All-Big Ten: Who’s back? Who’s not?

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As spring practice approaches, it's time to review the 2008 All-Big Ten teams and see who will be back and who won't for the 2009 season. To avoid confusion, I'll stick with the media's picks for all-conference. 

FIRST TEAM

Gone (17)

• RB Shonn Greene, Iowa
• RB Javon Ringer, Michigan State
• C A.Q. Shipley, Penn State
• G Seth Olsen, Iowa
• G Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State
• T Alex Boone, Ohio State
• T Gerald Cadogan, Penn State
• K Kevin Kelly, Penn State
• DT Mitch King, Iowa
• DE Willie VanDeSteeg, Minnesota
• DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State
• LB Brit Miller, Illinois
• LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
• CB Vontae Davis, Illinois
• S Otis Wiley, Michigan State
• CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
• CB Allen Langford, Wisconsin 

Back (7)

• QB Daryll Clark, Penn State
• WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois 
• WR Eric Decker, Minnesota
• TE Garrett Graham, Wisconsin
• DE Jammie Kirlew, Indiana
• LB Navorro Bowman, Penn State
• P Zoltan Mesko, Michigan

SECOND TEAM

Gone (14)

• RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, Ohio State
• WR Deon Butler, Penn State
• WR Derrick Williams, Penn State
• C Ryan McDonald, Illinois
• C Rob Bruggeman, Iowa
• G Roland Martin, Michigan State
• G Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin
• T Xavier Fulton, Illinois
• T Jesse Miller, Michigan State
• TE Jack Simmons, Minnesota
• DT Matt Kroul, Iowa
• LB Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
• CB Lydell Sargeant, Penn State
• S Anthony Scirrotto, Penn State

Back (12)

• QB Juice Williams, Illinois
• RB Evan Royster, Penn State
• T Kyle Calloway, Iowa
• K Brett Swenson, Michigan State
• DE Brandon Graham, Michigan
• DE Corey Wootton, Northwestern
• DT Jared Odrick, Penn State
• LB Pat Angerer, Iowa
• LB Greg Jones, Michigan State
• CB Traye Simmons, Minnesota
• S Kurt Coleman, Ohio State
• P Aaron Bates, Michigan State

Teams most affected by All-Big Ten losses: Penn State (9), Ohio State (5), Iowa (5)

Teams returning most All-Big Ten players: Penn State (4), Michigan State (3)

Positions most affected by losses: Tackle (4), guard (4), cornerback (4), center (3), running back (3)

Positions returning most All-Big Ten selections: Quarterback (2), wide receiver (2 first teamers), linebacker (3), punter (2)

Notes

• Co-champ Ohio State returns only one All-Big Ten selection (Coleman). Freshman of the Year Terrelle Pryor also is back.
• No team returns two first-team All-Big Ten selections.
• Michigan State returns both of its all-conference specialists.  
• For the second straight year, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year was a junior running back who entered the NFL draft. Iowa's Greene followed Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall in 2007. 

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Recruiting snapshot: Illinois

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Signing day is over, and 11 new groups of recruits have joined the Big Ten. It's time to take a quick look at each class, beginning with Illinois.

Now if you're looking for rip jobs on classes, recruits and coaches, this isn't the place for you.

Despite all the experts and recruiting rankings, no one really knows how these players and classes will pan out. As my colleague Chris Low detailed this morning, some of the best players are overlooked in recruiting, and the bust factor is extremely high.

Let's begin with the Fighting Illini.

Number of recruits: 20

Key needs: Offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, quarterback

Highest-rated player (Scouts Inc.): Wide receiver Terry Hawthorne (No. 10 nationally in wideouts)

The quote: "I felt through our evaluations that last year's class was the best I've been around. This class doesn't have the quantity but the quality is the same as last year. We probably had fewer visits than anyone but we got the highest percentage of anyplace I've been. These are the guys almost exclusively that we set out to get. We can only have 85 players on scholarship and we're busting at the seams." — head coach Ron Zook

Quick take: Many have labeled Illinois a disappointment in recruiting because the team lost players like Kraig Appleton and Craig Drummond late in the process. Though this year's class doesn't stack up with the last two, it contains several important components. Hawthorne gives Illinois another playmaking threat when Arrelious Benn leaves (after 2009 or 2010), and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase could be Juice Williams' successor. Landing one-time Ohio State commit Justin Green at running back is big, and Illinois bolstered the defensive line with edge rusher Michael Buchanan. The Illini could have used another linebacker, but they did a decent job overall.

