2008 conference preview: Big Ten
by Roger Thompson
Ohio State will once again be the class of the Big Ten. No team can match the talent or experience that they have on both sides of the football. Their first goal is to win the conference title but, unless they win the national championship, their season could be considered a disappointment.
The next five spots could be interchangeable. Wisconsin should be the team to challenge Ohio State. They must find a quarterback and recover from numerous spring injuries to starters. Illinois is trying to prove that last year was not a fluke. They will need to find a replacement for Rashard Mendenhall but still have a lot of young talent on their roster. Penn State must also find a quarterback to throw to their talented receivers. Their defense should be strong, but losing linebacker Sean Lee for the year to a knee injury will be a big blow.
Michigan will get better as the season progresses as they learn Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense. The defense will need to keep them in the games until the offense catches up. Michigan State lost all six of their games last year by a touchdown or less and with this being year two in coach Mike Dantoni’s tenure, the Spartans will be better.
Purdue will have an experienced quarterback in Curtis Painter and will need to find some playmakers for him to be able to throw to. Iowa, Indiana and Northwestern could be a spoiler but have some work to do to be a contender. Minnesota will have a good offense but the defense, which was ranked last in Division I last year, will rely on mostly junior college players and incoming freshman. They are still at least a year away from moving up in the conference standings.
Conference Power Rankings
1. Ohio State
2. Wisconsin
3. Illinois
4. Penn State
5. Michigan
6. Michigan State
7. Purdue
8. Iowa
9. Indiana
10. Northwestern
11. Minnesota
First Team All-Conference
QB: Curtis Painter, Sr., Purdue
RB: Chris Wells, Jr., Ohio State
RB: P.J. Hill, Jr., Wisconsin
WR: Brian Robiskie, Sr., Ohio State
WR: Arrelious Benn, So., Illinois
TE: Travis Beckum, Sr., Wisconsin
OG: Kraig Urbik, Sr., Wisconsin
OG: Steve Rehring, Sr., Ohio State
OT: Alex Boone, Sr., Ohio State
OT: Xavier Fulton, Sr., Illinois
C: A.Q. Shipley, Sr., Penn State
DE: Greg Middleton, Jr., Indiana
DT: Terrence Taylor, Sr., Michigan
DT: John Gill, Sr., Northwestern
DE: Maurice Evans, Jr., Penn State
LB: Tim Jamison, Sr., Michigan
LB: James Laurinaitis, Sr., Ohio State
LB: Marcus Freeman, Sr., Ohio State
S: Anderson Russell, Jr., Ohio State
S: Shane Carter, Jr., Wisconsin
CB: Malcolm Jenkins, Sr., Ohio State
CB: Vontae Davis, Jr., Illinois
P: Jeremy Boone, Jr., Penn State
K: Austin Starr, Sr., Indiana
KR: A.J. Wallace, Jr., Penn State
PR: David Gilreath, So., Wisconsin
Second Team All-Conference
QB: Todd Boeckman, Sr., Ohio State
RB: Javon Ringer, Sr., Michigan St
RB: Tyrell Sutton, Sr., Northwestern
WR: Greg Matthews, Jr., Michigan
WR: Derrick Williams, Sr., Penn State
TE: Jack Simmons, Sr., Minnesota
OG: Rich Ohrnberger, Sr., Penn State
OG: Dan Doering, Jr., Iowa
OT: Steve Schilling, So., Michigan
OT: Sean Sester, Sr., Purdue
C: Ryan McDonald, Sr., Illinois
DE: Matt Shaughnessy, Sr., Wisconsin
DT: Jason Chapman, Sr., Wisconsin
DT: Cameron Heyward, So., Ohio State
DE: Mitch King, Sr., Iowa
LB: Anthony Heygood, Sr., Purdue
LB: Greg Jones, So., Michigan State
LB: Jonathan Casillas, Sr., Wisconsin
S: Jamario O’Neal, Sr., Ohio State
S: Brandon Erwin, Jr., Purdue
CB: Morgan Trent, Sr., Michigan
CB: Donald Washington, Jr., Ohio State
P: Justin Kucek, Sr., Minnesota
K: Kevin Kelly, Sr., Penn State
KR: James Bailey, Sr., Indiana
PR: Brian Hartline, Jr., Ohio State
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year: James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State
Freshman of the Year: Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
Top 10 Senior NFL Draft Prospects (w/ explanations)
1. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Jenkins surprised many by deciding to return for his senior season. He’s big and fast for a corner and has very good recovery speed. He can use his senior year to improve on his coverage ability but will be a top pick next year. He can also play safety and is a good tackler.
