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Purdue's quarterback derby will once again be a three-man race in 2012.

Robert Marve on Friday received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, meaning he'll compete with Caleb TerBush and Rob Henry for the Boilers' starting spot this fall. Marve, who began his career at Miami, sat out the 2007 season because of injury and missed all but four games of Purdue's 2010 season after suffering a torn ACL.

Purdue had lousy luck with its sixth-year applicant last year, wide receiver Keith Smith, but Marve becomes the third Boilermaker to receive an additional year in the past four years, joining defenders Jason Werner and Torri Williams.

Knee issues limited Marve at the start of the 2011 season, and he spent most of the fall backing up TerBush, completing 56 percent of his passes for 633 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions. Henry would have started ahead of both men had he not suffered a torn ACL weeks before the season.

"I am extremely blessed by the NCAA’s decision and proud to be at Purdue for another season," Marve said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to next year and winning games for the Boilermakers."

Barring more injury issues, Purdue will be extremely deep at the quarterback spot for the 2012 season, when the Boilers have an opportunity to make some noise in a wide-open Leaders division.

"In all of my years of coaching, I’ve never been around a player that has worked so hard at becoming an elite athlete and, because of injury, has seen so little reward for his efforts," Purdue head coach Danny Hope said in a statement. "This is a big boost to our program getting him back."

Although Marve hasn't lived up to his recruiting hype, he has one more chance for a breakout season with Purdue. His return certainly adds intrigue to the Boilers' quarterback battle.

This will be the last mailblog for a little while -- vacation coming -- but keep sending in those questions. And don't forget to follow me on Twitter.

Let's get going.

John from Las Vegas writes: Was Roy Helu's performance at the combine expected? Look at the numbers, he seemed to put together some very solid times. How much weight do the times actually carry?

Adam Rittenberg: John, you never fully know what to expect from prospects at the combine, but Helu certainly helped himself with his performance. His 40-yard dash times (4.43 and 4.42) exceeded some folks' expectations, and he also did very well in the two shuttles and the three-cone drill. It also helps that Helu boasts good size for a pro back. The thing to remember is some teams value combine tests more than others, and Helu has to fit a team's needs and its system. But the Huskers' star opened eyes in Indy, which is a very good thing.

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Ryan from West Lafayette, Ind., writes: Adam, explain to me how in the world Keith Smith does not get another year of eligibility? He played in one game this year and got hurt in the second. I've seen countless players over the years who've played two or three full games and got hurt and the NCAA granted them a medical redshirt. The boilers could have really used him this year.

Adam Rittenberg: Ryan, one thing to remember is Smith applied for a sixth year, not a medical hardship waiver, so it's slightly different. The NCAA doesn't provide much of an explanation for its ruling, and Smith as of earlier today hadn't received one. I think the issue with Smith has more to do with the 2007 season than the 2010 campaign. He redshirted in 2007 for more reasons than just injury. He left school in the spring because of a family situation and fell behind academically. He also had an ankle injury that limited him during in-season practices. My guess is that if serious injury had been the sole reason Smith took the redshirt in 2007, he would have received the sixth year. In the cases of Purdue players Jason Werner and Torri Williams, injuries fully wiped out two seasons for both men, and both received sixth years from the NCAA.

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Jerry from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Adam:Great job on the season grades. But somehow I missed a few. Is there a way to find the links to the full list of team grade videos?

Adam Rittenberg: No problem, Jerry. You can find each of the team grade videos below:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Michigan State
• Minnesota
• Northwestern
• Ohio State
• Penn State
• Purdue
• Wisconsin

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Nick from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: My friend and I have been arguing about who made a bigger impact on the kirk ferentz hawkeye football era so far, Ricky Stanzi or Brad Banks? I agree Banks was the better COLLEGE qb, but overall stanzi won three bowls including a bcs and is going off to the NFL, proving that Iowa can produce Nfl caliber qbs. what do you think about these two qbs?