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Five memorable Big Ten recruiting moments

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

If things pan out as expected, which is never a given in recruiting, Michigan State's 2009 class could be a program-changer.

ESPN's Scouts Inc. currently ranks the Spartans' class 21st nationally, the program's highest rating in quite some time.

As national signing day approaches, here are five recruiting moments from the last five years that made a significant impact on Big Ten teams and/or the league.

1. Terrelle Pryor signs with Ohio State, 2008 – One of the most hyped high school recruits in college football history ended his prolonged courtship by signing with Ohio State six weeks after signing day. Pryor chose the Buckeyes over two other Big Ten schools (Michigan and Penn State) and Oregon, giving Ohio State its quarterback of the future.

2. Illinois inks stellar 2007 class — Despite only four victories in his first two seasons as Illini coach, Ron Zook flexed his recruiting muscle with a superb 2007 haul, ranked 12th nationally by Scouts Inc. Zook's class made national news and brought playmakers like Arrelious Benn, Martez Wilson and Josh Brent to Champaign.

3. Penn State signs Derrick Williams, 2005 — Coming off consecutive losing seasons, Penn State seemed an unlikely destination for Williams, considered the nation's No. 1 prospect. But Williams turned down offers from everywhere to play for the Lions and helped Penn State win 40 games and two Big Ten titles in his career.

4. Iowa signs top-15 class in 2005 — After winning 31 games between 2002-04, Iowa was rewarded in 2005 with one of the nation's top classes. Offensive linemen Dan Doering and Dace Richardson headlined the group along with tight end Tony Moeaki and defensive tackle Alex Kanellis. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, the 2005 class hasn't panned out, though some of its less-heralded members (Shonn Greene, Pat Angerer) have stepped up.

5. Roundtree spurns Purdue for Michigan, 2008 — It remains to be seen whether Roy Roundtree becomes a major factor at Michigan, but his eleventh-hour decision to pick the Wolverines after originally committing to Purdue made waves around the league. Purdue coach Joe Tiller sounded off about the need for an early signing date, which would prevent "another outfit with a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil get a guy at the last minute." Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez joked later at Big Ten media day that he "can't wait to see Joe because I've been working all summer on my new snake-oil concoction."

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Recruiting spotlight: Illinois Fighting Illini

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Talent certainly wasn't the problem last season in Champaign, and Illinois once again will return several game-changing skill players in 2009. Though Ron Zook must be mindful of impending departures at both quarterback and wide receiver, he can steer his recruiting elsewhere.

Illinois must improve at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. A defensive line that Zook labeled the team's strength before the season underperformed, and Illinois still loses three key contributors in ends Will Davis and Derek Walker and tackle David Lindquist. Sirod Williams returns from a knee injury and Cory Liuget looks like the real deal, but Illinois could use some depth along the defensive line. With a new line coach joining the mix, the front should be the team's top priority.

Jeff Allen emerged as a stud at right offensive tackle, but Illinois also needs to beef up on the offensive line. There's a question mark at center following the graduation of Ryan McDonald, and left tackle Xavier Fulton also departs.

Despite a disappointing 2008 season, Martez Wilson remains Illinois' future at the linebacker position. All-Big Ten standout Brit Miller, Rodney Pittman and Sam Carson all graduate, so adding a linebacker or two wouldn't be a bad idea.

Zook also must prepare for Juice Williams' graduation and will add another quarterback to the mix in Nathan Steelchase, who could play a critical role if Eddie McGee doesn't pan out in 2010. The Illini look fine at running back, wide receiver and defensive back, though cornerback Vontae Davis' early departure to the NFL and the likely departure of Arrelious Benn following the 2009 season creates some holes.

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Schultz could help Illinois tap Texas pipeline

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

It won’t take long for quarterback Juice Williams and his Illinois teammates to understand one thing about their new offensive coordinator, Mike Schultz.

He’s not a local.

If the Texas twang doesn’t give it away, he’ll drop a “dadgummit” every now and then.

And that’s not a bad thing.

