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Here are three keys for Northwestern heading into its TicketCity Bowl matchup against Texas Tech.

1. Help out Evan Watkins: I think Northwestern got a little too comfortable letting Dan Persa work his magic on offense. Then when Persa got hurt, the Wildcats didn't have enough options to contribute around backup quarterback Evan Watkins. Northwestern needs a big game from its veteran offensive line and must establish the rushing attack with Adonis Smith, Stephen Simmons or, if cleared to play, Mike Trumpy. Players like wideout Jeremy Ebert and superback Drake Dunsmore also must help out Watkins in the pass game.

2. Tackle in space: The Wildcats' tackling left much to be desired at times this season, especially in blowout losses to Illinois and Wisconsin to end the regular season. The pre-bowl layoff allowed Northwestern to get healthy and refocus on its fundamentals, but Texas Tech's dynamic spread offense will test the Wildcats' tackling ability. NU needs veterans like linebackers Quentin Davie and Nate Williams and safety Brian Peters to prevent explosion plays.

3. Avoid special teams miscues: Northwestern's perfect ending Saturday calls for kicker Stefan Demos to end the team's 62-year bowl drought with a game-winning field goal. Demos missed a game-winning kick in the 2010 Outback Bowl and had a punt returned for a touchdown in the 2008 Alamo Bowl. Special teams have cost Northwestern too often at critical times, and the Wildcats need strong performances from Demos, return man Venric Mark and others on Saturday.

First, Northwestern turned to Stephen Simmons, but he got hurt.

The Wildcats then tried Arby Fields. And Scott Concannon. And Jacob Schmidt. And Simmons again. The result was a rushing attack that ranked eighth in the Big Ten and 95th nationally in 2009.

Northwestern went back to Fields and Schmidt in the 2010 season opener against Vanderbilt, but only got fumbles and short gains. Through the first four games, Northwestern has had four lost fumbles from its running backs and no runs of longer than 20 yards, a problem that has carried over from last season.

The hard truth: Since Tyrell Sutton graduated, Northwestern has had a major hole in its backfield.

But there's hope this week as the undefeated Wildcats open Big Ten play at Minnesota.

Redshirt freshman Mike Trumpy gets his chance to become the answer for Northwestern's rushing issues. Trumpy, who missed all of 2009 because of injuries, provided a lift last week against Central Michigan with 53 yards on 12 attempts, all in the second half of a 30-25 victory.

His performance elevated him to co-starter status with Schmidt on this week's depth chart.

"Michael, really the first time being healthy here a couple weeks ago, has put a couple good weeks of practice together," Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "He ran hard for his first real opportunity of getting some carries besides mop-up duty. His role is going to increase based on the production that he has."

At 6-foot and 210 pounds, Trumpy gives Northwestern a little extra size at running back. The nephew of former NFL star Bob Trumpy ran hard between the tackles against Central Michigan and most important, he held onto the football.

Northwestern on Saturday faces a Minnesota team ranks last in the Big Ten and 97th nationally against the run (187.8 ypg). Northern Illinois' Chad Spann gashed the Gophers for 223 yards and two touchdowns in last week's win.

It's a good opportunity for Trumpy to help himself in a wide-open backfield. If he's not the answer, Northwestern might not have one, unless it wants to use true freshman Adonis Smith, an increasingly unlikely possibility.

"We've made no secret we want to try and be much more efficient running the football," Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald knows that as good as quarterback Dan Persa and the wide receivers have been, a one-dimensional offense can only go so far in Big Ten play.

If the Wildcats plan to turn their quick start into a special season, someone needs to answer the call at running back.

Welcome to National Depth Chart Day. No day on the college football calendar inspires more curiosity about depth charts than the Monday before the season, when most teams release their Week 1 two-deeps.

(And then there's Purdue, which didn't include a depth chart in its game notes for Notre Dame. Ugh.)

I've had the chance to review depth charts from those programs that released them today -- two-deeps from Illinois, Michigan State and Minnesota are coming soon -- and I checked in on several coaches' news conferences.

Here's what stood out:

INDIANA

• Even though Indiana will shift to a 3-4 defensive alignment this year, the depth chart lists a 4-3 with Darius Johnson and Fred Jones as the starting ends and Chad Sherer and Tyler Replogle flanking junior college transfer Jeff Thomas at linebacker.
• Interesting to see several veteran offensive linemen like Justin Pagan and Cody Faulkner listed as backups rather than starters. Junior Andrew McDonald steps into some big shoes at left tackle as Rodger Saffold departs to the NFL.
• The backup quarterback job remains open, as Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker are both listed as No. 2 behind Ben Chappell.
• Indiana expects big things from redshirt freshman Duwyce Wilson, listed as a starter at wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner.