Adam Rittenberg: Good debate, Nick! Banks undoubtedly had the best individual season of the two in 2002, when he won Big Ten Player of the Year honors and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. But in terms of overall impact on the program, I would go with Stanzi as well. The quarterback position looked bleak in 2008 until he emerged as the guy and led the comeback against Penn State. Three bowl wins also can't be overlooked. Banks only had two seasons in Iowa City and played behind Kyle McCann in 2001. But his 2002 season certainly stands out in Iowa history, and it seems like the '02 team is celebrated more than any of Stanzi's squads. You can make good cases on both sides. I like this discussion.

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Tony from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: All of this talk about MSU being a football or basketball school has got me wondering, where do other schools see themselves? Is Illinois football or basketball? Wisconsin? Iowa (maybe for wrestling)? With not a whole lot going on in this month before spring practices hit full swing, this might be a fun topic to dive into with each school in the B10.

Adam Rittenberg: Tony, this is always a fun topic to discuss. I explored it in March 2009 in this post, which identified the flagship program (football or men's basketball) for each Big Ten school.

• Illinois: basketball
• Indiana: basketball
• Iowa: football
• Michigan: football
• Michigan State: basketball
• Minnesota: push
• Northwestern: football
• Ohio State: football
• Penn State: football
• Purdue: basketball
• Wisconsin: push

I'd make a few adjustments to this list after a few more years on the job. Michigan State, after our recent debate, could be labeled a football school or at least a push. Minnesota might be labeled a hockey school. The others likely remain the same.

The longer the NCAA waited to render a decision on Keith Smith, the less likely it seemed that the star receiver would see the field again for Purdue.

Smith finally got the news Monday, and it wasn't what he or Purdue fans wanted to hear.

The NCAA denied Smith a sixth year, ending his college career two days before Purdue is to open spring practice. Smith applied for a sixth year in November after two torn ligaments in a Week 2 win against Western Illinois ended his 2010 season.

The NCAA typically makes decisions on sixth-year applicants in early to mid February. Minnesota safety Kim Royston, who missed all of last season with a broken leg, got the good news in late January. The NCAA granted sixth years to Purdue players in each of the past two Februarys: linebacker Jason Werner in 2010 and safety Torri Williams in 2009.

But for some reason, Smith's case wasn't compelling enough for a sixth year. Count me among those disappointed by the decision.

Not only is Smith an outstanding player -- he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2009 after leading the league in both receptions (91) and receiving yards (1,100) -- but he's a classy kid with an infectious personality who deserved a better end to his college career.

Smith showed why type of guy he is in the way he handled the injury setback last season.

I spoke this afternoon with Purdue coach Danny Hope, who hasn't heard why Smith's application was denied (Purdue's compliance department deals with the NCAA, not the coaches). One possible explanation why the decisions differed for Werner, Williams and Smith: both Werner and Williams missed two full seasons because of injury while Smith sat out the 2007 season only partially because of injury.

I'm checking with the NCAA and hope to get a response soon.

"We’re all very disappointed," Hope said. "Disappointed for him and obviously, he's a very valuable team member, so we’re all disappointed. But it’s just reality. Sometimes life can throw you a curveball, you have to adjust your swing."

There's no doubt Smith will make the necessary adjustments.

"I told Keith months ago that either way, I think he’ll make it in the National Football League," Hope said. "Getting a year back would have given him opportunity to improve after the injury and show what he can do. He’s been great. He’s been extremely upbeat throughout the whole process and has had a plan regardless of the scenario."

Smith attended the NFL combine in Indianapolis and went through interviews with teams. He couldn't participate in drills as he continues to rehab from the knee surgery.

Purdue brings back some decent depth at receiver even without Smith. Justin Siller returns from injury, and the Boilers also have Antavian Edison, Gary Bush and O.J. Ross, who impressed before getting hurt.

Hope also is excited about Normando Harris, who moves to receiver from safety, and incoming freshman Raheem Mostert.