The man Schultz is replacing at Illinois, new New Mexico head coach Mike Locksley, wasn’t from the area, either. Locksley hailed from Washington, D.C., and created an incredible recruiting pipeline from his hometown to Illinois, one that brought players like Vontae Davis, Arrelious Benn and Will Davis to the heartland.

Illinois’ 2008 squad boasted seven players from D.C. and several more from the surrounding area.

Head coach Ron Zook hopes Schultz can create a similar channel between Champaign and the Lone Star State.

“I’ve been involved in recruiting this state for about the last 20 years,” said Schultz, a Houston native who spent the last 11 at TCU. “Realistically, coming in from Illinois, we’ll have to make some decisions on where we’ll have to anchor in on. … Listen, I’ve been in this state a long time. There’s a lot of football players in this state. From my understanding, Wisconsin has come in here and got football players out of this state. So has Purdue and things like that.

“I’m fairly confident we’ll be able to come in and get into the Texas recruiting and get some good kids.”

Schultz’s recruiting prowess will be critical as Illinois tries to continue to lure top talent despite a very disappointing 2008 season. The Illini currently have no Texans on the roster.

Though Locksley’s schemes spurred the Illinois offense, his greater value was on the recruiting trail. Arguably no single Big Ten assistant made a greater impact on a program that Locksley did at Illinois in recent years. It’s a tough act to follow, but Schultz enjoys challenges.

He left a very comfortable situation at TCU and comes to a conference in which he’s never coached and an area in which he’s never lived. Being able to work for Zook, a “high-energy guy” and an “aggressive recruiter,” drew Schultz to the position.

“Change can be very healthy, but it can be scary at times,” Schultz said. “I’m treading into some new waters.”

Schultz, who spent Tuesday packing up his old office at TCU, admitted his scouting of Williams is limited to “what I’ve seen on ESPN.” But he sees similarities between the Illinois offense, a spread system with some read option, and the one he ran with the Horned Frogs.

“One of the things we were talking about with coach Zook is trying to keep things as consistent as we can keep them for the seniors coming back, Juice and those guys,” Schultz said. “I like to spread the ball, there’s no doubt, but there’s times you’ve to bunch it up and try to run the ball.

“We’ve used a tremendous amount of formations to try to create mismatches through movement and motion to give us angles or numbers one way or another.”

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Big Ten year-end wide receiver/tight end rankings

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Only one Big Ten team (Illinois) ranked in the top 25 nationally in pass offense, so this was anything but an explosive year for the league’s wide receivers and tight ends. Subpar quarterback play had a role, as did injuries (Travis Beckum). Here’s a look at the best of an average bunch, as well as my preseason rankings for wide receivers/tight ends.

1. Eric Decker, Minnesota – The junior turned in an excellent season that would have looked even more impressive if not for an ankle injury Nov. 1 against Northwestern. Decker, who will play slot receiver in the NFL next season or in 2009, led the Big Ten and ranked 16th nationally in receptions. His blocking ability makes him even more attractive to pro teams. 

2. Arrelious Benn, Illinois – Benn came on strong in Big Ten play, racking up 45 receptions for 794 yards and three touchdowns in eight league games. A likely candidate to turn pro after the 2009 season, Benn averaged 17.6 yards per catch in conference games and solidified himself as Juice Williams’ top option. 

3. Deon Butler, Penn State – The former walk-on finished his college career with a flourish, leading Penn State in receptions (43), receiving yards (713) and touchdowns (7). Butler became Penn State’s all-time receptions leader (175) and ranks second in career receiving yards (2,674) and third in touchdown receptions (22). 

4. Derrick Williams, Penn State — Williams’ value went far beyond what he did as a wide receiver. Though he contributed to Penn State’s passing attack with 40 receptions and 451 yards, his impact on returns, as a ballcarrier and as a part-time quarterback in the “Wild Lion” offense was even greater. The former nation’s No. 1 recruit played his best football in the twilight of his career.

5. Desmond Tardy, Purdue — It wasn’t a banner year for the Purdue offense, but Tardy did his part, particularly in Big Ten play. The senior finished third in receiving yards in league games (510). He eclipsed 100 receiving yards in four games, including each of the final two.

6. Greg Orton, Purdue — Orton helped fill the void left by Dorien Bryant with a team-high 69 catches, which ranked second in the Big Ten behind Decker. He was reliable if not overly flashy and settled into the possession-receiver role in the Boilermakers’ offense.

