ESPN College Football

2011 record: 7-6
2011 conference record: 2-6 (fifth, Leaders Division)
Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

QB Nathan Scheelhaase, C Graham Pocic, WR Darius Millines, LB Jonathan Brown, DE Michael Buchanan, DT Akeem Spence, CB Terry Hawthorne, DT Glenn Foster

Key losses

WR A.J. Jenkins, LT Jeff Allen, G Jack Cornell, DE Whitney Mercilus, LB Ian Thomas, CB Tavon Wilson, K Derek Dimke

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Nathan Scheelhaase* (624 yards)
Passing: Nathan Scheelhaase (2,110 yards)
Receiving: A.J. Jenkins (1,276 yards)
Tackles: Jonathan Brown* (108)
Sacks: Whitney Mercilus (16)
Interceptions: Terry Hawthorne* (3)

Spring answers

1. Front loaded: How good is Illinois' defensive line? The Illini lose a first-round draft pick for the second consecutive year and should be just fine for the next season. Although All-America end Whitney Mercilus leaves a big production void, Illinois is loaded up front with Michael Buchanan, Akeem Spence, Glenn Foster, Justin Staples and others. Buchanan and Spence both have NFL potential and should be the mix for All-Big Ten honors. While Illinois has a new coordinator in Tim Banks, the scheme changes aren't dramatic and new head coach Tim Beckman wisely retained line coach Keith Gilmore.

2. Ferguson emerges: The Illini are short on proven offensive weapons (more on that later), but they came out of the spring game feeling a bit better after watching freshman Josh Ferguson run for 130 yards and record a game-high six receptions. Ferguson, who redshirted last season after being slowed by a hamstring injury, brings top-end speed to the offensive backfield. He could form a nice tandem with Donovonn Young this fall.

3. Versatility abounds: Beckman is open to using versatile players in multiple roles, and two options emerged this spring. Starting cornerback Terry Hawthorne, who has seen time on returns, played some receiver during the spring game and hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass. Hawthorne played both corner and receiver in high school and could be a "slash" player for the Illini. Reserve quarterback Miles Osei also showed he can be effective at multiple positions (running back, receiver).

Fall questions

1. Offensive weapons: The offense's struggles in the second half of 2011 stemmed in large part from the fact Illinois developed no consistent weapons other than wideout A.J. Jenkins, a surprise first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers. Depth is a major concern at both running back and receiver. Darius Millines has shown promising flashes, but he struggles to stay healthy. Although the coaches aren't afraid to audition players from other positions, Illinois would really benefit if wide receiver Ryan Lankford and tight ends Evan Wilson and Jon Davis stepped up. The Illini also need a third option at running back behind Young and Ferguson.

2. Special teams: Beckman didn't mince words when evaluating Illinois' special teams from 2011, calling them "terrible." He's being kind. The Illini couldn't catch punts, and they finished last in the FBS in kick return average (15.7 ypr). Standout kicker Derek Dimke departs, and Illinois must find a replacement. Illinois has too much talent to be so lousy in the kicking game, and Beckman stressed the basics this spring. He must continue to see progress this summer as Illinois tries to become a more complete team.

3. Quarterback efficiency: Illinois wants to regain its swagger on offense after flat-lining down the stretch of last season, and it starts with the quarterback spot. Nathan Scheelhaase has started two seasons under center, but he's transitioning to a new system and looked a bit shaky throwing the ball in the spring game. Arm strength is a question mark for Scheelhaase, who will need to spread the ball around in the new system. Reilly O'Toole also is in the mix after playing a decent amount as a backup in 2011. O'Toole will continue to compete for time.

Our series looking at the most indispensable players on each Big Ten team marches on with the Illinois Fighting Illini. Once again, this is not necessarily a listing of the best players on each team, but ones whose absence would be toughest to absorb because of their particular value or a lack of depth behind them.

We're selecting two players from each Big Ten squad, usually one on offense and one on defense, but not always. Let's look at Illinois under first-year coach Tim Beckman.

Graham Pocic, C, Sr.

There's no shortage of question marks for Illinois' offense, but Pocic provides a veteran anchor in the middle of the line. He has started every game the past two seasons at center, and earned honorable mention All-American honors from Phil Steele. While Illinois' offensive line struggled down the stretch in 2011, the group loses left tackle Jeff Allen, a second-round pick in last month's NFL draft, and has some depth issues to address. Pocic is undoubtedly the leader of the group, and will enter 2012 as one of the Big Ten's most seasoned offensive linemen. While Illinois must build some numbers at both wide receiver and running back, the offense won't go anywhere without a decent line. Pocic's presence on the field will be critical this fall.

Terry Hawthorne, CB, Sr.

Illinois' strength as a team is undoubtedly the defensive front seven. Despite the loss of All-America defensive end Whitney Mercilus, the Illini defensive line is both talented and deep. While there's not as much depth at linebacker, Jonathan Brown is a budding superstar in the middle. The question marks on defense rest with the secondary. While safety is a prime concern for Illinois, the unit boasts one of the league's top cover cornerbacks in Hawthorne, an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. Hawthorne is a natural playmaker who recorded three interceptions, eight pass breakups and a forced fumble last season. The gifted senior even saw time at wide receiver this spring as Illinois tries to build depth there. Hawthorne has next-level potential, and leads a group that loses Tavon Wilson, a surprise second-round pick in last month's NFL draft.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- As Illinois' starting center for the past few seasons, Graham Pocic has mashed limbs with some of the nation's best defensive tackles.

Penn State's Devon Still, Purdue's Kawann Short, Michigan State's Jerel Worthy and Michigan's Mike Martin are among those who have lined up across from Pocic. But Pocic's toughest opponent is a man he never faces on Saturdays.

"I get to go against the best D-tackle in the conference every day [in practice]," Pocic said. "It's awesome."

Pocic is biased, but don't be surprised if his teammate, Akeem Spence, earns the same label from the NFL talent evaluators a year from now. Spence has been on the NFL radar for the past two seasons, earning a starting job as a redshirt freshman and starting all 26 games he has played at Illinois.

The 6-foot-1, 305-pound Spence built on his freshman-year numbers (45 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery) by finishing fourth on the squad in tackles (69) last fall. He had 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for an Illinois defense that finished seventh nationally in yards allowed and 15th in points allowed.

"His explosiveness off the ball, his strength, he's pretty athletic for his size," Pocic said. "He's just a powerful dude. If you're not ready when you go against him, he's going to get under you and make some plays in the backfield."

The Illini have had defensive linemen selected in the first round of the past two NFL drafts: tackle Corey Liuget in 2011 (No. 18 overall pick) and end Whitney Mercilus last week (No. 26 overall pick). Spence is already being mentioned as a top candidate to enter the NFL draft after his junior season this fall.

Asked last month how motivated he is to be Illinois' next elite next-level prospect, Spence's face lit up.