IOWA

• Sophomores Micah Hyde and Greg Castillo are listed as the starting cornerbacks. Shaun Prater doesn't appear on the depth chart after dealing with a leg injury in camp. Prater hasn't been officially ruled out for the Eastern Illinois game, but I wouldn't expect to see much of him on Saturday.
• James Ferentz is listed as the starting center, a spot where Iowa might be a little thin following Josh Koeppel's motorcycle accident Monday morning.
• Starting defensive end Broderick Binns is suspended for the opener, so Christian Ballard is listed as a possible starter at both end and tackle. Mike Daniels and Lebron Daniel are the next options behind Ballard.

MICHIGAN

• Sophomores Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier and freshman Devin Gardner are listed as co-starters at quarterback. Head coach Rich Rodriguez reiterated Monday that Gardner won't redshirt this fall.
• Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw are listed as co-starters at running back, with Michael Cox behind them.
• True freshman Carvin Johnson is listed as the starter at the spur position (safety/linebacker). Pretty big surprise here, and a testament to Johnson's work in camp.
• Senior James Rogers steps into Troy Woolfolk's starting cornerback spot opposite J.T. Floyd.
• Receivers Martavious Odoms and Kelvin Grady clearly showed enough in camp to be listed as starters or possible starters against Connecticut.

NORTHWESTERN

• Sophomore running back Arby Fields returned to practice Monday and wore a no-contact jersey after being sidelined with a shoulder problem. He's listed as a co-starter at running back with Jacob Schmidt and Stephen Simmons. Northwestern wanted a clear No. 1 running back to emerge in camp, but Fields' injury changed the plan.
• Junior Bryce McNaul is listed as the third top linebacker alongside returning starters Quentin Davie and Nate Williams. McNaul won the job in camp.
• Venric Mark is the only true freshman listed on the depth chart, both as a backup wide receiver and a co-starter at punt returner. I'll go out on a huge limb (sarcasm) and predict Mark will be the man on returns for the Wildcats very shortly.

OHIO STATE

• Junior defensive end Nathan Williams, a projected starter, will miss the Marshall game with a knee injury. He should be back shortly thereafter. Solomon Thomas will start in Williams' spot Thursday night.
• Starting cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring) is questionable for the Marshall game, but corner Devon Torrence (hamstring) should be fine.
• Sophomore C.J. Barnett's strong performance in camp lifted him ahead of Orhian Johnson on the Week 1 depth chart. Johnson missed a chunk of camp with an injury.
• Start salivating, Buckeyes fans, because running backs Jordan Hall and Jaamal Berry likely will handle kickoff returns against Marshall.

PENN STATE

• Sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin and freshman Robert Bolden are listed as co-starters at quarterback for the Youngstown State game.
• Sophomore Devon Smith's strong camp landed him a starting spot at both receiver and kick returner, and a backup role on punt returns.
• Redshirt freshman Garry Gilliam is listed as the starting tight end, as Andrew Szczerba likely will miss the opener with a back injury. Penn State obviously is thin here after losing Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler.
• Veterans Nate Stupar, Chris Colasanti and Bani Gbadyu are listed as the starting linebackers, with promising younger players like Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges right behind them.

WISCONSIN

• After a very impressive camp, freshman running back James White appears at No. 3 on the depth chart behind both John Clay and Montee Ball. White also is the No. 2 punt returner behind David Gilreath. His emergence likely will result in veteran Zach Brown redshirting the season.
• Senior Blake Sorensen likely will start at outside linebacker, as Mike Taylor continues to rehab after undergoing a second procedure on his knee in camp. Culmer St. Jean and Chris Borland are listed as the other starting linebackers.
• The starting cornerback spots remain open, as Niles Brinkley, Antonio Fenelus and Devin Smith will compete in practice this week.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Northwestern Wildcats held their preseason media day Wednesday, and I was on hand for it. I'll have some blog posts and video interviews in the coming days, but first, some notes.

