Big Ten News

[hilltoppanther]

Marino's Wonderlic Score is 15 or 16.

Some other notables scoring 15 in the Wonderlic

Terry Bradshaw
Jim Kelly

[frostlion]

Titan's post had nothing to do with performance on the field, it was a cheap shot towards Morelli in a thread about Big Ten news and recruiting. If the discussion was going to turn towards the intellegence of QB's, then using Marino as an example (I could have used Vince Young also) should be fair game.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Since the biggest condescending crybaby on BC is also the college/pro forums moderator, let's get back on track before Coach has to delete what started as a good thread about recruiting. Notice how there have been Pitt recruiting updates but no one even acknowledges it. If the Pitt fans kept up with their own program, which they don't, this stuff would get posted. Wildcat and v-man and Hollywood at least talk about their teams.

One of the ND boards seemingly is claiming that Dailey was 4 days away from a ND offer. Rivals alluded a little to Dailey holding out for a OSU or ND offer. That's understandable. But it also doesn't necessarily mean he was going to go there. I dont understand why anyone would commit prior to their senior season. If they get hurt, can't colleges take scholarships away? So if Dailey gets hurt real bad, can't PSU take his offer away to begin with? So what's the point of early commitments? If you are really interested in 3 schools, and not just Penn State, why commit to Penn State so early? I dont get it.

Obviously I am happy we have him, he's seems like a great talent. Is this gonna hurt us with Barquell Rivers and Malcolm Smith though? I'm not even saying those kids are better than Dailey, but now we have 2 LB verbals before those kids even play their senior season. Just trying to be objective.

[vman]

Vman back in the USA! Actually worked Fri & checked out the threads briefly but had to comment on recent post....should probably start new thread; not ripping UPS or Big 10 but want to piggy back on tae's comments.

I do follow recruiting as a ''sorta hobby" and am just amazed how the big time programs are signing more & more kids earlier & earlier. With the understanding that the whole process is not an exact science to begin with, the Texas', USCs, NDs, UPS' are filling a significant % of their scholarship allotment prior to any of these kids playing a single game in their senior seasons!! Now I know films are available & juniors attend camps(for exposure) but it is not unusual for young men to continue physical development up till age 21, or so.

I would agree that based on junior seasons, size and athletic ability it is not much of a reach to offer/sign 4&5 Stars(allowing for occasional busts)
My feeling is late bloomers(physically, emotionally and athletically) are going to be missed in these early signing periods and keen-eyed recruiters are going to get bargain 2&3 Star kids(rating going into the season) following their senior seasons.

In conclusion, the rich will remain rich, primarily via early signings....it's the mid-major programs that may get more & more "players" by focusing on "over-looked prospects" 12th grade performances.

[frostlion]

Good points Vman. There are a few players who hold PSU offers who have said they will not decide until December of January (Wiz and Marvin Austin). I'm not sure how the class taking shape so early will effect that.

PSU is done with LB's this year. Stupar, Colasanti and Dailey make a strong trio with Dailey being really strong in coverage and Colasanti the throwback MLB. Lots of talent at LB in the pipeline (Lee, Hayes, Brown, Sales, Bowman, Gbadyu, Colasanti, Stupar, Dailey...) Just like WR, PSU is probably has the most depth at LB it ever has had. Next year, with Zordich, Poz, and Hales... all with strong ties to PSU, we will get Poz, and one of the other. Stupar, Colasanti, and Dailey will all redshirt. Bank on it.

About Dailey and ND, Notre Dame did not offer Dailey because they were fairly certain he'd commit to PSU. The Irish staff asked him to put off a commitment, Dailey told them "sorry."

[The Ancient Enemy]

They need to save a few scholarships for the secondary. That's all I see as a recruiting trouble-spot for PSU. With Powell's size and speed, it may very well be true that he is ready for a huge senior season. But I would like to see Bradley push real hard for a very highly touted CB or Safety.

