Watt provides spark for Wisconsin D-line

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
J.J. Watt's long, strange journey back to Wisconsin was almost complete, as head coach Bret Bielema offered him a chance to walk onto the Badgers' football team. 
Watt just had one final item to address. 
"I had to look at his contract to make sure everything was OK," Watt said, laughing. 
You couldn't blame him for…
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Sherer brings edge to Badgers’ QB race

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
MADISON, Wis. — When Dustin Sherer moved into Wisconsin's starting quarterback spot midway through last season, head coach Bret Bielema and others remarked on the edge he brought to the huddle.     David Stluka/Getty Images   Fifth-year senior Dustin Sherer hasn't been named the starter for the 2009 season…
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Bielema tightens the ship at Wisconsin

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
MADISON, Wis. — As Bret Bielema's wins total has declined, the anxiety level from some fans about the Wisconsin head coach has escalated. 
After a 17-1 start to his head coaching career, Bielema has gone just 11-10 since. Wisconsin briefly held a top 10 national ranking last fall, only to finish 7-6 after a blowout loss to Florida State in the…
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Destination: Madison

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Gotta admit, I've been getting a bit antsy seeing my fellow bloggers bounce all over the country to spring practices the past week or so. After a nine-day hiatus, I'm back on the road today, heading up I-90 to Madison to check out the Wisconsin Badgers.
I'll be visiting with head coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst early…
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Academic issues slow Wisconsin’s Goins

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Wisconsin sophomore cornerback Mario Goins remains suspended from the team due to lingering academic issues, head coach Bret Bielema announced Tuesday.
Goins, who started six games last season and recorded 20 tackles, was declared academically ineligible for the Champs Sports Bowl and has yet to improve his standing in time for spring practice, which…
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Spring Q&A: Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
For better or for worse, Bret Bielema became a college football coach last season. He faced his first real bout with adversity and criticism, guided Wisconsin back to a bowl game and finished on a sour note against Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl.     David Stluka/Getty Images   Things didn't go as…
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A few Wisconsin injury notes

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Wisconsin's injury report entering spring practice looks more like a Post-it and less like a phone book, as it did a year ago, but there are some names who remain hobbled.
I caught up with Badgers head coach Bret Bielema today — check Wednesday's blog for a full Q&A — and he said reserve running back Bradie Ewing and reserve safety Kevin…
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Where’s the love in the Big Ten?

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, and so is spring practice. Fellow bloggers Heather Dinich and Ted Miller passed out roses to teams in their leagues earlier Friday.

I'm not too big on flowers (neither is my fiancée, thankfully), so here are five Valentine's Day gifts for prominent Big Ten figures.

	James Lang/US PRESSWIRE
	Coach Rich Rodriguez would love some improved quarterback play.

1. A quarterback for Rich Rodriguez – Any improvement Michigan makes must start at the quarterback position, which was a disaster for most of 2008. Whether freshmen Tate Forcier or Denard Robinson step up or holdovers Steven Threet or Nick Sheridan elevate their play, Rod deserves a quarterback who can run the spread offense without tripping over his feet.

2. A wide receiver for Daryll Clark – Clark, the Penn State quarterback, loses top targets Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood. Butler finished as Penn State's all-time receptions leader, and Williams was a unique talent. Clark is a smart, efficient quarterback, but he needs a capable target to emerge in spring ball. Another offensive lineman would be nice, too.

3. A magic healing potion for Bill Lynch – The Indiana head coach saw his roster completely depleted by injuries last season. Indiana isn't at a point where it can survive a rash of injuries, and Lynch needs his key contributors healthy, particularly in the secondary and along the offensive line. Safeties Austin Thomas and Nick Polk remain out for spring ball, but Indiana should get a few players back in the mix.

4. An offensive identity for Minnesota – There were a lot of changes in the Twin Cities this winter, as the Gophers hired new coordinator Jedd Fisch and new line coach/run-game coordinator Tim Davis. The spread is dead and Fisch wants to run a pro-style system, but Minnesota must improve its run game. There will be an adjustment period for players, but they need to get on the same page fast.

5. A quarterback for Bret Bielema – The quarterback position really hurt Wisconsin last year, and another competition is coming this spring. Game managers have worked at Wisconsin before, but Curt Phillips and Jon Budmayr are solid recruits who can do more. Wisconsin must demand bigger things from its quarterbacks going forward.

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Big Ten lunch links: Youth served on OSU line

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

• The 2009 spotlight will be on Ohio State's offensive line, which likely will get a lot younger in the fall, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.  
• Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema needs his recruits to start stepping up, Tom Oates writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.

"A lack of depth in certain areas, particularly the defensive line, hurt UW last year and was a reflection on Bielema's recruiting. Now, with five of the defensive front seven graduating and the quarterback position becoming a sore spot, that recruiting will face an acid test."

• Michigan already has three commitments for 2010, and all three play wide receiver, John Heuser writes in The Ann Arbor News. 
• Recruiting rankings don't always translate into wins and losses, as Iowa continues to prove on the field. 
• The need for instant-impact recruits drove Purdue head coach Danny Hope away from the Midwest and back to Florida, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette, Ind.) Journal and Courier. 
• Former Ohio State star cornerback Malcolm Jenkins accepted the Thorpe Award on Monday night in a state that can sympathize with his team's struggles in big games, Jenni Carlson writes in The Oklahoman. 

"Oklahoma is definitely in the same boat we're in," Jenkins said. "They've been there … but couldn't win it. But at the end of the day, everyone was watching them play."

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Recruiting snapshot: Wisconsin

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Wisconsin's recruiting class rounds out our list of Big Ten snapshots. Hope you enjoyed it.

Number of recruits: 21

Key needs: Wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, defensive back

Highest-rated player (Scouts Inc.): Kraig Appleton (No. 15 among wide receivers)

The quote: "As a whole, I feel this class probably encompasses what we want here at the University of Wisconsin as a total package more so than ever before." — Head coach Bret Bielema

Quick take: Credit Bielema and his staff for not letting a very disappointing 2008 season slow them down on the recruiting trail. Wisconsin addressed several needs with its class and landed its top player on national signing day when Appleton chose the Badgers after verbally committing to Illinois. The passing game easily was Wisconsin's biggest need, and Appleton could provide an instant impact at wide receiver. Jon Budmayr will compete with Curt Phillips to become the team's quarterback of the future. Shelby Harris, David Gilbert and Jordan Kohout bring depth to a thin defensive line, and Wisconsin added pieces for its trademark power run game. The secondary remains a concern despite some additions in this class.

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