ESPN College Football

Cameron Meredith is a visual person, both inside and outside Nebraska's football complex.

The Huskers senior defensive end enjoys photography and has displayed his painting skills at The Corky Canvas, a Lincoln nightspot where patrons learn to paint while enjoying a beverage or two. Meredith's girlfriend is one of the painting instructors there.

"Not to brag, but I'm pretty artistic," said Meredith, who lists Salvador Dali's "Melting Clocks" and the works of Andy Warhol among his favorites. "That was my first passion, actually, before sports."

Meredith has used his visual skills in the film room this winter as he adjusts to a new defensive line coach, Rick Kaczenski, who joined Nebraska's staff in December after spending the past five seasons working with Iowa's defensive linemen. Kaczenski takes over a group that loses tackle Jared Crick but returns mostly intact and is led by Meredith and tackle Baker Steinkuhler, both multiyear starters.

To help Nebraska's linemen understand his vision, Kaczenski played them video clips of former Iowa standouts like Adrian Clayborn, Christian Ballard and Karl Klug.

"On the field, he can explain it, he can go through it," Meredith said, "but until we see it in full action, we don't really understand. He brought in some really good clips of those Iowa players doing some pretty good stuff."

The transition should be smooth, because Nebraska's defenders studied Iowa more than any other team in 2011, even before Kaczenski arrived. Iowa's two-gap scheme resembled Nebraska's defensive system, and while Meredith said it's not a carbon copy, it helped players to see a similar defense go against Big Ten offenses.

"I was watching more of the [players'] technique, but you can see similarities," Meredith said. "For example, Coach Kaz wants us to make contact with our head, head-butt them more and get separation. Once we see one of the Iowa players do it who's similar to us, it puts in our minds, 'Hey, it's the same stuff. We've just got to learn the technique.'"

Meredith and his teammates get down to business when Nebraska opens spring practice March 10. The Huskers' defense fell short of expectations in 2011, finishing 37th in yards allowed and 42nd in points allowed, and must replace standouts like linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard.

After spending much the winter self-scouting, Meredith thinks third downs and limiting big plays are areas the defense must upgrade. Nebraska finished 64th nationally in third-down defense (40.2 percent conversions) in 2011 after ranking fourth in 2010 (29.95 percent) and 15th in 2009 (32.3 percent).

"Third down needs to become a lot more important to the defense," said Meredith, who led the team in quarterback hurries (9) and ranked second in both sacks (5) and tackles for loss (6). "You can either give the ball back to your offense, or they have another chance to get a first down and go score. One of the biggest things, which is why we didn't have great success in some games, once a team got a big play, it was kind of a snowball effect. We need to eliminate that, get in those manageable third-down situations, and get home on a blitz or on the pass rush."

The Huskers will go through their first spring with new coordinator John Papuchis, although the linemen are more than familiar with Papuchis, who coached them directly the past four seasons. Papuchis emphasizes the need for players to not only know their position, but the positions alongside them -- defensive ends must be able to transition inside, and vice versa -- what's happening at other levels of the defense.

His mission should help Nebraska's defense improve its communication, which Meredith said must be significantly better in games.

"He did a great job as a D-line coach of making us aware of why we're doing things rather than [just] what we're doing," Meredith said. "We knew exactly what the linebackers and DBs were doing, because JP expected that out of us. Him being a defensive coordinator, he's going to broaden everyone's span of football knowledge."

Nebraska's defenders begin putting paint brush to canvas next week.

Meredith hopes the team's final pictures looks like this and this.

The 2011 Big Ten football season kicks off Thursday night in Madison, and all 12 teams will be in action during the weekend.

Here are 10 items to track as you watch the games.

1. Coaching debuts: After three years of relative stability in the Big Ten coaching ranks, four leading men will debut with new teams Saturday, while Nebraska's Bo Pelini coaches his first game as a member of the conference. Luke Fickell's every move will be closely monitored at Ohio State, while Brady Hoke begins a new chapter at Michigan. Kevin Wilson's Indiana debut takes place at the site of the inaugural Big Ten championship game (Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium), while Minnesota's Jerry Kill draws the toughest first assignment as the Gophers visit No. 25 USC.

2. Wisconsin's missing piece: That's what Badgers fans hope Russell Wilson will be this season. The NC State transfer quarterback starts his first game in a Wisconsin uniform Thursday night against UNLV. Wilson looked terrific during preseason practice and transitioned well to his new team. He has a chance to display his skills on national television against the underdog Rebels and build some confidence for the grind ahead. It's also vital Wilson stays healthy as Wisconsin has significant depth problems at quarterback.

3. Penn State's QB audition: Spring practice and fall camp evidently weren't enough time for Penn State to settle on a starting quarterback. Rob Bolden and Matthew McGloin both are expected to play in Saturday's opener against Indiana State. Joe Paterno, who may coach from the press box, didn't seem too concerned about the lack of a starter or the prolonged quarterback competition, but it will be interesting to see how the snaps break down. Bolden likely will get the first opportunity, and Penn State probably wants to settle on its offensive leader before a Week 2 showdown with No. 2 Alabama.

