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As expected, Michigan coach Brady Hoke completed his staff Monday by announcing the hiring of two defensive assistants: Jerry Montgomery (defensive line) and Curt Mallory (secondary).

Mongtomery and Mallory join linebackers coach Mark Smith and coordinator Greg Mattison in the effort to rebuild Michigan's defense in 2011.

"Curt and Jerry are exceptional teachers and will help our young men develop both on the football field and in the community,” said Hoke. “They are a great fit for our defensive staff and will work very well with Greg [Mattison] and Mark [Smith]. This group will work tirelessly to make the defensive effort what we expect at Michigan."

Montgomery, a former defensive lineman at Iowa, took a position on Kevin Wilson's staff at Indiana last month, but soon left to join Michigan. He has coached defensive line at Wyoming (2009-10) and Northern Iowa (2007-08).

Mallory, who played at Michigan, has been a defensive coordinator for the past four seasons, working with Illinois' defense from 2007-09 before moving to Akron last fall. He has spent his entire coaching career in the Midwest.

Although all of Michigan's defensive assistants will face challenges, Mallory really has his work cut out for him. Michigan's secondary endured a wave of misfortune and calamity in 2010, although the Wolverines regain the services of veteran cornerback Troy Woolfolk and others this fall.

Mallory's recent work hasn't been too impressive, but he mentored several standout defensive backs at Illinois, including cornerback Vontae Davis, and oversaw a productive defense in 2007 when Illinois reached the Rose Bowl.

Let it be known that I'll have no objections if the Big Ten ends its expansion study tomorrow.

The Big Ten already improved itself with the addition of Nebraska, and a 12-team structure provides the chance to have a championship game while maintaining the intimacy of a league built on long-standing rivalries. If commissioner Jim Delany and the Big Ten presidents and chancellors decide 12 is enough, so be it. I'll go back to blogging about actual football, and we'll all survive.

But the Big Ten says it will continue to examine expansion for the next year or so, and Delany could "act and act again," he said earlier this month.

So here's some advice to the league: If Phase 2 of expansion becomes a reality, make recruiting a top priority.

Nebraska adds a lot to the Big Ten: great football tradition, great fans, a program that matters nationally. But what Nebraska doesn't bring is a new area rife with recruits. According to an in-depth study by SI.com, the state of Nebraska produced only 43 BCS-conference players between 2004-08.

The Big Ten's recent recruiting challenges have been well documented, and Delany has listed the shifting population to the south as a driving force for the expansion push. The Big Ten wants alums, but more importantly, it wants access to recruits.

Texas obviously would have been a great addition for recruiting. Every Big Ten team spends some time in the Lone Star State looking for prospects. But the Longhorns aren't leaving the Big 12.

So where should the Big Ten look to improve its recruiting? Here are two possibilities:

Rutgers: Besides its location near the nation's top media market -- a potential huge boost for the Big Ten Network -- Rutgers would help the Big Ten get a better foothold in New Jersey, a very good state for high school prospects. Plenty of Big Ten programs already recruit in New Jersey, including Penn State and Wisconsin (primarily during Barry Alvarez's tenure). Having a permanent presence in the Garden State would boost Big Ten recruiting efforts there.

Maryland: The Washington D.C. and Baltimore markets appeal to the Big Ten Network, but the real benefit here could come in recruiting. Penn State has plucked top prospects from Maryland for many years, and Illinois built its recruiting success in 2006 and 2007 on a pipeline to Washington D.C. that landed players like Arrelious Benn and Vontae Davis. Northern Virginia is right there as well and produces top players like Penn State's Evan Royster. By adding the University of Maryland, the Big Ten would have a greater chance to reel in recruits from the state and the Beltway.

Again, the Big Ten doesn't need to add any more teams. But if there's a move to be made, it must be strategic and keep recruiting very much in mind.

This isn't how Illinois defensive end Doug Pilcher envisioned his final collegiate game taking place.

For starters, Pilcher, like the rest of his Fighting Illini teammates, entered the season fully expecting to play beyond Saturday's contest against Fresno State (Big Ten Network, 12:30 p.m. ET). Illinois had both talent and depth, and was widely projected to end up back in a bowl game after a one-year hiatus.