If what I have been hearing about Bowman is true, and he is already one of the leaders on defense, that is unreal, and a very good sign for a Posluszny-less linebacking corps. I hope he gets a good bit of time this season. I think we'll see Dan Connor really come into his own this season. He does get overshadowed by Posluszny's success and hype, but we need Connor to put as much effort into tackles as he does into prank phonecalls. He'd be an all-american!!!

[frostlion]

I think the stud corner of the class will be Everson. It's a race between PSU and UCLA (he likes UCLA's "colors"). Said that JoePa talked to him on the phone and that Joe said he would make an "immediate difference" on the team, and that he would "get his degree." Everson wants to major in sports medicine, and is impressed by the PSU sports medicine major.

I think Connor is an All-American by the time he leaves PSU.

In Michigan State related news:

According to Drew Sharp in today's Detroit Free Press, John L. Smith is not facing a win-or-else situation this year, and has "received a blanket endorsement for continued mediocrity" (Sharp's words) from MSU President Lou Ann Simon, so long as Spartans stay off the police blotter and out of the newspapers for off-the-field indiscretions.

If that's true, it kind of makes sense as to why the Administration at MSU has tolerated his end of the season difficulties...

[frostlion]

Big Ten recruiting update: just a quick comparison to see how the teams of the B10 are doing on the recruiting.

Illinois:

Clint Brewester, QB 3*, Denver, CO.

Daryle Ballew, DT 4*, (ranked 22 nationally at position), Cincinnati, OH.

Mike Garrity, DE 2*, Batavia, IL.


Indiana

Matt Ernest, WR 2*, Crown Point, IN.

Zack Walker, RB 2*, Plantation FL.

Sidney Glover, S 3*, Warren, OH.

Dane Conwell, LB 2*, Pittsburgh, PA.


Iowa:

Marvin McNutt, QB 3*, Florissant, MO.

Bryan Bulaga, DT 4*, (ranked 28 nationally at position), Woodstock, IL.

Tyler Nielsen, LB 4*, (ranked 4 nationally at position), Homboldt, IA.

Colin Sanderman, WR 4*, (ranked 19 nationally at position), Bettendorf, IA.

Cody Hundertmark, DT 4* (ranked 27 nationally at position), Homboldt, IA.


Michigan:

Steve Watson, TE 4*, Denver, CO.

Troy Wolfolk, CB 3*, Sugar Land, TX.

James Rogers, WR 3*, Madison Heights, MI.

Jerimy Finch, S 5* (ranked 3 nationally at position), Indianapolis, IN.

Martell Webb, WR 4*, Pontiac, MI.

Ryan Mallett, QB 5* (ranked 2 nationally at position), Texarkana, TX.

Ryan Vanbergen, DE 4*, (ranked 10 nationally at position), Whitehall, MI.

Artis Chambers, S 4* (ranked 16 nationally at position), Fort Wayne, IN.

Vince Helmut, RB 4* (ranked 24 nationally at position), Saline, MI.


Michigan State:

Jack Cornell, OL 3*, Quincy, IL.

Paul Simkovich, OL 3*, Latrobe, PA.

George White, LB 3*, Flint, MI.

Quincy Landingham, S 4* (ranked 23 nationally at position), Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Keith Nichol, QB 4*, (ranked 13 nationally at position), Lowell, MI.


Minnesota:

Ronnie St. Fleur, LB 2*, Hollywood, FL.

Oliver Haney, DT 2*, Clark, NJ.

Chris Bunder, OL 2*, Osseo, MN.

Josh Allison, DT 3*, Lake Orion, MI.

Ryan Orton, OL 2*, Eden Prairie, MN.

Phil Haig, QB 2*, Mendota Heights, MN.

Trey Davis, DT 3*, Farmington, MN.

Collin McGarry, TE 2*, Stillwater, MN.

Shane Potter, WR 2*, Becker, MN.

Ryan Wynn, OL 2*, Maple Grove, MN.

Anthony Jacobs, DE 3*, Northfield, MN.