7. Blair White, Michigan State — Wide receiver was a major concern for Michigan State entering the season, and White came out of nowhere to become Brian Hoyer’s top option in Big Ten play. Only Arrelious Benn had more receiving yards in Big Ten play than White (568), who averaged a blistering 17.1 yards per reception. 

8. Eric Peterman, Northwestern — Peterman led Northwestern in receiving for the second consecutive season and recorded all five of his touchdown receptions in Big Ten play. He made big plays at key points and seemed to finish the season playing his best football.

9. Garrett Graham, Wisconsin — Beckum’s injury really hurt the Wisconsin passing game, but Graham did a nice job of stepping up. He was the Badgers’ only reliable option and led Big Ten tight ends with 37 receptions for 478 yards and five touchdowns. 

T-10 Brandon Myers, Iowa — The Hawkeyes had the nation’s best running back (Shonn Greene) and didn’t need to pass much, but Myers made his mark with 30 receptions and four touchdowns. The senior tight end earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches and helped Iowa reach a New Year’s Day bowl. 

T-10. Brian Robiskie, Ohio State — He certainly had higher expectations for his senior year and probably thought Todd Boeckman, not Terrelle Pryor, would be throwing him the ball. But under the circumstances, Robiskie performed adequately and grabbed a league-high eight touchdown receptions. 

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Filling out the Top 10 Big Ten games of 2008

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The response has been excellent for my list of the top five Big Ten games this season, so I’ve decided to extend the rundown to 10. Many of you made compelling arguments for games that should have been included in the top five, but I’m comfortable with my list.

I do think some other memorable contests should be recognized, so here’s the full rundown.

Recapping the top five (actually six):

1. Penn State at Iowa, Nov. 8, Kinnick Stadium (Iowa wins 24-23)
2. Penn State at Ohio State, Oct. 25, Ohio Stadium (Penn State wins 13-6)
3. Northwestern at Minnesota, Nov. 1, Metrodome (Northwestern wins 24-17)
4. Ohio State at Wisconsin, Oct. 4, Camp Randall Stadium (Ohio State wins 20-17)
T-5. Wisconsin at Michigan, Sept. 27, Michigan Stadium (Michigan wins 27-25)
T-5. Minnesota at Wisconsin, Nov. 15, Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin wins 35-32)

And here are games 6-10.

6. Wisconsin at Michigan State, Nov. 1, Spartan Stadium

I came very close to including this among the top five, but the fact that Michigan State played pretty poorly for the first 50 minutes or so kept it out. Still, the Spartans’ comeback and the Badgers’ collapse, which included a rare penalty on a head coach (Bret Bielema), made the game pretty memorable. Wisconsin dominated most of the game and was a holding penalty away from closing it out, but Michigan State capitalized on its final chance, driving 56 yards for the game-winning field goal with no timeouts remaining. Spartans kicker Brett Swenson went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 50-yarder and the decisive 44-yarder in the fourth quarter as Michigan State prevailed 25-24.

7. Michigan at Purdue, Nov. 1, Ross-Ade Stadium

In a league dominated by defense and running backs, Michigan and Purdue produced a game that would make the Big 12 proud. The teams combined for 90 points and 822 total yards. Michigan scored three touchdowns of 45 or longer (one rush, one pass, one punt return), and Purdue backup quarterback Justin Siller sizzled in his first career start. The game also produced arguably the Big Ten’s Play of the Year, as Purdue executed a hook-and-lateral from Siller to Greg Orton to Desmond Tardy, who scored with 26 seconds left to give the Boilers a 48-42 win.

8. Iowa at Illinois, Nov. 1, Memorial Stadium

It was a pretty sloppy game on both sides, but the final 21 minutes featured several edge-of-your seat moments. Illinois took control with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Fred Sykes and a seven-yard fumble return to the end zone by cornerback Dere Hicks. But Iowa struck back to tie the score at 24-24 on a Shonn Greene run with 2:46 left. It set the stage for Illinois to drive 54 yards in 12 plays, setting up a 46-yard field goal by freshman Matt Eller that secured a 27-24 win.