But nothing went according to plan, and a senior class that has endured an unusual tenure in Champaign will receive its sendoff Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

“The season didn't go as well as we'd hoped," said Pilcher, who ranks second on the team in both sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (7.5). "We had high expectations. But you can’t really change it. It is what it is. Right now, we just focus on Fresno State and working hard to get that win. We want to go out with a bang."

The fourth-year seniors were part of head coach Ron Zook's first full recruiting class to Illinois. Juice Williams, a raw but talented quarterback from Chicago, headlined the group, along with other heralded prospects like Vontae Davis, Chris Duvalt, Chris James and Jeff Cumberland.

Illinois fourth-year and fifth-year seniors were part of the team's surprise Rose Bowl run in 2007. They also have experienced plenty of losing. Remove the 2007 season, and Illinois has gone 12-34 since Zook's arrival.

"They've done an awful lot of good things and an awful lot of bad things," Zook said this week. "One thing this class has done is show us where we can be and where we need to get back to. When they came here, it wasn't necessarily the popular thing to do, so I have a special place in my heart for that. As I told our football team after the [Cincinnati] game, they basically recruited everybody in this room.

"We owe it to them to do everything in our power as a football team and as a coaching staff to do everything we can do to win this game."

Zook recited the play-every-play-like-it's-your-last cliché during a team meeting Monday, but he further explained his point.

"Why do you think you talk about playing every play like it's your last play?" Zook said. "Because eventually it's going to be, and as I said, for some of these guys this is it. You will never play football again. ... The only thing they're guaranteed is one more game."

Though Illinois is playing strictly for pride Saturday, Pilcher doesn't expect any letdown. Fresno State boasts the nation's leading rusher in junior Ryan Matthews (149.1 ypg), who is cleared to play after missing the Bulldogs' last two games with a concussion.

"It’s always great to compete against the best," Pilcher said. "Everyone's fired up to play. It's important for us to get this win and send the underclassmen out on a high note."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The calendar hasn't even reached October yet, and two Big Ten teams are seeing things slip away after being hyped throughout the summer.

	Jeff Hanisch/US PRESSWIRE
	Mark Dantonio will try to turn it around against No. 22 Michigan on Saturday.

Michigan State and Illinois own a combined record of 2-5 with zero FBS wins between them. The Spartans were picked third in the league before the season, while Illinois had been pegged as a potential dark-horse candidate in the league because of its explosive offense led by quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn. Needless to say, both squads have fallen well short of expectations.

Is it surprising to see these two teams in this position? Yes and no.

We expected some growing pains at quarterback for Michigan State, which didn't settle on a starter in camp, but not the struggles Williams has endured against Missouri and Ohio State. We expected Illinois' secondary to fall off a bit without star cornerback Vontae Davis, but Michigan State crowed all offseason about its depth at defensive back, only to get shredded by Dan LeFevour, Jimmy Clausen and Scott Tolzien.

Those trends are somewhat shocking, but then again, both programs historically don't handle high hopes well.

Illinois followed its surprising Rose Bowl run in 2007 with a 5-7 clunker last year. The Illini followed another BCS bowl appearance in 2001 with a 5-7 letdown the next fall. They haven't reached consecutive bowl games since 1991-92.

Michigan State's recent disappointments are even more infamous, perhaps because they've often taken place within a season. The Spartans started strong in 2003, 2005, 2006 and even 2007 before struggling down the stretch.

Both teams host ranked opponents Saturday, as No. 15 Penn State visits Champaign and No. 22 Michigan visits East Lansing. A week later, Michigan State and Illinois meet in Memorial Stadium.

Which team will ultimately fall apart? Will it be both? Or could both squads turn things around and make the postseason?

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Juice Williams sounded like a man exhausted and exasperated by a search for something that couldn't actually be found.

But when a team melts down the way Illinois did in Saturday's 37-9 loss to Missouri, an explanation isn't merely desired, but demanded.

Did the Illini get thrown off by losing star wide receiver Arrelious Benn to a sprained ankle on the third play of scrimmage?

Was the offense's rhythm out of whack without running backs Jason Ford or Daniel Dufrene?

How much did the secondary miss cornerback Vontae Davis, or is the unit missing leadership at safety for the second straight year?

“It’s really hard to explain," a subdued Williams said Monday on a teleconference with reporters. "It’s not really one thing you can pinpoint and set aside, say that’s the reason we didn’t play well. It was a combination of things."

