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The Big Ten hasn't produced a top-10 pick in the NFL draft since Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and Ohio State defensive lineman Vernon Gholston went at No. 1 and No. 6, respectively, in 2008 (sorry, Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh doesn't count, played his entire career in Big 12).

The league's highest picks in the past four drafts have been Penn State's Aaron Maybin (No. 11 to Buffalo in 2009), Michigan's Brandon Graham (No. 13 to Philadelphia in 2010), Wisconsin's J.J. Watt (No. 11 to Houston in 2011) and Iowa's Riley Reiff last week (No. 23 to Detroit). Although the Big Ten's overall first-round numbers haven't been bad, and the league had 41 total players selected last week, its highest total since 2006, the lack of premier prospects is a bit of a concern.

But the top-10 drought could end in 2013, according to ESPN's Todd McShay.

My apologies for posting this a bit late, but McShay came out with his first mock draft for 2013, which he describes as an "extremely initial" version that "won't mean much by the time the summer is over."

Here's where he sees Big Ten players being selected next April.

No. 2: Wisconsin OT Ricky Wagner
No. 14: Michigan State DE William Gholston (underclassman)
No. 15: Michigan State CB Johnny Adams
No. 21: Purdue DT Kawann Short
No. 24: Illinois DE Michael Buchanan
No. 28: Ohio State DT Johnathan Hankins (underclassman)

It's an interesting list, albeit an early one. Wagner certainly will be a player to watch as he enters his third year as a starter for the Badgers. He has been a good player, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2011, but whether he can take several steps to become one of the nation's best offensive linemen remains to be seen.

Gholston seems like a strong candidate to leave Michigan State after this season, where he'll be a top contender for Big Ten defensive player of the year honors. Hankins drew rave reviews from his teammates and coaches this spring, and can be a disruptive force with his size.

All the defensive linemen on McShay's list have high-level talent, and there could be more from the Big Ten (John Simon, Akeem Spence).

One player who doesn't appear is Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, who many project to play wide receiver in the NFL. It'll be very interesting to see where "Shoelace" ends up next April.

The NFL scouting combine kicks off today in Indianapolis, and 45 Big Ten players will be part of the most scrutinized job interview in sports.

Here's the full schedule of events. The first set of interviews take place Wednesday, and position group workouts take place from Friday-Tuesday.

Here are some of the Big Ten storylines at the combine:

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Chuck Cook/US PresswireRussell Wilson needs to convince teams that his less-than-ideal height won't hold him back at the next level.
• The quarterbacks are always a story in Indy, and Wisconsin's Russell Wilson and Michigan State's Kirk Cousins will be representing the Big Ten. Wilson's biggest obstacle is his height, and he'll have to show he can throw over the top of massive linemen and make all the throws. He won't lack for motivation. Cousins had a strong showing during Senior Bowl week. He wants to put himself in that second group of quarterbacks behind Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. A strong combine performance could be the difference between being a third-round pick and a fifth-rounder.
• Can Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy solidify himself in the first round? Worthy has moved around the mock drafts quite a bit during the past few months. There are obvious pluses to his game, namely his brute strength and ability to clog rushing lanes and drop quarterbacks. But some have questioned his motor and whether he takes too many plays off. He'll be under the microscope in Indy, especially from a conditioning standpoint.
• The combine will be huge for Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who saw his stock drop during Senior Bowl week and missed the game because of a hip injury. Huskers coach Bo Pelini has called Dennard the nation's best cornerback, and he showed shutdown skills at times last season. But he has some work to do to get back in the first-round picture.
• Remember Jared Crick? I ranked him as the Big Ten's No. 1 player entering the season, but he played in only five games before being sidelined with a torn pectoral muscle. Crick needs to show he's healthy and that he can thrive when not playing alongside Ndamukong Suh.
• It will be interesting to see which Big Ten offensive linemen can boost their stock in Indy. Iowa left tackle Riley Reiff doesn't have much to prove and should be the league's first player drafted in April, but it'll be interesting to see how Wisconsin center Peter Konz, Ohio State center Mike Brewster, Wisconsin tackle Josh Oglesby, Illinois tackle Jeff Allen, Ohio State tackle Mike Adams and others perform. Konz certainly could be the first center drafted, while many project Adams in the first round. Oglesby is among the players trying to prove they can hold up after dealing with several knee injuries with the Badgers. Brewster's stock dropped at the Senior Bowl, and he finished the season as the Big Ten's No. 3 center after entering the fall as a preseason All-American.
• Michigan State running back Edwin Baker surprised some by declaring for the draft. His production dropped off significantly in 2011, although Michigan State had some issues along the offensive line. Still, Baker needs a big performance in Indy to impress the talent evaluators.
• Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey appeared in only three games as a senior because of suspension. He has the physical gifts to be an effective pro wideout, but he'll need a strong week before the scouts in Indy. Evaluators also will be trying to assess his character after some off-field missteps at Ohio State.
• The combine is all about numbers, and Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin might post some huge ones this week. Martin, one of the strongest players in college football, is bench pressing 505 pounds and squatting more than 700. Stephen Paea's combine record of 49 reps of 225 pounds could be in jeopardy. Martin should finish among the leaders in his position group in several categories.

The number most often associated with Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is 335.

At 335 pounds, Hankins is one of the biggest men in the Big Ten. He's among the largest defensive players in the nation and easy to spot in the heart of Ohio State's defensive line.