"I'm real motivated," he said. "I'm just working real hard, doing everything that they did, do everything right. When it's time to step up, I want to be that guy making a big sack, making a big tackle for loss, making a big turnover. That's what I'm working toward."

Spence remains in touch with Liuget, who he started alongside in 2010. Although they've had similar career arcs at the same position -- Spence actually has played more than Liuget did in his first two years -- they're different players.

"He's a lot taller than I am," Spence said.

Only two inches to be exact, but it makes a difference in the trenches.

"Corey was a little more agile and faster," Pocic said, "but Corey doesn't have the strength that Akeem has. Corey's probably a little more explosive, but Akeem's just so strong and physical inside. It's tough to deal with."

Like several other veteran defenders, Spence had concerns about the unit's direction after head coach Ron Zook's firing coordinator Vic Koenning's departure for North Carolina. He was relieved to learn the new scheme under coordinator Tim Banks closely resembles its predecessor. Illinois also retained defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, the lone holdover from the previous staff.

Spence will play mostly the 3-technique and 1-technique in Banks' scheme with some spot work out wide at the 5-technique.

"You're creating a culture of great defensive line play," Banks said. "Those kids want to uphold that standard. You talk about those guys [Liuget and Mercilus], they were just here. It's not like 10 years ago. Our guys know who they are. They say, 'If he can do it, I can do it.' There's been greatness in that room."

Spence wants to continue that legacy before he walks out the door.

The Big Ten had five underclassmen enter the NFL draft, and now that the selections are complete, it's time to re-evaluate those decisions.

Hindsight is always 20-20, and each player had his own specific reasons for entering the draft, some of which can be personal (family issues, financial needs, etc.). But most players make the jump because they expect to hear their name called early in the process. Several of the Big Ten's early entries ended up waiting a little longer than they expected.

Let's look back at the group.

Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State

Class: Junior
Drafted: Seventh round, No. 250 overall, San Diego Chargers
What I wrote in January: "Baker's departure was the biggest surprise in the group, as his production dropped off in 2011. Then again, he plays a position that has a short NFL shelf-life, and with Le'Veon Bell back in the fold for 2012, his opportunities at Michigan State could have been limited."
Decision assessment: A head-scratcher. It's understandable why running backs must make the jump earlier than others, and Bell's emergence as a potential featured back for MSU might have hurt Baker had he returned to East Lansing. Still, you don't see many underclassmen make the jump and get drafted in the seventh round. Michigan State will be a much more run-focused offense in 2012, and Baker could have seen his numbers increase as a senior. Sure, he would be competing with Bell for carries, but Baker, not Bell, is the one with the 1,200-yard season (2010). Another year in the Big Ten puts more tread on the tires, but it also could have boosted Baker's draft stock.

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Class: Junior
Drafted: Second round, No. 55 overall, Atlanta Falcons
What I wrote in January: "He had an excellent season at center and has the ability to play multiple positions at the next level. Konz should hear his name called on the second day of the draft, if not sooner."
Decision assessment: Sensible, yet slightly disappointing. The big question regarding Konz is whether he'd be a late first-round pick or slide into the second round. It seemed like NFL teams weren't blown away by this year's crop of centers, as Michigan's David Molk slipped to the seventh round and Ohio State's Mike Brewster went undrafted. Even Konz heard his name called a little later than expected. While he should be a good pro, you have to wonder whether another year in Madison would have solidified him in the first round.

Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Class: Junior
Drafted: First round, No. 26 overall, Houston Texans
What I wrote in January: "An All-America season in 2011 made Mercilus' decision rather easy. The fact that Illinois made a coaching change and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning departed for North Carolina further cemented Mercilus' choice."
Decision assessment: A smart choice despite a bit of a wait. There was little doubt Mercilus would go in the first round after a breakout season that featured 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles. The question: whether he'd go in the middle of the round or toward the end. Although No. 26 seems a bit low for Mercilus, he had to make this move after such a huge season and with the uncertainty surrounding Illinois at the time.

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Class: Junior
Drafted: First round, No. 23 overall, Detroit Lions
What I wrote in January: "He's widely projected as a top-10 or top-15 draft choice, making his decision to leave Iowa rather easy."
Decision assessment: Still the right call. Like Mercilus, Reiff had to wait a little longer than expected to be drafted in the first round. But there was little doubt he'd hear his name called on Thursday night. I'm not sure if another season in Iowa City would have done much to boost Reiff's draft stock, as the book on him (strong run blocker, good in pass protection, not a superstar but solid) seemed fairly set.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Class: Junior
Drafted: Second round, No. 51 overall, Green Bay Packers
What I wrote in January: "While there have been some concerns about him taking off a play or two, his explosiveness and ability to dominate for stretches make him a very appealing prospect. A strong pre-draft season should cement Worthy as a first-round pick."
Decision assessment: Questionable. The concern about taking plays off seemed to be the main reason why Worthy slipped from the first round into the middle of the second. He could have eased those concerns in the predraft events but couldn't do so. Another All-America type season at Michigan State certainly could have put the talent evaluators at ease. While Worthy seemed keen on making the jump since the middle part of last season, it's fair to wonder how he would have fared as the centerpiece of the Big Ten's best defense in 2012.

After a historically slow start to the 2012 NFL draft, the Big Ten ended up having 41 players selected during the three-day event. It's a strong overall total, one behind the SEC, the league with the most picks (42). Michigan State, Iowa and Wisconsin led the way with six picks each, followed by four teams -- Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State -- with four selections. Michigan had three players selected, and both Purdue and Northwestern had two. Neither Minnesota nor Indiana had a player drafted this year.

Here's the full rundown:

ROUND 1 (four selections)


No. 23 overall: Iowa T Riley Reiff, Detroit
No. 26: Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus, Houston
No. 27: Wisconsin G Kevin Zeitler, Cincinnati Bengals
No. 30: Illinois WR A.J. Jenkins, San Francisco

ROUND 2 (seven selections)


No. 44: Illinois G Jeff Allen, Kansas City
No. 48: Illinois S Tavon Wilson, New England
No. 51: Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy, Green Bay
No. 53: Penn State DT Devon Still, Cincinnati
No. 55: Wisconsin C Peter Konz, Atlanta
No. 56: Ohio State OT Mike Adams, Pittsburgh
No. 58: Nebraska LB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay

ROUND 3 (three selections)


No. 68: Ohio State WR DeVier Posey, Houston
No. 75: Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson, Seattle
No. 82: Michigan DT Mike Martin, Tennessee

ROUND 4 (five selections)


No. 102: Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins, Washington
No. 121: Michigan State WR Keshawn Martin, Houston
No. 122: Wisconsin WR Nick Toon, New Orleans
No. 126: Nebraska DT Jared Crick, Houston
No. 132: Iowa DE Mike Daniels, Green Bay

ROUND 5 (six selections)


