AJWatson3
June-27th-2003, 04:44 PM
Big Ten could feature offensive fireworks
By Mel Kiper Jr.
ESPN.com
Illinois
The Illini are a team that does well when the expectations are low. When they are picked to be in the mix they fall back but when they are pegged for the bottom third they usually surpass expectations. Illinois likes the underdog role and that's what it is this year.
Ron Turner is a quality coach and will be working with a veteran quarterback in Jon Beutjer, who looked good in the spring and has taken control of the team after feeling his way into the program as a transfer from Iowa last year. He should be much improved, even after completing nearly 60 percent of his passes and throwing 21 touchdown passes against just 11 interceptions, but will have to deal with the loss of his top four receivers from last season. The returning wideouts combined for all of one catch and seven receiving yards last season. Sophomore Kendrick Jones was a special-teamer last year and needs to become more consistent, while junior Ade Adeyemo and juco transfer Kelvin Hayden may have an impact.
Morris Virgil may split time with freshman Ibrahim Halsey at running back. Halsey did not report to school until the spring semester last year, but went through spring ball and is a powerful kid with good moves. Carey Davis is also a veteran fullback who can contribute as an offensive threat and a blocker, and the running game will be relied upon heavily because of the inexperience at receiver. The offensive line will help in that regard with standouts in left tackle Sean Bubin and right tackle Bucky Babcock.
Senior defensive end Derrick Strong is relentless getting to the ball and is completely healthy after playing most of last year with a dislocated shoulder. Christian Morton needs to get consistent and pick up the slack after the loss of Eugene Wilson at cornerback, while Matt Sinclair is the leader of the defense and has a Dick Butkus mentality at middle linebacker.
The Illini will play an interesting game Nov. 1 at Iowa, with Beutjer facing his old team, and Illinois loses Ohio State and Penn State from the schedule and gains the Hawkeyes and Michigan State. With that dynamic, things look a lot more favorable if the Illini hope to surprise some people.
Indiana
IU was one of the worst teams in the Big Ten on defense last year, giving up 235 rushing yards per game. The Hoosiers need to get their defensive tackles up out of the 265-pound range if they hope to improve that significantly, and the strength of the defense will be in the secondary. Sophomore corner Damien Jones picked off three passes last season and leads the way in the backfield, while Herana-Daze Jones moves his seven solo tackles per game from linebacker to strong safety.
The Hoosiers got a big boost on offense in the spring with the arrival of transfer Matt LoVecchio from Notre Dame. The coaches like the poise, confidence and leadership he brings to the offense, and Courtney Roby will be LoVecchio's top target after having the third-best receiving total in IU history last year at 1,039 yards. Senior Glen Johnson is also a solid player and caught 53 passes last year, and Aaron Halterman will also be heavily involved in the offense after hauling in 27 balls last season.
The problem, however, is at running back. Last year's leading rusher Yamar Washington tore his ACL one day before the spring game and is out for the year, which thrusts Brian Lewis into the starting role. The center and both offensive tackles are new, also, so pass protection is going to be a concern for LoVecchio early in the year in the West Coast offense.
Iowa
The question for the Hawkeyes is whether they are reloading or rebuilding. They think it is the former, starting with 6-7, 250-pound senior quarterback Nathan Chandler, who saw some action last year behind Brad Banks. He is a pro-style passer with a strong arm and had an impressive spring, but the offensive style has changed with a pocket passer taking over for a scrambler.
Fred Russell returns at running back and will take some of the pressure off the passing game as Chandler gets acclimated, and the offense should get a boost when Jermelle Lewis returns from knee surgery in October. The wide receivers also look good with Maurice Brown and Ed Hinkel coming off a season in which they combined for 70 receptions, 1,185 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
But the big question will be the offensive line. Robert Gallery is the only returning starter up front, and as the best left tackle in college football he will be counted on to bring some leadership to the table after the loss of NFL draft picks Eric Steinbach, Bruce Nelson and Ben Sobieski. Head coach Kirk Ferentz is also one of the top O-line gurus in the nation, though, and he feels this unit should be OK with experienced players like Sam Aiello and Eric Rothwell stepping in.
The offense will also miss tight end Dallas Clark and Iowa will count on Erik Jensen to fill some of he void left by Clark's 43 catches last season, but despite seeing playing time last season Jensen had just two receptions. In short, the offense is in a state of flux and will have to hope things come together quickly early in the season.
Should the attack bog down, senior place kicker Nate Kaeding can salvage drives with field goals. He won the Lou Groza award last year after making 21 of his 24 attempts.
The Hawkeyes should be solid on the other side of the ball, though. Jared Clauss and Jon Babineaux are a strong duo up the middle at tackle, and Grant Steen is a terrific linebacker behind them. Bob Sanders is also one of the best strong safeties in college, but he will need some help in the secondary from sophomore corners Antwan Allen and Jovon Johnson. They may be vulnerable in the passing game, though, as Allen goes 5-10, 175 and Jones is 5-9, 170.
Add to that a more difficult schedule that drops Northwestern and Indiana and adds Ohio State and Illinois, as well as seeing Arizona State coming to Kinnick Stadium, and things are looking much tougher for Iowa this year.
