ESPN College Football

Minnesota had the Big Ten's most experienced roster in 2009, and there are quite a few holes to be filled this spring. The Gophers must replace nine starters on defense as well as All-Big Ten wide receiver Eric Decker, a team record-holder.

The spring features a competition at quarterback between Adam Weber and MarQueis Gray and plenty of opportunities for young, highly recruited players to step up.

Here's a look at Minnesota's strong point and weak point heading into spring ball, which kicks off March 23.

Strongest position: Safety

• Key returnees: Senior Kyle Theret (73 tackles, 3 INTs, 7 passes defended); senior Kim Royston (86 passes, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 7 passes defended); senior Ryan Collado (34 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 pass defended).
• Key departures: None
• The skinny: Minnesota boasts the Big Ten's top safety tandem in Theret and Royston. The two finished the 2009 season on a high note in the Insight Bowl. Theret had two interceptions and a 40-yard reception on a fake punt, while Royston recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including a forced fumble. Collado provides depth behind them. Although the Gophers lose both starting cornerbacks (Traye Simmons and Marcus Sherels), the veteran leadership at safety combined with some exciting young players should fill in the gaps.

Weakest position: Offensive line

• Key returnees: Tackles Dom Alford, Jeff Wills and Ryan Wynn; guards Matt Carufel, Chris Bunders and Trey Davis; and center D.J. Burris.
• Key departures: Tackle Matt Stommes, center Jeff Tow-Arnett
• The skinny: It would be easy to spotlight linebacker or defensive tackle, positions where the Gophers lose multiple starters from 2009. But until the offensive line starts stepping up, this team is going to struggle. Minnesota has ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing yards in each of the past two seasons, which is simply unacceptable for a program steeped in running tradition. The Gophers have experience, but whether these linemen are good enough or tough enough to execute a new scheme remains to be seen.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Quick hits on injury news from around the league after the Big Ten teleconference.

• Ohio State defensive tackle Dexter Larimore will miss Saturday's game against Wisconsin (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) with a strained right knee. Head coach Jim Tressel said Larimore doesn't need surgery. Todd Denlinger will start in Larimore's place after filling in well against Indiana with his first career interception. Running back Dan Herron (ankle) practiced Sunday and Tressel is anxious to see how the sophomore responds in today's workout.
• Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki (ankle) is going to try to practice today after missing the last three games, head coach Kirk Ferentz said. Moeaki has battled a multitude of injuries throughout his career.
• Penn State tackle Nerraw McCormack is doubtful for the Eastern Illinois game after sustaining an ankle injury last week against Illinois. McCormack made his first career start at left tackle against the Illini. Sophomore DeOn'tae Pannell will be ready to step in at tackle, though head coach Joe Paterno isn't sure if Pannell will be 100 percent.
• Minnesota senior center Jeff Tow-Arnett will miss the remainder of the season with a broken leg suffered against Wisconsin. Sophomore Trey Davis will start at center this week against Purdue. Davis started five games at center as a redshirt freshman in 2008 but hadn't played this season until last Saturday.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota kicked off spring ball this afternoon as the team held its first practice indoors at Rod Wallace Field. Players and coaches seemed amped up to get started, and here are some notes from the Gophers' first workout.

• Linebacker Sam Maresh participated in his first practice as college player after battling back from open heart surgery last summer and a benign tumor in his left calf discovered this winter. Maresh worked with the third team and ran a bit gingerly, but he looks strong at 6-foot-3 and 235 and should improve throughout the spring. The first-team linebackers consisted of Lee Campbell and Simoni Lawrence, while Gary Tinsley and Ryan Grant alternated at the third spot. Freshman Keanon Cooper certainly brings speed to the group, but he's a bit undersized at outside 'backer.
  
• The Gophers' four new coaches are fun to watch, particularly offensive line coach Tim Davis and offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, who employs some creative teaching techniques. The line will be a focal point throughout the spring as Minnesota transitions to a pro-style, power run offense. The first-team line consisted of left tackle Matt Stommes, left guard Dom Alford, center Trey Davis, right guard Matt Carufel and right tackle Jeff Wills.
  