No. 141: Iowa G Adam Gettis, Washington
No. 149: Penn State G Johnnie Troutman, San Diego
No. 153: Purdue T Dennis Kelly, Philadelphia
No. 156: Iowa CB Shaun Prater, Cincinnati
No. 157: Wisconsin FB Bradie Ewing, Atlanta
No. 158: Penn State DE Jack Crawford, Oakland

ROUND 6 (seven selections)


No. 180: Michigan State S Trenton Robinson, San Francisco 49ers
No. 183: Michigan State WR B.J. Cunningham, Miami Dolphins
No. 191: Ohio State RB Dan Herron, Cincinnati Bengals
No. 194: Iowa WR Marvin McNutt, Philadelphia Eagles
No. 195: Purdue T Nick Mondek, Houston Texans
No. 197: Ohio State S Nate Ebner, New England Patriots
No. 207: Wisconsin P Brad Nortman, Carolina Panthers

ROUND 7 (nine selections)


No. 217: Iowa CB Jordan Bernstine, Washington
No. 224: Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard, New England
No. 227: Michigan C David Molk, San Diego
No. 230: Penn State LB Nate Stupar, Oakland
No. 233: Northwestern TE Drake Dunsmore, Tampa Bay
No. 234: Nebraska T Marcel Jones, New Orleans
No. 235: Northwestern WR Jeremy Ebert, New England
No. 238: Michigan WR Junior Hemingway, Kansas City
No. 250: Michigan State RB Edwin Baker, San Diego

POSITION BREAKDOWN

Wide receiver: 8
Offensive tackle: 5
Defensive tackle: 4
Guard: 4
Cornerback: 3
Defensive end: 3
Safety: 3
Center: 2
Quarterback: 2
Running back: 2
Linebacker: 2
Fullback: 1
Tight end: 1
Punter: 1

We'll post some of the free-agent signings later today, but first some thoughts and themes on the draft.

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Chris O'MearaWith Robert Griffin III on the roster, one has to wonder about Kirk Cousins' future in Washington.
• Many had projected Cousins to be the first Big Ten quarterback off of the board, but Russell Wilson went ahead of him to Seattle. Cousins was one of the more intriguing third-day picks as he went to Washington, which selected Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall selection. Griffin is the future of the Redskins franchise, and it leaves Cousins in a potentially tough spot on the depth chart. The selection surprised Cousins, who didn't know the Redskins were interested and told the Detroit Free Press, "I think Robert is in their immediate plans and the long-term hope for their fan base, but they wouldn't have selected me unless they believed in me."
• The verdict on Ron Zook always seemed to be great recruiter, average coach, and this draft validated it. Illinois was the only Big Ten team with two first-round picks and had four of the first 48 overall selections, yet the team went 7-6 last season after a 6-0 start. Talent clearly wasn't the problem during Zook's tenure in Champaign. Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore is on a roll with back-to-back first-round picks (Corey Liuget and Mercilus). He has two more potentially big-time prospects (Akeem Spence and Michael Buchanan) this year.
• The Houston Texans clearly like what they see from Big Ten country. After drafting Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt with the No. 11 overall pick last year, the Texans added Mercilus, Posey, Keshawn Martin, Crick and Mondek. Watt welcomed the group on Twitter, tweeting, "Big Ten takeover. Welcome to the Texans." The Cincinnati Bengals also had a nice Big Ten haul with Zeitler, Still, Prater and Herron.
• Posey, who last week told me he had no idea where he'd be drafted, had to be pleased with a third-round selection after appearing in only three games last fall because of suspension. Teams didn't shy away from the Ohio State star too much because of his off-field issues. Posey's Buckeyes teammate, Mike Adams, meanwhile, appeared to pay a bit of a price for his off-field issues, falling to the late second round.
• On the flip side, Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, the Big Ten's defensive back of the year in 2011, slipped all the way to the seventh round. Keep in mind some draft gurus, including ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., once projected Dennard in the first round. But after being ejected from the Capital One Bowl, failing to impress in predraft events and getting arrested the weekend before the draft for allegedly punching a cop, Dennard plummeted to No. 224. At least he'll have no trouble getting motivated to prove himself.
• Dennard wasn't the only Big Ten player selected later than expected. Michigan's David Molk, who called himself the best center in the draft, also fell to the seventh round. And Ohio State center Mike Brewster, a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2010, didn't hear his name called at all. While Brewster's play slipped during his senior season, he seemed like a mid-round candidate.
• Other players I expected to be picked earlier: Mercilus, David, Adams, Mike Martin, Cousins, Daniels, McNutt, Hemingway and Baker.
• Some players I expected to be picked later: Jenkins, Allen, Russell Wilson, Tavon Wilson and Posey.
• Although the Big Ten had more wide receivers drafted than any other position, only one (Jenkins) went in the first two rounds and only two, Jenkins and Posey, went in the first three rounds. With only two quarterbacks and two running backs drafted, none in the first two rounds, it's fair to question whether the Big Ten is producing enough elite-level offensive skill players. It will be interesting to see which Big Ten running backs can rise up the draft boards in 2013. Running back might be the league's strongest position group this coming season.
• I'll be very interested to watch how Worthy and Still fare at the next level. Both men have first-round talent, but both seemed to slip to the second round because of questions about their motor. If they don't take plays off in the NFL, they both could be extremely disruptive for the Packers and Bengals, respectively.
• Wisconsin had players selected in each of the first six rounds and had the Big Ten's lone fullback (Ewing) and punter (Nortman) selected in the draft.
• Ohio State's Ebner was one of the more interesting third-day picks. He didn't play football at all in high school -- he starred in rugby -- and spent most of his Buckeyes career on special teams. His selection shows the premium some teams place on the third phase.

Happy birthday to Rogers Hornsby, Ulysses S. Grant, Enos Slaughter, George "Iceman" Gervin, Chris Carpenter, Sheena Easton and ... I know I'm forgetting somebody. Who could it be?

• Illinois scored its first major recruiting victory with a commitment from dual-threat quarterback Aaron Bailey. A.J. Jenkins was caught off guard when he joined teammate Whitney Mercilus in the first round.
• Iowa got the go ahead to build phase two of its new football facility. Riley Reiff followed in the footsteps of Bryan Bulaga.
• Ryan Van Bergen has been told he'll go in the sixth round.
• Michigan State fans will get a long look at Connor Cook in the spring game, because there's no other quarterback to look at.
• Lavonte David will have to wait another day to be drafted.
• For just the fifth time in 14 years, Ohio State didn't have a first-round pick.
• Is Paul Jones getting too much hype at Penn State? Fourth-string, senior quarterback Shane McGregor still has hope of making an impact.
• Tom Dienhart has a Q&A with Indiana coach Kevin Wilson.
• Lloyd Carr as Wisconsin coach? It might have happened, had Barry Alvarez turned down the Badgers. Wisconsin defensive tackle Jordan Kohout shares his Muslim views on Twitter.
• A high school kicker accepted a preferred walk-on position at Northwestern.
• Scroll down this Sid Hartman column to find an item about high season-ticket renewals at Minnesota.
• Purdue's Ricardo Allen challenged his Twitter followers to play him on NCAA Football 2012, and so far he's beat them all.