• Fitzgerald confirmed that the team will practice Aug. 23 at Naval Station Great Lakes, the U.S. Navy's headquarters for training. Details are coming, but check out my post earlier this summer for more about the event. Great Lakes used to be a powerhouse in college football, and there are a ton of football connections there. The team will leave its off-site training camp in Kenosha, Wis., and practice at Great Lakes before returning to Evanston the night of the 23rd. "Hopefully, a great tradition is going to be started," Fitzgerald said.
• I'll have more on All-Big Ten kicker Stefan Demos in the coming days, but his workload will be lighter this fall as Brandon Williams has emerged as a solid option at punter. Demos, who has battled hip problems, handled field goals, kickoffs and punting last season and also punted in 2007 and 2008. Although his rugby style worked at times, all involved are pleased to see Williams emerge. "Nobody wants me out there punting any more, that's for sure," Demos said. "Including me. ... I'm sure [Fitzgerald] is tired of being called the worst special-teams coach ever because he doesn't have a punter."
• Speaking of special teams, true freshman Venric Mark already is marking his mark on punt returns. Although safety Hunter Bates, cornerback Jordan Mabin, wide receiver Charles Brown and another freshman, receiver Tony Jones, are also in the mix, I'd be surprised if Mark wasn't the starter. Stephen Simmons and Jacob Schmidt will continue to handle kickoff returns, Fitzgerald said.
• Northwestern is much healthier now than it was a year ago and has been able to practice at a good clip. The team's slow start to 2009 could be attributed in part to being limited in preseason camp. "This will be my fifth year [as head coach], and this is the best-conditioned team we've had," Fitzgerald said. "We've pushed the tempo. We go six-minute periods, and we went in such a quick tempo, we finished with two and a half minutes left in our second set of team [drills]. That's going at it, especially with where the weather was at. ... It puts us in a position maybe to be a little more accelerated than we've been in the past." Fitzgerald added that the team's speed has been upgraded through recruiting.
• The secondary loses three multiyear starters but has two spots locked up with cornerback Jordan Mabin and safety Brian Peters. Justan Vaughn, Demetrius Dugar and Mike Bolden will compete at the other corner spot, while Jared Carpenter and David Arnold are the candidates to line up next to Peters. Other position battles include outside linebacker (Bryce McNaul and Ben Johnson), right tackle (Patrick Ward and Neal Deiters) and offensive guard, where Doug Bartels, Keenan Grant and Brian Mulroe are competing for two starting spots.
• The recent heat and humidity in northern Illinois is helping Northwestern prepare for nonconference road games in balmy Nashville (at Vanderbilt) and Houston (at Rice). Fitzgerald also said the team uses a service for potential hot-weather games that allows players to "plug in" to an air-conditioning unit on the sideline that provides cool air underneath their shoulder pads. Northwestern used the service for its game inside the Carrier Dome at Syracuse last September and at the Outback Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 1.

Schedule: Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats hold their first practice at 5 p.m. ET today in Evanston. The team moves training camp to Kenosha, Wis., from Aug. 15-22, and holds a scrimmage there Aug. 21.

What's new: Fitzgerald made no staff changes, but Northwestern has another new starting quarterback, as Dan Persa takes over for All-Big Ten standout Mike Kafka. The Wildcats also have a new-look secondary after losing three starters, including star cornerback Sherrick McManis. Defensive line coach Marty Long is on the field after missing the Outback Bowl because of an illness.

Sidelined: All five players who missed spring practice, including superback Drake Dunsmore and guards Doug Bartels and Keenan Grant, are expected to be ready for camp. Star linebacker Quentin Davie missed most of the spring with a foot injury, but is 100 percent for practice.

Key battle: Northwestern needs a starting running back after its ground game was grounded in 2009, and the competition resumes today. Sophomore Arby Fields is the frontrunner to win the job, but he'll continue to be pushed by Stephen Simmons, Scott Concannon and others. Northwestern is pretty set at two secondary spots with safety Brian Peters and cornerback Jordan Mabin, but the other two positions need to be settled in camp.

New on the scene: The Wildcats lose two starting receivers and might look to freshmen Rashad Lawrence, Tony Jones and Jimmy Hall to step up. Adonis Smith could be a factor at running back if Fields can't lock down the top job. Several freshmen should see time right away on special teams, including return specialist Venric Mark.

Time to step up: All five starters return along the offensive line, and Northwestern should have its most depth in recent memory after some strong recruiting. There's simply no excuse for the team to struggle in the run game any longer. Northwestern annually produced 1,000-yard rushers under the late Randy Walker, who went out of his way to challenge the offensive line and its coach in practice. Fitzgerald needs to demand the same accountability from a group that should not only protect Persa, but create rushing lanes.

Quotable: "We have 17 wins over the last few years. And that foundation of success, I think, has provided us with motivation to take the next step. And what is that next step? First and foremost, it's going to be to go to a bowl game for three straight years, something that never happened in our program before. It all happens because we believe we've got great players." -- head coach Pat Fitzgerald

2009 overall record: 8-5

2009 conference record: 5-3 (T-4th)

Returning starters

Offense: 8, defense: 5, kicker/punter: 1 (Stefan Demos handled both duties in 2009)

Top returners

TE Drake Dunsmore, LT Al Netter, C Ben Burkett, LB Quentin Davie, LB Nate Williams, DT Corbin Bryant, DE Vince Browne, S Brian Peters, K/P Stefan Demos

Key losses

QB Mike Kafka, WR Zeke Markshausen, WR Andrew Brewer, DE Corey Wootton, CB Sherrick McManis, S Brad Phillips, DT Adam Hahn

2009 statistical leaders (*-returners)

Rushing: Arby Fields* (302 yards)

Passing: Mike Kafka (3,430 yards)

Receiving: Andrew Brewer (925 yards)

Tackles: Quentin Davie* (90)

Sacks: Quentin Davie* and Vince Browne* (5)

Interceptions: Sherrick McManis (5)

Spring answers

1. Persa ready to lead at QB: There's no quarterback controversy in Evanston as junior Dan Persa has established himself as the undisputed leader of the offense despite his limited game experience. Persa still must prove himself this fall, but he has done all the right things to prepare to succeed All-Big Ten selection Mike Kafka.