9. Illinois at Penn State, Sept. 27, Beaver Stadium

If you liked big plays and tremendous athleticism, this was the game for you. The teams combined for four touchdowns of 21 yards or longer, and Penn State wide receiver/return man Derrick Williams stole the show with 241 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns (one rush, one pass, one return). Illinois stayed close for most of the way behind quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn, but Penn State’s Williams proved to be too much on a “Whiteout” night in Happy Valley.

10. Minnesota at Illinois, Oct. 11, Memorial Stadium

The Golden Gophers completed their turnaround from 1-11 to bowl eligible with a tremendous defensive performance against Illinois. Minnesota senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg had arguably the league’s best individual defensive effort of the season, recording three sacks, a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown and a pass deflection that led to an interception in the fourth quarter. Minnesota held off Illinois’ big-play passing attack to win its first Big Ten road game since 2006.

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Blair White project working for Michigan State

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Self-deprecation is not normally a trait associated with the wide receiver position, but Michigan State’s Blair White breaks the mold.

The former walk-on, who provided the Spartans a major boost during Big Ten play this fall, downplays his speed and understands, to a certain extent, why he received no Division I scholarship offers coming out of high school.

“I wasn’t even the best receiver on my team,” White said. “We had a couple of guys that were really athletic, actually. I was just kind of a side note. It might not have been too enticing for college coaches.”

Many of those coaches are kicking themselves right now after watching White this season. The 6-2, 200-pound junior emerged as Michigan State’s top wideout during Big Ten play.

He led Michigan State in both receptions (39) and receiving yards (628) this season, providing a lift to a position that looked like a major question mark after the departure of Devin Thomas.

Big plays fueled White’s emergence. He averaged 17.2 yards per catch in Big Ten play, which ranks second behind Illinois’ Arrelious Benn among receivers with at least 30 receptions in league games.

“It’s basically inserting myself into the offense,” White explained, “nothing special about me or that they do for me.”

Where’s the shameless self-promotion or the pouty post-game comments? Could we get a celebration dance at least?

Don’t hold your breath with White, whose journey from walk-on to starter — this is his first year on scholarship — gives him a sense of humility.

“I had no D-1 offers,” White said. “I had a D-2 offer at a local university, but I didn’t want to play D-2. I wanted to prove to myself that I could play and be good. The thing that compelled me to play here was people questioning me, saying that I wouldn’t make it. I wanted to prove to myself and everyone else that I could play here.”

A midseason injury to top receiver Mark Dell gave White more opportunities, and he capitalized with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games in wins against Michigan and Wisconsin. White combined for 11 receptions and 207 yards in the two games, averaging an incredible 37.8 yards per reception against Michigan and coming up with some clutch catches against Wisconsin.

The increased playing time allowed White to better study opposing defenses and coverages. During Michigan State’s game-winning drive against Wisconsin, White and quarterback Brian Hoyer identified a coverage before the snap and cashed in for a 32-yard completion on third-and-10.

“They disguised it at the beginning, but it turned into man coverage with the single safety over the top,” White said. “[Hoyer] talks to me about our options on a certain play like that, so going into the game, we’re on the same page. We recognized that and we made the right corrections there. It worked out good.

“When you play more, you get more confident and that allows you to focus on things you maybe wouldn’t have focused on, such as reading coverages before the snap, after the snap. When you can get smarter in that area, that can help. You’d be surprised. It’s not so much talent that will determine the game. It’s a few plays here, a missed assignment there.”

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Reviewing my preseason Top 25 (things to watch)

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

It’s always fun at this time of year to look back at preseason thoughts and predictions. In August, I outlined 25 items I wanted to see during the Big Ten season. Several of them came true, others didn’t and some materialized in different ways.

Here’s a look back at the list to see what worked out and what didn’t. 

	AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
	Terrelle Pryor earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

1. Terrelle Pryor lead an offensive drive — He might be a Tim Tebow-like weapon near the goal line, but I’m more interested in how the Ohio State freshman quarterback handles a real offensive series. Pryor’s athleticism is undeniable, but it will be important to monitor his passing accuracy and the way he leads older teammates.

The verdict: We had plenty of opportunities to see Pryor lead drives after he was named Ohio State’s starter in Week 4. Despite a few growing pains, Pryor held his own and displayed remarkable athleticism in winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. He also came up big in the clutch to lead Ohio State’s game-winning touchdown drive Oct. 4 at Wisconsin. 

