Big Ten Football: The 12 Rising Stars in the Big 10
With 12 teams, the Big Ten now claims even more tradition with the addition of Nebraska, but the Cornhuskers arenโt the only team with plenty of youthful talent.
Throughout the conference, underclassmen are pushing their elders this spring, and some are making a run at potentially leapfrogging them for a starting position.
Each team has a young gun to keep an eye on and in one case, a player that may not stick around to be watched.
Illinois: Nathan Scheelhaase
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Scheelhaase was able to rely heavily on the assistance of former Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure in 2010 resulting in a 7-6 season.
Thanks to their performance, the duo may have saved head coach Ron Zookโs job.
Unfortunately, Leshoure has departed for the NFL which leaves Scheelhaase as the go-to guy and as only a sophomore, he needs to step up to show that last yearโs seven-win season wasnโt a fluke.
He demonstrated competency passing by throwing 1,825 yards and 17 TDs along with 868 yards rushing (4.7 YPC) and five TDs on the ground.
If an Illini squad thatโs one year older can step up and provide Scheelhaase with some relief, Illinois could surprise many inside and outside of the Big Ten.
Indiana: Cody Latimer
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With former quarterback Ben Chappell having exhausted eligibility, the Hooisers need to find another playmaker, and they may have one in their most recent recruiting cycle.
Dayton, Ohio native Cody Latimer is going to need to step onto the field and make a statement quickly for Indiana.
Luckily, heโs just the guy to deliver the goods.
Latimer caught 42 catches for 722 yards and six TDs during his senior year for an excellent 17.2 YPC average.
He would also show promise as a kick return specialist with three returns for 194 yards averaging nearly 65 yards per return.
Iowa: Mike Meyer
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Meyer earned his stripes as Iowaโs starting kicker in 2010.
He walked on last season before connecting on 14-of-17 field goal attempts and after the season commenced, he was awarded with a scholarship.
Though Iowa didnโt attempt a field goal through their first three contests and Meyerโs first kick was a missed 31-yard try, he would successfully make 10-of- 11 of his next kicks.
Meyer's not about to remain idle and be content with what heโs done.
"You can't really think about the past right now," Meyer told GoHawks.com. "It's everything going forward."
Michigan: Courtney Avery
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Michiganโs pass defense has been absolutely atrocious lately, but that problem could be shored up a bit by Avery.
Coaches are praising the work of the last seasonโs Michigan Male Rookie of the Year for his work this spring.
He contributed 36 TKL last season to the Wolverinesโ defensive effort playing in all 13 games while starting in five.
Michigan State: Le'Veon Bell
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Bell burst onto the scene in 2010 for Michigan State rushing for 605 yards (5.65 YPC) and eight TDs.
His success as a freshman was a significant factor in the Spartansโ 11-2 mark last season.
Bell returns to help supplement Edwin Baker who tallied 1,201 rushing yards and 12 TDs last season for a very potent one-two punch at running back.
Should anything Baker struggle due to injury, Bell also provides solid depth.
Minnesota: Jimmy Gjere
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Jerry Kill has a mammoth to help try to plow the road toward a new era of Minnesota football.
Ranked as the No. 17 offensive tackle overall by Rivals.com, U.S. Army All-American Game participant Jimmy Gjere will likely see plenty of playing time on the Golden Gopher during the 2011 season.
After a redshirt season, Gjere measures at 6โ7โ and 308 pounds.
The fresh-faced youngster from New Brighton, Minn. has the skills necessary to give Killโs charges in the offensive backfield those vital extra seconds to make proper decisions.
Nebraska: Ciante Evans
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So many potential picks for the Cornhuskers, but one sticks out above them all.
Senior Alfonzo Dennard is a lock for one of the starting cornerback spots for Nebraska in 2011.
Ironically enough, thanks to an injury that temporarily knocked him out of last seasonโs contest versus Missouri, his replacement in that game might very well have the inside track to clamping down the other position.
Ciante Evans stepped in against a Tiger squad led by former Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
When they felt that a hole had been created by Dennardโs departure, Evans played like heโd seen the field for years.
Northwestern: Paul Jorgensen
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Freshman offensive lineman Paul Jorgensen is getting quite a bit of praise these days.
"We thought we saw it in high school, and now it's coming out. He's got an attitude about him," head coach Pat Fitzgerald told NUsports.com. "He wants and has a desire to be excellent.โ
Jorgensen didnโt necessarily have an amazing array of offers coming out of high school, but Northwesternโs head man seems to be very excited about his young pupilโs future.
"It's the willingness and the desire to finish on every single play and the desire to find somebody to block at the end of every single play. It's irreplaceable."
Ohio State: Johnathan Hankins
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Known affectionately as โBig Hank,โ Hankins began making his mark on a stout Buckeye defensive line last year.
He totaled 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 2010, but donโt let the stat line mislead you into thinking heโs not ready to contribute at a higher level.
Senior offensive lineman Michael Brewster, one of the nationโs premiere linemen, said of Hankins, โ[Heโs] a force to be reckoned with in the trenches. He is only going to be a sophomore, but he has already established himself as one of the best guys I have gone against since I've been in college.โ
Penn State: Rob Bolden
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Boldenโs one of the best athletes that Penn State has going into the 2011 seasonโฆfor now.
Since January, Bolden hasnโt been happy and was even denied a transfer by head coach Joe Paterno.
He has been working diligently this spring with supposed intentions of securing the starting quarterback role, but no one knows if heโll be under centerโor even on campusโwhen fall arrives.
"I'm not sure what he's going to do. Our last conversation, he didn't say if he was staying or if he was leaving. He's a grown man now. He's able to make his own decisions. The ball is in his court,โ Boldenโs mother Tonia Williams said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Purdue: Ryan Russell
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No, Russellโs not listed just because of the mohawk.
Replacing defensive end Ryan Kerriganโs going to be a difficult challenge.
However, Russell and his teammates are doing their absolute best to fill the void.
"We've made strides and improvements in technique, strength and conditioning," Russell told IndyStar.com. "Our technique is much better, tempo is upbeat and we're looking to contribute any way possible because we know a big heart of the defense is gone. We're trying to step up and fill that spot."
Theyโll need to do more than try to replace the wrecking ball that was Kerrigan, but Russellโs one of the better shots to succeed.
Wisconsin: Austin Traylor
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This is a tough call, because the fact is that head coach Bret Bielema knows how to get the most out of each and every player that he finds.
For this selection, both the potentially ripest orange and possible next Badger star is our focus.
While technically listed as a tight end/defensive end prospect by recruiting services such as Rivals.com and 247sports.com, the Badgersโ needs will dictate at what position Austin Traylor lands.
Itโs hard to ignore the picture that his senior stats paint, though.
While Traylor caught 20 passes for 389 yards and five TDs averaging 19.5 YPC, he had 80 tackles and an impressive 14 sacks.
Not an easy choice, but a good problem to have.
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