2. Ebert back to top form: Jeremy Ebert never fully recovered from hip surgery last season, but the junior looked like a No. 1 wide receiver this spring. Ebert should fit into the Eric Peterman-Zeke Markshausen mold as a reliable possession receiver, though he can also stretch the field at times. He finished spring ball with a solid performance (4 receptions, 49 yards) in the spring game.

3. Depth at linebacker and defensive tackle: Coaches often stress the importance of up-the-middle defense, and Northwestern looks strong at two of the three spots. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald says the team's linebacker depth is the best it has been in recent memory, as Quetin Davie leads a strong group. Niko Mafuli turned in a strong spring at defensive tackle and should form a solid rotation with projected starters Corbin Bryant and Jack DiNardo. The safety spot is the only remaining question mark.

Fall questions

1. Running back: Northwestern can't expect to run the ball as poorly as it did last fall and win eight or more games again in 2010. Persa is still inexperienced and will need some help from the running backs. Arby Fields comes out of the spring as the No. 1 back, even though he didn't participate in any scrimmages because of his baseball responsibilities. The Wildcats need Fields or another candidate to create some clear separation in preseason camp.

2. Safety depth: The team loses two multiyear starters at safety in Brad Phillips and Brendan Smith, putting the position very much in the spotlight. Northwestern feels good about playmaking junior Brian Peters, who essentially served as a third starter in 2008 and 2009. But other than Peters, there are question marks. Jared Carpenter emerged from spring ball as the No. 2 starter, but converted linebacker David Arnold and Hunter Bates will compete for playing time.

3. Special teams: The kicking game must remain a top priority for Northwestern, which has lost or nearly lost quite a few games because of special teams. Stefan Demos is an All-Big Ten kicker, but he would really benefit if Brandon Williams could step up and become the starting punter. Northwestern also must improve its return and coverage teams. Stephen Simmons should help on kickoff returns if he can stay healthy.

Saturday was scrimmage day around the Big Ten, as teams from State College to Minneapolis engaged in several forms of game-like simulations. Though no Big Ten team has officially held a spring game -- five are on tap Saturday -- these scrimmages are often just as important, if not more so.

Nine of the 11 Big Ten teams provided media access and/or statistics from Saturday's scrimmages. Michigan's official Web site has some video and tidbits from Saturday's 115-play closed scrimmage, and Mgoblog has a few reports as well. Iowa's official site also has some video and interviews from Saturday's scrimmage.

Here are some tidbits from the other nine scrimmages, from reports around the league:

ILLINOIS

Illinois let its quarterbacks get hit Saturday, but the offense delivered most of the damage. Nathan Scheelhaase continued to make a strong case for the starting job with a 40-yard run, a 30-yard touchdown pass to Zach Becker and a 22-yard pass to A.J. Jenkins. Jacob Charest also remains very much alive in the QB race and connected on several long passes, including a 50-yarder to Jenkins. The running game also looked good as Mikel Leshoure had a 65-yard run. Cornerback Tavon Wilson provided a defensive highlight by picking off a Scheelhaase pass. It's encouraging to see this type of progress from Illinois' offense, which lost several key pieces from 2009 and returns virtually no experience at quarterback.

INDIANA

Defense is the primary focus for IU this spring, and the unit stepped up in Saturday's scrimmage, holding the offense to only one touchdown. Defensive tackle Adam Replogle recorded two sacks and three tackles for loss, and linebacker Jeff Thomas, a junior college transfer, forced a fumble. Safety Kyle Dietrick recorded the lone interception of the scrimmage. The Hoosiers continue to see good things from freshman running back Antonio Banks, who had 42 rushing yards and a touchdown Saturday. The backup quarterback competition continued as Dusty Kiel recorded a touchdown pass and a 35-yard completion, while Edward Wright-Baker completed 8 of 10 pass attempts. Nick Zachery, who moved from safety to wide receiver just last week, had four catches for 46 yards.

MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans' defense rallied to win the jersey scrimmage as a secondary that struggled mightily last fall saw two players, Marcus Hyde and Mitchell White, return interceptions for touchdowns. Hyde picked off starter Kirk Cousins, while White intercepted an Andrew Maxwell pass and raced 40 yards for a touchdown. Cornerback Chris L. Rucker also had a big day with an interception, a pass breakup and a tackle for loss. Michigan State's defense got a big lift from end Denzel Drone, who stuffed Edwin Baker on fourth-and-1 from the 1-yard line to seal the win. Cousins completed 19 of 30 passes for 188 yards with two touchdowns, including a 30-yarder to Keith Nichol, and two interceptions. Maxwell, who played some with the first-team offense, threw for 199 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Wide receivers Keshawn Martin (12 catches, 109 yards), Bennie Fowler (nine catches, 84 yards, 48-yard rush) and Nichol (four catches, 70 yards) stood out.

(Read full post)

Mail call.

Colin from NYC writes: So many comments about Izzo Vs Tressel as best the Big Ten coach state that you can't compare coaching in two different sports, so let's take it a step farther. If Izzo and Tressel were to switch jobs, who would do a better job at the helm of the other coaches team? Izzo coaching OSU football and Tressel coaching MSU Basketball.

Adam Rittenberg: Good call, Colin. I'd have to go with Izzo, who admittedly brings a football mentality to the basketball court. There was even talk of Izzo becoming the Spartans' football coach when there was a vacancy there. Heck, when I did a Michigan State football story last summer, I made sure to stop in and talk with Izzo. Tressel's style is much more suited to football than basketball. You need to be flashier, more of a salesman type, to succeed in hoops. The buttoned-up stuff works much better for football teams, which need uniformity and discipline. I just couldn't see Tressel coaching a bunch of future one-and-dones at Ohio State. But maybe he could. It'd be fun to see him try.

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Brian from NYC writes: Hate to say it, but listening to the discussion over a 96-team basketball tourney makes me appreciate the BCS just a little bit. Maybe a Plus One could work in some form, but as a Big Ten fan, I pay attention to other BCS conferences more than I ever would if there was a playoff. I can tell you right now, you won't find me watching any regular-season college b-ball in the coming years if everyone will make the dance anyway.

Adam Rittenberg: You bring up some good points here, Brian. I still think the college football regular season would be pretty exciting with a playoff, but I doubt you'd be the only fan who wouldn't pay as much attention to other leagues. One thing to remember with all this talk of NCAA tournament expansion and Big Ten expansion is the changing financial climate of college sports. Costs are going up for everything, and in order to keep all these sports running, leagues need to find new revenue streams. Expanding the basketball tournament or the league membership would potentially solve the problem. Otherwise, some of the non-revenue sports will start paying the price.

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KJ from Detroit writes: You do realize that Penn State has two backs that would start for Ohio State and two more beyond them don't you?

Adam Rittenberg: I'll give you Evan Royster, KJ, but Stephfon Green still has a lot to prove, in my opinion. The talent clearly is there, but he needs to be a more consistent factor for the Nittany Lions offense. Green will get most of the reps this spring, as Penn State won't take any chances with Royster, a wise move. As far as "two more beyond them," whom exactly do you mean? Let's see how a healthy Jaamal Berry looks, or whether Jordan Hall takes another step forward. Penn State certainly has the best back between the teams in Royster, but after him it looks pretty even to me.

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Kevin from Wilmette, Ill., writes: Thanks for covering NU. Bit of an insider question: I saw last year's spring game, and running back Alex Daniel stole the show. I know he missed all last season with an ankle injury but haven't seen his name mentioned in this year's practices. Is he still around?

Adam Rittenberg: Daniel has been indefinitely suspended for violating team rules and won't be with the squad until Sept. 5, the day after the 2010 opener at Vanderbilt. He definitely made some noise last spring and figured to be a factor this spring after recovering from an ankle injury. Seeing how Northwestern wants to identify a starting running back as soon as possible, I don't see Daniel entering the mix unless the other candidates struggle again. Arby Fields looks like the clear No. 1 right now, but Scott Concannon, Jacob Schmidt and Stephen Simmons are all in the mix as well.

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Wilson from Iowa writes: In response to your article about Coach Tressel, I would say if he had say two or more consecutive years where he didn't recruit a 5-star athlete and was able to win the Big Ten championship, then yes he surely should win coach of the year. But when coaches do more with less, doesn't that say something about their abilities. Don't get me wrong, I think Coach Tressel is one of the best and I respect him greatly.
Adam Rittenberg: Whether it's fair or not, you're absolutely right about the Coach of the Year award, Wilson. It always seems to go to the coach who's team overachieved the most. But it's still amazing to think that a guy who has dominated the Big Ten pretty much since his arrival as Ohio State's head coach has never won COY. Let's say Ohio State enters the 2010 season as the favorite (almost a certainty) and wins the league by two games, ahead of a surprising Indiana or Minnesota team. Would Tressel finally win the award, or would it go to Bill Lynch or Tim Brewster?

