-7 season doesn't produce any tangible rewards. But it left Hope feeling very optimistic about the future.

After a 1-5 start filled with turnovers and near misses, Purdue rallied to go .500 in Big Ten play. The Boilers stunned then-No. 7 Ohio State, snapping a 19-game slide against ranked opponents. They also notched their first win at Michigan Stadium since 1966.

So, what exactly did Purdue accomplish in 2009?

"We made some noise," Hope said. "We've got a lot of work to do, and we haven't arrived yet, but we made some noise on the field the second half of the season. We weren't that far off, and everybody could see that. We kept swinging away, and we kept getting better as a team.

"When it was all over, we had some special moments in 2009."

The next steps are obvious for Purdue. Find ways to win close games, avoid the 10-minute disaster stretches that cropped up throughout last season, improve ball security, run defense and special teams, and, most importantly, get back to the postseason.

Simply making a lower-tier bowl isn't enough for first-team All-Big Ten wide receiver Keith Smith.

"We want to go to a January bowl game," he said. "That's our goal."

Purdue might have the personnel to get there. Despite losing 20 seniors, including quarterback Joey Elliott, safety Torri Williams and defensive tackle Mike Neal, the Boilers should be a deeper team in 2010.

Wide receiver was a major question mark for Purdue entering last season, but Smith emerged as the team's latest top option with a league-leading 1,100 receiving yards on 91 catches. He'll lead a group of wideouts and tight ends that also features Kyle Adams, Keith Carlos, Antavian Edison, Cortez Smith and others.

Ralph Bolden came out of nowhere to finish third in the Big Ten in rushing (77.9 ypg) and second in scoring (5.5 ppg), and the speedy junior expects big things this fall, especially if Purdue can reload along an offensive line that loses three starters. Al-Terek McBurse is a promising No. 2 option, and fullback Dan Dierking also returns.

"From a skill standpoint, we could have as much skill as Purdue has had on offense in many, many years," Hope said. "We're very promising at running back, we have all our tight ends back, we have Keith Smith back.

"There's some firepower there. We have to develop it."

Many eyes will be on the quarterback competition this spring, specifically Miami transfer Robert Marve. Marve, who will compete with Caleb TerBush for the top job, gets a fresh start after a tumultuous two years at Miami that got ugly at the end.

Purdue coaches and players say Marve has matured a lot in the last 10 months, and Marve's ability as a former blue-chip recruit has never been in doubt.

"In [offseason workouts], he's taking control," Bolden said. "He pretty much knows our offense. I don't know how, but he just jumped in and knew it, telling people to run this, changing routes and everything. He pretty much knows what he's doing, so I'm just following his lead."

Big Ten sacks leader Ryan Kerrigan leads a defense that must get tougher against the run after finishing last in the Big Ten in each of the last two seasons. The Boilers are helped by greater depth up front and the return of standout linebacker Jason Werner, who received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA last month.

Hope and his assistants will spend much of the spring evaluating the secondary, which must replace all four starters.

"Obviously, the bar has been raised," Hope said. "The record that we had last year, even though we had some signature wins, was not good enough. We didn't make postseason play.

"The standard is set, and the expectation level is always high at Purdue."

After watching Michigan State and Purdue slug it out on the basketball court Sunday, I was tempted to make the short drive down I-65 to Indianapolis for the final few days of the NFL combine.

The combine continues today and Tuesday, but many of the key evaluations have already taken place.

Let's take a look at the Big Ten's top performers in the events through Sunday:

40-Yard Dash

• Tony Moeaki, Iowa, tied for fourth among tight ends (4.69 seconds)
• Andrew Quarless, Penn State, tied for fourth among tight ends (4.69 seconds)

Bench Press

• Daryll Clark, Penn State, first among quarterbacks (21 reps)
• Arrelious Benn, Illinois, tied for first among wide receivers (20 reps)
• Blair White, Michigan State, sixth among wide receivers (18 reps)
• Michael Hoomanawanui, Illinois, third among tight ends (25 reps)
• Andrew Quarless, Penn State, tied for fifth among tight ends (23 reps)
• Garrett Graham, Wisconsin, tied for eighth among tight ends (20 reps)
• Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State, tied for sixth among defensive linemen (32 reps)
• Brandon Graham, Michigan, tied for 10th among defensive linemen (31 reps)
• Mike Neal, Purdue, tied for 10th among defensive linemen (31 reps)