For now, the outside world will have to settle for this from the senior quarterback: "Obviously, something happened between us leaving Champaign and going down to St. Louis for kickoff. Something happened and we obviously weren’t quite as focused and we weren’t at the point we needed to be to go out and dominate the game like we thought we should have."

Both Williams and linebacker Martez Wilson pointed to a lack of focus and intensity in the Missouri game. Head coach Ron Zook was even more pointed Sunday, saying, "The thing that got me most upset -- we didn’t go fight."

The 2009 Illini aren't knocked out after Saturday's loss, but they're certainly a bit staggered. Benn should return this weekend along with Ford and possibly Dufrene for a game against Illinois State, an FCS program, but things begin to get a lot tougher.

Illinois opens Big Ten play against Ohio State (road), Penn State (home) and Michigan State (home). If the Illini don't put up more of a fight soon, they'll be down for the count.

“It was a very humbling experience for this team," Williams said. "Hopefully, it works out for the better. ... Losing the way we lost, it definitely puts a team in a situation where you kind of second-guess yourself and you kind of lose sight of what you’re trying to do. The important thing for us is to regain the focus that we had throughout the entire fall camp and be confident in ourselves."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Best case/worst case is the fabulous brainchild of Pac-10 blogger Ted Miller, and I'm swiping the idea for the Big Ten. Here's the first in a series exploring the best and worst outcomes, within reason, for each Big Ten squad.

Illinois is a suitable place to start because the Fighting Illini always seem to be a team of extremes.

BEST CASE

The team jells and makes Jell-O out of opposing defenses.

Juice Williams performs like the Big Ten's most experienced quarterbacks and continues to break stadium records without the mistakes that plagued him late last fall. Wide receiver Arrelious Benn adds touchdown catches to his already impressive résumé and headlines one of the nation's best receiving corps with Florida transfer Jarred Fayson and Jeff Cumberland, who breaks an opposing cornerback's jaw with a stiff arm. The running game resurfaces. A focused Martez Wilson finally fulfills his potential and earns first-team All-Big Ten honors as the team's middle linebacker, and the defense works out its issues against the run and finds the next Vontae Davis in cornerback Tavon Wilson.

Illinois starts things off by finally beating Missouri. Williams breaks his own total offense record in the Edward Jones Dome and makes pulp out of Tigers linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. The Illini hang 50 on Mizzou and enter Big Ten play riding high. Can't see the Illini winning in Columbus again, but Benn and Fayson exploit a young Penn State secondary in Week 4.

The upset of Penn State sparks a winning streak, as Illinois' offense overwhelms Michigan State and steamrolls Indiana and Purdue. The Illini enter the top 20 as they welcome nemesis Michigan to Memorial Stadium on Halloween. Tez Wilson destroys Michigan's young quarterbacks and Williams picks apart the secondary for a big win. Illini fans hold an orange-out in the stadium and pack the place.

Illinois stumbles once more before the finish, most likely against Cincinnati the day after Thanksgiving, but the team rebounds to beat Fresno State and finish 10-2. Head coach Ron Zook answers his critics by maximizing his talent, and the team sees a major drop in off-field incidents. Zook gets more revenge in the Capital One Bowl when Illinois beats a Florida team that falls way short of expectations. Illinois finishes No. 12 in the final polls. Despite winning the Biletnikoff Award, Benn decides he loves Champaign too much and shocks everyone by staying for his senior season.

WORST CASE

The inconsistency that has plagued the program throughout its history surfaces again, and the team fragments.

Williams puts up big numbers but throws more interceptions than touchdowns. Opposing defenses constantly double-team Benn and keep him out of the end zone, allowing their front four to shut down Jason Ford and the rushing attack. Wilson too often gets out of position at middle linebacker, and an iffy defensive line generates no pass rush and struggles against the run for the second straight season. Special teams continue to hurt Illinois and opponents constantly capitalize on favorable field position.

Missouri beats the Illini in yet another St. Louis shootout, setting the tone for a shaky season. Weatherspoon twice intercepts Williams and then downs a carton of orange juice on the field after the game. Illinois then begins Big Ten play with three consecutive losses against upper-tier teams, dropping the team to 1-4 and turning up the heat on Zook. After handling the Indiana schools on the road, Illinois falls to Michigan for the ninth consecutive time at Memorial Stadium.

