Q&A: Dace Richardson, Iowa

In our never-ending search to bring you information about the players you need to know, the NFL Draft Bible goes one-on-one with Iowa offensive lineman Dace Richardson, fresh off the Hawkeyes' Orange Bowl victory. The Big Ten All-Conference selection played three different positions this past year, displaying the type of versatility that has NFL scouts buzzing…

What are your official height and weight, and do you have a recent forty time?

Six-five, 305 pounds and I ran it in 5.45 seconds.

What do you consider your biggest strength?

I believe my biggest strength is my work ethic. I am always focusing on ways to get better.

What part of your game have you worked on improving?

I have been working on my leverage in pass protection. I watch film to make sure I get my hands inside of the defensive lineman, to get leverage instead of grabbing from the outside.

Where have you been training? How often do you workout to stay in shape?

I will start my training on Monday, January 11 at the University of Iowa and we will be training five days a week.

Who is the toughest opponent/teammate you have faced? How did you fare?

The toughest opponent I have gone against this year was Jared Odrick from Penn State. I held my own with him and played a good game.

Which coach has had the biggest impact on your playing career up to this point?

I believe that Coach Kirk Ferentz has had a big impact on my playing career. He is always hands-on with the offensive line at practice and he has tremendous knowledge of line play.

Are there any players that you would compare yourself to? Did you have a favorite player growing up?

I can’t think of anyone to compare myself to but my favorite player growing up was Emmitt Smith.

What do you like to do with your free time, do you have a hobby?

On my free time I like to fish and hang out with friends and also play Call of Duty.

What is something that people might not know about you?

That in college I took acting classes, and after I graduated last May I made theatre my second major this past fall.

If you could invite any three guests for dinner past or present, who would they be?

I would first invite President Obama because it would be an honor to meet our President and then I would also invite Jonathan Ogden to learn his work ethic he had in the NFL and how he found ways to be better than his competition. Lastly I would invite Jared Allen to learn things from a defensive perspective and learn how to not tip defensive linemen off.

What are your future goals outside of playing in the NFL?

When football is over I might try getting into acting. I have always been interested in that.

Why should a NFL team draft you?

I believe a NFL team should draft me because they will get a guy who is a hard worker and has come from a coach that knows how to train and develop good offensive linemen (Coach Ferentz).

Photos Courtesy of Iowa Sports Information

Bowl Projections

Breaking down the bowl schedule and potential match-ups.

THE TITLE GAME:

1.7.10 - Citi BCS Championship Game (BCS #1 vs. BCS #2) Texas vs. Alabama

THE BCS BOWLS:

1.1.10 - Rose Bowl presented by Citi (BCS/Big Ten Champ If Available vs. BCS/Pac-10 Champ If Available) Ohio State vs. Oregon

1.1.10 - Allstate Sugar Bowl (BCS/SEC Champ If Available vs. BCS) Florida vs. TCU

1.4.10 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (BCS/Big 12 Champ If Available vs. BCS) Boise State vs. Cincinnati

1.5.10 - FedEx Orange Bowl (BCS/ACC Champ If Available vs. BCS) Georgia Tech vs. Iowa

THE REST OF THE BOWL SCHEDULE:

12.19.09 - New Mexico Bowl (WAC vs. Mountain West) Nevada vs. Wyoming

12.20.09 - R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (C-USA vs. Sun Belt) Marshall vs. Troy

12.19.09 - St. Petersburg Bowl (Big East vs. C-USA) South Florida vs. Central Florida

12.22.09 - Las Vegas Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-10) BYU vs. Oregon State

12.23.09 - San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-10 or WAC) Utah vs. Arizona

12.24.09 - Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (WAC vs. C-USA) Fresno State vs. SMU

12.26.09 - Meineke Car Care Bowl (Big East vs. ACC) West Virginia vs. Clemson

12.26.09 - Little Caesars Bowl (MAC vs. Big Ten) Central Michigan vs. UCLA

12.26.09 - Emerald Bowl (Pac-10 vs. ACC) California vs. North Carolina

12.27.09- Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (ACC vs. SEC) Boston College vs. Georgia

12.28.09 - AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl (SEC vs. Big 12) South Carolina vs. Missouri

12.29.09 - EagleBank Bowl (ACC vs. Army/Conference USA) Southern Mississippi vs. Northern Illinois