Michigan State
New head coach John L. Smith has said that redshirt freshman Drew Stanton may enter fall practice as the No. 1 quarterback while Jeff Smoker continues to take care of off-the-field issues stemming from his treatment for substance abuse. Stanton is 6-3, 225 pounds and was productive in the spring, and he is an intelligent player who doesn't make a lot of mistakes and can move the offense effectively. Smith has developed quarterbacks at every stop in his coaching career, and it looks as though Stanton is a candidate to join Smith proteges like Doug Nussmeier, Chris Redman and Dave Ragone.
The Spartans also feel Matt Trannon is their future at wide receiver. He was a Prop 48 casualty last year, but has tremendous size at 6-6 and 210 pounds, and his great athletic ability has people feeling like he could be the next Charles Rogers. Sophomore Kyle Brown has some big-play ability, and former quarterback Aaron Alexander also brings size to the position at 6-5. The only worry is that these three players have never caught a pass in a game.
And with the tight end always being a featured part of Smith's offenses, look out for junior tight end Eric Knott. He has terrific speed for a 6-3, 270-pounder and he was second on the team last year with 35 catches and four touchdowns. The offensive line will rely heavily on guys like sixth-year guard Paul Harker and fellow veteran Joe Tate, and sophomore tackle Stephon Wheeler. Chris Morris will also have to fill in at center after Brian Ottney left the team because of chronic knee injuries.
Junior Tyrell Dortch is back to battle for the No. 1 spot at running back after sitting out last year with a broken leg, and sophomore Jaren Hayes is in the mix as well. Both have good hands and should also be heavily involved in the passing game.
Things are not looking so rosy for the defense. The pass rush has been non-existent at MSU since the graduation of Julian Peterson after the 1999 season, and the Spartans are hoping redshirt freshman Clifton Ryan and junior Clifford Dukes can give them a spark off the edge. Mike Labinjo has lost his starting job to Seth Mitchell at linebacker, but junior corner Roderick Maples had a great spring and is a speedy cover guy who will lead the secondary.
No matter who is on the field, though, MSU must get better on that side of the ball. MSU allowed an average of 213 rushing yards (110th nationally and ninth in the Big Ten), 33.2 points (96th overall) and 402.7 total yards (83rd) per game. How much of an improvement this defense makes will determine where Michigan State goes. Young players are being forced into the mix all over the field, and their performance will be important.
Another big point Smith made in the offseason was an emphasis on accountability in the classroom. The Spartans posted their highest semester GPA since 1996 last spring, and players who don't take care of business Monday through Friday will have to forget about Saturdays in the fall.
Wisconsin
The Badgers could have one of the best offenses in the Big Ten, but in order for Wisconsin to maximize its production Lee Evans is going to have to be healthy. He has not played since injuring his knee in the 2002 spring game, and the offense could be outstanding if he is at 100 percent. He could join sophomores Jonathan Orr and Brandon Williams and junior Darren Charles to form the best receiving corps in the conference.
Barry Alvarez's team also has a terrific running back tandem in Anthony Davis and underrated sophomore Dwayne Smith, who rushed for 1,555 and 552 yards, respectively, last season. The coaches are also high on redshirt freshman Booker Stanley, so that gives the offense seven quality skill players. The health of quarterback Jim Sorgi will also be key, because he is not the kind of mobile quarterback Brooks Bollinger was and does not have a lot of depth behind him.
That is where the offensive line comes in. Donovan Raiola will have to step in and fill the gap left at center by the graduation of Al Johnson, while Morgan Davies and Mike Lorenz will move into the starting lineup at left and right tackle, respectively. Lorenz did gain some experience last year when lining up at tight end in running situations last year.
Defensively, the Badgers have a lot of experience. Defensive end Erasmus James led the team with 17 QB hurries last year and had four sacks, and he could be looking at 10 or 12 sacks this year. Junior Anttaj Hawthorne is also a very good defensive tackle who had only two sacks last year but came through with 12 hurries and 68 tackles on the interior.
Linebacker Jeff Mack is the leader of the defense and Alex Lewis is a fast, athletic linebacker who was third on the team with 86 tackles including 11 for loss. Safety Jim Leonard is the best player on the defense, though, and even though he goes only 5-8 and 185 pounds he racked up 99 tackles and was always in the right place at the right time.
One of the big questions is the punting situation, which is wide open. The Badgers averaged just 37.4 per punt last year and were very inconsistent. R.J. Morse has been the starter for the last two years but could very well see some competition this season.
The opener at West Virginia will be interesting because the teams look very even on paper, but with three home games before opening the Big Ten schedule at Penn State and Illinois, this looks like a team that could compete for the Big Ten title. But Evans will have to be healthy, the offense will have to gel and whomever is punting will have to come through in the field position battle.