• Stommes, who made a meteoric rise to a starting tackle position after switching from defensive line, passes the eye test. He flat out looks like an athlete at left tackle. Wills, a junior college transfer, is huge but probably needs to improve his conditioning just a touch. Tim Davis rode him pretty hard for not finishing a drill.
  
• The NCAA prevents teams from hitting during the first three practices, so starting quarterback Adam Weber (shoulder surgery) participated alongside backup MarQueis Gray, who looks every bit 6-foot-4 and showed good arm strength on several throws. Fisch spent time working with the quarterbacks on quick releases and at one point had them throw passes any way but overhand, to expand the types of throws (sidearm, flips) they need to make in games. "Turn that double play," Fisch told Weber and Gray while working on their releases.
• Running back Duane Bennett, who comes off ACL surgery, ran with the first-team offense along with fullback Jon Hoese, wide receiver Brandon Green and others.
  
• The best line of the practice came from defensive line coach Tim Cross after several players jumped early on a drill with the blocking sled. "You can't make a mistake being an assassin," Cross said. "One shot, one kill."
• David Pittman, Green and Marcus Sherels (out for spring ball after shoulder surgery) worked as return men during a special-teams period.
  
• Guard Ned Tavale definitely makes my early All-Big Ten hair team. Nice 'do.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

In case you missed it, Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells took another step toward playing Saturday. We're rolling right along as game day approaches. 

• Big Ten coaches realize what's at stake this weekend, The New York Times' Mike Ogle writes in The Quad blog. 
  
• After being right in the mix at this point last season, Illinois backup quarterback Eddie McGee is waiting his turn behind the surging Juice Williams, Terry Bannon writes in the Chicago Tribune. Illini freshman wideout Jack Ramsey has been cleared academically to play, but he's still filling an invaluable role this week in practice, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald.
• The Indianapolis Star's Terry Hutchens blogs about Indiana's sagging attendance at home games. Maybe a quality opponent or two would help the Hoosiers.
  
• A wide receiver corps besieged by injuries and inconsistency has become a strength for Iowa, Eric Page writes in the Quad City Times. Ricky Stanzi's newfound popularity hasn't affected the Iowa quarterback, the Iowa City Press-Citizen's Andy Hamilton writes in his blog.
  
• Both teams are struggling on offense, but Michigan and Notre Dame historically shine late in games, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. This is nothing like what's happening on the Gulf Coast, but weather could play a factor at Notre Dame Stadium, John Heuser writes in The Ann Arbor News.
  
• The pass rush has become a priority for Michigan State, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press. Spartans center Joel Nitchman is a political junkie, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• Trey Davis got off to a rocky start as Minnesota's center but will have plenty more chances Saturday, Kent Youngblood writes in the Star Tribune. Gophers coach Tim Brewster remembers Montana State's last major upset, Scott Mansch writes in the Great Falls Tribune.
  
• Are the Buckeyes holding back on offense? Coordinator Jim Bollman won't tell, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Wideout Brian Hartline thinks so, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Wells likely won't be 100 percent Saturday, and cornerback Donald Washington might not reclaim his starting job.
  
• A report says Penn State defensive linemen Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma will remain suspended Saturday, but Koroma doesn't know his status, The Daily Collegian reports. The Penn State-Syracuse rivalry has lost its luster, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror.
  
• Purdue's David Pender has faced Oregon quarterback Justin Roper before and recognizes the challenge the Boilers will face Saturday, Tom Kubat writes in The Journal and Courier. Coach Joe Tiller isn't concerned about Purdue's all-time wins record, Stacy Clardie writes in The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
  
• P.J. Hill's early fumbles don't worry his Wisconsin coaches, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Badgers get a big boost Saturday when linebacker Jonathan Casillas returns, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.