4. Flipping quarters in Columbus: Penn State isn't the only team planning to use multiple quarterbacks in its opener. Ohio State likely will start senior Joe Bauserman on Saturday against Akron, although true freshman Braxton Miller also will see the field. Bauserman boasts more experience and could be the safer choice, although few doubt that Miller is the team's future under center. Akron ranked 99th nationally in total defense last season, so both men should have opportunities to make plays. It presents an interesting situation for a coaching staff that needs to win this season to remain with the Buckeyes.

5. Nebraska's new offense: The Huskers boast what they believe to be a championship-caliber defense, so their season could hinge on the effectiveness of a new offensive scheme. Coordinator Tim Beck wants to give his players more freedom in the system while maintaining plenty of explosiveness. Pelini has stressed the need for efficiency after the Huskers struggled with ball security and penalties last season. Saturday's tune-up against Chattanooga provides the chance for quarterback Taylor Martinez and others to build their confidence in a game before the competition gets tougher.

6. Dan Persa's status: Northwestern has one of the league's tougher season-opening draws at Boston College, and the Wildcats still don't know whether they'll have Persa on the field. The senior is still working his way back from Achilles' tendon surgery and won't be nearly as dangerous on his feet as he was in 2010. The good news is Persa can still attack defenses with his arm, and backup Kain Colter has made strides as a passer during the preseason. Colter will be part of the game plan Saturday, but how much Persa plays, if at all, remains to be seen.

7. Gray driving Gophers' offense: Ever since highly-touted recruit MarQueis Gray committed to Minnesota, Gophers fans have been waiting for this moment. It has taken some time and a detour to the wide receiver position in 2010, but Gray finally will make his first start at quarterback Saturday against USC. He has bulked up to 245 pounds and should be a load for a Trojans defense that has struggled with dual-threat quarterbacks in the past. Gray will run a new offense and needs young players around him to step up, but it will be interesting to see how he fares in a tough environment.

8. TerBush's time: Quarterback Caleb TerBush likely would have been a big factor for Purdue last season had he been academically eligible. The Boilers once again are calling on TerBush, and this time, he's ready to help. TerBush will make his first career start against a tough Middle Tennessee team. Purdue needs a boost after losing its leader Rob Henry to a torn ACL, and TerBush will try to provide one as he plays his first game since 2009.

9. Hawkeyes, Illini fill gaps on defense: The NFL draft took its toll on Iowa's and Illinois' defensive units. The Hawkeyes lost three linemen to the draft -- Adrian Clayborn, Christian Ballard and Karl Klug -- along with standout safety Tyler Sash. Illinois lost dominant tackle Corey Liuget as well as linebackers Martez Wilson and Nate Bussey. Iowa will feature a larger rotation up front this season, while Illinois is looking to younger players like Akeem Spence and Jonathan Brown to step up.

10. Emotional opener for Dantonio: It has been a tough week for Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, whose father, Justin, died Sunday at the age of 86. Dantonio is at home in Zanesville, Ohio, for his father's funeral Thursday but will be back for Michigan State's season opener Friday against Youngstown State. It should be an emotional night for Dantonio, and expect Michigan State's players to rally around their coach, much like they did last year when he went through some health issues.

James Morris didn't set a goal for number of minutes played as a freshman at Iowa.

He didn't even care which unit -- first team, second team -- he joined on Saturdays. He simply wanted to get on the field. The linebacker ended up appearing in all 13 games, starting the final six, finishing fourth on the squad in tackles with 70.

"It was a pretty awesome experience," said Morris, who added four pass breakups and a sack. "I feel like I got a good jump on most of my competition. I think it'll pay bigger dividends once the season rolls around and I can apply some of that experience."

Morris knows he'll take on an enhanced role for the Hawkeyes' defense this season. He also knows others will have to replicate his rise as Iowa replaces six defensive starters, four of whom were selected in April's NFL draft (Adrian Clayborn, Christian Ballard, Karl Klug and Tyler Sash).

Iowa entered the 2010 season seemingly with a clear identity on defense, but the unit ended up with mixed results. The Hawkeyes need the opposite to occur this fall -- for a new-look defense to establish its personality and consistently shut down the opposition.

"I feel like we're young, but that's not necessarily a bad thing," Morris said. "We're unproven, and there's a lot of guys on our squad who take offense to that. They want to prove themselves, and I'm hoping people are going to be surprised by what they see with the effort and how determined our guys are to prove what kind of players they are."

Morris began the proving process last season. A rash of injuries at linebacker thrust him into the starting lineup down the stretch, and he recorded 40 tackles in his first four starts.

Like many freshmen, Morris was prone to overthinking things when he first got in games. A National Honor Society member in high school, Morris admits he's "very much" an analytical person.

"You're sort of forced to lead a double life, what's expected of you on the field versus being a civil human being in conversation off the field," he said. "I thought I was doing a pretty good job of not outpacing myself toward the end of the year, as opposed to the beginning, when maybe I was playing a step slow, trying to process everything."

Morris acknowledges he made plenty of mistakes in 2010, but his effort level never wavered. He wants to be a more polished player this fall, especially as he guides the linebackers alongside veteran Tyler Nielsen.