Michigan
The Wolverines will have a fun offense to watch with John Navarre at quarterback, who will become the first Michigan quarterback to start four straight openers since Rick Leach from 1975-78. Chris Perry comes back for his senior year at running back after gaining 1,110 yards last year, and Braylon Edwards is a big-time wide receiver who caught 67 passes and 10 touchdowns last season. Jason Avant and Tyrece Butler will also contribute at wideout, while the always-solid Michigan line led by David Baas at guard, Dave Pearson at center and Tony Pape at tackle will be a force.
The key for the offense, though, will be replacing tight end Bennie Joppru. He had a big season last year with 53 receptions and will likely be replaced by former quarterback Andrew Mignery. Also in the mix will be Tim Massoquoi, but the duo comes into the season with three combined catches in their careers.
A lot of good defensive players were lost to the NFL, but there are plenty returning, too. Victor Hobson and Cato June are gone, but because of the number of substitutions the Wolverines make during a game, those players coming back could be considered veterans. Sophomore defensive linemen Gabe Watson, Larry Harrison and Jeremy Van Alstyne will complement returning starter Grant Bowman. Linebacker Carl Diggs broke his leg against Ohio State and sat out the spring, but he is back to 100 percent along with Zack Kaufman, who is getting healthy after a knee injury. Roy Manning, Scott McClintock and Pierre Woods were also productive last year and make that a deep unit.
The secondary is led by Marlin Jackson, one of the best shut-down corners in college football, and senior Jeremy Leseur provides a solid bookend at the other corner. Sophomore Ernest Shazor will step in at free safety, and strong safety Jon Shaw made a few big plays last year.
Michigan will have to get off to a good start early in the year when they host Notre Dame and follow that game with a trip to Oregon. The trip to Autzen stadium will be daunting, as the Wolverines have gone 1-3 on the road against the Pac-10 since 1983.
Minnesota
The Golden Gophers were and up-and-coming, underrated team last year and wound up beating a good Arkansas team, 29-14, in the Music City Bowl, their first bowl win since 1986. A potential sleeper in the Big Ten this year, Minnesota has been to a bowl in three of the last four years and is looking for big things in its seventh year under head coach Glen Mason.
The Gophers are loaded on offense. Senior quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq improved his passing yardage from 1,393 yards in 2001 to 2,184 in 2002, and he is as important to his team as any quarterback in the Big Ten. They also have senior Thomas Tapeh bringing back over 900 yards rushing and junior Terry Jackson II coming off a 1,318-yard effort in 2002. Junior Marion Barber III is healthy, though, after missing most of last season with a hamstring injury and has distanced himself from the pack in the backfield.
Junior Aaron Hosack averaged 22.4 yards per catch at wide receiver and has great size at 6-5, 210 pounds, and juco transfer Parris Hamilton is another wideout to watch. Ben Utecht is an outstanding tight end who caught 37 passes for a 13-yard average last as a junior, and if the bad ankle that plagued him last year is at 100 percent he is arguably one of the top two or three tight ends in college.
Greg Eslinger (6-3, 280) is back to anchor the offensive line after starting every game as a true freshman and will line up alongside another sophomore who started every game last year at guard, Mark Setterstrom. The line will be better because of that battle-tested pair, and they will help lead the way to a lot of points this season.
Improvement on defense is key, as the Gophers wore down and ended up allowing 178.6 rushing yards per game last season, including 228.2 in Big Ten play. Sophomore tackles Scott Stephenson (6-3, 285), Anthony Montgomery (6-5, 315) and Dan Kwapinski (6-5, 280) will be important up front in helping out fifth-year middle linebacker Ben West, who had 103 tackles last year. Free safety Eli Ward led the team with 115 stops and will get it done in the backfield, but the play in the middle of the line will make or break this unit.
Minnesota plays a weak non-conference schedule against Tulsa, Troy State, Ohio and Louisiana-Lafayette before opening the Big Ten against Penn State, but the Gophers caught a break with Indiana replacing Ohio State on the conference schedule.
Northwestern
Another team that could be dangerous this year, and possibly be ready to challenge in 2004, the Wildcats return only 10 seniors in 2003. Add to that the fact that they lose Iowa and Michigan State from the conference schedule while adding Michigan and Wisconsin, and things won't be easy. Miami-Ohio is also a dangerous non-conference opponent and has won five of its last six against Northwestern, but the rest of the non-league schedule is fairly winnable.
Everything on offense revolves around quarterback Brent Basanez, who passed for better than 2,200 yards last year as a freshman, but sophomore Alexander Webb may also be in the mix to give the Wildcats a nice 1-2 punch. Senior tailback Jason Wright is not super-fast, but he is a complete player who can block and catch in addition to being a productive runner. And Northwestern can count on receiver Kunle Patrick, whose streak of 34 straight games with a catch ties him with Roy Williams of Texas and Wes Welker of Texas Tech for the longest current streak in the nation.
The big addition to the defense will be the return of Pat Durr at middle linebacker. Durr missed all of last season with a knee injury and is an all-Big Ten caliber player. Sophomore Loren Howard (6-4, 280) was the Big Ten defensive freshman of the year last season after recording 13.5 tackles for loss, and the Wildcats beat out Arizona State to get him. Cornerback is a question and Jeff Backes has been moved over from running back in an attempt to solidify that position.