On the first day of the NFL draft, the Big Ten was like one of those players sitting in the green room waiting and waiting for his name to get called as everyone starts to feel really uncomfortable.

The first Big Ten player to go off the board was Iowa's Riley Reiff, who had been projected as high as the Top 10 or 15 in mock drafts just a few weeks ago. He went 23rd. According to ESPN Stats & Info, it matches the lowest-ever top pick from the league; Minnesota offensive lineman John Williams went No. 23 in 1968.

But after the long wait, the Big Ten had four of the final 10 picks of the first round, including a surprise second selection for Illinois. Let's review:

No. 23: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa to Detroit Lions

Todd McShay video analysis here.

Quotable: “"Words can't describe how happy I am right now," Reiff said. "I'm super excited to be a Lion. I really can't put into words what I'm actually feeling, but I'm excited. The Lion are a great team, and there will be great seasons ahead."

My take: Reiff slipped pretty far from his original projection, but he was still the second offensive lineman drafted, as expected. And he ended up in a good situation, with a young team that appears to be on the rise. Detroit has five starters on the line, so he can learn for a year before potentially taking over for Jeff Backus.

No. 26: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois to Houston

Todd McShay video analysis here.

Quotable: “When my name was called my emotions just flooded,” Mercilus said. “I was getting a little nervous, because I thought I might go a little higher, so I was really happy when I got the call. I can’t wait to go to work with the Houston Texans. From day one I want to go prove to them that they spent their money well on me.”

My take: Mercilus is another guy who could have gone higher, but ends up on a potential playoff team. With Mario Williams gone, he has a chance to step in right away and start at defensive end. If he plays with the same high motor and intensity he did last season with the Illini, he should be an effective pass-rusher, though he'll need to bulk up a little.

No. 27: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin to Cincinnati

Todd McShay video analysis here.

Quotable: "I had a good senior year," Zeitler said. "I tried to put everything I had on the field. Once the draft process started, I just tried to prove to coaches, off the field I take it just as seriously as on the field. I try to improve every day, any way I can. I guess it stuck."

My take: The first-round selection capped a meteoric rise for Zeitler, who was an honorable mention Big Ten performer as a junior. He blossomed into an All-American as a senior, and he rocketed up draft boards late in the process. He might not excite Bengals fans, but he's one of the safest picks of the first round, and has a clear path to starting as a rookie.

No. 30: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois, to San Francisco

Todd McShay video analysis here.

Quotable: "I was kind of caught off guard,” Jenkins said. “It’s just a blessing that I was taken in the first round by a great organization. I think it’s a perfect match. I can’t wait to go out to San Francisco, work with a great coach in Coach Harbaugh, and go to work with some talented players. It’s a great position to be in, and a great organization.

My take: This was the stunner of the first round, from a Big Ten perspective. Jenkins wasn't being projected as a first-rounder by anybody that I saw. But we witnessed Jenkins' explosive ability during the first half of last season, when he was one of the most productive receivers in the nation before Illinois' offense dropped off a cliff. As we saw in last year's playoffs, the 49ers desperately need help at receiver, so the pick makes sense. What doesn't make much sense: the Illini had two first-round picks (at least) on their roster last season, and lost their final six regular-season games.

So that was that for the first round and the Big Ten. Some very good players from the league are left on the board, including Michigan State's Jerel Worthy, Wisconsin's Peter Konz, Penn State's Devon Still, Nebraska's Lavonte David, and on and on and on.

Many Bothans died bringing us this information.

• Jim Delany will seek some input from players for their perspective on the Rose Bowl. More coverage of the BCS meetings here and here.
• Authorities say former Minnesota linebacker Gary Tinsely died of an enlarged heart.
• Iowa got a commitment from an Ohio defensive tackle, its third D-line recruit in the '13 class so far. Marvin McNutt may have to wait a while to hear his name called.
• Nebraska's Lavonte David may be undersized, but his production is awfully large. Sam McKewon recaps the Huskers' spring.
• Kyle Meinke breaks down all of Michigan's draft hopefuls. Junior Hemingway's draft stock is on the rise.
• Whether Bill O'Brien wants to win now or win later may help him decide who his starting quarterback will be. Matt McGloin may still be the last man standing.
• Ricky Wagner wants to follow in the line of greatness at left tackle for Wisconsin.
• Whitney Mercilus talks about his draft season.
• Ohio State's Mike Adams could be a "boom or bust" prospect.
• Jerel Worthy could break Michigan State's first-round drought. The Spartans' spring game draft said a lot about how some players are viewed.
• Damarlo Belcher is Indiana's best hope for a draftee.
• Purdue kicker Carson Wiggs wants to be Mr. Irrelevant.

The NFL draft begins Thursday night. You probably weren't aware of that, because the draft, like most things associated with the National Football League, gets very little media coverage. Ahem.

Luckily, Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett are stepping into this void to talk about the draft, and specifically the Big Ten prospects hoping to hear their name called over the long weekend.

Brian Bennett: Adam, we usually leave draft talk to people with better hair than us, like Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. But let's give it a shot. You know the NFL is a different game when Iowa's Riley Reiff is widely expected to be the top player taken from the Big Ten. Reiff is an excellent player and terrific pro prospect, no doubt. But if you would have asked league fans to pick a most valuable player from the conference this season, Reiff probably wouldn't have cracked the Top 10.

Speaking of the Top 10, the Big Ten hasn't had a player selected in that range for the past three years and is likely to make it four this year. What, if anything, does that say about the talent the league has been producing? And is Reiff the first guy you would take from the conference if you had an NFL team? (I'll resist from making wisecracks about your Big Ten fantasy team management last year).

Adam Rittenberg: Hey now, Year 2 will be different, my friend. The Shorties are coming for you. The Big Ten's Top 10 drought is certainly noteworthy, and I think it stems in part from the league producing fewer elite pro-caliber quarterbacks and cornerbacks in recent years. It does surprise me that the Big Ten hasn't had a defensive lineman in the top 10 recently, as the league has been very strong at both line spots. I think that will change in 2013. As for Reiff, he was about as under-the-radar as an elite player could get during his time at Iowa. He certainly performed well, but you didn't hear much about him, even compared to previous Hawkeyes standout linemen like Bryan Bulaga. Reiff is a masher, though, and while some say he's not the most dominant tackle, he should be able to help an NFL team this coming season.

I'd want to start my team with a potential difference-maker on the defensive line. The Big Ten has plenty of options, but Illinois' Whitney Mercilus is a natural pass-rusher who can put up big numbers. Have Merci? Yes, please. What's your view of the Big Ten's defensive line crop entering the draft?

