Top 10 Impact Players in the Big Ten in 2009: Skill Players

The upcoming Big Ten season is surrounded by intrigue, as there are several teams breaking in a new quarterback, and there are a handful of really young inexperienced players expected to step up right away across the conference.

With that being said, don't be surprised if there is quite a bit of parity in the Big Ten in 2009, as well as multiple unexpected changes in the standings.

"What a difference a year makes" was the phrase most often spoken in the spring...and that sentiment should carry into the fall.

The following players (in reverse order) are 10 offensive players that will make a major impact this fall, the young men their respective teams are counting on to produce in order to have a successful season.

These are the players that not only need to produce—but stay healthy or else their teams could suffer serious consequences in the win loss column.

The countdown:

10. Edwin Baker/ Larry Caper

I know it's two guys, but it's all about trying to establish the run for Michigan State.

Last season Javon Ringer not only put up great stats, rushing for 1,637 yards and 22 TDS, he also carried the load with 390 rushes and 418 overall offensive touches.

Throughout spring practice, Mark Dantonio needed to find someone or a committee of backs to help replace Javon's production, or at least come relatively close.

There were a couple of guys who did a decent job, however the fact that the running backs only had 73 yards on 40 carries and the quarterbacks threw for over 700 yards combined, and attempted 71 total passes in the spring game, tells me State needs some help at running back.

Ultimately, their best bet at having a guy be anything close to Javon will come from one of these true freshman who were high profile guys as recruits.

They have talented quarterbacks but a receiving corps that dropped a lot of passes a season ago from Brian Hoyer, and the team is going to need to establish the run, and control the time of possession to be a successful offense.

9. Ricky Stanzi

Ricky Stanzi's quarterback rating was 134.85 last season and fourth in the conference, and his continued development will be extremely important as Iowa moves forward as a program.

They have some depth behind him with John Weinke, but ultimately he needs to stay healthy and become better as a passer.

If he can do so he will be one of the best pure passers in the league!
Don't be surprised if Iowa finishes in the top three in the conference, with BCS potential as well.

8. Eric Decker

Minnesota started with a 7-1 record last season, but finished in awful fashion.

Eric Decker struggled with injury during a five-game losing streak that displayed the vulnerability of this team.

Minnesota has depth at quarterback with MarQuies Gray, and Hayo Carpenter, Troy Stoudamire and company add depth at receiver.
Decker play will be instrumental in getting Minnesota anything close to a January bowl game.

7. Arrelious Benn

Benn could be higher on the list with his talent level, and should be an all-Big Ten performer this year.

Ultimately, there is a lot of talent on Illinois squad at wide receiver, but Benn is by far the best.

He recorded 67 catches in '08 with 1,055 yards and a 15.7 yards average per catch, while also being an excellent return specialist.

6. Mike Kafka

Mike Kafka recorded a single-game record 217 rushing yards last season, showing excellent scrambling ability.

Kafka has good speed and great size, but Northwestern needs Kafka to become a better passer year if they want to finish in the top half of the Big Ten in 2009.

He has a nice arm too, but if he goes down, the Wildcats might be short on depth at this position, and they really need the quarterback to step and be the complete package this season as they lose Tyrell Sutton and their top three receivers from '08.

Expect Kafka to be solid, however I wouldn't count on Northwestern winning 9 games in 2009.

5. John Clay

Wisconsin has plenty of depth at running back this year, but none of them are quite as good as John Clay.

Clay was a super recruit who redshirted in 2007. He had 884 yards and nine TDs in 2008 as a frosh, with an average of 5.7 yards per carry!

Wisconsin seems to be going backward over the last three years going from 12 wins to nine wins to seven wins, and although settling on and developing a quarterback will be important, Wisconsin needs to establish it's bread 'n butter power run game early.

John Clay becoming a phenom (which he certainly has the potential for) will be quite important for this team to be all it can be.

4. Juice Williams

The Juice needs to get loose in 2009!

If this team can return to it's spread option form, the Illini can get back to a respectable record—if not they will be a bottom dweller again.

Illinois was the biggest underachiever in the league last year, and Juice needs to be able to take over games and stay healthy for Illinois to be successful.

Expect Illinois to score a lot of points this year! They may need to however, if the defense doesn't play up. Either way Illinois can't be as dissaponting as last year again, or it will have the fans scratching their heads.

3. Daryll Clark

I'm beginning to drink the Penn State Kool-Aid, partly because they have the schedule to get established and strengthen their weak areas, and partly because of this guy.

Daryll Clark is one of the best players in the conference with his combination of size and strength. His leadership will be the primary reason Penn State is still a BCS contender this year.

They can't do it without Clark, as they are breaking in an entirely new receiveing corps and have to replace three All-Big Ten offensive lineman.

Penn State also has to replace three Defensive Ends and most of the secondary, so it's easy to see why senior leadership will be important on both sides of the ball.

2. Tate Forcier

In the long run this Michigan team has the most to prove, and is the hardest to predict in terms of where they will finish.

If they want to get to a decent bowl game they will need better quarterback play than they had in 2008 posting a 95.2 efficiency rating.

Forcier had a spring game that was too good to be true with a 158.3 quarterback efficiency rating and five total TDs, and Michigan will need him to stay healthy to have a better season.

The one thing that was obviously missing in Ann Arbor last year was a talented dual-threat QB to run the spread option system. After the last recruiting class they appear to have two with Forcier and Denard Robinson.

Ultimately, Tate Forcier looks like he will get the nod after enrolling a semester early, and having a strong spring.

1. Terrelle Pryor

There isn't much depth behind TP so OSU needs him to stay healthy, or they're in trouble.
He also needs to carry the offense, which is a tall task.

If he plays up to his talent level The Buckeyes might upset USC this fall!

Look for Ohio State to replace their needs and compete for a major bowl game.

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