With the schedule getting tougher and few senior leaders, a 6-6 season would be an accomplishment and could be a catalyst for 2004.
Ohio State
All 11 offensive starters return for the buckeyes on offense, and they even have young offensive linemen like Nick Mangold and Rob Sims to make them seven-deep up front. And with all the experience coming back, senior quarterback Craig Krenzel will not be satisfied with simply avoiding mistakes. He will be able to hand the ball to terrific sophomore Maurice Clarett out of the backfield, but he will also look to make some things happen with wide receivers Michael Jenkins and Santonio Holmes. Jenkins is one of the top wideouts in college, and Holmes will play an important role as coach Jim Tressel tries to keep two-way star Chris Gamble focused on defense, at least during the heat of September. Holmes will also return punts and kicks.
The key defensively will be how well senior Will Allen and sophomore Nate Salley can fill the void left at the safety spots by the graduation of Donnie Nickey and Mike Doss. Allen made big plays against Michigan and Miami last year and is an excellent player, so the coaches feel good about that area. A.J. Hawk is also taking over for Cie Grant at outside linebacker after playing a significant role last year. Mat Wilhelm's replacement at middle linebacker is still to be determined, with Fred Pagac and Mike D'Andre battling it out. Darrion Scott has moved from defensive end to defensive tackle, and junior Simon Fraser brings some very good pass rush skills to the spot vacated by Scott. There is also a fine group of young defensive linemen led by Quinn Pitcock, Mike Kudla and Jay Richardson to bolster the front.
Ohio State will have a chance to get its feet under it early by playing the first five games of the season in Columbus. The opener with Washington will be tough, but the Big Ten schedule is favorable and OSU should be right in the mix again.
Penn State
The Nittany Lions are an underrated team and could surprise plenty of people. Offensively, sophomore Kinta Palmer has to develop quickly as Bryant Johnson's replacement at wide receiver to give Zack Mills a chance at making some plays. Senior tackle Chris McKelvey is going to be an important piece of the puzzle up front as Penn State breaks in a replacement for 2,000-yard rusher Larry Johnson. Look for freshman Austin Scott to be in the mix there after rushing for more than 3,000 yards and 50 touchdowns as a high school senior.
On the other side of the ball, NFL-bound linemen Jimmy Kennedy, Anthony Adams and Michael Haynes must be replaced, but the staff likes sophomore ends Lavon Chisley and Matt Rice, who was co-winner of the most improved defensive player in the spring. Sophomore Tamba Hali figures to make an impact at tackle after gaining expedience last season, and redshirt freshman LeviBrown has the size at 6-5, 312 pounds to take Kennedy's place in the middle.
Veteran end John Bronson is also back, and senior middle linebacker Gino Capone is an excellent player who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last year. Derrick Wake is also developing nicely at linebacker and blocked four kicks last year. Senior Rich Gardner is an excellent corner who returned two interceptions for touchdowns last year, while sophomore safety Calvin Lowery is a gifted athlete who is looking for a big season after breaking a leg last year.
The Nittany Lions must be breathing a sigh of relief with Michigan off the conference schedule, as Penn State has lost six straight to the Wolverines, and PSU will have the advantage early with five of its first six games at home.
Purdue
The Boilermakers are a highly-regarded, veteran team and should compete for the conference title. They will play 12 straight games without a bye week, though, so Joe Tiller has his team starting fall practice a little later. That should be at least some help when the Boilers travel to Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State during the Big 10 portion of their schedule.
Junior quarterback Kyle Orton distanced himself from sophomore Brandon Kirsch in the spring, essentially ending the platoon there and making this Orton's team. Orton knows Tiller's system inside and out. Senior Joey Harris is a fast back who can break off long runs and had a 1,00-yard season in 2002, but sophomore Brandon Jones and freshman Jarrod Boyd give Purdue three solid options in the one-back offense it runs.
Ray Williams is one of the top sophomore receivers in the nation and will be a terrific compliment to veterans John Standeford and Taylor Stubblefield. The coaches also feel the offensive line is more athletic than last year, but there is not a lot of depth there. Mike Otto did have a great spring to solidify the left tackle spot, though, and 6-7, 315-pounder Kelly Butler is entering his third year as a starter at right tackle.
Senior defensive end Shaun Phillips is a sack artist on the other side of the ball, and Stuart Schweigert is a supreme free safety who makes plays all over the field, one of the best defensive players in the nation. The linebacking corps is also solid with emotional leader Niko Koutouvides in the middle and speedster Landon Johnson on the outside, with Johnson bringing the ability to matchup with running backs in coverage. Veteran Craig Terrell returns at tackle, while Dontre Fleming is a promising player at that spot who will help fill the void left by the injury to heralded freshman Anthony Spencer in the spring. And don't forget about d-line recruit Ray Edwards (6-5, 295), the rare blue-chipper who chose a school like Purdue over SEC power Tennessee.
The cornerbacks are also considered a strength. Jacques Reeves is a big corner at 6-1 and almost 200 pounds, and Antwaun Rogers goes 6-2, 195 pounds and did a great job against Washington's stud receiver Reggie Williams in last year's Sun Bowl.