Every time "Big Hank" blows up a double team or drops a running back in the backfield, the number 335 is bound to be mentioned, whether it's on the television broadcast, the radio broadcast, Twitter or by fans in the stands. Hankins' size makes him stand out.

But Hankins spent the offseason focused on a different number: 60.

Ohio State's defense averaged 60.7 plays per game in 2010. Hankins wanted to make he'd be on the field for all of them in 2011.

"Last year he probably averaged 15 snaps a game, maybe a few more later in the season, 20 snaps," Buckeyes coach Luke Fickell said. "The question was, a guy his size, can he play 60, 65 snaps in a game? He's done a very good job of showing us that he can."

Hankins not only has stayed on the field longer but made his presence known. The sophomore leads Ohio State's defensive linemen with 36 tackles, a total that ranks second on the team behind linebacker Andrew Sweat. He also ranks second in tackles for loss (6.5) and tied for second in sacks (2).

The big man also seems to be getting stronger with each game. He opened Big Ten play with six tackles and a sack against Nebraska, and followed it up Oct. 15 with arguably his best performance as a Buckeye, recording a team-high nine tackles, including two for loss, in a defense-driven 17-7 win at Illinois.

"This summer, I worked on my conditioning, eating right and just losing a few pounds," Hankins said. "It's helping me this year. That's been a major part."

Hankins shed about 15 pounds from his frame, which he calls "a good amount." While he remains as big or bigger than most offensive lineman he faces, Hankins feels lighter on his feet and generally more in shape.

"My first year, I would get tired after like one or two series," he said. "Right now, I feel like I can just play the whole game. Most of the time, I'm not really going to come out of the game.

"With my conditioning being where it's at right now, it's taken my game to another level."

Hankins showed some promise as a true freshman, appearing in all 13 games and recording 16 tackles, including a sack. Although he couldn't log many snaps, Ohio State only needed him to spell starters Cameron Heyward, a first-round pick in April's NFL draft, and veteran Dexter Larimore.

But the departures of Heyward and Larimore left Ohio State thin at tackle. The Buckeyes needed contributors to complement veteran John Simon up front.

"Coming into this year, I knew we were going to be pretty young," Hankins said. "I knew there were going to be roles and spots that needed to be filled. The coaches were going to be counting on me. The defense was going to be counting on me."

Hankins and Simon form a terrific defensive tackle tandem, combining for 14 tackles for loss and five sacks. They both stood out against Illinois, ranking as Ohio State's top two tacklers and accounting for six tackles for loss.

Ohio State will lean on the pair this week as it faces the Big Ten's top offense in No. 15 Wisconsin.

"It's awesome when you've got two big guys like that are getting after it and affecting quarterbacks and running backs," Buckeyes offensive tackle Mike Adams said.

Hankins, who hails from Detroit, has enjoyed watching former Nebraska star Ndamukong Suh star for the NFL's Lions. Another pro defensive tackle Hankins likes to scout is Green Bay Packers standout B.J. Raji.

Like Hankins, Raji is a guy who can't avoid references to his size. He's listed at 337 pounds.

"He's kind of a guy like me, a two- or three-down player," Hankins said. "He's a big guy, but good with his feet."

Does Hankins see himself in Raji?

"I don't think I'm as big as him," he said.

Not anymore, at least.

"He didn't want to be as heavy as he was last year," Fickell said of Hankins. "He knew he was going to have to play more, and he was going to have to get his weight down in order to do that.

"He's well-conditioned for his size, and I've been impressed with his ability to play over 60 snaps a game."

You have questions, and I might have the answers.

Let's do this.

Shawn from Tampa writes: Doesn't it make total sense for PSU to NOT name a starting quarterback this week? They open with Indiana State. They play both guys fairly equally and see what happens. Then, they actually do name a starter for the much more important Alabama game.

Adam Rittenberg: Shawn, I see your point, but it's not like Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin are strangers to the game field. Both men started games in 2010, and did so against much better competition than Indiana State. Don't you think the coaches have had enough time to evaluate these two during an entire spring practice and an entire fall camp? I don't know what they'll see against an FCS opponent to convince them one should be the starter over the other. My concern also is the team wants to know who its offensive leader will be. Other players want to rally behind the starter, but it's still a mystery to them.

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Chris from Columbus, Ohio, writes: I know it feels like we already finished off all the expansion talk, but what do you think the potential fallout means for the B1G if Texas A&M makes the jump to the SEC, and do you foresee Delany being proactive or reactive? Delany says he's happy with the conference's setup right now, but don't you think the B1G would be dragged back into action? I'd think that the SEC would at least seek out a 14th member, and you know Larry Scott would make another hard push at an even weaker Big 12.

Adam Rittenberg: The Big Ten can't afford to be reactive if another major realignment is on the horizon. That said, the Big Ten in no way should expand for the sake of expanding. If there aren't candidates that truly enhance the Big Ten's brand, why split the money with them? This is the element most college football fans don't understand, along with the need to have a cultural fit along with an athletic fit. I do think it'd be hard for the Big Ten to stay at 12 if the SEC and Pac-12 both go to 16, but the Big Ten also must evaluate its own situation and ask if a school or a set of schools really fits the culture and enhances the brand.

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David from Cincinnati writes: With Posey being out the first five games and being young at receiver this year, do you think OSU will try to utilize its two solid TEs Jake Stoneburner and Reed Fragel by putting them in the slot our running some two TE sets?