12.29.09 - Champs Sports Bowl - (ACC vs. Big Ten) Florida State vs. Michigan State

12.30.09 - Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl (WAC vs. Mountain West) Idaho vs. Bowling Green

12.30.09 - Texas Bowl (Big XII vs. Navy) Iowa State vs. Navy

12.30.09 - Pacific Life Holiday Bowl (Pac-10 vs. Big XII) USC vs. Nebraska

12.31.09 - Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Mountain West vs. C-USA) Air Force vs. East Carolina

12.31.09 - Burt Sun Bowl (Pac-10 vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Stanford vs. Oklahoma

12.31.09 - Insight Bowl (Big 12 vs. Big Ten) Texas A&M vs. Minnesota

12.31.09 - Chick-Fil-A Bowl (SEC vs. ACC) Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech

1.1.10 - Outback Bowl (Big Ten vs. SEC) Wisconsin vs. Auburn

1.1.10 - Capital One Bowl (SEC vs. Big Ten) LSU vs. Penn State

1.1.10 - Konica Minolta Gator Bowl (ACC vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Miami (FL) vs. Pittsburgh

1.2.10 - International Bowl (Big East vs. MAC) Connecticut vs. Temple

1.2.10 - Papa John.com Bowl (Big East vs. SEC) Rutgers vs. Kentucky

1.2.10 - AT&T Cotton Bowl (Big 12 - SEC) Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss

1.2.10 - AutoZone Liberty Bowl (C-USA vs. SEC) Houston vs. Arkansas

1.2.10 - Valero Alamo Bowl (Big Ten vs. Big 12) Northwestern vs. Texas Tech

1.6.10 - GMAC Bowl (ACC or WAC) Middle Tennessee State vs. Ohio

Photos Courtesy of College Press Box, University of California, OU Athletics Department

Draft Watch: Iowa @ Ohio State

1) In the Trenches: Iowa’s top two prospects on the offensive side of the ball are their tackles, junior Bryan Bulaga (25 career starts) and senior Kyle Calloway (34 career starts). Bulaga is the crown jewel and could be next in the line of Big Ten top-ten picks at offensive tackle. The conference has produced three in the last three years—Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas (third pick in 2007), Penn State’s Levi Brown (fifth pick in 2007) and Michigan’s Jake Long (first pick in 2008). Iowa is no stranger to the top of the draft—Robert Gallery was the second overall pick in 2004. Heading into the season Bulaga appeared well on his way, coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign which he capped off with a dominant performance against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. However, his junior season did not start off the way he expected as he missed significant time early on with an undisclosed illness. Still, no one doubts his first round talent—at 6’ 6” and 315 pounds he has the size, feet and athleticism to man the all-important left tackle position. On the right side, Calloway has started the last nine games and has improved his stock this season. Not as talented as Bulaga, Calloway has proved more agile than many expected and at 6’ 7” and 315 pounds, size is not an issue. Taking on the stellar Buckeye defense is an opportunity for both of these big uglies to make an impression in front of the talent scouts in attendance.

Putting the Iowa blocking bookends to the test will be one of the fiercest defensive end duos in the nation—Ohio State juniors Thaddeus Gibson and Cameron Heyward. While they are equally dangerous, their styles of play are very distinct, as are their dimensions. Heyward, the son of Ironhead, checks in at 6’ 6” and 287 pounds, while Gibson is 6’ 2” and 240 pounds. When speaking to College Football Insiders Radio in an interview earlier this season, Heyward discussed his attributes, “I have a lot of power. It works to my advantage. I can play defensive end and it gives us a chance to be versatile. We have guys like Thad [Gibson]…we can be strong sometimes and we can be quick.” Gibson will likely shift to outside linebacker at the next level—and hopefully achieve better results than former Buckeye Vernon Gholston—while Heyward will continue to play with his hand on the ground. That is not to say the powerful Heyward lacks explosiveness, just ask Penn State. The junior is coming off his top game of the season against the Nittany Lions: 11 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks. Heyward now leads the team with his five sacks and tops the defensive line with 36 tackles. Gibson (33 tackles) has four sacks among his team-high 10.5 tackles for loss. “He’s one of the best pass-rushers on the team and he’s so versatile—he can go up and under, come off the edge…but he also has a lot of power. Thad’s one of the strongest guys on our team,” Heyward said of his fellow end. It will be fun to watch how these two disruptive ends fare against the blocking duo of Bulaga and Calloway.