By Mel Kiper Jr.
ESPN.com
Illinois
The Illini are a team that does well when the expectations are low. When they are picked to be in the mix they fall back but when they are pegged for the bottom third they usually surpass expectations. Illinois likes the underdog role and that's what it is this year.
Ron Turner is a quality coach and will be working with a veteran quarterback in Jon Beutjer, who looked good in the spring and has taken control of the team after feeling his way into the program as a transfer from Iowa last year. He should be much improved, even after completing nearly 60 percent of his passes and throwing 21 touchdown passes against just 11 interceptions, but will have to deal with the loss of his top four receivers from last season. The returning wideouts combined for all of one catch and seven receiving yards last season. Sophomore Kendrick Jones was a special-teamer last year and needs to become more consistent, while junior Ade Adeyemo and juco transfer Kelvin Hayden may have an impact.
Morris Virgil may split time with freshman Ibrahim Halsey at running back. Halsey did not report to school until the spring semester last year, but went through spring ball and is a powerful kid with good moves. Carey Davis is also a veteran fullback who can contribute as an offensive threat and a blocker, and the running game will be relied upon heavily because of the inexperience at receiver. The offensive line will help in that regard with standouts in left tackle Sean Bubin and right tackle Bucky Babcock.
Senior defensive end Derrick Strong is relentless getting to the ball and is completely healthy after playing most of last year with a dislocated shoulder. Christian Morton needs to get consistent and pick up the slack after the loss of Eugene Wilson at cornerback, while Matt Sinclair is the leader of the defense and has a Dick Butkus mentality at middle linebacker.
The Illini will play an interesting game Nov. 1 at Iowa, with Beutjer facing his old team, and Illinois loses Ohio State and Penn State from the schedule and gains the Hawkeyes and Michigan State. With that dynamic, things look a lot more favorable if the Illini hope to surprise some people.
Indiana
IU was one of the worst teams in the Big Ten on defense last year, giving up 235 rushing yards per game. The Hoosiers need to get their defensive tackles up out of the 265-pound range if they hope to improve that significantly, and the strength of the defense will be in the secondary. Sophomore corner Damien Jones picked off three passes last season and leads the way in the backfield, while Herana-Daze Jones moves his seven solo tackles per game from linebacker to strong safety.
The Hoosiers got a big boost on offense in the spring with the arrival of transfer Matt LoVecchio from Notre Dame. The coaches like the poise, confidence and leadership he brings to the offense, and Courtney Roby will be LoVecchio's top target after having the third-best receiving total in IU history last year at 1,039 yards. Senior Glen Johnson is also a solid player and caught 53 passes last year, and Aaron Halterman will also be heavily involved in the offense after hauling in 27 balls last season.
The problem, however, is at running back. Last year's leading rusher Yamar Washington tore his ACL one day before the spring game and is out for the year, which thrusts Brian Lewis into the starting role. The center and both offensive tackles are new, also, so pass protection is going to be a concern for LoVecchio early in the year in the West Coast offense.
Iowa
The question for the Hawkeyes is whether they are reloading or rebuilding. They think it is the former, starting with 6-7, 250-pound senior quarterback Nathan Chandler, who saw some action last year behind Brad Banks. He is a pro-style passer with a strong arm and had an impressive spring, but the offensive style has changed with a pocket passer taking over for a scrambler.
Fred Russell returns at running back and will take some of the pressure off the passing game as Chandler gets acclimated, and the offense should get a boost when Jermelle Lewis returns from knee surgery in October. The wide receivers also look good with Maurice Brown and Ed Hinkel coming off a season in which they combined for 70 receptions, 1,185 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
But the big question will be the offensive line. Robert Gallery is the only returning starter up front, and as the best left tackle in college football he will be counted on to bring some leadership to the table after the loss of NFL draft picks Eric Steinbach, Bruce Nelson and Ben Sobieski. Head coach Kirk Ferentz is also one of the top O-line gurus in the nation, though, and he feels this unit should be OK with experienced players like Sam Aiello and Eric Rothwell stepping in.
The offense will also miss tight end Dallas Clark and Iowa will count on Erik Jensen to fill some of he void left by Clark's 43 catches last season, but despite seeing playing time last season Jensen had just two receptions. In short, the offense is in a state of flux and will have to hope things come together quickly early in the season.
Should the attack bog down, senior place kicker Nate Kaeding can salvage drives with field goals. He won the Lou Groza award last year after making 21 of his 24 attempts.
The Hawkeyes should be solid on the other side of the ball, though. Jared Clauss and Jon Babineaux are a strong duo up the middle at tackle, and Grant Steen is a terrific linebacker behind them. Bob Sanders is also one of the best strong safeties in college, but he will need some help in the secondary from sophomore corners Antwan Allen and Jovon Johnson. They may be vulnerable in the passing game, though, as Allen goes 5-10, 175 and Jones is 5-9, 170.
Add to that a more difficult schedule that drops Northwestern and Indiana and adds Ohio State and Illinois, as well as seeing Arizona State coming to Kinnick Stadium, and things are looking much tougher for Iowa this year.