Needing a strong finish to reach the postseason, Illinois fails to win consecutive games, something it did just once last season. A 2-2 split down the stretch leaves the Illini at 5-7 for the second consecutive season. Rival Iowa wins the Big Ten. Zook energizes his critics who say he's simply a recruiter, and he enters 2010 on the hot seat. Benn goes bye bye.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

After a long weekend off, it's time to dive back into the Big Ten position rankings. The secondary units are up next.

The top two look absolutely stacked, and the top four or five all will be solid. Quarterback play should be much better in the Big Ten this fall, and the secondaries will need to elevate their play.

1. Iowa -- Three starters return from a unit that helped Iowa lead the Big Ten in takeaways (32) and allow the fewest passing touchdowns (9) in 2008. Junior Amari Spievey is the league's best cover corner, and he'll be joined by safety Tyler Sash, who shared the league lead in interceptions with teammate Pat Angerer last fall. Bradley Fletcher will be missed and depth is a mini concern, but the back four will anchor Iowa's D.

2. Northwestern -- The Wildcats boast the Big Ten's deepest secondary and possibly the league's best. I covered a string of woeful Northwestern secondaries earlier this decade, and it's a major testament to assistants Mike Hankwitz and Jerry Brown that the unit has come this far. All four starters return, led by safety Brad Phillips and corner Sherrick McManis. Northwestern can go at least nine deep and boasts capable reserves like Brian Peters.

3. Ohio State -- It's a bit of a mixed bag for the Buckeyes, who return the Big Ten's top safety tandem but look thin at cornerback. Safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell both will contend for All-Big Ten honors after solid junior seasons. Ohio State loses Thorpe Award winner Malcolm Jenkins and hopes Chimdi Chekwa can fill the void. Several young players will get a chance to shine this fall, including Travis Howard and Ohrian Johnson.

4. Michigan State -- All-Big Ten safety Otis Wiley departs, but there's a lot to like about the Spartans secondary. Perhaps only Northwestern boasts more depth than Michigan State, which can go at least eight deep in the secondary. Corners Chris L. Rucker and Ross Weaver should have big seasons, and safety Trenton Robinson was the story of the spring and will earn major playing time.

5. Purdue -- Pop quiz: Which team led the Big Ten in pass defense last fall? It might surprise some to know Purdue topped the chart (183.2 ypg). A poor run defense contributed to the numbers, but the Boilers still look very strong in the back four entering 2009. Safety Torri Williams received a sixth year of eligibility during the offseason, and he'll join returning starters David Pender, Brandon King and Dwight Mclean.

6. Minnesota -- Minnesota led the Big Ten in takeaways for much of last season, and the secondary was the biggest reason why. Playmaking cornerback Traye Simmons leads a unit that returns three starters and could be deeper than it was in 2008. Senior corner Marcus Sherels and junior safety Kyle Theret have loads of experience, and Simmons is thrilled about the arrival of Wisconsin transfer Kim Royston at safety.

7. Wisconsin -- Easily the toughest unit to rank. The Badgers have the playmakers to be a top 4 secondary this fall. Cornerback Niles Brinkley recorded four interceptions last season, backup safety Shane Carter had a league-leading seven picks in 2007 and safety Jay Valai might be the Big Ten's hardest hitter. But consistency and depth are major concerns for Wisconsin. A lot depends on how cornerback Aaron Henry returns from knee problems.

8. Michigan -- Junior cornerback Donovan Warren could have a huge year or a really quiet one. See, Warren is easily the team's most experienced defensive back, and for that reason, opponents might try to avoid him and attack the Wolverines' unproven players. Michigan boasts a lot of young talent in the secondary -- corner Boubacar Cissoko, safety Troy Woolfolk, safety Vladimir Emilien -- and those players need to grow up fast.

9. Penn State -- This is easily the weakest unit on a team with Big Ten title aspirations. Penn State loses all four starters from a secondary that got exposed late in a loss to Iowa and early in a Rose Bowl beating against USC. The Lions need cornerback A.J. Wallace to straighten out his academic situation before Sept. 5. Safety Drew Astorino is ready to lead, but Penn State must identify capable pieces around him.