Adam Rittenberg: I certainly hope so, David. Most folks would agree that Stoneburner in particular has been underused the past few seasons. Jim Tressel talked him up during spring ball in 2009, but the fact is Stoneburner has only 23 receptions in the past two seasons. This would seem to be the perfect time to feature the tight ends more, but I'm taking a believe-it-when-I-see-it approach because Ohio State has been hesitant to do so in the past.

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Christian from Westerville, Ohio, writes: Hey Adam, I just wanted to make a comment about your Big Ten player rankings, and how I disagree with Jared Crick being number 1 over Denard Robinson. While it's always great to have playmakers on defense, they do not have the same impact as a quarterback. Although Robinson is playing in a new system, I feel that his ceiling is much higher than Crick and his play can mean the difference between Michigan being a bowl team to them becoming a 10 win team and/or Big Ten Champions. You can't say the same about Crick, as Nebraska should be contenders even if he does not play really well.

Adam Rittenberg: Christian, while I agree quarterback is the most important position on the field, I think you're selling the defensive tackle spot way short. A dominant defensive tackle changes games, and we've seen it recently in the Big Ten with players like Corey Liuget and Jared Odrick. J.J. Watt, who played both end and tackle at Wisconsin, forced opponents to change their game plan. There also was a defensive tackle who played alongside Crick at Nebraska by the name of Ndamukong Suh who made a pretty big impact on games, if memory serves. Denard Robinson is a special player who can do special things, but these rankings take into account the impact a player will make in 2011. I tend to think Robinson's impact won't be as profound, while Crick should have another huge year.

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Joe from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: I was wondering what you thought of Krik Herbstreit's prediction of Iowa and OSU? He believes it's going to be these two who end up at the championship game this year. What is your take on this?

Adam Rittenberg: It's an interesting take, Joe. I've gone on record several times as saying five of the six Legends Division teams could win the title and head to Indy. Iowa has a very favorable schedule with no Ohio State or Wisconsin, and the Hawkeyes host some of the better teams in their division (Michigan State, Northwestern and Michigan). Sure, Iowa loses several outstanding defenders, but it has some exciting young players and the type of schedule to build some early confidence. Like Iowa, Ohio State faces its top two division challengers at home (Wisconsin, Penn State). While the Buckeyes face some unique personnel challenges, their talent level never has been in doubt. I could certainly see Herbie's prediction coming true, based mainly on the division home schedules.

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Matt from New York writes: No Nathan Williams in the top 25? Or even just missing the cut? That doesn't seem right to me.

Drew from Milwaukee writes: Adam - really wish you had given some love to the Wisconsin defensive backfield in your top 35 list. Aaron Henry and Antonio Fenelus were both All Big Ten performers last season and should be expected to play big roles on a Wisconsin defense that is relatively young and/or unproven up front (Henry especially). How far were they from consideration and what do they need to do to make the post season top 25?

Little Rock Sparty from Little Rock, Ark., writes: Hey Adam,Hard to believe that of the 25 best in the conference, plus the 10 near misses, not a single OG made the list. Hard to believe that Joel Foreman of Michigan State isn't one of the top 35 in the conference.

Matt from New York writes: Adam - Love the blog and have been watching the top25 players with great anticipation. I simply can't believe that Joel Foreman was omitted. I won't go into who I'd leave off since all are excellent players and none deserve to be called out. But if past performance is a factor, as you suggest, how can a 4 year starter on the OL (a rarity to say the least) and the best OG in the B1G be omitted over players who need to show they're healthy? Talk about a snub! Also, not a single safety?!Seriously though, keep up the good work.

Adam Rittenberg: Thanks for the notes, guys. I didn't know Joel Foreman had so many admirers out there. You all make some good points, but as I've said before, instead of only making the case for your guy, tell me which player or players shouldn't be included in the top 25 or 35. There are a bunch of good players left off of our lists, Foreman being one of them. I'll also say that guard, defensive end and safety aren't among the strongest positions in the Big Ten this year. They may turn out to be, but I don't see it right now. Wide receiver, meanwhile, was underrepresented in the top 25, and it's why you saw more wideouts in the 10 who just missed the cut.

The Big Ten player rankings, based on past performance and potential impact for the 2011 season, have reached their zenith. So who enters the fall as the league's No. 1 player? ...

No. 1: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska, Sr., 6-6, 285

2010 numbers: Started all 14 games; led Huskers in both sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (17); ranked second in the Big 12 in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss; recorded 70 tackles (36 solo), which led all Big 12 defensive linemen; had one forced fumble, 10 quarterback hurries and two pass breakups

Why he's here: A Big Ten defensive lineman has finished No. 1 in the postseason player rankings in each of the past two seasons: Michigan's Brandon Graham (2009) and Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan (2010). The Big Ten had five defensive linemen selected in the first round of April's NFL draft. While positions like quarterback, running back and even linebacker have endured some ups and downs, the Big Ten has consistently produced nationally elite defensive linemen. It's a pretty good bet the trend will continue in 2011.

Crick isn't ranked No. 1 solely because he plays defensive line, but it certainly doesn't hurt his case. The Nebraska senior is a beast on the interior, recording 9.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons to go with 32 tackles for loss -- huge numbers for a defensive tackle. He's not simply a space eater and consistently harasses opposing quarterbacks, recording 26 hurries in the past two seasons. While some will compare Crick with his good friend and former teammate Ndamukong Suh, he's a different type of player who can have a similar impact on games.

A unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection last year after earning second-team honors in 2009, Crick was a second-team AP All-American and surprised many when he bypassed the NFL draft to return for his final season. He enters the 2011 season on most All-America lists. He needs 10.5 sacks to set the Nebraska team record and, barring injury, will finish his career with more than 40 games started. Crick anchors arguably the Big Ten's top defensive line and thinks Nebraska has what it takes to win the league and compete for a national title.

Some might be surprised to see a Big Ten newcomer ranked No. 1 on the countdown, but Crick is the real deal.

Previously

• No. 25: Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin
• No. 24: Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State
• No. 23: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
• No. 22: Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
• No. 21: Nathan Scheelhaase, QB, Illinois
• No. 20: John Simon, DL, Ohio State
• No. 19: Ricardo Allen, CB, Purdue
• No. 18: Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
• No. 17: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
• No. 16: Derek Moye, WR, Penn State
• No. 15: Jeremy Ebert, WR, Northwestern
• No. 14: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
• No. 13: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
• No. 12: David Molk, C, Michigan
• No .11: Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
• No. 10: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan
• No. 9: Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
• No. 8: Riley Reiff, LT, Iowa
• No. 7: James White, RB, Wisconsin
• No. 6: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
• No. 5: Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
• No. 4: Mike Brewster, C, Ohio State
• No. 3: Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern
• No. 2: Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan

Hoping everyone has a great weekend.

Erik from Illinois writes: adam i was reading your blog and came upon an article over upcoming struggles for returning qbs and then you went on to say that denard robinson and dan persa were the best qbs of 2010??? really? what a joke ricky stanzi and kirk cousins were both easily better than these two, denard shined when he played as a rb and persa is in a system offense where he can throw short dump off passes that pad his stats. i understand the hype that robinson produced but he was a run first qb who was very shaky throwing, i think he'll be much better this year, but last year? not so much. come on i know stanzi was underated but can he at last get the acknowledgement he deserves?

Adam Rittenberg: Erik, we can agree on the fact that Stanzi didn't get enough credit for what was mostly an excellent senior season. He got credit on the blog as I kept him in the Heisman mix longer than anyone, but we also can't discount the fact he struggled late in games and toward the end of the season. After surviving numerous major mistakes with late-game heroics in 2009, Stanzi had a better overall season last year but didn't deliver in the clutch nearly as much. And let's face it: quarterbacks are judged largely on clutch play. Cousins also had a solid season and showed guts playing through injuries, but you're really underrating Persa and, to a lesser extent, Robinson. Persa carried Northwestern and put up insane numbers. You can talk about the system all you want, but to complete 73.5 percent of your passes and throw just four interceptions on 302 attempts in an offense with a weak run game is pretty spectacular. Robinson had his struggles against better Big Ten teams, but he made a ton of plays and, contrary to what Big Ten coaches think, should have been categorized as a quarterback on the all-conference team. Stanzi and Cousins aren't far behind, but Robinson and Persa are my top two QBs from 2010.

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Ahmad from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: How do you rate the Michigan defensive line in the Big 10 this year? I feel like they are going to surprise many with how dominant they will be. Hoke and Mattison have been focusing their efforts on a veteran d line. I'm calling it now. Michigan will have one of the strongest run defenses in the country this year. Feel free to take shots at me while you can.

Adam Rittenberg: My pistol remains holstered, Ahman, because I agree that Michigan's defensive line will be much improved this season. Greg Mattison inherits a bona fide NFL prospect in tackle Mike Martin, along with a veteran end in Ryan Van Bergen who should fit better with the 4-3 scheme. Also, end Craig Roh has gained valuable experience and could be an impact player if he makes the adjustments to a bigger frame and a new defense. A big key is Will Campbell. Can he finally reach his potential? Michigan also must build depth with Jibreel Black and others. But if there's one area of the defense that doesn't concern me, it's the line.

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Jake from Madison, Wis., writes: What are the chances we'll see Jon Budmayr and Russell Wilson switching off snaps in September?

Adam Rittenberg: Highly unlikely, Jake. Wisconsin likes to play one quarterback and if Russell Wilson shows he can handle the system and carry over the skills he displayed at NC State, he should be the guy handling most if not all of the snaps. Budmayr remains in the mix, but I'd be surprised if the Badgers went with a QB rotation.

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Brett from Arlington, Va., writes: With all the speculation of TAMU bolting the B12 over the Longhorn network, is there any possibility of the B1G cherry-picking? As a Husker fan, I would love to see OU again...

Adam Rittenberg: You can bet the Big Ten is closely monitoring the Texas A&M-SEC situation. Major conferences simply don't have the luxury to sit on their hands when another round of expansion seems likely if not imminent. Oklahoma would be a very intriguing possibility for the Big Ten. I'm really not that excited about what remains of the old Big 12 North, but OU would move the needle. I also could see the Big Ten looking East toward the bigger markets and teams in the Big East or ACC.

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Kevin from DC writes: Hey Adam - Who will be calling plays for the buckeye offense this coming season? I know Jim Bollman is back from last season as Offensive Coordinator, but (correct me if I'm wrong) in years past it was Jim Tressel that called the plays. So who takes play calling responsibility now, Fickell or Bollman? Either way, I'm expecting to see a run-first, conservative game plan, considering our personnel. How do you see things?