BB: We both agreed that the defensive line, especially on the interior, is where the league's true strength lay in 2011. I'm a bit surprised that some mock drafts don't have Michigan State's Jerel Worthy, who has the chance to be a major presence on defense, in the first round and that Penn State's Devon Still, who was wildly productive last season, is being projected as a second-rounder at best. I'd rather take one of those guys than roll the dice on Memphis' Dontari Poe, a combine wonder who did next to nothing in college. And though Michigan's Mike Martin is a little short by NFL standards, I have little doubt he'll be a productive pro.

I'm also interested in seeing how the centers get drafted. Wisconsin's Peter Konz, Michigan's David Molk and Ohio State's Michael Brewster were arguably the top three centers in the nation last year. Molk, of course, publicly said he's the best of the three, and he did win the Rimington Trophy. Konz likely will go first, but I will be fascinated to see who ends up having the best career.

You mentioned quarterbacks. What do you think about Michigan State's Kirk Cousins and Wisconsin's Russell Wilson as potential NFL players? And will Dan Persa get a shot somewhere?

AR: Cousins should be the first Big Ten quarterback off the board, and many projections have him going in the second round. He clearly improved his stock during the predraft process. While everyone raves about the character of both Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin -- and for good reasons -- Cousins, as we both know, certainly fits into the same category as those two. He's not the fastest or most athletic guy, but he's extremely smart and played in a pro-style system at Michigan State. He could end up being a solid pro quarterback.

The issue for both Wilson and Persa is size, Persa more so than Wilson. While Wilson boasts tremendous arm strength and athleticism, his height scares teams. He does a tremendous job of extending plays and can make all of the throws, but he'll have to prove himself as a consistent pocket passer in a league where everyone is really big and really fast. Looks like a midround selection. Whether or not Persa gets drafted at all will be interesting. The guy obviously has a ton of heart and tremendous leadership skills, but he's small and suffered a major injury at Northwestern. I think Todd McShay summed up the sentiment about Persa when he told the Chicago Tribune, "I want to like Persa, but as an NFL prospect, he is limited." Persa will find his way onto a roster, but he'll have a lot to prove.

We've read a lot of draft evaluations in recent weeks. Which Big Ten player could be a real steal for a team this weekend?

BB: The guy whom I think is really undervalued is Iowa's Marvin McNutt. I've seen him going as late as the fifth or sixth round, which seems (Mc)nuts to me. Sure, it's a deep draft for receivers, and McNutt might not have blazing speed. But we saw him make some absolutely spectacular catches last season, and he closed his career as the Hawkeyes' all-time leader in receiving touchdowns. He has good size and produced 1,300 receiving yards in what was clearly not a gimmicky, pass-happy offense. If I were a GM and he was sitting there in Round 4 or later, I'd happily grab him.

Two other guys I think can be big bargains for teams are Nebraska's Lavonte David and Ohio State's Mike Adams. Both are being projected as second-rounders for different reasons (David because of size, Adams for off-the-field issues in college), but I think both will have long and stellar careers. They'll bring first-round value without the price.

Who do you see as underrated, or possibly overrated, from the Big Ten in this draft?

AR: I would have put Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler in the underrated category, but it seems like teams have caught on to how good he can be. He'll likely be a late first-round pick. Same with Konz and maybe Adams. It baffles me why Devon Still isn't projected higher in the draft. Two others I'd put in the underrated category are Michigan's Martin and Iowa's Mike Daniels. You don't have to be Vince Wilfork to be an effective NFL defensive tackle. Both Martin and Daniels are smaller defensive tackles, but they're both extremely strong physical and play with sound fundamentals. Both men have been tutored by excellent defensive coaches, and the teams that select them will be inheriting very hard workers.

Two of the more intriguing Big Ten prospects are Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey and Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick. Posey, who I chatted with briefly last week in Columbus, played only three games last fall because of suspensions stemming from NCAA violations. He's clearly a gifted guy, but it'll be interesting to see how much the off-field issues and lack of playing time impact his draft position. Crick entered 2011 as an All-America candidate but missed most of the season with injury. He definitely can help an NFL team, but like with Posey, there are question marks.

OK, time to wrap up this draft discussion. What do you think the major story line regarding the Big Ten will be coming out of this weekend's festivities?

BB: I'll go out on a limb and say Reiff is not the first Big Ten player drafted, as someone reaches for Mercilus, Worthy or Konz first. And I think the other big stories will be with the quarterbacks, as Cousins is drafted in the second round and Wilson is picked higher than people expect. What are your predictions?

AR: I wouldn't mind if that someone landing Reiff or Mercilus is my Chicago Bears, but that's another debate. Worthy's selection will be fascinating, as his stock has been pretty volatile throughout the process. I think both Martin and Daniels go earlier than expect, while Wilson has to wait a while. It'll be fascinating to see where Molk ends up. No matter where he's selected, he'll feel overlooked. As a short guy myself, I'm definitely rooting for the vertically challenged (Molk, Wilson, Persa, Martin, Daniels etc.). Another story line: Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, whose draft stock already had dropped before his arrest over the weekend.

Should be a fun weekend.

The NFL draft is a little more than 24 hours away, and our analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have come out with their final mock drafts.

(Let's pause here for a moment of silence for the 2012 mock draft process. May it rest in peace. But never fear, the 2013 mocks are just around the corner!).

There's not a ton of change in Kiper's final first-round mock . Iowa's Riley Reiff is still the top Big Ten player off the board, now at No. 18 to San Diego. Kiper has Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus one spot behind Reiff, to the Bears. The only other Big Ten player he has going in the first round is Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler, at No. 30 to San Francisco.

McShay, along with Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl from Scouts Inc. have undertaken the massive enterprise of mocking the entire seven rounds of the draft . Whew. Here's where they have Big Ten products heading:

Round 1

No. 13: Reiff
No. 25: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
No. 28: Mercilus
No. 30: Zeitler

Round 2

No. 34: Jeff Allen, OT, Illinois
No. 35: Devon Still, DT, Penn State
No. 43: Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
No. 44: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
No. 47: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
No. 51: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
No. 63: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois

Round 3

No. 89: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Round 4

No. 96: Mike Daniels DT, Iowa
No. 97: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
No. 99: Adam Gettis, G, Iowa
No. 106: Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin
No. 118: Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
No. 120: Keshawn Martin, WR, Michigan State
No. 121: Markus Zusevics, OT, Iowa
No. 123: Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
No. 126: Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
No. 132: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska

Round 5

No. 137: David Molk, C, Michigan
No. 150: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
No. 161: Trent Robinson, S, Michigan State
No. 163: Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State
No. 165: DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State

Round 6

No. 207: Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State

Round 7

No. 211: B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State
No. 216: Aaron Henry, S, Wisconsin
No. 219: Dan Herron, RB, Ohio State
No. 221: Derek Dimke, K, Illinois
No. 223: Tyler Nielsen, LB, Iowa
No. 231: Marcel Jones, OT, Nebraska
No. 244: Junior Hemingway, WR, Michigan
No. 247: Bradie Ewing, FB, Wisconsin
No. 248: Kevin Koger, TE, Michigan

A few notables not listed on this seven-round mock: Northwestern WR Jeremy Ebert, TE Drake Dunsmore, and QB Dan Persa; Penn State WR Derek Moye; Minnesota WR Da'Jon McKnight, Michigan DE Ryan Van Bergen, Wisconsin OT Josh Oglesby.