Iowa must build depth around Morris and Nielsen with players like Christian Kirksey, Bruce Davis, Anthony Hitchens and Dakota Getz.

Morris doesn't expect the defense's personality to fully form until the end of training camp, which kicks off next month, but players are motivated to prove themselves and finish games better than they did in 2010.

"A lot of guys on our defense, they're driven and they're determined to improve and create their own identity," Morris said. "Some of them, they feel like last year was somewhat in flux in terms of what our identity was. They’re going to come out of camp with a purpose."

The position rankings move from offense to defense. We'll start with the group that has produced more Big Ten stars than any other position group in recent years.

The Big Ten had five defensive linemen, all from different teams, selected in the first round of April's NFL draft: Wisconsin's J.J. Watt, Illinois' Corey Liuget, Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan, Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and Ohio State's Cameron Heyward. Iowa lost three starting D-linemen to the draft, and almost every Big Ten squad has to replace major contributors.

The personnel losses make the preseason D-line rankings both tricky and fun. The first three groups look very good, while there's not much difference in the middle of the league.

Let's take a look:

1. Nebraska: The Big Ten's newest member should fit in well with its strong play up front. Star defensive tackle Jared Crick stiff-armed the NFL draft and returned for his final season, giving Nebraska a terrific centerpiece up front. He'll be complemented by veterans Baker Steinkuhler and the mustachioed Cameron Meredith. If converted linebacker Eric Martin builds off of a strong spring, Nebraska should be fine at the end spot.

2. Ohio State: Heyward's leadership and versatility will be missed, but Ohio State always finds ways to fill the gaps up front. Junior John Simon should be primed for a breakout season. Like Heyward, Simon can play both line spots but might see more time on the edge this fall. Nathan Williams adds experience at end, and promising sophomore Johnathan Hankins could wreak havoc on the interior this fall.

3. Michigan State: Like several Big Ten teams, the Spartans build their line around a potential superstar tackle in Jerel Worthy. The junior already is projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2012 draft after recording four sacks last fall. Anthony Rashad White emerged this spring as a nice complement to Worthy. Michigan State needs a better pass rush from the end spots, and hopes are high for William Gholston and Tyler Hoover.

4. Wisconsin: Watt is a huge loss because he contributed in so many ways, but Wisconsin could account for his production with greater depth. Ends Louis Nzegwu and David Gilbert both have played a lot of football, and junior Brendan Kelly came on strong toward the end of spring practice. Senior tackle Patrick Butrym has emerged as one of the leaders on defense. Wisconsin needs young tackles like Jordan Kohout and Beau Allen to help Butrym.

5. Michigan: This is a projection pick, but I think Michigan's defensive front takes a significant step forward this season. Senior tackle Mike Martin is a bona fide NFL prospect and will lead the way, and players like Ryan Van Bergen and Craig Roh should be among the primary beneficiaries of the new defense under coordinator Greg Mattison. Michigan needs to build depth with Jibreel Black, Will Campbell and others, but there's great potential here.

6. Iowa: The Hawkeyes face a tough task in replacing multiyear starters in Clayborn, Christian Ballard and Karl Klug. Senior tackle Mike Daniels is ready to lead the group after recording 11 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2010. The biggest key is getting Broderick Binns back to his 2009 form. Iowa also needs to build depth with Lebron Daniel and others, and avoid major injuries.

7. Purdue: Defensive tackle is a major strength for Purdue as Kawann Short and Bruce Gaston Jr. form one of the league's top tandems. Short quietly turned in an extremely productive season last fall (12.5 TFLs, 6 sacks). The big unknown is how Purdue replaces Kerrigan. The Boilers need veteran Gerald Gooden to stay healthy and others to emerge alongside him.

8. Penn State: Much like Purdue, Penn State looks strong at tackle and has question marks at end. Devon Still could contend for All-Big Ten honors after a terrific performance in the Outback Bowl against Florida. Still and Jordan Hill should lock up the middle, but Penn State needs Jack Crawford and Eric Latimore to get healthy at the end spots. If not, the Lions will turn to unproven players to spark their pass rush.

9. Illinois: Liuget is a significant loss in the middle and Illinois also must replace veteran end Clay Nurse. The Illini will rely on Akeem Spence to step in for Liuget, and Spence showed some good things this spring. There's talent on the edges with Michael Buchanan, Whitney Mercilus and others, but Illinois needs more consistent production.

10. Northwestern: This group took a step back last fall and got manhandled down the stretch as Northwestern hemorrhaged yards and points. Senior end Vince Browne is a playmaker who put up impressive numbers (15.5 TFLs, 7 sacks) in 2010. He'll need help from tackles Jack DiNardo and Niko Mafuli, and Tyler Scott could provide a lift at the other end spot. The Wildcats need their line to regain the edge it displayed in 2008.

11. Indiana: It wouldn't surprise me to see Indiana's front four rise up these rankings during the season. There are some nice pieces back, namely senior end Darius Johnson, who can be a force when healthy. Junior Adam Replogle has been productive at defensive tackle. There's plenty of competition at the other two spots as Indiana tries to turn a page on defense.

