College Football 2011: Ranking the Big Ten's Quarterbacks
The Big Ten Conference has always had great quarterbacks. This year is no different.
There is a great variety of quarterbacks for the coming year in the Big Ten. Some returning starters are on the shortlist to be an All-American, while other new players look to make a name for themselves as first year starters.
The 2011 Big Ten quarterbacks are all quality quarterbacks.
Here is a ranking of all 12 of the quarterbacks.
12. Dusty Kiel, Indiana
1 of 12
The sophomore takes over for former quarterback Ben Chappell, who threw for over 3,000 yards as a senior.
The expectations won't be high for Kiel, who could put up a decent year statistically while trying to get the Hoosiers bowl-eligible for just the second time since 1993.
11. Jon Budmayr, Wisconsin
2 of 12
Budmayr saw minimal action as a freshman behind starter Scott Tolzien.
Now, it's Budmayr's turn to lead the defending Big Ten champs. With running backs James White and Montee Ball in the backfield for the Badgers, Budmayr will not be called on to do much more than manage the game.
10. MarQueis Gray, Minnesota
3 of 12
The highly recruited Gray takes over for quarterback Adam Weber, who holds the Minnesota record for career touchdown passes.
Gray is a great athlete and has some game experience under his belt. If the Golden Gophers let him loose, he could guide them to a bowl game in 2011.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
9. James Vandenberg, Iowa
4 of 12
Vandenberg, who has already made two starts in his college career, is the favorite to become the new Iowa quarterback.
Vandenberg played very little in 2010, but was forced into action as a freshman in 2009, going 1-1 in his two games as a starter.
He has a lot of experience for a first-year starter and will need to have a good year if Iowa is to contend for the conference title in 2011.
8. Matt McGloin, Penn State
5 of 12
After taking over for starting quarterback Robert Bolden, McGloin gave the Nittany Lion offense a spark, throwing for 14 touchdowns in 2010.
Heading into 2011, McGloin will have to hold off Bolden in order to remain the starting quarterback.
The former walk-on looks to have the edge over Bolden and should be the starter once again for Penn State.
7. Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois
6 of 12
As a freshman, Scheelhaase threw for 17 touchdowns while leading Illinois to a victory in the Texas Bowl over Baylor.
Scheelhaase looks to take the next step in 2011, playing a larger role in the Fighting Illini offense and trying to once again lead Illinois to another bowl game.
6. Robert Marve, Purdue
7 of 12
The former Miami Hurricane made four starts for the Boilermakers in 2010 before going down with an ACL injury.
Marve looks to come back strong in 2011. He will once again lead the Purdue offense and try to live up to his potential in his senior season.
5. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
8 of 12
Cousins has had a great career in East Lansing, throwing for 41 touchdowns and leading the Spartans to an 11-2 record in 2010.
The senior will try to lead Sparty to another Big Ten crown while also attempting to build off of his 2,825 yard, 20 touchdown performance from 2010.
Dan Persa, Northwestern
9 of 12
Before going down with an injury in Northwestern's victory over Iowa, Persa was having a great all-around season for the Wildcats, accumulating 15 touchdowns through the air and nine more on the ground.
2011 looks to be a big year for the senior. Scoring 35-40 total touchdowns is not out of the picture for Persa.
3. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
10 of 12
The Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year had a big year for Nebraska, scoring 22 total touchdowns.
Martinez may find the defenses in the Big Ten a little better than those in the Big 12, but he is sure to put up impressive numbers while trying to lead the Cornhuskers to a Big Ten title in their first year in the conference.
2. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
11 of 12
Pryor did it all for the Buckeyes in 2010, scoring 31 total touchdowns and leading them to their second consecutive BCS bowl win.
Although Pryor will be suspended for the first five games of 2011, he will have a big impact on the Big Ten title race when he returns.
1. Denard Robinson, Michigan
12 of 12
In 2010, Robinson threw for 2,570 yards and ran for 1,702 while being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and finishing sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Even with new coach Brady Hoke taking over, Robinson will still put up huge numbers for the Maize and Blue and be one of the favorites to win the Heisman.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