How accurate are these mock drafts? It is almost time to find out. Let's do this for real.

Here's your hump day linkage.

• Check out the latest from the BCS meetings here and here and here. Dennis Dodd writes the Rose Bowl will have to relinquish more tradition to remain in the playoff mix.
• Looks like "The Victors" will play at JerryWorld after all on Sept. 1.
• No surprise here, but Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell (knee) will miss the spring game. Spartans' NFL prospects look forward to a big draft weekend. Joe Rexrode writes about the first lady of Michigan State football, who recently passed away.
• Ohio State's Michael Bennett shares some interesting thoughts on the new coaches. Jim Tressel returns to Columbus but doesn't talk football. The Bowtie slams media outlets critical of Ohio State.
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio spearheaded the idea of spring scrimmages against other teams.
• Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz seems to be opening up to more new ideas. Ferentz's accessibility is a welcome change, Pat Harty writes. Iowa is in the market for more neutral-site football games.
• Brady Hoke discusses the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, Ohio State's academic majors sign and other topics. Michigan WR Junior Hemingway boosts his draft stock into the middle rounds.
• Rod Woodson discusses his Purdue career, the current Boilers program and other topics in this Q&A.
• Whitney Mercilus might not be Illinois' only early round selection. It doesn't make the waiting game any easier for Illini draft prospects.
• ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay says Northwestern QB Dan Persa is "limited" as a pro prospect. An interesting look at Northwestern's new partnership with Under Armour.
• Steve Heiser writes Penn State should stop scheduling non-league nobodies. Bill O'Brien's assistants hit the recruiting trail.
• More on the measure approving alcohol sales at TCF Bank Stadium. Some praise for Minnesota's new athletic director.
• Athlon Sports wonders whether Nebraska can win the Big Ten this season.
• Wisconsin's offense struggled in the two-minute drill Tuesday. The Badgers' A.J. Fenton has a new look, literally and figuratively.

Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett will occasionally give their takes on a burning question facing the league. We'll both have strong opinions, but not necessarily the same view. We'll let you decide which blogger is right.

Today's Take Two topic is this: Last season, defensive tackle was clearly the strongest overall position group in the Big Ten. What position will be the best throughout the league in 2012?

Take 1: Brian Bennett

I'm tempted to go with linebacker, where some high-profile players and future stars are scattered throughout the conference. But my pick is running back.

There's some major star power at the position this year in the Big Ten, starting off with last year's Heisman Trophy finalist and record breaker, Wisconsin's Montee Ball. While Ball is the obvious choice for preseason offensive player of the year, he could get pushed by some other backs, including Nebraska's tough-as-nails Rex Burkhead, who ran for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Even with last year's No. 2 league rusher (Iowa's Marcus Coker) gone, the position is still stacked with guys like Penn State's Silas Redd, who we both think is primed for a huge season; Michigan's Fitz Toussaint, who ran for more than 1,000 yards despite not taking over lead rushing duties until the eighth game of the season; and Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, who came on strong late last season and looks great this spring.

Purdue has some very capable runners in Akeem Shavers, Akeem Hunt and Doug Gentry, and Ralph Bolden is coming back from an ACL injury. Ohio State has a potentially strong group with Carlos Hyde, Jordan Hall, Rod Smith and freshman Bri'onte Dunn. Stephen Houston showed some good things for Indiana last year, and transfer Isaiah Roundtree had a big spring game. Minnesota is high on junior college import James Gillum. And don't forget James White at Wisconsin, who could start for most teams in the country.

Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern have some question marks at tailback. But overall, running back is where the Big Ten's bread will be buttered this season.

Take 2: Adam Rittenberg

A good choice, Bennett, as the Big Ten returns six of its top seven running backs and would have brought back all seven if not for Marcus Coker's transfer. But my experience covering this league has taught me to never overlook the defensive line. The D-line once again will be the Big Ten's strongest group in 2012.

Sure, the league loses standouts like Devon Still, Whitney Mercilus and Jerel Worthy. But you could substitute the names Aaron Maybin and Mitch King after the 2008 season, or Brandon Graham and Jared Odrick after 2009, or J.J. Watt and Corey Liuget after 2010. The Big Ten always finds ways to reload up front, and this year will be no different. There might not be as many familiar names as there are at running back, but that soon will change.

Let's start off with the top returning linemen, Ohio State's John Simon and Purdue's Kawann Short, both of whom earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011. Both men will contend for All-America honors, and could be potential first-round picks in the 2013 class. Then you have a guy we're both excited about: Michigan State defensive end William Gholston. He's a physical freak, as you recently detailed, and has the potential to dominate games and become one of the nation's truly elite defenders in 2012. I'd also include Penn State defensive tackle Jordan Hill in this group of known commodities with the potential for very big things this season. Penn State's overall depth along the defensive line should be better this year.

Now for some lesser-known names who could have breakout seasons. Let's start at Illinois with defensive end Michael Buchanan and defensive tackle Akeem Spence. Buchanan is poised for a big year, as he showed in Illinois' spring game, while Spence is a next-level player who could follow Liuget's path this season. Speaking of defensive tackles, watch out for Ohio State's Johnathan Hankins, a very big man who can do very big things this season. The Buckeyes' heralded incoming freshmen should only bolster their line.

Michigan loses two standout linemen (Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen), but it's hard to imagine the Wolverines falling back much at all up front. Nebraska boasts good depth at the defensive end spot and could see a big year from a guy like Cameron Meredith.

While there are some question marks around the league, including an unproven line at Iowa, teams like Northwestern and Minnesota should be improved up front.

The 2012 NFL draft is right around the corner, and a group of Big Ten defenders will be in the spotlight next week in New York.

The Big Ten boasts a group of defenders who could be selected anywhere in the first three rounds. ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have produced their latest mock drafts, which show some disagreement about the Big Ten's top defensive players.

In McShay's newest top 32 prospects , he has Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy at No. 22, a jump of 10 spots from his previous ranking. But Worthy is the lone Big Ten defender in McShay's rundown (offensive linemen Riley Reiff and Mike Adams are Nos. 18 and 32, respectively).

Kiper's latest Big Board has Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus at No. 18 and Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David at No. 24. Worthy doesn't appear in Kiper's top 25, and Kiper pegs him as an early-second-round selection. Kiper lists Reiff and Wisconsin offensive linemen Peter Konz and Kevin Zeitler as first-round picks (outside the top 25).