Vertical Jump

• Mike Kafka, Northwestern, tied for seventh among quarterbacks (32 inches)
• Arrelious Benn, Illinois, tied for eighth among wide receivers (37 inches)
• Garrett Graham, Wisconsin, sixth among tight ends (34.5 inches)
• Tony Moeaki, Iowa, tied for seventh among tight ends (34 inches)
• Rodger Saffold, Indiana, tied for ninth among offensive linemen (29.5 inches)

Broad Jump

• Mike Kafka, Northwestern, tied for fifth among quarterbacks (9 feet, 2 inches)
• Tony Moeaki, Iowa, tied for fifth among tight ends (9 feet, 5 inches)
• Rodger Saffold, Indiana, tied for second among offensive linemen (9 feet, 5 inches)

3-Cone Drill

• Mike Kafka, Northwestern, third among quarterbacks (6.96 seconds)
• Blair White, Michigan State, third among wide receivers (6.69 seconds)
• Rodger Saffold, Indiana, third among offensive linemen (7.42 seconds)

20-Yard Shuttle

• Blair White, Michigan State, first among wide receivers (4.03 seconds)
• Garrett Graham, Wisconsin, fourth among tight ends (4.35 seconds)
• Rodger Saffold, Indiana, eighth among offensive linemen (4.67 seconds)

60-Yard Shuttle

• Mike Kafka, Northwestern, second among quarterbacks (11.79 seconds)
• Blair White, Michigan State, second among wide receivers (11.07 seconds)
• Tony Moeaki, Iowa, third among tight ends (11.86 seconds)

So it's been a good combine for players like Moeaki, Saffold, White, Kafka and Quarless. I'll provide more updates on top performers as the results are posted.

The official list of invitees to the NFL scouting combine is out, and the Big Ten will send 41 former players to Indianapolis later this month. The combine takes place Feb. 24-March 2, and all 11 Big Ten schools will be represented. Iowa leads the way with seven invitees, followed Penn State with six invitees and four teams (Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State) each with four invitees.

You've already seen an early list, which didn't include underclassmen and some seniors who were named later.

Here's the full roster of Big Ten participants, sorted by team:

ILLINOIS: G Jon Asamoah, WR Arrelious Benn, TE Michael Hoomanawanui

INDIANA: DE Jammie Kirlew, DE Greg Middleton, S Nick Polk, OT Rodger Saffold

IOWA: LB Pat Angerer, OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Kyle Calloway, LB A.J. Edds, TE Tony Moeaki, G Dace Richardson, CB Amari Spievey

MICHIGAN: DE Brandon Graham, P Zoltan Mesko, RB Brandon Minor, CB Donovan Warren

MICHIGAN STATE: K Brett Swenson, WR Blair White

MINNESOTA: LB Lee Campbell, WR Eric Decker, LB Simoni Lawrence, LB Nate Triplett

NORTHWESTERN: QB Mike Kafka, CB Sherrick McManis, DE Corey Wootton

OHIO STATE: S Kurt Coleman, DE Thaddeus Gibson, K Aaron Pettrey, DT Doug Worthington

PENN STATE: LB Navorro Bowman, QB Daryll Clark, LB Josh Hull, LB Sean Lee, DT Jared Odrick, TE Andrew Quarless

PURDUE: DT Mike Neal, CB David Pender

WISCONSIN: TE Garrett Graham, LB O'Brien Schofield (injured)

Purdue defensive line coach Terrell Williams is leaving his post to join Texas A&M's staff, Purdue confirmed Monday morning.

An official announcement from Texas A&M is expected soon.

Williams spent the past four seasons with the Boilermakers, coaching the entire D-line in 2006, 2007 and 2009, and only the defensive ends in 2008. He has overseen the development of standout linemen like Anthony Spencer, Cliff Avril, Alex Magee and, most recently, Ryan Kerrigan and Mike Neal.

It's obviously not ideal to lose a position coach so late in hiring season -- and so close to national signing day -- and head coach Danny Hope has an important decision in front of him. Williams, like every Purdue assistant, helped recruit the state of Florida. He wasn't the primary recruiter for defensive end commit Bruce Gaston, though Gaston praised Williams for his role in the recruiting process.