10. Illinois -- As expected, Vontae Davis bolted to the NFL a year early, leaving Illinois without a lock-down cornerback. The safeties also struggled at times last year, which creates plenty of questions heading into the fall. Illinois would certainly benefit from having a healthy Donsay Hardeman at safety, while cornerback Tavon Wilson showed some promising signs during spring ball.

11. Indiana -- It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Indiana finished much higher in my end-of-year rankings, but there are too many uncertainties entering camp. How will safeties Austin Thomas and Nick Polk respond from serious knee injuries? Has Ray Fisher successfully transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback? Will Florida transfer Jerimy Finch finally emerge as an impact player? The answers could determine whether Indiana survives on defense this fall.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

August is upon us.

My summer wedding tour is finally over -- a belated congrats to Mara and Elia! - so I'm all yours for the rest of the fall. The endless wait for Big Ten football reaches a milestone this week as four Big Ten teams begin training camp.

As players return to the field in Champaign, Iowa City, Bloomington and West Lafayette, let's take a look at three key questions for each team at the start of camp. Part II arrives next week as the final seven Big Ten squads open camp.

ILLINOIS

Camp opens: Thursday

1. Who takes the early lead in the competition at running back?

Head coach Ron Zook praised senior Daniel Dufrene last week at Big Ten media days, though sophomores Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure appeared to have the inside track coming out of spring ball.

2. Can Martez Wilson establish himself as Illinois' defensive general, and will he have any help?

The move to middle linebacker should benefit Wilson, who has yet to match his recruiting hype at Illinois. The Illini are also looking for playmakers in the secondary after losing star corner Vontae Davis.

3. Did the Illini ace their chemistry class?

There's little doubt that Illinois has the talent to contend for a New Year's Day bowl and possibly a Big Ten title, but team chemistry was not a strong suit last year. Team leaders say they have turned a page and bonded during the offseason. Now is the time to prove it.

INDIANA

Camp opens: Friday

1. Is the pistol offense ready to shoot down opposing defenses?

Quarterback Ben Chappell and his teammates have welcomed the shift to the pistol, which should spark Indiana's rushing attack. The competition at running back between Bryan Payton, Demetrius McCray and heralded redshirt freshman Darius Willis should provide plenty of intrigue.

2. Who will be 100 percent and are there any lingering injury concerns?

Injuries wiped out much of Indiana's two-deep last fall, and several key players missed part or all of spring ball with injuries. This is a much better team when players like Austin Thomas, Nick Polk, Deonte Mack and Chris Hagerup are on the field.

3. Who will emerge as a legit playmaker?

Whether or not Kellen Lewis' dismissal was addition by subtraction in the locker room, his presence will be missed on the field. Lewis' name appeared at the top of every opposing defense's scouting report, and the Hoosiers need to find a bona fide playmaker this summer.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

When it came to the cornerback position in the Big Ten in 2008, only two names mattered: Malcolm Jenkins and Vontae Davis. 

Not only were Jenkins and Davis regarded as the class of the conference, but some considered them the top two corners in the country. Both men delivered solid seasons and were picked in the first round of April's NFL draft.

Without Jenkins and Davis, the face of the Big Ten cornerback is a mystery heading into the fall.

Traye Simmons plans to corner the market. 

The Minnesota senior boasts strong statistics from 2008 -- four interceptions, 14 pass breakups, 18 passes defended, one forced fumble. He also has a catchy nickname, Big-Play Traye, which headlines his MySpace page.

Perhaps most important, Simmons oozes confidence. 

"Last year, Malcolm and Vontae had the pressure on them to produce and perform week in and week out," Simmons said. "For me, it was more I had to prove myself to the league and just play like I know how to play. But this year, people respect me. I will be one of the top returning corners in the league, so it's up to me to live up to it.

"I feel I perform well under pressure." 

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Three predictions for each Big Ten team in 2009, starting with Illinois.

1. Arrelious Benn will double his career touchdown receptions total and then bolt for the NFL -- Benn's lack of touchdown receptions mystifies even him, but the odd trend will change this season. Illinois boasts the Big Ten's best receiving corps, and opponents will be unable to double-team Benn as much as they'd like. Jarred Fayson, Jeff Cumberland and others will open up more opportunities for Benn in the red zone. He'll catch 10-12 touchdown passes and then surprise no one by entering the NFL draft.