Adam Rittenberg: Luke Fickell won't be calling the offensive plays, Kevin. It'll be Jim Bollman working in conjunction with the offensive staff, but Bollman will be the primary play-caller for the Buckeyes. We will get a greater sense of how he calls games this year and how it differs from how the offense ran with Tressel as head coach. I'd agree Ohio State will be a heavy run team because of the depth at running back and the lack of depth and experience at both quarterback and receiver. The Buckeyes also should strongly consider featuring tight ends Jake Stoneburner and Reid Fragel more in the offense. Stoneburner especially could be a difference maker.

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Jon from Hudsonville, Mich., writes: Perhaps this is the time I finally have a question answered and maybe not. I was wonderign what your thoughts about Worthy being a Heisman hopeful for this upcoming season. The award is about the best player, not the best qb rating, or most td's scored, but the best all around player in college football. My point is this. Look at Suh and his accomplishments, and he was a dt for nebraska right? Worthy has many positives going for him and all the hype for the upcoming season I think warrents his name thrown in the mix.

Adam Rittenberg: Jon, any defensive player faces a nearly impossible climb to get serious Heisman Trophy consideration. While Jerel Worthy will be helped by his NFL draft hype, he'd have to not only put up some ridiculous numbers this fall but play on a team contending for a Big Ten championship. Both of those things could happen, but Worthy hasn't approached Suh numbers, or even Jared Crick numbers, the past two seasons. The potential is there and he could have a very nice season, but at this point it's unrealistic to put him or many defenders on the Heisman radar. I wish things worked differently, but they don't.

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Ray from Chicago writes: Hey Adam,Saw your post on impact freshman to watch. I think we need to keep an eye on NU WR Christian Jones. He was a ESPNU top150 recruit and he's got the size, 6-3 225. We've seen much smaller receivers from NU put up big numbers (Peterman, Markshausen, Ebert) and pairing Jones with Persa could be impressive to watch. What is your take on Jones from the few practices held so far

Adam Rittenberg: Ray, it's a little too soon to get a great gauge on Jones as Northwestern hasn't held a full-pads practice. But I've heard good things. Jones' size definitely sets him apart from many Northwestern receivers. The big question is whether he can work his way into a very crowded mix at receiver. Barring a wave of injuries, Northwestern really doesn't need to play Jones this year. So he'll have to show he's too good to keep on the sideline. Wide receiver is one of few spots where Northwestern seems willing to play true freshmen, but it's also the deepest position on the team.

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Enrique from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: Adam, I hope you saw Ubben's recent Big 12 All-Name team. I hope you also recall that I politely suggested you do something similar last week. You're always promoting innovation within the B1G and your hesitation has cost us that right to call ourselves leading innovaters in college football. I love your blog, but this has greatly disappointed me. I'd still love to see your version--as would many other B1G blog patrons--and I hope you will take heed of our requests more seriously in the future. It is posts like All-Name teams that will take the B1G to new heights. Thank you for your time, sir.

Adam Rittenberg: Patience, my friend. We'll get around to this. It's been a very busy week, but I promise we'll get to the All-Name team before the season rolls around. You can hold me to it. I'm guessing your email isn't entirely serious, but I do like to keep things fresh and fun, and an All-Name team certainly is a fun preseason post.

NFL.com recently finished a countdown of the Top 100 players in the NFL, as voted on by the current players in the league.


It's a fascinating list that's sure to stir a lot of debate. But since this is a Big Ten blog, we're going to concern ourselves with where the Top 100 went to college.

There are 13 former Big Ten players on the list, including No. 1: Tom Brady. (Note: We're counting Nebraska players as Big 12 products since the Cornhuskers in the NFL participated in that league. Same thing for Colorado and Utah, Miami and Virginia Tech, etc.). Here are the 13 who made the cut and how they ranked overall:

1. Tom Brady, QB, New England (Michigan)
9. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (Purdue)
16. Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay (Michigan)
28. Jake Long, OT, Miami (Michigan)
43. Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland (Wisconsin)
47. Nick Mangold, C, New York Jets (Ohio State)
58. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Miami (Illinois)
63. Cameron Wake, LB, Miami (Penn State)
64. Tamba Hali, DE, Kansas City (Penn State)
76. Santonio Holmes, WR, New York Jets (Ohio State)
78. Dallas Clark, TE, Indianapolis (Iowa)
82. LaMarr Woodley, DE, Pittsburgh (Michigan)
97. Shaun Phillips, DE, San Diego (Purdue)

By school:

Michigan: 4
Ohio State: 2
Penn State: 2
Purdue: 2
Illinois: 1
Iowa: 1
Wisconsin: 1

(In case you're wondering, the two Nebraska players on the list are No. 51 Ndamukong Suh and No. 55 Carl Nicks)

Now let's see how the Top 100 stacks up by college conference:

Big East: 16
Big Ten: 13
SEC: 13
ACC: 12
Pac-10: 11
Big 12: 7
Notre Dame: 1
Non-AQ/Small schools: 27

This just reinforces what I always said in my previous job: The best football is played in the Big East. Actually, that league greatly benefits from eight Miami Hurricanes who played their careers in the league before the program jumped ship to the ACC.

It's interesting that the Big Ten has the same amount of Top 100 players as the mighty SEC, no? I thought all the best talent was supposed to be in the SEC. Hmm. The ACC continues to underachieve despite all its talent, while the Big 12 has curiously low representation here (only five players outside of Nebraska).