12. Minnesota: The Gophers' pass rush was practically invisible in 2010, as they finished last nationally in sacks (9). The good news is new defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys will turn his linemen loose more often, giving players like Brandon Kirksey chances to make plays. We've heard a lot about Minnesota's talent up front but haven't seen nearly enough production on Saturdays.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- When the preseason polls come out in August, the Iowa Hawkeyes likely won't be included.

That's not a bad thing.

Iowa didn't receive a single vote in the preseason AP Poll in 2002. The Hawkeyes went on to win 11 games and reach the Orange Bowl.

After winning 31 games and two Big Ten titles between 2002-04, Iowa entered the 2005 season ranked No. 11 nationally. It went 7-5 that year.

Despite a strong finish to the 2008 season, the Hawkeyes squeaked into the preseason rankings (No. 22 AP, No. 21 Coaches'). They were nationally relevant but hardly overhyped. And after a major scare against FCS Northern Iowa in Week 1, Iowa slipped out of the polls. It responded with a team-record 9-0 start and finished the season ranked seventh in both polls after winning the Orange Bowl.

The respect Iowa and its rabid fans crave arrived last summer as the Hawkeyes debuted in the Top 10 in both polls. Some even listed Iowa as a fringe national title contender. The team stumbled to 7-5 before a dramatic win in the Insight Bowl.

"When we start kind of off the radar, not in the Top 25, we always seem to raise expectations, within the program, especially," senior tight end Brad Herman said. "It's very easy to slip into the hype, people always patting you on the back and then you lose one or two games and all of a sudden the sky is falling. History shows that's the case."

Hawkeyes' veterans like Herman and defensive tackle Mike Daniels know what it's like to be both hyped and somewhat forgotten. There's no doubt how they'd rather be viewed.

"Iowa guys, we love to play with a chip on our shoulder," Daniels said, "and being under the radar just makes that chip even larger."

It's also a familiar realm for Iowa players.

Most of them weren't decorated recruits. They play for a program that would much rather list the number of walk-ons it has sent to the NFL than brag about the number of five-star prospects it signs each February.

Iowa players aren't used to hearing how great they are, and Kirk Ferentz and his assistants make sure it stays that way. Although Hawkeye football is the biggest show in the state, the team sometimes goes out of its way to avoid the media spotlight.

The underdog mentality is ingrained in the culture here, and it has helped on fall Saturdays.

"That's the tradition," defensive end Broderick Binns said. "Coach Ferentz looks for guys who are willing to work hard, have good character, who aren't going to be [jerks]. It's not tradition for coach Ferentz to bring in a guy that's four or five stars, who's all glamorous. Iowa's not about that. We're all about, 'Put your feet in the ground and go to work.'"

Iowa will go to work this fall without the potential distractions/pressure brought on by preseason accolades. The Hawkeyes' star power is gone, and the team must fill gaps at nearly every position.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi, a three-year starter and a local cult hero, has departed for the NFL. Iowa loses three multiyear starters along the defensive line, including a likely first-round pick (Adrian Clayborn) and a likely second-rounder (Christian Ballard). Both starting safeties depart (Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood) along with receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, tight end Allen Reisner and standout punter Ryan Donahue. Iowa returns only five starters on both sides of the ball.

It'll be an uphill climb for respect, but the Hawkeyes don't mind.

"We all have a goal: the Big Ten championship," Herman said. "That's something we state at the beginning of every single season. Being under the radar kind of relieves the pressure a little bit. We aren't really being talked about right now, and that's fine. Nothing changes around here."

If nothing changes this fall, Iowa will find itself in plenty of tightly contested contests. Drama has been the norm for Iowa the past few seasons.

In 2008, the team dropped four of its first nine games by five points or fewer and faced No. 3 Penn State as an underdog. A 24-23 victory against the Nittany Lions transformed Iowa into a clutch team. The Hawkeyes won their next five games decided by five points or fewer and rallied for wins in eight of their first nine games in 2009.

But Iowa's fortunes turned last fall. All five of its losses came by seven points or fewer, including three straight to end the regular season. A team that prides itself on finishing strong repeatedly crumbled in the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes responded in the bowl game against Missouri, rallying for a 27-24 win, but players and coaches agreed the season was a disappointment.

"We're sitting there at 7-2 and lost three games by 10 points, so what can we do to do better in those situations?" Ferentz said. "That's what we're focused on. It comes down to a lot of little details and giving ourselves a chance. ... The reality is we were pretty good from October 2008 to November 2010. I look at it more that way. I'm not a peak-and-valley person. You can't afford to be if you're a coach."

Iowa appeared to go through some valleys in the offseason as several off-field issues cropped up followed by 13 players being hospitalized in January with rhabdomylosis. The team's celebrated strength program came under fire, but an internal investigation found no specific cause for the hospitalizations and Iowa has moved forward.

"We handled the rhabdo situation very well," Herman said. "Everybody was more pulled together as [the criticism] was coming down on us. It's going to benefit us in the fall for sure."

Iowa has its share of uncertainty entering the fall. Can quarterback James Vandenberg steady the ship after a gutsy performance in relief of Stanzi in 2009? Can Daniels and Binns help the defensive line reload? Who fills the gaps at safety, linebacker and wide receiver?