2. The Illini will finally beat Missouri -- After dropping four straight in the series, Illinois breaks through this fall behind a superior offense. Missouri's offense has lost key pieces like Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman, while Illinois returns all of the key pieces around quarterback Juice Williams. Not surprisingly, the game will feature plenty of points, but the Illini prevail in the Edward Jones Dome.

3. Martez masters the middle, but the defense will take time to jell -- Martez Wilson's move to middle linebacker should be a catalyst to get consistent production out of the supremely talented junior. After a rough 2008 season both on and off the field, Wilson will show increased maturity and take a leadership role on defense. But without Brit Miller, Vontae Davis, Derek Walker, Will Davis and others, the unit will struggle early on, much like it did last season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Michigan senior punter Zoltan Mesko has been named to the 2009 Playboy Magazine preseason All-America team, the school announced Tuesday. Mesko earned first-team All-Big Ten honors last season after leading the league and finishing 19th nationally in punting average (42.95 yards per punt). 

Mesko has started 38 games for Michigan and should become the school's all-time leader in both punts and punting yards this fall.

He joins Northwestern defensive end Corey Wootton, who was named to the Playboy All-America team last week. 

The entire All-America team will be published in the September issue of the magazine. Four Big Ten players -- Ohio State's James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins, and Illinois' Vontae Davis and Ryan McDonald -- made last year's team.  

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

• The links begin with a tragic story from Iowa, as prominent high school coach Ed Thomas was killed in a shooting this morning. Thomas coached several former Iowa Hawkeyes players, and head coach Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa team went to help Thomas' school following a devastating tornado last May.  
• Sticking with Iowa, tight end Anthony Schiavone reportedly has left the team after enrolling early this spring. 
• Wisconsin's recruiting seems to be picking up as tackle Jake Irwin became the latest commitment for the Badgers, Dennis Semrau writes in The Capital Times. 
• Ohio State's latest quarterback recruit serves as proof the team isn't married to a particular system, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. 
  

"I just wanted to know if they were committed to running a pro-style system that I ran, and they said they were," Taylor Graham said Tuesday. "I understand that I'm going to have to run. I understand that, and I'll do whatever it takes to get the first down. But I don't think my talents are best suited running the option. I think I'm a good drop-back quarterback."

• Trying to walk onto the Ohio State football team is hardly the biggest challenge Darryl Wood has faced, Mike Harden writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Former Butkus Award winner Andy Katzenmoyer is one of the newest members to be inducted into Ohio State's Athletics Hall of Fame. 
• Former Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis disputes a report that he was arrested June 9 in Champaign, saying he fell victim to identity theft, David Neal writes in the Miami Herald. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As we trudge through the college football Sahara known as June, it's time to examine why you should get excited and anxious about your favorite Big Ten team heading into the summer.

During the coming days I'll list the biggest reason for hope and the biggest reason for concern for all 11 teams. First up, Illinois.

Biggest reason for hope -- A wealth of talent

Despite losing first-round draft pick Vontae Davis, defensive leader Brit Miller and several other contributors, Illinois remains one of the Big Ten's most talented teams. If Ron Zook can effectively develop the heralded recruits he brought to Champaign, Illinois should rebound from an incredibly disappointing 2008 season and reach a decent bowl game. The Illini boast the league's deepest group of wide receivers, led by All-America candidate Arrelious Benn, along with the league's most experienced quarterback in Juice Williams and three solid running backs (Jason Ford, Daniel Dufrene, Mikel LeShoure). Despite some questions up front, this offense should light up the scoreboard. It's time for Zook's recruiting to translate consistently to the win column, and Illinois certainly can make strides with its level of personnel.

Biggest reason for concern -- An unproven defense

Illinois lost key players in all three areas of the defense, especially the front seven. Miller and Davis combined for 210 tackles last year, and Derek Walker and Will Davis teamed up for 9.5 sacks. Like the offensive side, the defense boasts a lot of talent and some experience with linebacker Martez Wilson, cornerback/safety Travon Bellamy, defensive tackles Corey Liuget and Sirod Williams, and others. But none of those players have shouldered as heavy a responsibility as they will this fall. Wilson needs to take a step and become the leader on defense. Tavon Wilson, Bellamy and others need to fill Vontae Davis' production in the secondary. An effective pass rusher or two must emerge. There are enough question marks here to make you worry a bit.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Ranking the Big Ten's top 30 players ...