I also find it fascinating that 27 percent of the supposed cream of the crop in pro football never played in an AQ conference -- Kent State, for example, has three players on the list, more than Alabama, Florida and LSU combined and more than every Big Ten school except Michigan. East Carolina and Central Florida have as many Top 100 players as Ohio State and Penn State. More evidence that recruiting stars don't always equal NFL success. (And indeed, the No. 1 player on the list had to fight tooth and nail to earn a starting job at Michigan).

If nothing else, it's fun fodder for debate.

It has felt like an eternity since Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith hoisted the Heisman Trophy in December 2006. The Big Ten was on top of the college football world back then, as Ohio State seemed destined for a national title. We all know what happened next, as the Big Ten endured struggles in big games. The league also didn't produce any legit Heisman contenders in 2007, 2008 or 2009.

Things could change this fall, as several Big Ten players could be in the mix for college football's top award.

Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor: Pryor certainly lacks the numbers to be considered one of the nation's elite players, but he boasts tremendous skills. Most important, he always generates hype, earning back-to-back Big Ten preseason Offensive Player of the Year awards. After winning Offensive MVP honors in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, Pryor looks ready to take the next step in his development. He boasts a 19-3 record as Ohio State's starter and should play in a more expanded offense this year. A big performance in Week 2 against Miami would boost Pryor's Heisman hopes.

Wisconsin RB John Clay: The reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year has been somewhat overlooked in the preseason, but things could change when the games get started. After leading the Big Ten and ranking 12th nationally in rushing average (116.7 ypg) in 2009, Clay is poised for a huge junior season. He'll run behind arguably the nation's best offensive line, and he should be more durable following offseason surgeries to correct nagging ankle problems.

Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn: Although he plays a different position, Clayborn already is drawing some comparisons to former Nebraska star Ndamukong Suh, who put defensive linemen on the national map in 2009. He's a disruptive force inside who won MVP honors at the Orange Bowl after dominating Georgia Tech's offensive line. Clayborn also has the hype factor going for him as his name and face are known around the country.

Penn State RB Evan Royster: As a young quarterback steps in for the Nittany Lions, Royster likely will take on an enhanced role this fall. He figures to get more carries as he chases Curt Warner's team career rushing record (only 481 yards away). Royster has eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons. A big performance against Alabama and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in Week 2 would really help his candidacy.

Seems like retirement season is upon us in the sports world. Don't worry, I've got at least 50 years left in me.

• Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy has entered the Big Ten championship game sweepstakes, Jeff Rabjohns writes in The Indianapolis Star.
• Michigan wide receiver Darryl Stonum spent three nights in jail last month for probation violations, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. The Wolverines hosted five blue-chip recruits last week, Josh Helmholdt writes in the Detroit Free Press. Mgoblog's Brian Cook looks at Michigan's all-decade team on offense.
• Indiana athletic director Fred Glass continues to enhance the game-day experience with a new high definition video scoreboard at Memorial Stadium, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).
• Once anonymous Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien is suddenly on the national radar, Mike Lucas writes in The Capital Times.
• Northwestern comes in at No. 41 nationally in the Orlando Sentinel's countdown of FBS teams.
• Former Michigan State running back Travis Reece sets his sights on the political arena, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• Eleven Warriors looks at Ohio State's freshmen: who to redshirt and who to play.
• Missed this one from a few days ago, but Penn State star offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski receives high praise from his All-American uncle, Steve, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror.
• Iowa's Adrian Clayborn is hearing the Ndamukong Suh comparisons, Andrew Logue writes in the Des Moines Register.
• Minnesota running back Duane Bennett discusses his progress and the upcoming season with 1500ESPN.com's Darren Wolfson.

The Big Ten postseason player rankings, based on past performance and future potential, continue with ...

No. 2

Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State, Sr., 6-5, 296

Preseason rank: 12

Why he's here: Of all the great defensive linemen in the Big Ten, no one commanded more respect than Penn State's Odrick. Evidence? The league's coaches voted him Defensive Player of the Year, ahead of Greg Jones, Brandon Graham and others. It was the ultimate sign of respect for a player who made offensive game-planning absolutely tortuous. Odrick played a huge role in Penn State finishing sixth nationally in rushing defense (89.9 ypg allowed). He consistently faced double teams and freed up room for teammates (Navorro Bowman, Jack Crawford, Josh Hull, etc.) to make plays.

Odrick led Penn State and ranked seventh in the league in sacks with seven, tops among Big Ten defensive tackles. He finished with 43 tackles, 11 for loss, four quarterback hurries and a blocked kick. But the disruption he caused for opposing offensive linemen and running backs cannot be calculated.

These rankings are also about future potential, and Odrick has plenty of it. He's projected as a late first-round pick in April's draft, and he'll make an NFL team very happy in 2011. In a season where Ndamukong Suh put the defensive tackle position on the map, Odrick received some well deserved attention both regionally and nationally.