"I think we’re going to be OK numbers wise," Hope said. "We're going to have to produce to fill those shoes, but we’ve got some good players coming back."

You know how to reach me.

Let's get started.

Drew from D.C. writes: Hey Adam,I think teams that have both a featured speed back as well as a power back (Stanford, Wisconsin) have done very well. In my opinion, defenses can't shut down someone like John Clay on a 4th and 1. Do you think more teams should start recruiting larger backs like Clay in the future to go along with their speed backs?

Adam Rittenberg: Totally agree, Drew. Everyone talks about speed these days, but I believe the ability to change speeds sets a team apart. It's like a pitcher who only throws a fastball. Eventually, he'll be hit hard. But a guy who has two or three great pitches can win a bunch of games. Wisconsin RBs coach John Settle said having James White in the mix as a speed back took the Badgers' rushing attack to another level this fall. That's true, but you also needed the foundation of power supplied by Clay. I think teams always want a guy with size to run the ball, but there seem to be more smaller backs available.

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Mike from Denver writes: Adam--In response to your comment in last week's chat regarding location and the population shift affecting PSU recruiting, I completely disagree. If PSU consistently hauled in the best high school talent from PA, NJ, NY, and MD, they would have a top 5 class every year. Again, I think joining the Big Ten hurt PSU in this respect, because as an independent PSU used to beat up on Syracuse, Rutgers, and Maryland, and beat Pitt 2/3 of the time, helping with recruiting these regions. I realize we can't turn back time, but I wish PSU had more exposure in the Northeast. Thanks.

Adam Rittenberg: More exposure? Really? Penn State has its share of issues, but exposure doesn't appear to be one of them. Big Ten teams get far more exposure nationally than teams in, say, the Big East. I know a lot of folks living in the Northeast who have little trouble catching Big Ten games on TV. Penn State never had an exposure problem as an independent, and I don't think things have changed since it joined the Big Ten. I also don't know if beating out so-so teams from the Big East and the ACC on the recruiting trail is the key to boosting your overall recruiting. Penn State can sustain itself with recruits from places like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland, but it wouldn't hurt to dip into the Sun Belt region a little more.

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Greg from Clyde, Ohio, writes: How would a season have to transpire for Jim Tressel to win Big Ten Coach of the Year? When I looks at individual seasons, I can sort of see why somebody else won it. Nevertheless, in a decade at Ohio State Tressel has seven conference titles and five BCS wins, more than any other 3 Big Ten coaches put together!

Adam Rittenberg: Greg, although Tressel undoubtedly wishes the circumstances were different, the 2011 season sets up perfectly for him to finally win Big Ten Coach of the Year. The reason: the five-game suspensions for Terrelle Pryor and four others to begin the season. Tressel already has won points by getting the players to pass up the draft and return to serve their punishments at Ohio State. If the Buckeyes can survive their absence for the first half of the season -- not to mention the loss of a sizable and decorated senior class -- and go on to win the Big Ten for the seventh consecutive season, Tressel would have to be the pick for Coach of the Year.

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Ryan from Oskaloosa, Iowa, writes: In response to "I just wish we could move on to more relevant things like who is in the divisions." And that's the thing with the division names, I can name the teams in each of the divisions but I still can't remember which group is the "Legends" and which is the "Leaders". Both names project a strong image but together they are like oil and water--they just don't mix, or aren't complimentary to each other. While those of us who follow the Big Ten and are fans of one team in particular we might come to remember that our team is in the Legends/Leaders division and get it correct. But what about the rest of the country, more importantly the media outlets who are going to give the 30 second highlight and in all probability reverse the division names, not care that they screwed up and the rest of the country won't notice either. It doesn't seem to me that is a good way to brand your image.