Andre Tate, RB 3*, Mendota Heights, MN.


Northwestern:

Niko Mafuli, OL 3*, St. Louis, MO.

Vincent Brown, DE 3*, Lisbon, OH.

Cameron Joplin, OL 3*, Ann Arbor, MI.

Dan Persa, QB 2*, Bethlehem, PA.

Scott Concannon, RB 2*, Columbia, MO.

Kevin Watt, DE 2*, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Colin Armstrong, OL 2*, Lisle, IL.


Ohio State:

Taurian Washington, WR 4*, (ranked 23 nationally at position), Orchard Lake, MI.

Evan Blankenship, OL 3*, Monaca, PA.

Boom Heron, RB 4*, (ranked 21 nationally at position), Warren, OH.

Dane Sanzenbacher, WR 3*, Toledo, OH.

Donnie Evege, CB 3*, Huber Heights, OH.

Brandon Saine, RB 4*, (ranked 11 nationally at position), Piqua, OH.

Nate Oliver, S 4*, (ranked 21 nationally at position), Lakewood, OH.


Penn State:

Andrew Dailey, LB 4*, (ranked 17 nationally at position), Massillon, OH.

Stephfon Green, CB 2*, Bronx, NY.

Kevion Latham, DE 3*, Greensboro, NC.

Nick Sukay, S 4* (ranked 7 nationally at position), Greensburg, PA.

Chaz Powell, CB 3*, Glen Rock, PA.

Ryan Breen, P 1*, Clarkston, MI.

John Ditto, TE 4*, (ranked 11 nationally at position), Monroeville, PA.

Nathan Stupar, LB 4*, (ranked 27 nationally at position), State College, PA.

Josh Marks, OL 4*, (ranked 35 nationally at position), Catawissa, PA.

Chris Colasanti, LB 4*, (ranked 29 nationally at position), Bloomfield, MI.


Purdue:

Jamie Hampton, QB 1*, Cedar Bluff, AL.

Dan Dierking, RB 2*, Wheaton, IL.

Nick Mondek, DE 2*, Naperville, IL.

Derrick Sherman, WR 3*, Cincinnati, OH.

Colton McKey, TE 2*, The Woodlands, TX.

Chris Summers, K 1*, Fishers, IN.

Tyler Haston, QB 2*, Avon, IN.


Wisconsin:

James Stallons, QB 2*, Macomb, MI.

Louis Nzegwu, RB 3*, Platteville, WI.

Donte Neal, S 2*, Arlington, TX.

Josh Oglesby, OL 5* (ranked 3 nationally at position), Saint Francis, WI.

Nick Toon, WR 3*, Middleton, WI.

------------------------------------

From all of this a couple of observations. First of all, I'm not sure how many scholarships Ron Zook has to give this year, but so far, in comparison to the rest of the B10, it doesn't look like Illinois is doing well. Wisky seems to be off to a slow start as well, the Oglesby kid is the stud of the class, but it's no suprise he's on board. Looks like Michigan has the early "lead", but PSU is holding its own, especially with the Buckeyes.

I expect a slow August in recruiting for PSU. I would be very suprised if anyone verbals.

[frostlion]

Current Vegas odds to win the B10:

OSU 1-1
Michigan 2-1
Penn State 3-1
Iowa 6-1
Wisconsin 8-1
Michigan State 10-1
Minnesota 12-1
Purdue 20-1
Northwestern 20-1
Indiana 80-1
Illinois 100-1

Very interesting that the odds on the next two teams are only 2-1 and 3-1. That tells you that the odds makers see that scUM and PSU are not too far behind tOSU.

Anyone going to put a few bills on Illinois? That would be a nice payday... Pretty sad for Zook that Vegas puts Indiana before him....

[The Ancient Enemy]

Indiana is already getting better though, to tell you the truth. Blake Powers is a really good QB that is getting overlooked in the Big Ten because of Henne and Smith and Tate. IU brings back a good bit this season. I wouldn't be surprised to see them bowl eligible.