The rundown

• No. 30: Michigan State WR Blair White
• No. 29: Northwestern DE Corey Wootton
• No. 28: Wisconsin TE Garrett Graham
• No. 27: Ohio State LG Justin Boren
• No. 26: Iowa S Tyler Sash
• No. 25: Northwestern QB Mike Kafka
• No. 24: Penn State C Stefen Wisniewski
• No. 23: Michigan CB Donovan Warren
• No. 22: Northwestern CB Sherrick McManis
• No. 21: Ohio State DE Thaddeus Gibson
• No. 20: Indiana DE Jammie Kirlew
• No. 19: Iowa LB Pat Angerer
• No. 18: Wisconsin DE O'Brien Schofield
• No. 17: Illinois WR Arrelious Benn
• No. 16: Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
• No. 15: Penn State RB Evan Royster
• No. 14: Iowa CB Amari Spievey
• No. 13: Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
• No. 12: Penn State LB Sean Lee
• No. 11: Ohio State S Kurt Coleman
• No. 10: Minnesota WR Eric Decker
• No. 9: Wisconsin RB John Clay
• No. 8: Penn State QB Daryll Clark
• No. 7: Ohio State DL Cameron Heyward
• No. 6: Penn State LB Navorro Bowman
• No. 5: Michigan State LB Greg Jones
• No. 4: Iowa LT Bryan Bulaga
• No. 3: Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn

LOS ANGELES -- Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh put the defensive tackle position on the map this season, bull rushing his way to the Heisman Trophy presentation.

Suh had the amazing ability to dominate games, namely the Big 12 championship against Texas, from a position that largely goes unnoticed. Anyone who watched Ohio State's matchups with Penn State and USC this fall saw the same type of dominance from Buckeyes defensive tackle Cameron Heyward.

The 6-6, 287-pound Heyward often looked like the best player on the field, even though he didn't receive first-team All-Big Ten honors. It's hardly unusual for elite interior linemen to fly under the radar, but Suh changed the game a bit this fall.

"Suh is a great player," Heyward said Wednesday. "Hopefully, one day I can be in the same position. Maybe next year."

Those last two words will bring smiles to Ohio State fans. Heyward might be Ohio State's most NFL-ready player, but he expects to return to Columbus for his senior season.

Of course, he has some immediate business Friday against No. 7 Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi (ABC, 4:30 p.m. ET).

"I look forward to coming back," he said. "Right now, I'm enjoying time with my [teammates]. I'm leaning toward staying because these guys are my brothers."

Heyward's teammates will be thrilled to have him back in 2010, even though they see his obvious potential to turn pro.

"Some of the guys told him to go [pro] after the great season he had," left tackle Jim Cordle said. "But you could tell he was never going to leave. He wants to stay, wants to get his degree, wants to be a senior. It's only going to make him that much better.

"After next year, he could be a top 5 pick."

Cordle should know. He gets to face Heyward every day in practice, which isn't always fun.

Though Cordle would occasionally get the upper hand on technique issues, Heyward's brute strength was hard to contain. At least opposing offensive linemen didn't fare much better, as Heyward recorded nine tackles for loss and a team-leading 5.5 sacks this fall.

"He's a big, big kid," Cordle said. "When he puts that head into you, you go backwards. It was just fun to watch him dominate great O-linemen all year. It made me feel a little bit better about myself in practice."

Perhaps the most encouraging thing about Heyward is he doesn't claim to be a finished product. And if things go right next fall, he could end up in New York in early December.

"Cam is going to be a very good player," Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said. "He is right now. If he gets a year bigger and stronger, that type of thing, he'll be a guy people will take notice of for sure."

Brent from State College, Pa., writes: Adam, how are home and away distinctions made for bowl games? I noticed that Wisconsin is the only "home" designate in the Big Ten. I was hoping to see Penn State in their home unis against LSU...

Adam Rittenberg: Brent, I did some checking on this, and there's actually no universal formula for determining home and away teams. Each bowl does it differently. If memory serves, the Big Ten was the home team in the Insight, Valero Alamo, Outback and Capital One bowls last year. Wisconsin was the away team at Champs Sports and will be the home team this year against Miami. The only Big Ten bowl that will have a repeat Big Ten away team is the Rose Bowl, as Penn State wore its white unis last year and Ohio State will wear its road threads Jan. 1 (ABC, 4:30 p.m. ET).

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Mike from Greensboro, N.C., writes: Adam,Love reading your updates alll season long. I am a die hard Buckeye fan, so I am not a Wisconsin fan who is complaining. However, How did a 9-3 Badger team slip all the way down to the Champs Sports Bowl? I was constantly reading the updates on Non-BCS bowls on Sunday and could not believe that Wisconsin was not offered the Outback and then the Alamo Bowls even though they clearly have a better record than both Northwestern and Michigan State.Don't expect the Big Ten to gain any respect versus the SEC when they send Northwestern to play Auburn. Wisconsin fans travel and the physical smashmouth style of football that they play provides for a much better match up agains Auburn.Your Thoughts?Mike

Adam Rittenberg: The Badgers actually slipped down only one spot, not two. This year, the Champs Sports Bowl selected ahead of the Valero Alamo Bowl, which would have taken Wisconsin if given the chance. But because of Big Ten bowl selection rules, Champs Sports had to take the Badgers because of their overall record. The Outback could have taken Wisconsin, but it picked a Northwestern team that beat the Badgers on Nov. 21. As for the Outback matchup, both Northwestern and Wisconsin are playing pretty well right now, and you could argue NU is the second hottest team in the league behind Ohio State. Everyone counted out the Wildcats last year against Missouri, and they took the Tigers to overtime in a game NU should have won. I do think, however, Wisconsin matches up better with Miami than Northwestern would have in Champs Sports. So if things fall right, the Big Ten could end up with wins in both of those bowls.