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BW from Atlanta writes: Hello Adam, why is so little information coming out about MSU's spring practice?

Adam Rittenberg: Patience, patience. I'm en route to East Lansing as you read this post, and I'll be covering the Spartans throughout the day. There also hasn't been much media coverage of Spartans football after the basketball team's surprise run to the Final Four. But don't worry, coverage of MSU will pick up fast.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- I thought it was an April Fool's joke when I heard temperatures might reach the 80s in Chicago today. But the pleasantly surprising forecast held up, at least for Northwestern's morning workout. The Wildcats put on pads for the first time this spring and practiced in incredible weather conditions.

Spring football, 70-degree temps and no clouds in the sky = a winning combination.

A few thoughts from Northwestern's practice:

• Quarterback Dan Persa looked sharp for the most part, especially during the 7-on-7 portion of practice. He hit Jeremy Ebert on a deep post route and made several strong throws over the middle. He had an interception during team drills, as safety Jared Carpenter recorded the pick off of a tipped ball. But otherwise, Persa performed well. He also showed good leadership for a projected starter, checking in with wide receiver Lee Coleman after some confusion on a route.
• Joining Persa with the first-team offense were running back Arby Fields, Ebert, Coleman, wideout Sidney Stewart and superback Josh Rooks. Starting superback Drake Dunsmore is out for the spring following shoulder surgery, and he actually had a follow-up shoulder procedure today. So Rooks is getting a lot of work.
• Ebert's surgically repaired hip limited him throughout the 2009 season, but he should be a major factor for Northwestern this fall. The junior, who likely will be Persa's top option at wide receiver, made several receptions Thursday and had a nice gain on an end around.
• As 2009 All-Big Ten cornerback Sherrick McManis watched from the sideline, the men vying to replace him this fall looked good. Junior Mike Bolden recorded several pass breakups and sophomore Demetrius Dugar had a leaping interception of an Evan Watkins pass.
• Top linebackers Quentin Davie (foot, out for a few days) and Nate Williams (shoulder surgery, out for the spring) aren't practicing right now, but I was impressed with sophomore Roderick Goodlow, who recorded a tackle for loss and several other good plays. Redshirt freshman linebacker Tim Riley is also generating some buzz this spring.
• Starting safety Brian Peters sat out practice with a hamstring injury, so Carpenter and projected starter David Arnold, a converted linebacker, got most of the reps at safety.
• It was great to see defensive line coach Marty Long jogging around the practice field. Long underwent surgery in December to remove a growth and missed the Outback Bowl, but he's back to 100 percent. His NU predecessor Eric Washington, now the defensive line coach for the Chicago Bears, was in attendance at Thursday's practice.
• The first-team offensive line had Al Netter at left tackle, Brian Mulroe at left guard, Ben Burkett at center, Neil Dieters at right guard and Patrick Ward at right tackle. Don't be surprised if this is the starting line entering the fall, as Ward, the team's top recruit in 2009, has been impressive. The most competitive position battle takes place at right guard between the 6-foot-8 Dieters and junior Doug Bartels.
• Fields took all of the reps with the first-team offense and had a few nice runs, while Stephen Simmons and Scott Concannon worked with the second team. Sophomore Tyris Jones also got quite a few reps at running back.

Northwestern has suspended sophomore running back Alex Daniel until Sept. 5 for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Daniel, who came on strong last spring before suffering an ankle injury that kept him out the entire 2009 season, won't be able to participate in team activities until the end of his suspension. The length is important because Daniel had been expected to compete for a starting job at running back, which no one truly nailed down last fall.

Now he'll only be eligible to rejoin the team a day after the season opener at Vanderbilt (Sept. 4). The 6-foot, 195-pound Daniel, a native of Roswell, Ga., doesn't appear on Northwestern's spring roster.

The running back competition this spring features Arby Fields, Scott Concannon, Stephen Simmons and Mike Trumpy. Incoming recruit Adonis Smith will enter the mix this summer.

Simmons started the 2009 season at running back and showed some good signs before battling injuries. Fields and Concannon also had their moments, but the run game was a major weakness for the Wildcats and must get rectified soon. Daniel's situation certainly doesn't help matters.

The superlatives series marches on with Northwestern, which comes off of consecutive bowl appearances for the second time in team history. The Wildcats once again lose a productive starting quarterback in Mike Kafka, and also must replace three starters in the secondary and two solid receivers. But they look good on both lines and at linebacker.

Here are the spots to watch during spring practice, which begins March 29.

Strongest position: Linebacker

• Key returnees: Quentin Davie (90 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 6 quarterback hurries); Nate Williams (86 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 6 passes defended); David Arnold (34 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble); Ben Johnson (28 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery).