2) Pryor Progress: If the play in the trenches isn’t sexy enough for you, let’s talk some TP. When he arrived at Ohio State, Terrelle Pryor brought with him the reputation as a can’t-miss prospect—he’s 6’ 6”, 235 pounds and runs like the wind. He is physically gifted, but his development at quarterback hasn’t been as smooth of a ride as anticipated. Pryor is getting opportunities to air it out—averaging 22.4 pass attempts per game—but those chances have yielded inconsistent results. His completion percentage is down from 60.6 percent as a freshman to 54 percent this season and while his touchdowns are up from 12 to 15, so are his interceptions from four to nine. Pryor still struggles to read defenses, find the open receivers, and connect with them even when he makes the right decision. He has thrown three touchdowns with no interceptions in the Buckeyes’ last two games, but he also failed to complete half of his passes against both New Mexico State and Penn State. Pryor is still a long way from being a pro passer, but has two years of eligibility remaining after this season to make some progress.

3) Iowa Defense: While most people have focused on Iowa’s lack of an explosive offense, the Hawkeyes have won so many close games because their defense has been so stout. They are in every game because of that defense and that should be no different this week. Iowa is ranked third in scoring defense (15.9 points per game), pass defense (173 yards per game) and total defense (291.7 yards per game), while leading the conference in pass efficiency defense and turnovers created with 26.

Coming into the season everyone knew about senior MIKE Pat Angerer and he has done nothing to hurt his draft stock. Angerer, whose name suits a middle linebacker perfectly, is second in the Big Ten with his 106 stops. He is a bit undersized at 6’ 1” and 235 pounds, but has underrated game speed and is a very instinctive defender. In addition to being a fierce hitter, Angerer is also solid in coverage, which makes him a three-down player. Senior SAM A.J. Edds is solid linebacking prospect in his own right, bringing more in terms of size at 6’ 4” and 244 pounds. Edds is not the tackling the machine that Angerer is, but is a good athlete with three interceptions to his credit. Neither gets after the quarterback, which has a lot to do with Iowa’s scheme—they don’t blitz very often. Their leading sacker is junior end Adrian Clayborn who, at 6’ 3” and 282 pounds, has both the size and athleticism to be an impact player. He leads Iowa with his 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Coming off the edge on the other side is sophomore Broderick Binns (five sacks) who is even more athletic and ready to blossom as a pass rusher. On the inside, juniors Karl Klug (6’ 4”/258 pounds) and Christian Ballard (6’ 5”/285 pounds) make things happen with their quickness. Each has three sacks, with Klug second on the team with his 10 tackles for loss. Ballard can also play defensive end. Their top defensive back is junior Amari Spievey (6’ 0”/190 pounds), who is among the top cover men in the nation. Spievey is not a risk taker, as he plays with sound technique and rarely gives up the big play. Look for him to match-up with Ohio State’s big play wide out, sophomore DeVier Posey (45 receptions, 672 yards, 7 touchdowns), often on Saturday.

Photos Courtesy of Iowa Sports Information, The Ohio State Department of Athletics

College Football Insiders Newsletter 3.10

Inside College Football Insiders 3.10:

* Inside the Nation: Welcome to the "House of Spears" & Week 10 Opportunities Lost

* Between the Hashes: Roll Tide Roll (Plus Bayou Bengals Bite)

* On Location: From the Big House

* One On One with Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald

* Player Spotlight on John Clay of Wisconsin

* Game of the Week: Iowa @ Ohio State in the Battle for the Big Ten Title

* Conference Focus on the Big East - Mardy Gilyard, Noel Devine & USF DBs

* Plus...the Top 25, BCS Busters, Fans Weekend Guide & Football Fans Four-Pack

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD (PDF) FOR FREE

Photo Courtesy of Northwestern: Stephen J. Carrera

CFI Coaches Corner: HC Mike Stoops

Coach Mike Stoops is in his sixth season as the Arizona Wildcats head coach. The ‘Cats are coming off an 8-5 season and bowl in over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. This season Arizona is 5-2, 3-1 in the Pac-10 which is them ranked in the top 25 both in the polls and in the BCS Rankings.

Interview conducted by College Football Insiders founder Daniel Mogollon.