No. 25

Traye Simmons, CB, Minnesota, Sr.,  5-11, 179

Simmons

Why he's here: Simmons needed only one season to establish himself as one of the Big Ten's top cornerbacks. The junior-college transfer from Marietta, Ga., earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season after leading the league and ranking fifth nationally in passes defended (18, 14 pass breakups).

Simmons picked off four passes for the Gophers, returning one for a touchdown. He recorded two interceptions against Northwestern and an interception and a forced fumble against Florida Atlantic. 

A prototypical cornerback at 5-11 and 179 pounds, Simmons considered entering the NFL draft before opting to return for his senior season. With Malcolm Jenkins and Vontae Davis gone to the pros, Simmons enters the fall as a likely first-team all-conference pick alongside Iowa's Amari Spievey.  

The Rundown

• No. 25 -- Traye Simmons, CB, Minnesota
  
• No. 26 -- Thaddeus Gibson, DE, Ohio State
  
• No. 27 -- Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State
  
• No. 28 -- Matt Mayberry, LB, Indiana
• No. 29 -- Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
  
• No. 30 -- Trevor Anderson, DE, Michigan State

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Illinois Fighting Illini 2008 overall record: 5-7 2008 conference record: 3-5 Returning starters Offense: 8; Defense: 6; Special teams: 2 Top returners QB Juice Williams, WR Arrelious Benn, TE Michael Hoomanawanui, WR Chris Duvalt, WR Jeff Cumberland, LB Martez Wilson, DT Cory Liuget, K Matt Eller Key losses LT Xavier Fulton, C Ryan McDonald, LB Brit Miller, DE Will Davis, DE Derek Walker, CB Vontae Davis, LB Rodney Pittman 2008 statistical leaders (* returners) Rushing: Juice Williams* (719 yds) Passing: Juice Williams* (3,173 yds) Receiving: Arrelious Benn* (1,055 yds) Tackles: Brit Miller (132) Sacks: Brit Miller and Derek Walker (6) Interceptions: Vontae Davis (2) 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Missouri (at St. Louis) Sept. 12 Illinois State Sept. 19 BYE Sept. 26 at Ohio State Oct. 3 Penn State Oct. 10 Michigan State Oct. 17 at Indiana Oct. 24 at Purdue Oct. 31 Michigan Nov. 7 at Minnesota Nov. 14 Northwestern Nov. 21 BYE Nov. 27 at Cincinnati Dec. 5 Fresno State Spring answers 1. Running men -- Illinois can feel optimistic about its ground game after the development of sophomore running backs Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure this spring. Both players markedly improved their physical conditioning and combined for 93 rush yards on 17 carries in the spring game. They should take the running load off of Juice Williams this season. 2. Man in the middle -- Martez Wilson moved to middle linebacker and could be on the brink of reaching the lofty expectations set for him when he arrived from Chicago's Simeon High School. Wilson adjusted well to the defense's premier position after an up-and-down sophomore season. He also has fully recovered after being stabbed outside a bar in December. 3. Receiver rotation -- The Illini could have the Big Ten's best receiving corps next fall -- by far. Everyone knows about first-team All-Big Ten performer Arrelious Benn, but Illinois boasts depth with Jeff Cumberland, Chris Duvalt and others. The team also adds a big piece in Florida transfer Jarred Fayson, who was practicing with the first-team offense this spring before sustaining a foot injury. Fall questions 1. Line limbo -- Illinois loses three starters from the defensive line and needs to identify a capable pass-rusher after losing its top four sacks leaders from 2008. The tackle spot should be solid with Corey Liuget, Josh Brent and Sirod Williams, who returns from a torn ACL, but there is some doubt at defensive end. Jerry Brown dominated in the spring game, but he must clear some academic hurdles before the fall. 2. Run stoppers -- The Illini really struggled against the run last season and lose top tackler Brit Miller, an All-Big Ten linebacker. They need more help from the back seven, particularly Wilson and safety Donsay Hardeman, who sat out spring drills because of a neck injury. 3. Cornerback -- NFL first-round draft pick Vontae Davis leaves a hole at cornerback, and Illinois will be looking for a top cover man in preseason camp. Tavon Wilson could very well step into Davis' spot, and the sophomore had a nice spring. Davis was not only a playmaker against the ball but a capable tackler, finishing second on the team with 78 stops last year.