Adam Rittenberg: Great points here, Ryan. It won't be easy for a lot of folks to keep the names straight with Legends and Leaders. I know the Big Ten wanted to avoid geography when naming the divisions because of the way it assigned the teams, but would East/West have been so bad? The league already has been dealing with creative math (11 teams, now 12) for years. Although Wisconsin clearly isn't in the eastern half of the league, an East/West designation likely would help casual observers understand who goes where. These are just division names, after all, and their primary function should be providing clarity. The Big Ten instead used them to broadcast its message as a conference and did so on a huge platform, which was clearly the wrong move.

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Evan from Tuscaloosa, Ala., writes: Adam, love the blog. I read it on a daily basis. Have you heard any new on Keith Smith? I saw that Case Keenum was granted a 6th year of eligibility and he played 4 games this year. Would this signal that Smith should get his 6th year of eligibility?

Adam Rittenberg: Evan, we should hear something soon on Keith Smith, by the end of February at the latest. I'd be stunned if he doesn't receive a sixth year of eligibility. The Keenum case is a good one, and there's precedent at Purdue the last two seasons with linebacker Jason Werner and safety Torri Williams, both of whom received sixth years in February. Smith deserves a sixth year, and he should get one soon.

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Hunter from Saint Johns, Mich., writes: Dear Adam, I was wondering if you have any word on who is or could be considered for the offensive coordinator position for Michigan State? I have yet to hear anything about that from any your blogs or in the local newspapers for Lansing, MI.

Adam Rittenberg: Hunter, I've heard very little about the vacancy at Michigan State and have seen next to nothing in the media about it. Mark Dantonio could promote from within his staff. Dave Warner coaches quarterbacks, a position often held by an offensive coordinator, while Dan Roushar (line), Mark Staten (tight ends) and Brad Salem (running backs) all boast a lot of experience. Whether he looks within or to the outside, I'd expect Dantonio to stick with a coordinator who runs a pro-style offense, which has produced good success in East Lansing. I'll see what I can find out.

Although Purdue still has a chance to become bowl eligible this season, many are looking ahead to 2011 and, hopefully, better fortunes on the injury front.

The Boilers are trying to ensure that star receiver Keith Smith is part of the plan next fall.

As expected, Purdue is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility for Smith, who tore two ligaments in his knee Sept. 11 against Western Illinois and underwent surgery last month. Although Smith didn't say whether he'd seek a sixth year in his last media appearance, it seemed likely.

The NCAA likely won't rule on Smith's status until February, but Purdue has fared well in recent applications for sixth years of eligibility. Linebacker Jason Werner received one last winter and safety Torri Williams was successful the previous year.

Smith, a first-team All-Big Ten receiver in 2009, would be a big help as Purdue restores its offense next fall. The Boilers should get quarterbacks Robert Marve and Caleb TerBush, running back Ralph Bolden, receiver Justin Siller and others back in the fold.

Here's hoping Smith is successful in his application. He's not only one of the Big Ten's best players but one of the league's classiest people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The best news?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You should already know this, but Big Ten media days begin Monday. The top three teams and preseason players of the year are announced Monday morning, so check the blog early and often. It'll be worth it.

As always, contact me here and follow me on Twitter.

Kurt from Chesapeake, Va., writes: Adam,You mentioned that one of the issues that will be discussed at the Big Ten Meetings will be the possibility of going to a nine-game conference schedule. Why would the Big Ten do this? To me, I see nothing but downfalls to this, including: 1. Big Ten teams will play an un-even number of home and road games, a trend that would be reversed every season. 2. Big Ten teams will have more potential losses, which could and would hurt bowl selections. 3. In the season that a Big Ten team would have five conference away games, there is less likelihood that the team will schedule tough non-conference games, and it would be almost guaranteed that if the Big Ten team does schedule an "A" level opponent, it would have to be at home. 4. Having nine conference games, then that would possibly cut into revenue from eliminating a non-conference game. 5. Adding another conference game would take away from the "prep" non-conference schedule where a team is able to "prepare themselves" for the conference slate. What do you think about this?