Length: 14 Minutes

Click Here to Listen Now

Topics Include:

* His take on quarterbacks Jake Locker (3 TD passes vs. Arizona) & Dan LeFevour (108 yards vs. Arizona)

* How good are the Iowa Hawkeyes (Beat Arizona 27-17)

* Injury update of Rob Gronkowski and the impact of his loss

* The development of sophomore quarterback Nick Foles

* What Coach does on Saturday when he's not coaching

* Arizona's stretch run which includes games against ranked foes USC, Oregon, Cal, as well as a road trip to in-state rival Arizona St.

Photo Courtesy of Luke Adams of J and L Photo/Arizona

College Football Insiders Preview: Big Ten

By JOHN SEARS - Big Ten Insider

Due to the weather patterns in the Windy City, we joke (or not) that in Chicago there are two seasons—winter and construction. By June, we’re clinging to the low ‘70s, hoping the afternoon “London Fog” burns off before it blocks the sun, sort of like a volcanic or meteor-strike ashen blanket that throws the globe in to a 10,000-year ice age. On the bright side, we have been inundated with previews of the 2009 college football season as early as the time Chicago has decided to begin its summer thaw. TV talking heads, magazines, blogs, podcasts, and a plethora of other online multimedia services have weighed in, but I know you have all been holding out through the dog days of summer to get my perspective on the season…All five of you (including my parents, my in-laws and my wife). So I present my 2009 Big Ten outlook with a sense of humility. This word may also be the best descriptor of how all teams planning on contending this year in the Big Ten should approach their season. Why? No team escaped roster evaluation without a fatal flaw in one (or more) of their units, which may inevitably stunt their chance at contending for the conference title. Those teams that play to their strengths, or mask their weaknesses best may escape the Big Ten ice age and take a step towards the warming effects of national and BCS respect.

The Favorites: Penn State and Ohio State: Despite most slotting the perennial power Ohio State atop the league, Penn State possesses enough talent, experience, and most of all, leadership to secure the conference crown over the Buckeyes. Will they be packing for Pasadena? Yes. Will they be packing for a January 7th game (the National Title game) or the January 1st Rose Bowl? I am not handing everything over to Penn State before a game is played, and I feel Illinois will give them a run and finish a close second. In fact, I see the Nittany Lions’ only loss coming to the Illini on October 3rd. One loss in the SEC or Big 12 can give you some bargaining chips for a case of National Championship representation, but Penn State will lose the BCS beauty contest, with a number 1 or 2 ranking just out of their fingertips. Why? Penn State has serious gaps to fill in their passing game and in defending the pass. Daryll Clark will likely have a stellar season statistically, leading Penn State with his arms or legs. But replacing the magnificent, record-setting receiving trio of Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood will be nearly impossible. If the Nittany Lions can ride the legs of Evan Royster, Stephon Green and Clark, perhaps there will be less pressure to gain chunks of yards through the air. On the other side of the ball, the front seven looks solid, despite key losses on the edges of Aaron Maybin, Maurice Evans, and Josh Gaines. A healthy Sean Lee coupled with last year’s standout at Linebacker U, Navorro Bowman, can be a deadly combination. However, zero starters return in the secondary. In 2006, their defense survived under similar circumstances; thus it goes without saying (then why am I saying it?) that some true freshmen or newcomers need to step up big to round out the D. If so, look for Penn State to make a run for national considerations. As for Ohio State, I’m a little skeptical of their chances. Funny how “skeptical” still puts them in the top two of the conference and possibly another 10+ win season. But losing running back Beanie Wells and top receiving targets Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie on offense, while losing the captain of the defense, linebacker James Laurinaitis, lockdown corner Malcolm Jenkins and linebacker Marcus Freeman leaves too many holes to fill, even for the Buckeyes. I know I know, Ohio State reloads every year, but reloading with a quarterback who is still mastering the PASS at the collegiate level (yes, he runs like a deer) may result in some hiccups. An early season rematch with USC looms over the Columbus faithful and a victory here could set the stage for conference play. Their schedule is not life-threatening overall, but they still need to man up against Illinois (9/26), Wisconsin (10/10) and Iowa (11/14), albeit at home. The only tough road-tester just happens to be in Happy Valley, on November 7th.