While projections of the late-first round typically vary a lot, it's interesting to see McShay so high on Worthy but not so high on Mercilus and David, while Kiper favors the latter two. Other potentially high draft picks such as Penn State DT Devon Still, Michigan DT Mike Martin, Nebraska DL Jared Crick and Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard don't appear on either list.

Kiper also projects the first three rounds for both the AFC and NFC teams, based on what the teams need the most and which players they value more than others. Some notable Big Ten mentions include Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins (third round, Philadelphia), Devon Still (third round, Chicago), Iowa WR Marvin McNutt (third round, Minnesota), Illinois WR A.J. Jenkins (second round, New York Jets), Wisconsin G Kevin Zeitler (first round, San Francisco) and Michigan State WR Keshawn Martin (third round, Seattle).

Tim Beckman's first pivotal recruiting venture at Illinois didn't take place in a living room or at a camp for prep players.

It happened at a California hotel in late December. His targets already wore the Orange and Blue. The group gathered before the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl to meet with a man who, at that point, was their head coach only by title.

"They didn't know me, and I didn't know them very well," said Beckman, hired Dec. 9 as Illinois' coach. "I had met with them because I met with everybody on the football team. I had watched practices. But it wasn’t my job to interfere with them for their bowl game.

"It was kind of a scary situation because I wanted all of them to stay."

They were Illinois juniors who had the potential to enter the NFL draft after the bowl game. The group included defensive end Michael Buchanan, cornerback Terry Hawthorne, defensive tackle Akeem Spence and center Graham Pocic. Buchanan earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011, while Hawthorne earned honorable mention honors and Spence displayed next-level ability.

All-America defensive end Whitney Mercilus, pegged as a potential first-round pick, also met with Beckman.

The meeting was part information session, part recruiting session. Beckman wanted to give each player an idea of his draft prospects. He fast-tracked the paperwork to the NFL draft advisory board and received the evaluations as soon as he could. Beckman leaned on his father, Dave, who had worked in the front office with the Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers, and other contacts to speed up the process.

"I tried to formulate as much information as I possibly could so they could make an educated decision, from Whitney to all of them," Beckman said. "I wanted all of them to stay. I wanted all of them to be able to say they played their senior year at the University of Illinois and had the opportunity to be a champion."

Despite that desire, Beckman didn't come on too strong.

"Not as much as you'd expect a coach to," Pocic said. "He showed us what kind of person he was and just talked about the opportunity we had if we came back."

Mercilus entered the draft after the bowl game, surprising no one, but the other four players opted to stay. They're now building blocks for Illinois as Beckman and his staff hope to make a transition without losing any ground.

What did Illinois retain?

• Spence has started every game the past two seasons, while Buchanan has started 20 of 26 contests. Although Mercilus made the big splash in 2011 with insane numbers, Buchanan quietly racked up 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Spence recorded 69 tackles and a forced fumble and clogged the interior for the nation's No. 7 defense.
• Hawthorne has made starts in each of the past three seasons, including 11 last fall. He led the team in both interceptions (three) and passes defended (11) in 2011, and finished sixth in tackles (60). On a team that has some issues at safety, Hawthorne's presence as a potential shutdown corner looms large.
• Pocic has started Illinois' past 24 games at center and provides leadership for a youngish line that loses mainstay Jeff Allen at left tackle. Having a veteran center to help make line calls during the transition to a new offense is a luxury for the Illini.

After Beckman told the players of their NFL grades, he gave them the floor.

"It was funny," Spence said of the December meeting with Beckman. "Me, Terry, Mike and Graham, we were sitting there scared to ask the first question. But we had to because this is our future. I was trying to find out what the deal was going to be, what type of defense, his plans for us and the team."

Spence eventually asked Beckman if the team's defense would suit his game like the previous scheme had. Although Beckman hadn't hired his defensive coordinator, he had announced that defensive line coach Keith Gilmore would be retained.

After the meeting, Spence remembers talking with Buchanan and Hawthorne about their decisions.

"We all wanted to come back and be leaders," Buchanan said.

Beckman doesn't downplay the significance of their decisions.

"It's huge," he said. "To look out there and see No. 1 [Hawthorne] running around, and 99 [Buchanan] and 94 [Spence] and 76 [Pocic], those are guys who have played, who have been involved in two bowl games and understands a little bit of what it takes to be successful."

Mail time. Let's do this.

Joel from Bismarck, N.D., writes: Last fall I seem to remember you saying that the league parity hurt its national perception. When it came to B1G basketball, however, it seemed analysts were touting its parity as an example of how strong the conference was (e.g., every team in the bottom half of the standings beat someone in the top half). My question is if you perceive different standards being used in the sports, and why do you think it is? Or is it less a matter of which sport is being analyzed but which league, and commentators will grab onto whatever stat they want to in order to reinforce their own perceptions (e.g., the B1G football teams underperform)?

Adam Rittenberg: Joel, while some analysts will apply different standards whenever it's convenient, there are some important differences between Big Ten football in 2011 and Big Ten basketball in 2011-12. For starters, the league had more nationally elite teams in basketball and two squads -- Ohio State and Michigan State -- considered legitimate Final Four contenders. Aside from Wisconsin, no Big Ten football team ever fit into this category in terms of national perception. Another difference is that football had one of the worst BCS programs (Indiana) and another (Minnesota) that looked like the worst early in the season. While Big Ten basketball had its doormats as well -- Nebraska and Penn State -- those teams also rose up to record some nice victories, even in league play.

Finally, one important difference is that basketball doesn't have one dominant conference like football does with the SEC, which happens to be the Big Ten's chief rival. I really think if another league was dominating college football -- Big 12, Pac-12, etc. -- the Big Ten's perception wouldn't be quite as bad as it is with the other bigwig conference winning championships year after year.

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Dave from Delafield, Wis., writes: Adam,Thank you for your commentary on the atmosphere in Boston for the Wisconsin/Ohio State games.I've been to NCAA Basketball Tournament games and several bowl games, and I don't know how anyone that has personally attended both could possibly want a football playoff.The early rounds of the basketball tournament feature half-full arenas, and small numbers of fans from both teams, along with plenty of locals that tend to cheer for the underdog, or the team from the next town over. Unless a team is local or a great game takes place, there is just no electricity. I would hate to see a team that won a conference title, have what was a dream season end in a dull, half-full stadium, because fans are waiting until a bigger game to travel to, or because the game is a home game for a superior opponent. (Think of UCLA at Oregon last year in the Pac-12 title game.)No matter what round of the tournament it is, until the final game is played, there is always the next game. Syracuse players and fans didn't have long to celebrate their win against Wisconsin because they had to prepare for Ohio State. A bowl victory, no matter what bowl, is almost euphoric. It is what makes a good season great, and it sets the tone for the entire spring.