To these questions, the Hawkeyes say ask away. They'll have answers when September rolls around.

"You've got 11 guys on the field who are just mad at the world," Daniels said. "That's the way we would like to play."

There's little doubt that the first Big Ten player drafted in April will be a defensive lineman.

(Not including Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara, who played his entire career in the Big 12.)

Who will hear his name called first? Wisconsin's J.J. Watt? Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan? Illinois' Corey Liuget? Iowa's Adrian Clayborn? Ohio State's Cameron Heyward?

I'll have more on the hopefuls as we get closer to draft night, but colleagues Todd McShay and Mel Kiper are always dissecting the draft and have come out with their latest three-round mock selections.

Here's McShay's mock draft and where the Big Ten players fall:

First round

• Illinois DT Corey Liuget, No. 14 overall to St. Louis
• Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan, No. 16 overall to Jacksonville
• Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt, No. 17 overall to New England
• Wisconsin T Gabe Carimi, No. 21 overall to Kansas City
• Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn, No. 24 overall to New Orleans
• Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward, No. 32 overall to Green Bay

Second round

• Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure, No. 45 overall to San Francisco
• Iowa DL Christian Ballard, No. 53 overall to Indianapolis
• Illinois LB Martez Wilson, No. 54 overall to Philadelphia

Third round

• Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks, No. 68 overall to Buffalo
• Indiana WR Tandon Doss, No. 86 overall to Kansas City
• Wisconsin G John Moffitt, No. 87 overall to Indianapolis
• Indiana T James Brewer, No. 90 overall to Buffalo

Here's a look at Kiper's mock draft and where the Big Ten prospects fall:

First round

• Watt, No. 10 overall to Washington
• Liuget, No. 14 overall to St. Louis
• Kerrigan, No. 20 overall to Tampa Bay
• Carimi, No. 23 overall to Philadelphia
• Clayborn, No. 27 overall to Atlanta
• Heyward, No. 30 overall to New York Jets

Second round

• Wilson, No. 34 overall to Buffalo
• Leshoure, No. 53 overall to Indianapolis
• Doss, No. 64 overall to Green Bay

Third round

• Ballard, No. 67 overall to Denver
• Kendricks, No. 68 overall to Buffalo
• Moffitt, No. 77 overall to Tennessee
• Ohio State CB Chimdi Chekwa, No. 81 overall to Oakland
• Ohio State LB Ross Homan, No. 85 overall to Philadelphia
• Penn State G Stefen Wisniewski, No. 93 to Chicago

Some interesting stuff here. Both McShay and Kiper think the Colts' Big Ten pipeline will continue, and both also like Buffalo to draft Big Ten players. Kiper includes three players McShay leaves out -- Chekwa, Homan and Wisniewski -- while McShay includes one player (Brewer) who Kiper leaves out. It also stands out how teams like Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin have more high-level draft prospects this year than Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska.

Amukamara is the only Nebraska player included in both mock drafts. Both McShay and Kiper have Amukamara going 13th overall to Detroit, where he'll reunite with former Huskers' teammate Ndamukong Suh.

Colleagues Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have produced mock drafts now that we know which underclassmen will be in the mix in April.

Their forecast contains both good news and bad news for the Big Ten.

The bad news: neither analyst projects a Big Ten player to go in the top 15.

The good news: both see six Big Ten players hearing their names called in the latter part of the first round.

Here's how they see things shaking out:

McShay

• No. 17 (New England): Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
• No. 19 (New York Giants): Illinois DT Corey Liuget
• No. 20 (Tampa Bay): Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn
• No. 23 (Philadelphia): Wisconsin LT Gabe Carimi
• No. 25 (Seattle): Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt
• No. 26 (Baltimore): Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward

Kiper

• No. 16 (Jacksonville): Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn
• No. 17 (New England): Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt
• No. 20 (Tampa Bay): Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
• No. 23 (Philadelphia): Wisconsin LT Gabe Carimi
• No. 28 (New England): Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure
• No. 29 (Green Bay): Iowa DL Christian Ballard

Thoughts: Kerrigan seems to have been hurt a bit by some of the underclassmen entering the draft, as he moved down several notches from previous projections. Both analysts like Clayborn despite the Iowa star's poor finish to the season. I still think Clayborn is a guaranteed first-round selection, but I'm interested to see how he does in the pre-draft workouts. Kiper brings up two names whom McShay leaves off in Leshoure and Ballard, while McShay is higher on Heyward and Liuget than Kiper. It would be pretty surprising if Liuget falls out of the first round after what he did this season. I'm guessing some were surprised when Ballard made it on the Senior Bowl roster, but he projects well to the NFL and has a good combination of size and strength.

Should the Big Ten be concerned if it doesn't have a top 10 pick? Perhaps. The league hasn't had one since 2008, when Michigan tackle Jake Long was the No. 1 overall pick. If these projections come true, it would mark three consecutive seasons without a top 10 selection.