Michigan State
New head coach John L. Smith has said that redshirt freshman Drew Stanton may enter fall practice as the No. 1 quarterback while Jeff Smoker continues to take care of off-the-field issues stemming from his treatment for substance abuse. Stanton is 6-3, 225 pounds and was productive in the spring, and he is an intelligent player who doesn't make a lot of mistakes and can move the offense effectively. Smith has developed quarterbacks at every stop in his coaching career, and it looks as though Stanton is a candidate to join Smith proteges like Doug Nussmeier, Chris Redman and Dave Ragone.
The Spartans also feel Matt Trannon is their future at wide receiver. He was a Prop 48 casualty last year, but has tremendous size at 6-6 and 210 pounds, and his great athletic ability has people feeling like he could be the next Charles Rogers. Sophomore Kyle Brown has some big-play ability, and former quarterback Aaron Alexander also brings size to the position at 6-5. The only worry is that these three players have never caught a pass in a game.
And with the tight end always being a featured part of Smith's offenses, look out for junior tight end Eric Knott. He has terrific speed for a 6-3, 270-pounder and he was second on the team last year with 35 catches and four touchdowns. The offensive line will rely heavily on guys like sixth-year guard Paul Harker and fellow veteran Joe Tate, and sophomore tackle Stephon Wheeler. Chris Morris will also have to fill in at center after Brian Ottney left the team because of chronic knee injuries.
Junior Tyrell Dortch is back to battle for the No. 1 spot at running back after sitting out last year with a broken leg, and sophomore Jaren Hayes is in the mix as well. Both have good hands and should also be heavily involved in the passing game.
Things are not looking so rosy for the defense. The pass rush has been non-existent at MSU since the graduation of Julian Peterson after the 1999 season, and the Spartans are hoping redshirt freshman Clifton Ryan and junior Clifford Dukes can give them a spark off the edge. Mike Labinjo has lost his starting job to Seth Mitchell at linebacker, but junior corner Roderick Maples had a great spring and is a speedy cover guy who will lead the secondary.
No matter who is on the field, though, MSU must get better on that side of the ball. MSU allowed an average of 213 rushing yards (110th nationally and ninth in the Big Ten), 33.2 points (96th overall) and 402.7 total yards (83rd) per game. How much of an improvement this defense makes will determine where Michigan State goes. Young players are being forced into the mix all over the field, and their performance will be important.
Another big point Smith made in the offseason was an emphasis on accountability in the classroom. The Spartans posted their highest semester GPA since 1996 last spring, and players who don't take care of business Monday through Friday will have to forget about Saturdays in the fall.
Wisconsin
The Badgers could have one of the best offenses in the Big Ten, but in order for Wisconsin to maximize its production Lee Evans is going to have to be healthy. He has not played since injuring his knee in the 2002 spring game, and the offense could be outstanding if he is at 100 percent. He could join sophomores Jonathan Orr and Brandon Williams and junior Darren Charles to form the best receiving corps in the conference.
Barry Alvarez's team also has a terrific running back tandem in Anthony Davis and underrated sophomore Dwayne Smith, who rushed for 1,555 and 552 yards, respectively, last season. The coaches are also high on redshirt freshman Booker Stanley, so that gives the offense seven quality skill players. The health of quarterback Jim Sorgi will also be key, because he is not the kind of mobile quarterback Brooks Bollinger was and does not have a lot of depth behind him.
That is where the offensive line comes in. Donovan Raiola will have to step in and fill the gap left at center by the graduation of Al Johnson, while Morgan Davies and Mike Lorenz will move into the starting lineup at left and right tackle, respectively. Lorenz did gain some experience last year when lining up at tight end in running situations last year.
Defensively, the Badgers have a lot of experience. Defensive end Erasmus James led the team with 17 QB hurries last year and had four sacks, and he could be looking at 10 or 12 sacks this year. Junior Anttaj Hawthorne is also a very good defensive tackle who had only two sacks last year but came through with 12 hurries and 68 tackles on the interior.
Linebacker Jeff Mack is the leader of the defense and Alex Lewis is a fast, athletic linebacker who was third on the team with 86 tackles including 11 for loss. Safety Jim Leonard is the best player on the defense, though, and even though he goes only 5-8 and 185 pounds he racked up 99 tackles and was always in the right place at the right time.
One of the big questions is the punting situation, which is wide open. The Badgers averaged just 37.4 per punt last year and were very inconsistent. R.J. Morse has been the starter for the last two years but could very well see some competition this season.
The opener at West Virginia will be interesting because the teams look very even on paper, but with three home games before opening the Big Ten schedule at Penn State and Illinois, this looks like a team that could compete for the Big Ten title. But Evans will have to be healthy, the offense will have to gel and whomever is punting will have to come through in the field position battle.
Michigan
The Wolverines will have a fun offense to watch with John Navarre at quarterback, who will become the first Michigan quarterback to start four straight openers since Rick Leach from 1975-78. Chris Perry comes back for his senior year at running back after gaining 1,110 yards last year, and Braylon Edwards is a big-time wide receiver who caught 67 passes and 10 touchdowns last season. Jason Avant and Tyrece Butler will also contribute at wideout, while the always-solid Michigan line led by David Baas at guard, Dave Pearson at center and Tony Pape at tackle will be a force.