2. James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State
Laurinaitis is the leader of the defense. He’s fast enough to drop into coverage and strong enough to defend the run. He could have come out this year and been a top pick, but decided to come back for his senior season. Great open field tackler.
3. Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
At only 225 pounds Beckum isn’t the biggest tight end but has exceptional athletic ability and can cause matchup problems for a defense. Had 75 catches for 982 yards and 6 touchdowns last year. Has very good hands and should be the top tight end picked in next year’s draft.
4. Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
Robiskie is the Buckeyes leading receiver and has very good hands and speed. Works well at finding the seam in zones and is well prepared for games. Will benefit by returning for his senior season.
5. Alex Boone, OT, Ohio State
A huge, athletic left tackle who will protect Boeckman’s blind side. Has very good technique and is very nimble for a big guy. Can play either tackle position and could be a first round pick next year.
6. Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue
Painter is a natural passer who is very accurate. He cut down on his interceptions last year and is getting better at managing the game. He could be the top quarterback taken in next year’s draft.
7. Todd Boeckman, QB, Ohio State
At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Boeckman has prototypical size for a quarterback. He throws a very accurate deep ball and led the Buckeyes to last year’s championship game. This will be his second year as the starter and should improve on his consistency. Could be a first-round pick next year.
8. Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin
Urbik is a major reason why Wisconsin is so dominant in running the ball. A road grater who is really strong and is improving every year. Has played tackle, but guard is where he will play at the next level.
9. Tim Jamison, OLB, Michigan
Michigan will rely on their defense to win games until the offense gets acquainted with their new scheme. Jamison is the leader and is very good at pressuring the quarterback. He can play outside linebacker or defensive end. Will fit in perfectly in a 3-4 in the NFL.
10. Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State
Another Ohio State linebacker who is very good at stopping the run and also with dropping into coverage. Freeman gets overshadowed by Laurinaitis, but is a very good player who will be drafted high next year. Has very good sideline-to-sideline speed.
Top 5 Junior NFL Draft Prospects (w/explanations)
1. Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
Wells will be a Heisman Trophy contender this year. He had more than 1,600 yards rushing last year and 15 touchdowns. He has the size and speed to make life difficult for defenders to bring him down.
2. P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin
Hill was the National Freshman of the year two years ago. He had some injuries last season that limited his production but he still rushed for more than a 1,000 yards and had 14 touchdowns. He’s a powerful runner but has quick feet to get by defenders. Not real fast but he’s a very productive back.
3. Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Davis was a finalist for the Thorpe Award last year for the nation’s best defensive back. He had 4 interceptions last year as well as 63 tackles. Davis is a very good cornerback who not only is good at defending the pass but is willing to come up and make a hit on the running back.
4. Maurice Evans, DE, Penn State
Evans is one of the top defense ends in the nation and is on the early list for the Nagurski Award watch list for the best defensive player in the nation. Very good at getting to the quarterback, Evans is a terror for offensive linemen.
5. Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana
Led the nation in sacks last year with 16. Middleton is also on the early list for the Nagurski Award for next year as the nation’s best defensive player. At 6-foot-3 and 272 pounds has good size for his position and has a variety of moves to get to the quarterback.
Non-conference Games of the Year:
1. Ohio State at USC, Sept. 13
2. Illinois at Wisconsin, Aug. 30
3. Wisconsin at Fresno St., Sept. 13
4. Michigan at Notre Dame, Sept. 13
5. Michigan State at Cal, Aug. 30
Conference Games of the Year:
1. Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 22
2. Ohio State at Wisconsin, Oct. 4
3. Penn State at Wisconsin, Oct. 11
4. Penn State at Ohio State, Oct. 25
5. Illinois at Wisconsin, Oct. 25
Unit Rankings
Backfield
1.Ohio State
2.Wisconsin
3.Michigan State
Receivers
1.Penn State
2.Ohio State
3.Michigan
Offensive Line
1.Ohio State
2.Wisconsin
3.Penn State
Overall Offense
1.Ohio State
2.Illinois
3.Purdue
Defensive Line
1.Wisconsin
2.Ohio State
3.Penn State
Linebackers
1.Ohio State
2.Penn State
3.Michigan
Defensive Back
1.Ohio State
2.Michigan
3.Wisconsin
Overall Defense
1.Ohio State
2.Michigan
3.Penn State
Special Teams
1.Penn State
2.Ohio State
3.Indiana