Rating the Quarterbacks of the Big Ten...

Over the years, the Big Ten has had some outstanding QBs. Entering the 2008 season, eight of 11 Big Ten teams return their #1 signal caller for this season.

Rating the best quarterback units in the Big Ten?

1. Ohio State, 7-1 in '07: Todd Boeckman, senior; Terrelle Prior, true freshman - This unit may attempt play out for the Buckeyes as Leak-Tebow played out for the Florida Gators in '06, in pursuit of nation's top prize in '08!
2. Purdue, 3-5: Curtis Painter, senior; Joey Elliott, junior; Justin Siller, redshirt freshman - Painter could leave West Lafayette as the Big Ten's all-time #1 passer, a solid NFL prospect, but absent the Big Ten's biggest prize, a title.
3. Illinois, 6-2 : Juice Williams, junior; Eddie McGee, sophomore - The Illini have the most experienced 1-2 punch two dual-threats at QB, but can Coach Zook pull the right strings to make the right music for the Illini in '08, with a runner and a passer?
4. Indiana, 3-5: Kellen Lewis, junior; Ben Chappell, sophomore - Lewis is clearly the Big Ten's top dual-threat QB with his run-pass skills for the Hoosiers. Chappel is a dropback QB, who has thrown one pass, a pick 6.
5. Iowa, 4-4: Jake Christensen, junior; Ricky Stanzi, sophomore - as Lindy's points out, "Iowa has to have better production at this spot," which this rating projects, with improvement in the OL. "When Jake has time, he's lethal," as one Big Ten opponent's coach told Athlon's.
6. Michigan State, 3-5: Brian Hoyer, senior; Kirk Cousins, redshirt freshman; Nick Foles, redshirt freshman; Connor Dixon, sophomore - Hoyer is the clear #1 for the Spartans, but a battle will continue to unfold for #2 and the Spartans future QB.
7. Minnesota, 0-8: Adam Weber, sophomore; Tony Mortensen, senior; David Pittman, junior; MarQueis Gray, true freshman - Weber had a surprisingly strong redshirt freshman season last year as a dual-threat; JUCO Pittman and Indianapolis prep Gray are both dual-threats and expected to battle for #2.
8. Northwestern, 3-5: CJ Bacher, senior; Mike Katko, junior - the Wildcats QB needs to cut down on mistakes, but with experience returning in Evanston, look for greater production at QB lead by Bacher.
9. Penn State, 4-4: Daryll Clark, senior; Pat Devlin, sophomore - the Nittany Lions may be another team looking to use a 1-2 punch at QB; Clark is a run-first prospect, while Devlin is viewed as a typical pocket passing QB. Team to Watch in '08 at the QB position.
10. Wisconsin, 5-3: Allan Evridge, senior; Dustin Sherer, junior; Curt Phillips, true freshman - inconsistent Evridge had 6 starts as a redshirt frosh at Kansas State, spring arrival Phillips is a dual-threat QB for the future, while Sherer has taken too few snaps to know what to expect.
11. Michigan, 6-2: Steven Threet, redshirt freshman; Nick Sheridan, sophomore; David Cone, sophomore; Justin Feagin, true freshman - Coach Rich Rodriquez will bring a new system to Ann Arbor, some look for GA transfer Threet to get first shot, with possible dual-threat Feagin emerging by season's end.

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