2. Michigan’s quarterbacks — Rich Rodriguez has ushered in a new era in Ann Arbor and will turn to unproven players like Steven Threet, Nick Sheridan and possibly Justin Feagin to lead his spread offense. There will undoubtedly be growing pains, but if one of those three takes control, the Wolverines will surge.

The verdict: Oh, there were growing pains. Big ones. Threet and Sheridan struggled to fit into Rodriguez’s system, and Michigan finished the season ranked 109th nationally in total offense. Feagin likely will move to slot receiver in 2009, and incoming freshmen Shavodrick Beaver and Tate Forcier will compete for the starting quarterback spot. 

3. Jump Around at night — Camp Randall Stadium is intimidating enough during daylight hours, but the electricity will reach new levels this fall with back-to-back night games against Ohio State and Penn State. The Badgers haven’t lost at home under coach Bret Bielema, and they should have a tremendous home-field edge this fall.

The verdict: It was pretty cool to see Ohio State players jump in lockstep with the Wisconsin students on Oct. 4, but Camp Randall certainly lost its edge this fall. Wisconsin saw its home win streak fade against Ohio State and then suffered its worst home defeat since 1989 the next week against Penn State. Plus, the Badgers band was suspended from performing Oct. 4 after allegations of hazing surfaced. 

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Illinois Fighting Illini season recap

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

No one expected another Rose Bowl appearance from Illinois this fall. But no one expected this, either.

A year after reaching Pasadena, Illinois will stay home for the holidays, the product of a 5-7 record that once seemed unthinkable for a preseason top 20 squad. Despite returning key parts from the Rose Bowl team, the Illini were plagued by inconsistency on the field and some disciplinary issues off of it. They lost to teams with inferior talent and won consecutive games only once, against Eastern Illinois and Louisiana-Lafayette in September.

Head coach Ron Zook insisted throughout the season that the 2008 Illinois team was better than its predecessor, and at times he seemed right.

Quarterback Juice Williams carried the team through the first half of the year, setting total offense records at three different venues (Edward Jones Dome, Michigan Stadium and Memorial Stadium). Wideout Arrelious Benn surged midway through the season and Brit Miller transitioned well to middle linebacker, leading the Big Ten in tackles (132).

But the Illini never stayed on track. They missed star running back Rashard Mendenhall and safeties Kevin Mitchell and Justin Harrison. Williams threw nine interceptions in his last five games. A defensive line that Zook called the team’s strength entering the season struggled against the run. The team appeared fractured at times, as a fight between running back Mikel LeShoure and wideout Jeff Cumberland left LeShoure with a broken jaw. Other players missed time due to suspension or leave of absence.

Illinois returns plenty of talent for 2009, but the Illini must build better chemistry and consistency to get back to the top of the league.

Offensive MVP — Wide receiver Arrelious Benn
Williams had this award locked up midway through the fall, but his tumultuous finish gives the nod to Benn, who was fabulous in Big Ten play. He led the league in receiving yards (1,055) and racked up 794 yards in conference games. The dynamic sophomore had the most receptions in Big Ten play (45) and topped the chart in yards per catch (17.6).

Defensive MVP — Linebacker Brit Miller
Miller deserved better performances from those around him after stepping in nicely for All-American J Leman at middle linebacker. The senior led the Big Ten and ranked fifth nationally in tackles (132, 11 tpg). He also led Illinois in sacks (6) and had a fumble return for a touchdown. The Illini defense regressed this fall, but Miller certainly did his part.

Turning point — Nov. 8 at Western Michigan
A major bowl game was off the table, but Illinois could have reached bowl eligibility and set up a strong finish by beating Western Michigan in Detroit. Coming off an emotion-charged win against rival Iowa, the Illini offense flat-lined in the first half and showed up too late for a rally. A 23-17 loss at Ford Field kicked off a three-game slide to close the season.

What’s next
Williams and all his weapons return on offense, but the departure of coordinator Mike Locksley to New Mexico could bring some growing pains. The bigger losses will be on the defensive side, as Miller graduates and cornerback Vontae Davis likely enters the NFL draft. But the talent will be there for a turnaround in Champaign. If Illinois can build better team unity, it should rejoin the top half of the league.

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