Purdue's next D-line coach will inherit one of the Big Ten's top pass-rushers in Kerrigan, as well as promising young players like Gerald Gooden and Kawann Short. The new coach's primary task will be finding ways to improve the Boilers' run defense, which has ranked last in the Big Ten in each of the past two seasons.

Those of us who watch Big Ten football every week know good Brandon Graham is at his craft.

The rest of the country, not to mention the NFL's top talent evaluators, got clued in Saturday afternoon at the Senior Bowl.

Graham, the outstanding defensive end from Michigan, earned MVP honors for the North team in a 31-13 victory against the South all-stars in Mobile, Ala. Graham recorded three tackles for loss, including two sacks, and forced a Zac Robinson fumble.

"I just wanted to go out and show them boys I come hard and I was in the best shape of my life," he told reporters afterward. "I came out and went hard every play."

Graham most likely locked up a spot in the first round of April's draft after a great week in Mobile. He was somewhat overlooked the last two seasons because of Michigan's struggles, particularly on defense, but he shouldn't be punished for the team's shortcomings. No Big Ten defender had more impressive numbers than Graham, who led the nation in tackles for loss and ranked 14th in sacks.

Iowa linebacker A.J. Edds also headlined a strong defensive effort from the North squad with an interception and a fumble recovery that set up a touchdown. Edds had two tackles in the game.

Other Big Ten notables in the game:

• Michigan State's Brett Swenson put the North team on the scoreboard with a 43-yard field goal and went 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts.
• Michigan's Zoltan Mesko averaged 32.3 yards on three punts, placing one inside the 20-yard line.
• Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman and Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick both recorded a tackle.
• Purdue defensive tackle Mike Neal had one assisted tackle for loss.
• Wisconsin tight end Garrett Graham recorded one catch for 10 yards.

Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices went much better for the Big Ten. No major injuries to report, and several players are stepping up, according to the ESPN's Scouts Inc. experts in Mobile.

Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham is impressing the scouts, a development that shouldn't surprise any of us who watched No. 55 dominate the Big Ten this fall.

Scouts Inc.'s Day 2 blog recognizes Graham, who "has already emerged as the leader of the North defense. Graham is quick with good upper-body strength and technique. He never stops working, either. His motor is just ridiculous."

Illinois tight end Michael Hoomanawanui also is looking good during practices. He was recognized as one of the North team's stars on Tuesday. As Scouts Inc. writes: "He is a crisp, physical route-runner who does not get pushed around and catches the ball well in traffic. We'd like to see a more violent punch as a run-blocker but he showed good leg drive on Day 2 and is by far the best inline blocker among the North tight ends."

As for the other Big Ten prospects ...

• "Iowa LB A.J. Edds did a good job of jamming and re-routing Wisconsin TE Garrett Graham during 7-on-7s but stumbled when forced to turn and run, so we're a little concerned about his man cover skills."
• "Purdue DT Mike Neal owned [Notre Dame guard Eric] Olsen all morning long."

The East-West Shrine Game is nearly here (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET), and final preparations are under way in Orlando. ESPN's Scouts Inc. has been watching all of the practices as 11 Big Ten players get ready for the game.

The Scouts Inc. folks have watched Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield all week as the All-Big Ten standout transitions from playing defensive end in college to linebacker in the NFL. Schofield's speed made him particularly tough to handle this fall in the Big Ten, but at just 248 pounds, he's a better fit for outside linebacker in a 3-4 system at the pro level. Schofield ranked second in the Big Ten in both sacks (12) and tackles for loss (24.5) this season.

Todd McShay writes of Schofield: "He's reacting and just playing now instead of needing that split second to think about what he's supposed to be doing. He has good, quick feet. Maybe the quickest feet on anyone here and that will help him. Give him lots of credit for hanging in there in what had to be a frustrating week at times and for getting better and better as the week went on."

Here are some other Big Ten-related comments from Thursday's practice session:

• "Penn State QB Daryll Clark has struggled with his accuracy during drills. He's not doing a good job of throwing with rhythm when hitting his back foot."
• "Michigan State WR Blair White made a nice catch snagging the ball at the highest point on a fade route. It was just in a drill with no DBs, but for a guy who has been trapping the ball way too much here, it was worth noting how he used his hands here."
• "Purdue DT Mike Neal is showing very good first step quickness during bag drills. He's been lining up next to LSU DE Rahim Alem and beat Alem off the line three straight times. That's saying a little something since Alem is a DE while Neal is a DT. Neal is having a very strong week."