• Key losses: None

• The skinny: The easy pick here would be offensive line, as Northwestern returns all five starters up front. But until that group shows a better ability to run block, I'll hold off on giving high praise. Davie, much like Ohio State's Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, was overshadowed last year in the Big Ten by guys like Greg Jones, Pat Angerer and Navorro Bowman. But he has been very productive for several years now and will be on the NFL radar as a senior. Williams did some nice things in his first year as the starter, and both Arnold and Johnson bring a lot of athleticism to the table. Northwestern is both experienced and deep here.

Weakest position: Running back

• Key returnees: Arby Fields (82 attempts, 302 rushing yards, 5 TDs); Scott Concannon (68 attempts, 241 rushing yards, 2 TDs); Stephen Simmons (59 carries, 233 rushing yards, 2 TDs); Jacob Schmidt (64 carries, 217 rushing yards, 1 TD).

• Key losses: Kafka played quarterback but led the team in both rushing attempts (150) and rushing touchdowns (8), while finishing second in rushing yards (295).

• The skinny: Everyone returns from 2009 and several new players join the mix, but until someone emerges as a Big Ten-caliber feature back, this group raises some red flags. The committee thing just isn't going to work. Simmons looked good before sustaining an ankle injury in Week 2, and both Fields and Concannon showed promise at times. But Northwestern needs to restore its tradition of producing 1,000-yard rushers, especially with a new starting quarterback taking over this fall. The offensive line boasts ton of experience and should do a better job of creating gaps. Another potential weak spot is safety, where Northwestern loses multi-year starters Brad Phillips and Brendan Smith.

Here's the second half of my look at special teams in the Big Ten in 2010. For Part I, click here.

NORTHWESTERN

• Kicker: Second-team All-Big Ten selection Stefan Demos returns after connecting on 18 of 25 field goal attempts in 2009.
• Punter: Demos also has handled the punting duties for Northwestern the last two seasons, although it's not his strong suit.
• Kick return: Primary return men Stephen Simmons and Jeravin Matthews both are back. Northwestern ranked ninth in the league last year (20.6 ypr).
• Punt return: Brendan Smith and Andrew Brewer both depart.
• Quick thoughts: Special teams have cost Northwestern key games in recent years and continue to be a priority for head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Despite Demos' Outback Bowl struggles, he remains a very solid option on field goals. Northwestern would be well served by identifying a punter to lighten Demos' load, and redshirt freshman Brandon Williams is an option. Simmons provides a good threat on kick returns when healthy, but NU must identify a few options for punt returns. Incoming freshman Venric Mark could be a factor there. The punt and kickoff coverage teams were average in 2009 and could use a boost.

OHIO STATE

• Kicker: Aaron Pettrey departs, but Devin Barclay, whose kick against Iowa sent Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, will be back.
• Punter: Jon Thoma departs after finishing 10th in the league in average (37.9 ypp) last fall. Sophomore Ben Buchanan has a big leg and will step in.
• Kick return: Primary return men Lamaar Thomas and Ray Small both depart. Ohio State ranked sixth in the league last fall (22.3 ypr).
• Punt return: Small leaves a pretty big void here after averaging 8.3 yards on a league-high 33 attempts last season.
• Quick thoughts: Jim Tressel's teams always will be strong in the kicking game, although there are some key spots to fill in 2010. Barclay did a really nice job in relief of Pettrey last fall, but whether he can provide the same long-range threat as Pettrey remains to be seen. Small is a big loss on both return teams, and it will be interesting to see who steps into his spot. Running back Brandon Saine and wideout DeVier Posey both are possibilities. Ohio State covered punts well last fall but finished a surprising 51st nationally in kickoff coverage (21.2 ypr) with a touchdown allowed against Iowa.

PENN STATE

• Kicker: Collin Wagner is back after an excellent Capital One Bowl performance. He connected on 15 of 22 field goal attempts last fall.
• Punter: Second-team All-Big Ten selection Jeremy Boone departs after averaging 43.3 yards per punt in 2009. Ryan Breen's decision to leave the team creates some uncertainty here.
• Kick return: Chaz Powell, Devon Smith and Stephfon Green all are back for 2010. Powell averaged 23.2 yards per runback in 2009.
• Punt return: Graham Zug, Justin Brown, Evan Royster and Drew Astorino shared duties in 2009, and all are back.
• Quick thoughts: Penn State was surprisingly mediocre on special teams in 2009, and the kicking game should be a focal point this spring. Boone's graduation and Breen's departure leaves no true punter on the roster. The Lions finished 10th in the league in punt returns (5 ypr) last fall and need a true starter to emerge there. Punt coverage was a mess in 2009, as Penn State finished 117th nationally (15.4 ypr) out of 120 FBS teams. With several key personnel losses on both sides of the ball, Penn State can't afford to have the kicking game be a liability this fall.