The Contenders: Michigan State and Iowa: For Michigan State, it’s a little more complicated. Their defense projects to be tough, returning seven starters, including a feisty linebacking corps led by MIKE Greg Jones. Their biggest loss on the defensive side of the ball is certainly All Big-Ten Otis Wiley at safety. On offense, leadership is lost at quarterback (Brian Hoyer), but more importantly, workhorse running back Javon Ringer has moved on to the pros. Last year, Ringer accounted for 22 touchdowns, which certainly relieved the pressure for the quarterback to make plays. A running back (or committee of backs) must step in to fill that gaping hole in the run game. There exists promise with several highly touted recruits in the stable, but all are unproven. Also unproven are the sophomore gunslingers, Keith Nichol and Kirk Cousins, but with experience they figure to be better than Hoyer. The outlook for the Spartans really depends on which unit can make the biggest jump the quickest, the running backs or quarterbacks? If the Spartans can make it through a tough early stretch of games—at Notre Dame, at Wisconsin, Michigan, and then at Illinois—they should be sitting pretty. Make no mistake, year-in and year-out, the Big Ten crown is up for grabs with strong defensive teams battling it out for conference bragging rights. Iowa has the potential to be real stingy defensively. If they can shore up the interior of the line, a return of the entire linebacking squad (Pat Angerer included) sitting underneath cornerback Amari Spievey (tied 2nd in the conference in INTs with four) and conference-leader in INTs, safety Tyler Sash, could make it tough for any offense to move the ball against the Hawkeyes. If young running back Jewel Hampton can give half the effort (900 yards, 10 touchdowns) put forth by Shonn Greene last year, Iowa will be the thorns in the conference favorites’ sides.

The Sleepers: Illinois and Northwestern: For Illinois, it’s somewhat simple—ride your offensive star power (wide receivers Arrelious Benn, Jeff Cumberland, Jarred FAyson and running backs Daniel Dufrene, Jason Ford). With that supporting cast, quarterback Juice Williams must be salivating for opening day. Can they average 40 per game? Perhaps…and they’ll need to until their defense performs consistently. In terms of scheduling, the Illini season will most likely be dictated early with a stretch starting September 26th at Ohio State (Illinois conveniently has a bye the week preceding this doozey), home against Penn State, and home against Michigan State. If they take two of three here, which is certainly plausible, it may be clear sailing the rest of the way—their toughest hurdles will be at Minnesota, November 7th, and Northwestern the following week. Expect a double-digit win season, riding solely on where Williams takes them. Unlike the Illini, defense rules for the Wildcats. If they can find a solution on the interior to plug up the run with the loss of defensive tackle John Gill, Northwestern has the pieces to shut down the conference’s mostly vanilla offenses. Senior quarterback Mike Kafka showed potential last year, stepping in for injured starter C. J. Bacher. Kafka is now known mostly for his Big Ten quarterback record-breaking 217 yards rushing against Minnesota last year, but needs to prove he can distribute the ball effectively for the Wildcats’ spread offense to flourish. This will prove difficult as 80 percent of their receptions graduated last year. If Northwestern proves they are more than one-dimensional with playmakers stepping up on the offensive side of the ball, they have an opportunity as good as anyone else to contend for the conference title.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Juice Williams (Illinois) vs. RB John Clay (Wisconsin): Did you know that Williams needs just 4,238 total yards this year to break the all-time Big Ten career yardage record held by Drew Brees? Williams has not been known for being tremendously accurate (2008 career high of 57.5 completion percentage), but still finds ways to get the ball down field for scores. With 3,173 yards through the air last year, Williams almost doubled his passing output from his sophomore campaign (1,743 yards). What else? How about the fact that the quarterback also led his team in rushing last year with 923 yards and five touchdowns? With a stable of competent running backs in the backfield with Williams, I suspect his rushing totals will diminish. I also expect, however, that Williams will continue to improve his touchdown/interception ratio (22/16 2008, 12/13 2007, 9/9 2006) with an elite receiving corps, augmented by Florida transfer Jarred Fayson. This may be a record, decorated year for the senior gunslinger in his final campaign. John Clay emerged last year as a complementary one-two punch to Badgers’ star running back P. J. Hill. When Hill needed a breather or was struggling, Clay answered the bell with 155 carries for 884 yards and nine scores. The sophomore running back is already drawing comparisons to the New York Giants franchise back Brandon Jacobs by possessing size (6-2, 247), speed, and a bruiser mentality. With Hill’s departure and no quarterback emerging as a star, Clay could emerge as the workhorse Wisconsin has traditionally grown to appreciate. If Clay can lose about 10 pounds, the Big Ten defenses are in for a serious pounding. Expect Clay to be featured in a classic power-running scheme that could net him somewhere between 200-250 carries this season.
Honorable Mention: WR Erick Decker (Minnesota), QB Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State), RB Evan Royster (Penn State), WR Arrelious Benn (Illinois)