Adam Rittenberg: Kurt, do you mind if I copy your photonote and pass it out to the Big Ten coaches on Monday? Because you outline many of the reasons why the coaches might not be excited about the prospect of a nine-game Big Ten schedule. It means six more losses for the league, five conference road games every other year for each team, and most likely fewer bowl appearances. From the coaches' perspective, it's probably not a good idea. But for the athletic directors, it makes sense for a number of other reasons. It eases the burden of nonconference scheduling and likely reduces the number of guarantee games they pay for FCS or lower-tier FBS opponents. More important, it gives the ADs a more attractive home schedule every other year to sell to fans. A schedule with five Big Ten home dates looks a lot more attractive than one including Towson, Eastern Michigan and Arkansas State. Your point about potential lost revenue could be offset by increased revenue from a better schedule. To get the ADs' perspective, check out what Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke told me. Bottom line: a nine-game Big Ten schedule will be discussed next week, and the AD's ultimately have more say here.

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Andrew from Madison, Wis., writes: Hey Adam - loving the hope/concern series! Seems like the secondary is a concern for a lot of teams in the Big 10 for this upcoming season. Seems like Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Illinois are all either coming off poor performances last season or lost some major talents in the off season. Is this just a coincidence for this season or is there a specific reason why this position group seems poised to under perform across the big 10?

Adam Rittenberg: Andrew, that's a great observation. The Big Ten retains some great defensive backs like Iowa's Tyler Sash, but secondary could be a weak spot for the league this season. Among the big losses are Iowa's Amari Spievey, Northwestern's Sherrick McManis and Brad Phillips, Michigan's Donovan Warren, Wisconsin's Chris Maragos, Ohio State's Kurt Coleman, Minnesota's Traye Simmons and Purdue's Torri Williams. It'll be very interesting to see how certain groups bounce back. Can Purdue replace all four starters? Will Iowa find a shut-down corner like Spievey? Can Northwestern avoid a relapse? Will Michigan State be younger but better in the back four? We'll find out soon enough.

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Dale from San Marcos, Texas, writes: Can I get your personal opinion on RFR running back Jamaal Berry? What are his strengths and how does he measure compared to the other Ohio State backs? For instance when QUIZZ Rodgers arrived at Oregon State, his coach said it took about 3 seconds to know he was a player. Berry didn't even play in the Spring Game for Ohio State after sitting out a year. He's like a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. Oh wait that's Russia. I'm perplexed.

Adam Rittenberg: I like the analogy, Dale. As for Berry, Ohio State fans seem to be obsessed with this guy. I've only seen him a few times in practice, and I was neither blown away nor disappointed by him. He was OK. We just have to wait and see if he can make up ground in preseason camp, because right now Brandon Saine and Dan Herron are the bell cows for Jim Tressel. Berry certainly comes in with some impressive credentials, but he's got to stay healthy after nagging hamstring problems last fall and really challenge Saine, Herron and Jordan Hall (don't forget about him) for carries.

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Lance from Greensboro, N.C., writes: Welcome back! Two things: When the BT expanded, I thought a championship game was a no brainer. But now I've heard a very intriguing idea - play nine conference games, and schedule the rivalry games on the first Saturday in December. This solves the "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" problem with not playing after Thanksgiving, but also avoids the championship loser out of the BCS problem. Plus, some of the rivalry games could prove more attractive than other conference championship games. What do you think? Thanks!

Adam Rittenberg: Lance, I've heard the same idea from people within the Big Ten. You add two bye weeks to the schedule and finish in early December, much like the Pac-10 does right now. There's certainly a contingent of coaches around the country who don't love league championship games, but there's also a ton of support for these events and lots of money to be made. Can a wealthy league like the Big Ten afford to stiff-arm millions and maybe help its second-place team reach BCS bowls every year? Sure. But I still think you'll see a title game when all is said and done.