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KJ from Arlington writes: Hey Adam in case you had not noticed, Jared Odrich was named a first team all-American. This is why people such as you should not have a public voice, because you don't know a damn thing about football. We are all familiar with the anti-Penn State bias in the Big Ten and the media that covers it. Please, go away.

Adam Rittenberg: Odrick with a "k," not an "h." I really don't understand why Penn State fans are up in arms about my view on Jared Odrick. I've given the guy a ton of praise the last few years, putting him in every All-Big Ten team I select. He's the best defensive tackle in the Big Ten and one of the best in the country not named Ndamukong Suh. It's my view that Greg Jones deserved to be Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. That's not knock on Odrick, as both he and Jones were All-Americans. Odrick deserves all the accolades he receives, and he'll be an excellent NFL player. No Penn State bias here, just a realistic view of the league.

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Jed from West Lafayette, Ind., writes: Adam, Could you defend your placing of MSU in front of Purdue other than the head-to-head where MSU narrowly defeated Purdue. I believe 7th is just about right to place the Boilermakers, but wanted to know if you think there is any reason as to why they could be placed ahead of MSU. Although Purdue finished outside of a bowl selection, I believe through the entire season they played much better week to week than MSU did. Had Purdue replaced NIU with a doormat FBS team as MSU had, both teams would be at 6-6. Also, where do you think Purdue ranks heading into next season with a lot of parts coming back except for the secondary (which has one of the top secondary coaches in the nation to help them). Personally, I'd say 5th and a chance for a surprise 4th.

Adam Rittenberg: The head-to-head game was a big factor in my final placement, especially since the teams played so late in the regular season. Purdue should have beaten Michigan State, but like so many Boilermakers games this fall, they couldn't avoid major mistakes or breakdowns. If the game had happened a few weeks earlier and Purdue had rattled off three wins to close the season, I would have ranked the Boilers above the Spartans. But both teams went 2-2 down the stretch, and both endured a blowout loss (Purdue at Wisconsin, Michigan State vs. Purdue). As far as next year, I'm very excited about Purdue and the direction Danny Hope is taking the program. Joey Elliott could be a bigger loss than many anticipate, but I like the skill-position talent on offense. The defense is a bigger concern, especially the back four.

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Michael from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Hi Adam. A lot is being made of whether or not Ohio State can control Oregon's high-powered offense. While I certainly know Ohio State has had its share of offensive problems, Oregon's defense is ranked behind Navy and Wisconsin's, and close to Minnesota's, all of whom gave up 30+ points to the Buckeyes. What do you think of the optimistic line of thought that Brandon Saine and Terrell Pryor will exploit Oregon's defense? Also, as we saw last year, Coach Tressel seems to open up the playbook given 4 weeks to prepare. Will we see more of the same? Thanks!

Adam Rittenberg: Oregon's defense isn't any great shakes, Michael, and this has to be the game where Terrelle Pryor becomes the difference maker for Ohio State. As strong as the Buckeyes defense has been this fall, it's unrealistic to expect them to hold Oregon below 24 points. Pryor and the rushing attack will need to click for Ohio State to win this game. Jim Tressel clearly had Pryor operate in a more conservative offense down the stretch, but he'll have to open things up a bit against a team like Oregon. Ohio State hasn't seen an offense that remotely resembles what the Ducks bring to the table.

The Big Ten had no legitimate horse in the Heisman Trophy race this year, so I was forced to look elsewhere for my selections.

And like fellow bloggers Chris Low and Tim Griffin, I struggled with the selections. In the end, my ballot included three guys who play the same position (Hint: It isn't quarterback).

Here's how I voted late Saturday night:

1. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
2. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
3. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

Ingram and Spiller sparkled in the spotlight Saturday, and both men have had huge performances all season long. Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh also stepped up in the biggest game of his season, and it was great to see him get an invite to New York City. But in the end, my decision came down to the player who consistently produced week in and week out against top competition.

Gerhart's numbers blew me away, and those who question Stanford's competition should check out the facts. As a guy who grew up in Berkeley, it wasn't easy to vote for a Stanford guy, but Gerhart deserves it.

One thought I had while filling out my ballot: Shonn Greene was a year too early. The Iowa star running back was overshadowed by a quarterback-dominated season in 2008. If he had turned in the same performance this year, he'd be undoubtedly heading to Manhattan with a real chance to win the trophy.

Another thought I had: What if Ingram had stayed closer to home and played for a Big Ten school? The league could use an offensive star like him.

It's time the Heisman goes to a non-quarterback. I hope this is the year.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The number of preseason All-America teams seems to increase every year, but only one squad really matters.

That's right, ESPN.com's preseason All-America squad has been revealed. This year's team features a 3-4 alignment on defense, so four linebackers appear along with just one defensive tackle. Colleague Ivan Maisel made the selections.

Three Big Ten players made the team, one in each of the three areas of the game: offense, defense and special teams.

Here they are:

• Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker
• Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman
• Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko

All three players are worthy, as are several of their Big Ten brethren. Illinois wideout Arrelious Benn isn't far behind Decker in terms of production. Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick gained consideration, though he was up against some tough competition in Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Alabama's Terrence Cody. Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones also wasn't far away from making the team.

The SEC (7) and Pac-10 (6) had the most selections, thanks in large part to Florida and USC, which both had three players make the team. I've got a hunch the Big Ten will have a much larger presence on the postseason All-America squad.