Here's where the first Big Ten player has been drafted in recent years:

• 2010: Michigan DE Brandon Graham went No. 13
• 2009: Penn State DE Aaron Maybin went No. 11
• 2008: Michigan LT Jake Long went No. 1
• 2007: Wisconsin LT Joe Thomas went No. 3
• 2006: Ohio State LB A.J. Hawk went No. 5
• 2005: Michigan WR Braylon Edwards went No. 3
• 2004: Iowa T Robert Gallery went No. 2
• 2003: Michigan State WR Charles Rogers went No. 2
• 2002: Wisconsin DT Wendell Bryant went No. 12
• 2001: Michigan WR David Terrell went No. 8

Who's rising? Who's falling?

Time to check the market.

STOCK UP

Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins: Count me among those questioning whether Cousins could get it done in the clutch, but he came through in a big way against Wisconsin. The Spartans junior bounced back from two first-half interceptions to complete 8 of 10 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the final two quarters. Cousins was masterful on Michigan State's 15-play, 84-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter, completing two third-down passes and a fourth-down touchdown strike to B.J. Cunningham.

Iowa's defense: The Hawkeyes put it all together defensively against Penn State, despite some injuries at the linebacker spot. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn showed why he'll be a first-round draft pick in April with 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Cornerback Shaun Prater recorded a pick-six and the Hawkeyes received big performances from Karl Klug, James Morris and Christian Ballard.

Illinois' defense: The Illini didn't complete the upset against Ohio State but validated their early-season improvement under coordinator Vic Koenning, particularly in the secondary. Safety Trulon Henry became the latest Illinois defensive back to showcase his playmaking skills, recording two interceptions. Linebackers Martez Wilson and Nate Bussey also played well as Illinois held Ohio State's offense in check.

Indiana WR Tandon Doss: A lot of folks who should have known the name do now after Doss set career highs in both receptions (15) and receiving yards (221) against Michigan. Doss added 21 rushing yards and 121 yards in returns to finish with an insane 363 all-purpose yards, the third-highest total in team history. Several weeks removed from a groin injury, Doss is hitting his stride and showing why he's a future NFL receiver.

STOCK DOWN

Wisconsin's offensive line: Tabbed by some as the nation's best O-line before the season, the Badgers haven't looked the part so far. Michigan State recorded two sacks and three quarterback hurries against Wisconsin on Saturday, and the Badgers couldn't keep All-American Greg Jones out of the backfield. The rushing numbers are still good, but Wisconsin's experienced and talent line needs to do better.

Northwestern's defensive line: After several strong performances, the Wildcats got pushed around for much of last Saturday's game at TCF Bank Stadium. Minnesota's offensive front won the line of scrimmage as DeLeon Eskridge went for 119 rush yards and a touchdown. Although Vince Browne continued to make plays, the Wildcats need a better effort going forward to protect a vulnerable secondary.

Penn State's receivers: I still really like the potential of this group, but the receivers didn't help out a young quarterback in a tough situation last Saturday at Iowa. Several dropped passes really hurt the Lions, who didn't reach the end zone for the second time this season. Rob Bolden was under a ton of pressure against an excellent defense, and he could have used some more plays from his targets.

Minnesota's two-minute offense: The Gophers' coaches called a great game for 58 minutes, pounding away at Northwestern with Eskridge and executing nifty play-action passes to the tight ends. But aside from a good bootleg call on fourth-and-3, Minnesota really botched the 2-minute drill when it had two timeouts and only needed a field goal to win. The run call on first-and-10 from the Northwestern 39 in the final minute was a major head-scratcher.

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Moving on to the Big Ten awards races. Thanks to a good suggestion by one of you, I'm going to include each player's season statistics rather than the stats from the previous week. It gives a better big-picture view.

The Freshman of the Year award looks like a two-horse race right now.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR RACE: OFFENSE

(Player, season statistics)

1. Michigan QB Denard Robinson: 67-for-96 passing, 1,008 pass yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT; 98 rushes, 905 rush yards, 8 TDs.

2. Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor: 80-for-123 passing, 1,015 pass yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs; 54 rushes, 373 yards, 3 TDs; 1 reception for a 20-yard touchdown

3. Indiana QB Ben Chappell: 116-for-162 passing, 1,370 pass yards, 12 TDs, 1 INT

4. Northwestern QB Dan Persa: 108-for-136 passing, 1,358 pass yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs; 68 rushes, 271 rush yards, 2 TDs

5. Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi: 82-for-121 passing, 1,226 pass yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs

PLAYER OF THE YEAR RACE: DEFENSE

(Player, season statistics)

1. Michigan State LB Greg Jones: 41 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 INTs, 1 sack, 4 quarterback hurries, 3 passes defended

2. Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan: 34 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

3. Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt: 24 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 5 pass breakups, 4 quarterback hurries, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick

4. Iowa DL Mike Daniels: 19 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 quarterback hurry

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

1. Michigan State RB Le'Veon Bell: 64 carries, 471 rush yards, 7 TDs; 4 receptions, 63 receiving yards

2. Wisconsin RB James White: 44 carries, 367 yards, 6 TDs; 5 receptions, 55 receiving yards, 15 kick returns for 283 yards

Kirk Ferentz doesn't have to do much to motivate Iowa's defensive line this week.

No words are needed. The Hawkeyes coach simply can press the play button and show last year's film of the Iowa State game.

Then he can sit back and watch the steam rise from his players' ears.