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Seann from Fort Collins, Colo., writes: Hi Adam. Thanks for the updates on the blog. What do you think about the Spartans' recruiting for the 2010 and 2011 classes? It seems like they are doing a better job competing for some of the top talent. A few years ago if you asked a top recruit if he wanted to go to Michigan or Michigan State he probably would have looked at you weird. Now it seems like state is in the mix. Do you think Mark Dantonio has improved the recruiting at state for the long term?

Adam Rittenberg: I really like what Mark Dantonio and his staff have done with local and regional recruiting. It's the right approach, and they've gone about it in a very effective way. Michigan State is consistently putting itself in the top half of the league in recruiting and, in some years, in the top three. I know the Michigan State/Michigan local recruiting debate makes for good fodder, but the truth is both programs have done pretty well and improved themselves. One potential concern for Michigan State is the departure of Dan Enos to Central Michigan. Enos really spearheaded the team's recruiting efforts in the Detroit area, and the other coaches need to pick up the slack.

The spring superlatives series, which examines the strongest and weakest position groups for each Big Ten team, marches on with Purdue.

After winning four of its final six games, Purdue has high hopes for 2010. The Boilermakers return a lot of skill players on offense, and Miami transfer Robert Marve looks like the front-runner to take over at quarterback. The defense needs to fill all four starting spots in the secondary, but end Ryan Kerrigan and linebacker Jason Werner lead the front seven.

Strongest position: Wide receiver/tight end

• Key returnees: Keith Smith (91 receptions, 1,100 receiving yards, 6 TDs); Kyle Adams (29 receptions, 249 receiving yards); Keith Carlos (21 receptions, 242 receiving yards, 1 TD); running back Ralph Bolden (20 receptions, 261 receiving yards, 2 TDs); Cortez Smith (17 receptions, 177 receiving yards, 2 TDs); Jeff Lindsay (16 receptions 162 receiving yards).
• Key losses: Aaron Valentin (54 receptions, 621 receiving yards, 7 TDs).
• The skinny: A year ago, the Boilers had huge questions here as Smith was the lone returnee with any significant experience. Purdue now boasts one of the Big Ten's deepest group of pass-catchers, led by Smith, who topped the league in receiving yards last fall and earned first-team all-conference honors from the media. Purdue needs a new No. 2 wideout, but hopes are high for Cortez Smith and Carlos. The coaches are also high on young wideouts Antavian Edison and Gary Bush. The tight end position should be very solid with both Adams and Lindsay in the fold.

Weakest position: Defensive back

• Key returnees: Albert Evans (30 tackles, 2 pass breakups)
• Key losses: Torri Williams (84 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 8 passes defended); Dwight Mclean (62 tackles, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 4 passes defended); David Pender (40 tackles, 1 INT, 14 passes defended, 1 blocked kick, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery); Brandon King (30 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 5 passes defended).
• The skinny: Purdue loses all four starters in the secondary, including tackles leader Williams and second-team All-Big Ten selections in Pender and King. Evans is the lone returnee with significant experience, and he'll miss spring practice with an injury. Players like junior college transfer Mike Eargle, Charlton Williams, Gavin Roberts and Chris Quinn need to step up this spring. "We have a lot of depth issues in the secondary," head coach Danny Hope said.

It's no secret that Purdue's secondary needs help in 2010.

All four starters from last season are gone, including safety Torri Williams, the team's tackles leader, as well as second-team All-Big Ten cornerbacks David Pender and Brandon King. Junior safety Albert Evans is one of the few returning players who saw significant field time in 2009.

I know the Boilers coaches are excited about the young players they have in the secondary, and they should be. But does anyone else think Purdue's answer at defensive back could be found a few yards away from Ross-Ade Stadium in Mackey Arena?

Chris Kramer plays basketball like a football player. It's much of the reason he's so popular among Purdue fans and almost every opposing coach he faces. The Boilers senior guard will dive for loose balls, play through a broken nose, smother an opponent's best player on the defensive end and sacrifice his body whenever possible. He twice has been named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, and finished his career as Purdue's all-time steals leader.