PURDUE

• Kicker: Carson Wiggs has the strongest leg in the Big Ten and connected on 14 of 21 field goal attempts last fall. He's back for 2010.
• Punter: Chris Summers departs after averaging 39.5 yards per punt last fall. Wiggs had four punts in 2009, averaging 36.5 yards.
• Kick return: Al-Terek McBurse is back after averaging an impressive 24.6 yards per runback as a true freshman. Purdue must find a No. 2 option because Aaron Valentin departs.
• Punt return: Valentin was the primary return man, but wideout Waynelle Gravesande recorded 11 attempts last fall.
• Quick thoughts: Purdue made plenty of special-teams blunders in 2009, and for the Boilers to take the next step this fall, their kicking game must get better. Wiggs can boom field goals from anywhere on the field, giving Danny Hope a valuable weapon. McBurse could be a weapon on kick returns, although Purdue must address the punt return team. Kickoff coverage was miserable in 2009, as the Boilers ranked 112th nationally (24.7 ypr). The Boilers also must address their punter position.

WISCONSIN

• Kicker: Philip Welch is back after connecting on 17 of 24 field goal attempts as a sophomore.
• Punter: Brad Nortman returns after finishing fourth in the Big Ten in punting average last fall (42 ypp).
• Kick return: David Gilreath has been the man on returns for Wisconsin, and he's back. Isaac Anderson also could be an option here.
• Punt return: Gilreath averaged 5.6 yards and had a 68-yard touchdown as the primary punt returner.
• Quick thoughts: Welch and Nortman boast plenty of experience as the primary specialists. It'll be interesting to see if Wisconsin sticks with Gilreath as its top return man or opens things up to other players this spring. Bret Bielema likely will spend much more time worrying about the kickoff coverage team, which ranked 119th nationally out of 120 FBS teams last fall (26.4 ypr). Punt coverage was decent, but you can bet Wisconsin will spend a lot of time on special teams in spring ball.

CO-OFFENSE -- Penn State QB Daryll Clark and Purdue QB Joey Elliott

They could be your All-Big Ten quarterbacks come Monday night, and they showed why on Saturday. Clark and Elliott combined to go 40-of-56 passing for 515 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions in big victories against Michigan State and Indiana. Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka also deserves a mention.

DEFENSE -- Ohio State S Kurt Coleman

Coleman strengthened his case for Big Ten defensive player of the year honors with two interceptions, both in Ohio State territory, to go along with two pass breakups in the Buckeyes' 21-10 win at Michigan. Honorable mentions go to Ohio State linebacker Brian Rolle, Purdue safety Torri Williams, Iowa linebacker Troy Johnson, Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham, Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones and Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman.

SPECIAL TEAMS -- Purdue RB Al-Terek McBurse

After Indiana had regained some momentum at the end of the first half, McBurse took it right back with an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the third quarter. It marked McBurse's first career touchdown and Purdue's first kickoff return for a score since 2007. Honorable mentions go to Northwestern kicker Stefan Demos, Northwestern kickoff return man Stephen Simmons, Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko and Penn State punter Jeremy Boone.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Senior quarterback Mike Kafka will get the start for Northwestern, though backup Dan Persa also will see plenty of playing time.

Kafka left last week's loss to Penn State with a left hamstring injury in the second quarter and did not return.

Cornerback Sherrick McManis (leg) also will get the start for NU.

Northwestern will be without running back and kickoff return man Jeravin Matthews today. Matthews traveled home to Pennsylvania this week after one of his close friends was killed in a car accident. He tried to rejoin the team in Iowa City but was unable to make it. Running back Stephen Simmons and Jacob Schmidt will handle kickoff return duties today.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Northwestern has issued its official injury report for Saturday's game against No. 12 Penn State (ESPN, 4:30 p.m. ET).

OUT

• T Mike Boyle, back
• RB Alex Daniel, ankle (out for season)
• LB Bryce McNaul, leg

QUESTIONABLE

• CB Sherrick McManis, leg

Northwestern has more banged-up players than the injury report indicates, but Wildcats fans should be encouraged to see only one starter (McManis) possibly missing the game. Safeties Brendan Smith and Brian Peters both likely will play with clubs on their injured hands, but simply getting Smith back on the field after two games could be big for NU. McManis has been one of the Big Ten's better cornerbacks when healthy this season, so his status will loom large as the Wildcats try to slow down Penn State's talented wide receivers. But according to the report, Northwestern will have at least three-fourths of its starting secondary on the field, plus Peters, who basically serves as a fifth starter. Defensive end Corey Wootton, safety Brad Phillips, running back Stephen Simmons, tight end Drake Dunsmore and others are dealing with injuries but aren't listed.

It wouldn't surprise me if a few key contributors are game-time decisions, but this indicates that the Wildcats are slowly getting healthier.