"I'm not sure I'll have to say a heck of a lot," Ferentz said. "Part of our film study is looking at last year's game. They'll get some reminders during the week."

Adrian Clayborn hasn't forgotten what happened last year in Ames as he prepares for Saturday's rivalry game against Iowa State (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET).

Sure, the final score read: Iowa 35, Iowa State 3. But Clayborn and his linemates didn't like another number -- 190.

That's how many rushing yards Alexander Robinson and the Cyclones racked up against Iowa last year. Although Iowa allowed more rush yards to both Michigan (195) and Ohio State (229), Iowa State had a better average rush (5.59 yards per carry) against the Hawkeyes.

"We really stunk it up," Clayborn recently told me. "We weren't playing the way we play. We weren't reading our keys and weren't doing anything right. We weren't playing physical.

"We just looked like a bunch of tired dogs out there."

Tired dogs might be the last description typically used to describe Iowa's defensive line. All four starters return this season -- Clayborn and Broderick Binns at the end spots, Karl Klug and Christian Ballard inside -- after they combined for 252 tackles, 52 tackles for loss, 27 sacks, 17 quarterback hurries, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 2009.

Add in top reserve Mike Daniels, and it's easy to see why Iowa's front four has been branded by many as the nation's top defensive line.

Just don't tell them about it.

"I try to tune out the outside world as much as I can," Ballard said. "I talked to a couple players who have been in this same spot, like Aaron Kampman. He let me know that all the attention you'll get will go away immediately if you don't perform, so performance is the No. 1 thing on our minds as a defense.

"The expectations and what people are saying is great, but you can't just rely on your expectations."

No player on Iowa's team enters the season with higher expectations than Clayborn. Coaches around the Big Ten were shocked that he decided to return for his senior season after recording 11.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles as a junior. He earned numerous preseason All-America honors and is considered at least a fringe candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

While quarterback Ricky Stanzi has achieved folk-hero status among Iowa fans, there's little doubt that the dread-locked Clayborn is the team's biggest celebrity.

"I didn't realize how bad it was until we both went to coach K's house," said Klug, referring to D-line coach Rick Kaczenski. "We carpooled, and as we’re walking back to his car, this random guy yells out the window, ‘Adrian!’ I asked him, ‘Does that happen a lot?’ and he says, ‘Yeah.’

"I can go under cover a little bit better."

Clayborn is the big name, but his line mates certainly share the spotlight.

"Christian, he’s just an incredible athlete," Clayborn said. "He's 300 pounds but he can run like a gazelle. Broderick's got those long arms, he can bat down anything. And Karl, he’s got a motor out of this world. And Mike Daniels, he's a beast. He's going to be good this year.

"It's going to be tough for teams to just focus on me."

Despite Clayborn's VIP status, the defensive line lacks big egos or huge personalities.

Just like their defensive scheme, tried and tested by coordinator Norm Parker through the decades, the Hawkeyes' linemen are straightforward but extremely effective at what they do.

"We rely on every guy to do their job," Klug said. "One guy screws up, the whole defense is screwed up. We really focus on fundamentals. We just don’t go out there and run around.

"As a group, we're all business."

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

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

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

Here's what stood out:

INDIANA

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

IOWA

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

MICHIGAN

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

NORTHWESTERN

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

OHIO STATE

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

PENN STATE

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

WISCONSIN

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

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Anyone who watched last November's de facto Big Ten championship game between Ohio State and Iowa didn't see much separating the teams.

The visiting Hawkeyes gave Ohio State all it could handle, despite playing without their starting quarterback, Ricky Stanzi. Iowa rallied from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game, and had a chance to win at the end of regulation before eventually falling 27-24 in overtime.

Both teams went on to win BCS bowls and both enter the 2010 season ranked in top 10. The overwhelming sense is that the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl -- or even the BCS title game -- will be decided Nov. 20, when Ohio State visits Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.

It seems natural to group Ohio State and Iowa entering the season, but Stanzi doesn't see things that way.

"Until someone beats them, there's really nothing to talk about," Stanzi told me Thursday. "They're a tremendous team, and we have no reason to even comment on them because we don't deserve to."

Shouldn't Iowa be put in Ohio State's class, especially after the Orange Bowl win?

"No, why should we be?" Stanzi replied. "What would be the reason to categorize us with them? Because we had a close game with them last year? They've won five straight titles; we haven't won five straight titles. Until a team beats them in the Big Ten, I don't think any team has a reason to hype up that game.

"Obviously, Ohio State's not buying into it because they're beating everybody."

Ohio State has beaten Iowa three consecutive times and 11 times in the teams' last 12 meetings.

Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz owns only one win against Jim Tressel (2004), and Iowa owns just four wins against the Scarlet and Gray since 1962. Most of the losses have been ugly.

Looking at the evidence, Stanzi's assessment might be spot on.

"I hope we are at some point," Ferentz said when asked if the Hawkeyes could be in Ohio State's class. "People are talking about them in the national championship, and rightfully so, and they've won five straight [Big Ten] championships. If you look at those criteria, we're certainly not in that class.

"But that's the great thing about the conference race: We're all on the same starting line next week."

Iowa hopes to be hitting its stride when the Buckeyes come to town.