Adam Rittenberg: Totally agree, Dave. I remember covering the NCAA tournament first and second rounds in Minneapolis in 2009. First of all, college basketball in domed football stadiums is never good, especially when it's not even a regional round. The stadium was never going to be close to full. Although Michigan State played there, we had only one "local" team in North Dakota State, which played admirably in the first round but fell short. At that point, the dome pretty much emptied out and there was very little atmosphere for the remaining games.

Any football team strong enough to qualify for a playoff -- most likely a four-team deal -- should play in an atmosphere fitting the significance of the game. Even if it's on the road. I'd rather see a Big Ten team play in a packed SEC stadium for a playoff than watch the game at a neutral site in front of 35,000 people. The event deserves better.

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Chris from New York writes: "He knows his strengths and doesn't try to coach everybody. He'll coach the defensive line, he'll coach the defense, but he's comfortable with his role and he's very good at his role." - Gerry Dinardo about Brady HokeHow come this exact sentence was such a nightmare for Rodriguez? What's the difference that Hoke gets it as a compliment and Rodriguez gets it as a major diss? Is it only success? If the offense struggled a lot this year would people be saying Hoke can't only pay attention to the defense?

Adam Rittenberg: Chris, I think there were different standards for Rodriguez, which could have been changed had he had more success on the field at Michigan. Rodriguez's work with Michigan's offense had little to do with his firing, as the Wolverines set records in his final season. But his handling of the defense, particularly when it came to hiring coordinators and assistants, ultimately led to his downfall in Ann Arbor. The perception that Rodriguez didn't care about the defense is false, but his decision-making regarding with the unit left much to be desired. Hoke should be held accountable if the offense struggles this fall, but the truth is the turnaround he and Greg Mattison facilitated on defense in 2011 helped the offense deal with some growing pains in its transition. And Michigan's offense still ranked second in the league in scoring and third in yards.

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Misplaced Gopher from Fargo, N.D., writes: Adam, last year Minnesota football fans were presented a laundry list of reasons why the Gophers couldn't win in Jerry Kill's first year: physically unfit personnel, academic nonperformance, poorly chosen recruits (blaming the previous regime), personnel mismatched to the incoming system, lack of opportunity to coach. This year, coach Kill is making no attempt to keep expectations down. He is praising the players effusively, bragging about the incoming recruits, and he says that this year he's getting to coach the players instead of spending all his time teaching them how to hustle, how to behave, and how to play. Coach Kill seems to be building up the expectations of the 2012 Gophers. Why do you think he's doing this, and how much better can Minnesotans expect our team to be this year?

Adam Rittenberg: Two questions from North Dakota in the same mailblog -- nice! I don't know if Kill is inflating the expectations too much, Gopher. I think at times last season he talked too much about the problems with the previous regime and the uphill climb he faced. While much of what he said is true, his statements sounded like excuses after a while. Kill clearly is more comfortable after going through a full offseason, but he also has addressed the odd roster makeup, which still includes small senior and junior classes (not counting the juco arrivals). But it's natural for coaches to feel more comfortable after they're established, and after they bring in more of their own players. What should Minnesota fans expect this season? Definitely more than three or four wins. It's not unreasonable at all to expect the Gophers to get back to a bowl.

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Jonathan from Athens, Ala., writes: RE: SEC Teams venturing away from the southeast to play games, don't let the facts get in the way of your agenda but Alabama played at Penn State last year and has a game scheduled in a few years at Michigan State. You claim that it's the SEC that keeps home and home games from happening. Got any facts to back that up with? I bet Urban Meyer would LOVE to play a Nick Saban team again, right? Make sure you have the ambulance ready for when Saban puts him back in the hospital. Maybe, just maybe it's that you guys don't want Bama to choke the football down your throat like we did Penn State and Michigan State recently. You're pathetic.

Adam Rittenberg: Jonathan, I should have noted that Alabama has been the exception in the SEC as far as scheduling Big Ten teams. The Tide deserve credit for being willing to venture to both State College and East Lansing, in addition to facing Michigan at a neutral site. But on the whole, how many other SEC teams would dare play a game in Big Ten territory? Florida certainly wouldn't. Vanderbilt is playing at Northwestern this year, but Vandy, while improving, isn't viewed as a premier program. The Big Ten and SEC both get heat for nonconference schedules, and both leagues are to blame for the lack of non-league games against one another. But if SEC teams play squads in the ACC and Pac-12, why can't they play more against the Big Ten? It'd be nice if more SEC programs follow Alabama's lead, just as it would be nice if more Big Ten programs followed Michigan State's lead.

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Chip from Savannah, Ga., writes: My question for you is regarding OSU and PSU, why is everyone expecting OSU to have a much better season than PSU. They're both putting in new systems in regards to offense, but I think PSU's defense is still better than OSU's which is going to be both's stronger unit. I know you have a proven commodity in Meyer, but it still doesn't take away from the fact that they have to transition as well.

Adam Rittenberg: Both defenses should be strong, Chip, and while Ohio State's will be improved with more experience, I agree that Penn State's appears to have the stronger unit because of its strength at linebacker and in the front seven. One big omission in your note is quarterback Braxton Miller. While Penn State is still looking for a clear-cut starting quarterback, Ohio State knows Miller is its future. While Miller is far from a finished product, he showed impressive skills as a true freshman in 2011 and looks like an excellent fit for Meyer's offense. Both teams need to develop more options in the passing game and Penn State has a better running back in Silas Redd, but the quarterback play separates the two in my mind. Both programs are going through transitions, but Ohio State players are a little more accustomed to it after what happened last year. That's not saying Penn State won't be fine, but the coaching change in State College has been more dramatic because of the unique circumstances.

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Mochila from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: Adam, while you were out on vacation, Brian wrapped up the Postseason Top 25 players. I was wondering if you could explain your reasoning for why Still was placed ahead of Mercilus. For the record, I'm an MSU fan and have no horse in this race; I just thought Mercilus was more deserving given his absurd numbers, primarily in sacks, TFL, and fumbles forced. And for bonus points, what prompted your trip to Istanbul (as opposed to say, Hawaii), and what was your favorite part?

Adam Rittenberg: It was a tough call, Mochila, as both defenders had outstanding seasons. Brian and I actually differed on our Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year endorsements, as he picked Still and I picked Mercilus. As I pointed out then and as you point out in your note, Mercilus' numbers blow away the competition. That said, few positions on the football field are more significant than a dominant defensive tackle, and Still fit the description in 2011. You can't judge defensive tackles strictly by individual stats, as theirs rarely will stack up with those of the top defensive ends. The defensive tackles deal with more double teams, and their roles are more significant in run-stopping. Still was as good or better than another Penn State defensive tackle, Jared Odrick, in 2009. Odrick finished No. 2 in the countdown that year, and Still was deserving of his position in this year's rundown.