The key for the offense, though, will be replacing tight end Bennie Joppru. He had a big season last year with 53 receptions and will likely be replaced by former quarterback Andrew Mignery. Also in the mix will be Tim Massoquoi, but the duo comes into the season with three combined catches in their careers.
A lot of good defensive players were lost to the NFL, but there are plenty returning, too. Victor Hobson and Cato June are gone, but because of the number of substitutions the Wolverines make during a game, those players coming back could be considered veterans. Sophomore defensive linemen Gabe Watson, Larry Harrison and Jeremy Van Alstyne will complement returning starter Grant Bowman. Linebacker Carl Diggs broke his leg against Ohio State and sat out the spring, but he is back to 100 percent along with Zack Kaufman, who is getting healthy after a knee injury. Roy Manning, Scott McClintock and Pierre Woods were also productive last year and make that a deep unit.
The secondary is led by Marlin Jackson, one of the best shut-down corners in college football, and senior Jeremy Leseur provides a solid bookend at the other corner. Sophomore Ernest Shazor will step in at free safety, and strong safety Jon Shaw made a few big plays last year.
Michigan will have to get off to a good start early in the year when they host Notre Dame and follow that game with a trip to Oregon. The trip to Autzen stadium will be daunting, as the Wolverines have gone 1-3 on the road against the Pac-10 since 1983.
Minnesota
The Golden Gophers were and up-and-coming, underrated team last year and wound up beating a good Arkansas team, 29-14, in the Music City Bowl, their first bowl win since 1986. A potential sleeper in the Big Ten this year, Minnesota has been to a bowl in three of the last four years and is looking for big things in its seventh year under head coach Glen Mason.
The Gophers are loaded on offense. Senior quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq improved his passing yardage from 1,393 yards in 2001 to 2,184 in 2002, and he is as important to his team as any quarterback in the Big Ten. They also have senior Thomas Tapeh bringing back over 900 yards rushing and junior Terry Jackson II coming off a 1,318-yard effort in 2002. Junior Marion Barber III is healthy, though, after missing most of last season with a hamstring injury and has distanced himself from the pack in the backfield.
Junior Aaron Hosack averaged 22.4 yards per catch at wide receiver and has great size at 6-5, 210 pounds, and juco transfer Parris Hamilton is another wideout to watch. Ben Utecht is an outstanding tight end who caught 37 passes for a 13-yard average last as a junior, and if the bad ankle that plagued him last year is at 100 percent he is arguably one of the top two or three tight ends in college.
Greg Eslinger (6-3, 280) is back to anchor the offensive line after starting every game as a true freshman and will line up alongside another sophomore who started every game last year at guard, Mark Setterstrom. The line will be better because of that battle-tested pair, and they will help lead the way to a lot of points this season.
Improvement on defense is key, as the Gophers wore down and ended up allowing 178.6 rushing yards per game last season, including 228.2 in Big Ten play. Sophomore tackles Scott Stephenson (6-3, 285), Anthony Montgomery (6-5, 315) and Dan Kwapinski (6-5, 280) will be important up front in helping out fifth-year middle linebacker Ben West, who had 103 tackles last year. Free safety Eli Ward led the team with 115 stops and will get it done in the backfield, but the play in the middle of the line will make or break this unit.
Minnesota plays a weak non-conference schedule against Tulsa, Troy State, Ohio and Louisiana-Lafayette before opening the Big Ten against Penn State, but the Gophers caught a break with Indiana replacing Ohio State on the conference schedule.
Northwestern
Another team that could be dangerous this year, and possibly be ready to challenge in 2004, the Wildcats return only 10 seniors in 2003. Add to that the fact that they lose Iowa and Michigan State from the conference schedule while adding Michigan and Wisconsin, and things won't be easy. Miami-Ohio is also a dangerous non-conference opponent and has won five of its last six against Northwestern, but the rest of the non-league schedule is fairly winnable.
Everything on offense revolves around quarterback Brent Basanez, who passed for better than 2,200 yards last year as a freshman, but sophomore Alexander Webb may also be in the mix to give the Wildcats a nice 1-2 punch. Senior tailback Jason Wright is not super-fast, but he is a complete player who can block and catch in addition to being a productive runner. And Northwestern can count on receiver Kunle Patrick, whose streak of 34 straight games with a catch ties him with Roy Williams of Texas and Wes Welker of Texas Tech for the longest current streak in the nation.
The big addition to the defense will be the return of Pat Durr at middle linebacker. Durr missed all of last season with a knee injury and is an all-Big Ten caliber player. Sophomore Loren Howard (6-4, 280) was the Big Ten defensive freshman of the year last season after recording 13.5 tackles for loss, and the Wildcats beat out Arizona State to get him. Cornerback is a question and Jeff Backes has been moved over from running back in an attempt to solidify that position.