As Kramer sliced through the lane Sunday for the game-winning layup in Purdue's second-round NCAA tournament game against Texas A&M, I couldn't help but think how he'd look in shoulder pads next year. Kramer was a standout safety and quarterback in high school. And since he didn't redshirt for the Boilers basketball team, he would have a season of eligibility left in football, much like Greg Paulus did at Syracuse in 2009.

I asked Kramer about playing football at the Big Ten men's basketball tournament a few weeks back, and his response was predictable.

"I haven't thought about it," he said, smiling. "We'll just take this ride for as long as it happens, and then go from there and make a decision on my future and what I want to do for the rest of my life."

If Kramer decides to pursue basketball, this is all a moot point. It has always been his favorite sport, even though some say he has a higher ceiling on the gridiron.

But if he hits a wall in hoops and wants to continue his athletic career in some form, Purdue head football coach Danny Hope and his staff should check in.

Kramer's high school football coach recently told The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier: "Had [Kramer] concentrated on football, he could have played on Sundays [in the NFL] as a safety."

He could still end being a big help on Saturdays this fall.

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

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

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

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

So, what exactly did Purdue accomplish in 2009?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The most impressive statistic from Jason Werner's 2009 season wasn't 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks or two forced fumbles.

It was 12 games played and started.

For just the second time in his Purdue career, Werner got through a season unscathed. The linebacker missed both the 2006 and 2008 seasons with back problems. He has undergone two surgeries on his back, but he made it through 2009 without any health issues.

"For anybody that’s played a serious sport, having two years back-to-back is great," Werner said. "That first year is always good, but you know with another year, it could get a lot better."

Whether Werner would get that second season remained to be seen. He exhausted his five years of eligibility at Purdue, but since he missed two full seasons because of injury, he applied to the NCAA for a sixth season.

Werner knew he had a good shot of landing the sixth year since his Purdue teammate Torri Williams had been successful in a similar appeal last February. But there are no guarantees.

“It was a lot of anticipation," he said. "I didn’t really know what the decision was based off of. They just said I had a pretty good case. I figured, take a shot. Why not?"

While he waited for a decision, Werner participated fully in Purdue's offseason program. He went through every workout and every weightlifting session.

After completing his workout Friday morning, Werner was on he way to class when he received a text message from linebackers coach Mark Hagen, asking him to call.

"I gave him a call before going to class and he just said, 'It looks like you're going to be a Boiler for another year,'" Werner said.

The NCAA's decision brought a mix of relief and excitement for Werner, who had given some thought to what he would do if his college career. He wouldn't give up on football, but he'd be in a tough spot.

"Being so late now without any preparation, my chances [at playing pro ball] would have decreased immensely," he said. "I really had my hopes on getting that year because it would fall into place a lot better as far as my future, period. I’m really glad it came through."

So is Purdue, which is thrilled to have its best and most experienced linebacker back on the field for the 2010 season. Werner provides a huge boost to a defensive front seven that needs to improve against the run, after ranking last in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed in each of the last two seasons.

Werner knows the Boilers must be more detailed in their gap assignments and improve on how they take on blocks. Perhaps most important, Purdue needs to finish games better after losing five games by seven points or less.

After getting the green light from the NCAA, Werner is focused on finishing strong. He hopes to serve as a team captain for the second straight year.

"With another year of experience and now that it’s official that I’m the oldest guy on the team, it's one of those things I'd like to take," he said. "You’ve been around the most, you've seen the most, so you've got the most information to give and help the other guys. I really take that on as a personal challenge to do what I can."

Purdue's defense got a huge jolt Friday, as standout linebacker Jason Werner received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA.

Werner, who missed the 2006 and 2008 seasons with back problems, recorded 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last year, his first full season as a starter. He also recorded two forced fumbles and an interception.

The 6-4, 221-pound Werner will be instrumental in helping Purdue improve against the run. The Boilers allowed a Big Ten-worst 173.4 rush yards per game in 2009.