"We haven't beaten them yet," defensive tackle Christian Ballard said. "We haven't beaten them in a while, actually. It's going to be a good, tough match this year."

1. In an American Football Coaches Association survey taken earlier this year, 93 percent of FBS head coaches prefer the bowls over a playoff, and 85 percent say that they like the way the BCS picks its teams. However, 30 percent want to see “some modifications” in the BCS system. Yeah, I know. The math doesn’t quite add up but that’s all right. When the commissioners decide to make changes, they will listen to the AFCA about as much as they’ll listen to me.

2. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told a great story Wednesday to illustrate the leadership of defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard. On a Friday last spring when the Hawkeyes’ defensive tackles got banged up, Ferentz said, ends Clayborn and Ballard jumped in and took snaps at tackle without being asked. “[O]utside guys, they are not always wild about going inside,” Ferentz said. In fact, Ballard moved to tackle and started every game last season.

3. After Oregon athletic director Mike Bellotti resigned last week, I mocked the practice of athletic directors who hire consultants to help them find head coaches. A current athletic director pointed out to me that consultants provide cover for schools that hire and for coaches interested in moving. But discretion always has been part of the process. I believe consultants are just another example of profligate athletic spending. Maybe I’m naïve.

No Big Ten team has waited longer for its bowl game than Iowa, which finally hits the field tonight against No. 9 Georgia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET).

Here are three keys for the Hawkeyes in the game:

1. Run the ball well on first down to take pressure off of Stanzi: It's time for Iowa's offensive line to rise to the challenge. The Hawkeyes can keep Georgia Tech's offense off of the field by effectively running the ball to set up the play-action pass to Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. Iowa has been one of the nation's worst first-down rushing teams, but if it gets into manageable second and third downs, it can do quarterback Ricky Stanzi a big favor. Stanzi struggled with slow starts even when he was playing every week, so he can use all the help he can get from the run game because he hasn't played since Nov. 7.

2. Strong performances from the defensive tackles: The defenses that have the best success against the triple option receive big plays from the big guys inside. Iowa defensive tackles Karl Klug and Christian Ballard aren't huge space eaters, but they move very well and can generate push off of the line. Klug and Ballard need to take away the lanes between the tackles and force Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt into some quick decisions. All of Iowa's defensive linemen need to shed blocks and prevent Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer from getting into the secondary.

3. Own the fourth quarter: The final 15 minutes has been Iowa's time to shine this season. Stanzi is at his best down the stretch, and the Hawkeyes' downfield passing attack usually comes to life in crunch time. Iowa needs to avoid a slow start, as Georgia Tech could grab the lead and kill the clock with its offense. But if Iowa has a chance down the stretch, you have to like the Hawkeyes' chances. They've outscored opponents 114-55 in the fourth quarter this season. Georgia Tech isn't too shabby in the fourth quarter, either, outscoring foes 109-83.

From a macro level, there's very little mystery about the Georgia Tech offense.

The Yellow Jackets run the football 82.5 percent of the time, and have great success in doing so, ranking second nationally in rushing average (307.2 ypg). Iowa knows exactly what's coming from Georgia Tech on Tuesday night in the FedEx Orange Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET), and while figuring out the triple option isn't easy, the Hawkeyes defenders can dig in to stop the run.

"We've going to have to do a really good job with our front four," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz told me. "In a lot of games, certain players only have to really focus on one part of the attack, but these guys do a great job of making all 11 guys play at their best. They've got good players who are very well coached. It's going to be a heck of a challenge for our defense."

How has Iowa fared against the run this season? For the most part, very well.

The Hawkeyes rank 30th nationally in rushing defense (122 ypg), allowing only eight touchdowns on the ground and none in the first five games. Iowa's defensive line of Adrian Clayborn, Broderick Binns, Karl Klug and Christian Ballard is quite possibly the most recognizable group on the team.

But there are misperceptions about this Iowa team. One, which I'll explore later in the blog, is that the Hawkeyes run a boring and conservative offense. That's dead wrong.

Another claims that Iowa has a lockdown run defense. It's true in most games but off base in others.

The Hawkeyes were very effective in limiting the run against good teams and good backs like Penn State (Evan Royster) and Wisconsin (John Clay). But they also allowed 190 rush yards to Iowa State, struggled to stop Michigan's ground game for a stretch in the second half and couldn't keep a one-dimensional Ohio State offense in check on Nov. 14.

Iowa can't expect to totally shut down Josh Nesbitt, Jonathan Dwyer and the Tech rushing attack Tuesday, but it will need a better showing than the one in Columbus.

Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Iowa's rush defense:

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa might not need a dramatic comeback today.

The fourth-ranked Hawkeyes finally are off to a fast start and lead Northwestern 7-0 with 12:32 left in the first quarter. After going nowhere on two plays, quarterback Ricky Stanzi had tons of time on third-and-long and found a wide-open Marvin McNutt for a 74-yard touchdown. McNutt badly beat Northwestern safety Brian Peters on the play.

Iowa also looks fired up on defense, as tackle Christian Ballard dropped Mike Kafka for his second sack of the season. Northwestern, also a slow-start team, has held true to form as it's been all Hawkeyes so far.