With the schedule getting tougher and few senior leaders, a 6-6 season would be an accomplishment and could be a catalyst for 2004.
Ohio State
All 11 offensive starters return for the buckeyes on offense, and they even have young offensive linemen like Nick Mangold and Rob Sims to make them seven-deep up front. And with all the experience coming back, senior quarterback Craig Krenzel will not be satisfied with simply avoiding mistakes. He will be able to hand the ball to terrific sophomore Maurice Clarett out of the backfield, but he will also look to make some things happen with wide receivers Michael Jenkins and Santonio Holmes. Jenkins is one of the top wideouts in college, and Holmes will play an important role as coach Jim Tressel tries to keep two-way star Chris Gamble focused on defense, at least during the heat of September. Holmes will also return punts and kicks.
The key defensively will be how well senior Will Allen and sophomore Nate Salley can fill the void left at the safety spots by the graduation of Donnie Nickey and Mike Doss. Allen made big plays against Michigan and Miami last year and is an excellent player, so the coaches feel good about that area. A.J. Hawk is also taking over for Cie Grant at outside linebacker after playing a significant role last year. Mat Wilhelm's replacement at middle linebacker is still to be determined, with Fred Pagac and Mike D'Andre battling it out. Darrion Scott has moved from defensive end to defensive tackle, and junior Simon Fraser brings some very good pass rush skills to the spot vacated by Scott. There is also a fine group of young defensive linemen led by Quinn Pitcock, Mike Kudla and Jay Richardson to bolster the front.
Ohio State will have a chance to get its feet under it early by playing the first five games of the season in Columbus. The opener with Washington will be tough, but the Big Ten schedule is favorable and OSU should be right in the mix again.
Penn State
The Nittany Lions are an underrated team and could surprise plenty of people. Offensively, sophomore Kinta Palmer has to develop quickly as Bryant Johnson's replacement at wide receiver to give Zack Mills a chance at making some plays. Senior tackle Chris McKelvey is going to be an important piece of the puzzle up front as Penn State breaks in a replacement for 2,000-yard rusher Larry Johnson. Look for freshman Austin Scott to be in the mix there after rushing for more than 3,000 yards and 50 touchdowns as a high school senior.
On the other side of the ball, NFL-bound linemen Jimmy Kennedy, Anthony Adams and Michael Haynes must be replaced, but the staff likes sophomore ends Lavon Chisley and Matt Rice, who was co-winner of the most improved defensive player in the spring. Sophomore Tamba Hali figures to make an impact at tackle after gaining expedience last season, and redshirt freshman LeviBrown has the size at 6-5, 312 pounds to take Kennedy's place in the middle.
Veteran end John Bronson is also back, and senior middle linebacker Gino Capone is an excellent player who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last year. Derrick Wake is also developing nicely at linebacker and blocked four kicks last year. Senior Rich Gardner is an excellent corner who returned two interceptions for touchdowns last year, while sophomore safety Calvin Lowery is a gifted athlete who is looking for a big season after breaking a leg last year.
The Nittany Lions must be breathing a sigh of relief with Michigan off the conference schedule, as Penn State has lost six straight to the Wolverines, and PSU will have the advantage early with five of its first six games at home.
Purdue
The Boilermakers are a highly-regarded, veteran team and should compete for the conference title. They will play 12 straight games without a bye week, though, so Joe Tiller has his team starting fall practice a little later. That should be at least some help when the Boilers travel to Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State during the Big 10 portion of their schedule.
Junior quarterback Kyle Orton distanced himself from sophomore Brandon Kirsch in the spring, essentially ending the platoon there and making this Orton's team. Orton knows Tiller's system inside and out. Senior Joey Harris is a fast back who can break off long runs and had a 1,00-yard season in 2002, but sophomore Brandon Jones and freshman Jarrod Boyd give Purdue three solid options in the one-back offense it runs.
Ray Williams is one of the top sophomore receivers in the nation and will be a terrific compliment to veterans John Standeford and Taylor Stubblefield. The coaches also feel the offensive line is more athletic than last year, but there is not a lot of depth there. Mike Otto did have a great spring to solidify the left tackle spot, though, and 6-7, 315-pounder Kelly Butler is entering his third year as a starter at right tackle.
Senior defensive end Shaun Phillips is a sack artist on the other side of the ball, and Stuart Schweigert is a supreme free safety who makes plays all over the field, one of the best defensive players in the nation. The linebacking corps is also solid with emotional leader Niko Koutouvides in the middle and speedster Landon Johnson on the outside, with Johnson bringing the ability to matchup with running backs in coverage. Veteran Craig Terrell returns at tackle, while Dontre Fleming is a promising player at that spot who will help fill the void left by the injury to heralded freshman Anthony Spencer in the spring. And don't forget about d-line recruit Ray Edwards (6-5, 295), the rare blue-chipper who chose a school like Purdue over SEC power Tennessee.
The cornerbacks are also considered a strength. Jacques Reeves is a big corner at 6-1 and almost 200 pounds, and Antwaun Rogers goes 6-2, 195 pounds and did a great job against Washington's stud receiver Reggie Williams in last year's Sun Bowl.