"This is great news for Jason, our football family and all of Boilermaker Nation," head coach Danny Hope said in a statement. "He’s a heck of a player who did a great job last season and can be even better this year. He can be one of the top players at his position in our league. Getting him back also helps us from a leadership standpoint because we don’t have a very big senior class, and he’s a great leader and teammate. All the way around, it’s exciting to have Jason back."

Werner, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, has completed his bachelor's degree and already had started graduate work. He had continued to work out while he awaited word from the NCAA.

This marks the second consecutive year Purdue received good news about a veteran defender, as safety Torri Williams was granted a sixth year last February. Williams led Purdue with 84 tackles in 2009.

With Werner back and end Ryan Kerrigan anchoring the line, Purdue has a few solid pieces to build around on defense. The Boilers must get better against the run, and they'll need to rebuild in the secondary after losing all four starters.

• Purdue also announced Friday that defensive graduate assistant Nick Cavallo has left to become defensive line coach at Campbell University.

I've identified Purdue as my sleeper team in the Big Ten for 2010, and the reasons are pretty clear.

The Boilers will be very good at the offensive skill positions, as All-Big Ten selections Keith Smith and Ralph Bolden headline a unit that ranked third in the Big Ten in passing (255.2 ypg) and boasted the league's No. 3 rusher in Bolden (77.9 ypg). Quarterback Joey Elliott is a big loss, but if Miami transfer Robert Marve or Caleb TerBush can step in, Purdue will be very dangerous on the offensive side.

That said, Big Ten games are usually won with defense, and Purdue really could use a boost on that side of the ball.

Translation: Purdue could use Jason Werner back on the field for another year.

The Boilers lose all four starters in the secondary as well as defensive tackle Mike Neal, a two-year starter who could be playing on Sundays this coming fall. Superstar defensive end Ryan Kerrigan returns, but he'll need some help against the run, a category where Purdue has ranked last in the Big Ten in each of the last two seasons.

Werner can provide that help, but whether he gets another chance to play remains to be seen. Werner, who missed the 2006 and 2008 seasons because of back problems, could receive sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA and should get an answer soon.

Boilers safety Torri Williams, who missed the entire 2005 season and all but three quarters of a game in 2006, received a sixth year on Feb. 12, 2009. Williams went on to record a team-high 84 tackles as well as two interceptions, eight passes defended, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Purdue can expect similar production from Werner if he's back in 2010. Former coach Joe Tiller called Werner the team's top linebacker, making that claim when Anthony Heygood was still around. Werner, who has excellent speed to complement his size, recorded 77 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles in 2009.

Without him, the linebacker position could be a weakness for Purdue in 2010. With him, it should be a strength as he'll help young players like Dwayne Beckford.

Werner has shown what he can do when healthy. Here's hoping the NCAA sees it that way and gives him one more shot.

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

If it's worth linking, it shows up here.

• Several Ohio State players are battling the flu, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor taught Wisconsin players some valuable lessons in last year's game, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Wisconsin linebacker and Ohio native Chris Borland never liked the Buckeyes and didn't mind being the odd man out, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Iowa has high praise for Michigan freshman quarterback Tate Forcier, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Talented Hawkeyes wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos needs to get on track, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• Illinois' quarterback change comes at the right time, Herb Gould writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Purdue sixth-year senior safety Torri Williams can't live down his longevity, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier. Boilers coach Danny Hope is shuffling his practice plan again, Stacy Clardie writes in The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
• Indiana wide receiver Tandon Doss wants to provide a better life for his family, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).
• Tough news for Michigan State safety Roderick Jenrette, who will miss at least the rest of the regular season with a broken foot, Steve Grinczel writes in The Grand Rapids Press. Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins might have to play through pain at Illinois, Eric Lacy writes in The Detroit News.
• Penn State star linebacker Sean Lee will miss his third straight game, Ron Musselman writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.