Big Ten Football: A look at the Quarterbacks for 2009

Ohio State has won a share or won outright the past four Big Ten Conference titles. One common denominator has been that the Ohio State quarterback has lead the conference in pass efficiency each of the four seasons. In 2004, the Buckeyes finished 4-4 in the Big Ten and their top QB wasn't in the Top 3 in passing efficiency that season.

* - Returning Starters

Top Returning QBs in the Big Ten

1. Terrelle Pryor, soph., Ohio State*
2. Juice Williams, senior, Illinois*
3. Daryll Clark, senior, Penn State*
4. Ricky Stanzi, junior, Iowa*
5. Adam Weber, junior, Minnesota*
6. Dustin Sherer, senior, Wisconsin*
7. Ben Chappell, junior, Indiana
8. Mike Kafka, senior, Northwestern
9. Joey Elliott, senior, Purdue
10. Nick Sheridan, junior, Michigan

Top Back-ups returning

1. Eddie McGee, junior, Illinois
2. Kirk Cousins, sophomore, Michigan State
3. Joe Bauserman, sophomore, Ohio State
4. Dan Persa, sophomore, Northwestern

Top Newcomers

1. Tate Forcier, true freshman, Michigan
2. Keith Nichol, sophomore, Michigan State (OU transfer)
3. Kevin Newsome, true freshman, Penn State
4. James Vandeberg, redshirt frosh, Iowa
5. Curt Phillips, redshirt frosh, Wisconsin
6. MarQueis Gray, Prop 48 freshman, Minnesota
7. Caleb TerBush, redshirt frosh, Purdue
8. Adam Follett, redshirt frosh, Indiana

Quarterbacks from 2008 that have departed

1. Brian Hoyer, senior '08, Michigan State*
2. C.J. Bacher, senior '08, Northwestern*
3. Curtis Painter, senior '08, Purdue*
4. Pat Devlin, sophomore, '08, Penn State (transferred to Delaware)
5. Kellen Lewis, junior '08, Indiana (dismissed)*
6. Steven Threet, freshman '08, Michigan (transferred to Arizona State)*

Six starters return in the Big Ten for the 2009 season, including the conference's Top 4 in passing efficiency from '08. Michigan State will have a brand new starter, while part-time starters look to fill the roles at Northwestern, Indiana and Purdue. Michigan may open with a true frosh in the starting lineup.

peace

Athlon Sports: Release 2008 Big Ten Magazine

Since 1974, I have been collecting College Football Magazines. After taking in a couple of YMCA soccer matches (Hawks won 11-0, 7-2) and catching lunch at Tommy's in Cedar Rapids on Saturday morning, I hit Barnes & Noble to pick up my first pre-season college football magazines.

Athlon® Sports: Big Ten Annual with Iowa's QB Jake Christensen and Minnesota's QB Adam Weber on the cover. Will it be Turnaround Time for Iowa as Athlon's cover asks? "Hawks Seek Title Run" is mentioned... not bad for the team pegged 6th in the Big Ten in '08. After 3 off seasons, Iowa hopes to get back to '02-'04 ways.

By the way, I guess I could have saved a little buying on-line. Of course, delivery wasn't until June 15th, and of course, Memorial Day weekend wouldn't be the same without an early football magazine.

Further, I do take advantage of my 10% off at Barnes & Noble, even with magazines.

peace