Defensive Player of the Year: LB Greg Jones (Michigan State) vs. DE Corey Wootten (Northwestern): Last year, Jones anchored the linebacking corps with a team-leading 127 tackles and 12 tackles-for-loss. The defense looks primed to be as strong as or stronger than last year, particularly against the run. The Spartans’ schedule is loaded with run-first offenses (Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa, Penn State), so don’t expect a drop-off in the number of ball carriers Jones mops up. Further, Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern, and Purdue (on the schedule) will be walking out quarterbacks with little or no experience, so Jones may find his way in to the backfield more often. If it weren’t for a costly knee injury in last year’s Alamo Bowl, Northwestern’s defensive end Corey Wootten would already be in an NFL training camp showing off his playmaking ability. Wootten stands at a whopping 6-7, 270 pounds and possesses enough athletic ability to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Last year, he took down quarterbacks 10 times and hauled in a team-leading 16 tackles-for-loss. Furthermore, Northwestern’s defense projects to be even better than last season’s, so Wootten’s presence may help his teammates statistically with extra backfield pressures. Look for Wootten to be a star and anchor of Northwestern’s defense this year, launching him up the Big Board for next year’s draft.
Honorable Mention: DE Brandon Graham (Michigan), DE Jammie Kilrew (Indiana), LB Pat Angerer (Iowa), LB Navarro Bowman (Penn State)

Breakout Seasons: QB Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State) and DL Mike Martin (Michigan): Ohio State’s rising star, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, will be looking to have lightning strike from a more polished arm. Word out of Columbus suggests that Pryor is committed to developing himself as a drop-back passer, and he certainly provided flashes of this last year by leading the Big Ten in passing efficiency. If Pryor takes even moderate steps as a passer, his escapability and top-speed make him a homerun hitter every time the ball is in his hands. By season’s end, we would have been inundated with the obvious Vince Young comparisons, but a bigger compliment to Pryor would certainly be that he looked a lot like Ohio State’s own Heisman Trophy winner (and athlete-turned-pocket-passer), Troy Smith. How does a defensive lineman have a breakout season? Well, sophomore Mike Martin of the Michigan Wolverines may show us, by plugging up the interior as the defensive tackle in Michigan’s new 3-3-5 defense. Last year, Martin shined as a true freshman playing in all 12 games, compiling 20 tackles (4.5 for loss) and two sacks. Word out of Ann Arbor is that Martin is looking fierce so far through camp and if end Brandon Graham draws more double teams with his reputation as a sack-master from the outside, watch out for Martin up the middle one-on-one through the A-gaps.

Best Pro Prospects: WR Arrelious Benn (Illinois): Wide receiver Arrelious Benn looks to capitalize on quarterback Juice Williams’ senior campaign by improving on his 1,000-yard season from a year ago (67, 1,055 yards, 3 touchdowns). Although his production isn’t necessarily worldly, Benn’s frame (6-2, 220) and versatility (returning punts, kicks, and lining up in the backfield) suggest he will have pro scouts salivating, and there are already rumblings of the receiver being a top-ten pick in next year’s NFL draft. Benn’s stock will continue to rise now that NFL offenses are looking for multi-dimensional playmakers that may have an impact in Wildcat formations. Benn’s athleticism, build, and experience in the backfield would bring much to the table in that respect.

College Football Insider’s Picks:

Conference Champion: Penn State: The Big Ten crown is really up for grabs this year with each of the contending teams having some holes to fill. However, Penn State returns solid leadership on both sides of the ball with quarterback Daryll Clark and running back Evan Royster on offense, and a linebacking corps where Sean Lee possibly is second-best of the unit(!?). If the Nittany Lions establish themselves as a running team this year (which isn’t a stretch) and can hold off the pass on defense, they will be tough to beat. Their run defense should be fantastic. This team (as both a compliment and criticism) may end up looking like Michigan’s defense from 2006 where teams shouldn’t have bothered running the ball and focused on tearing apart a somewhat porous secondary. Furthermore, the team’s schedule isn’t necessarily Murderers’ Row.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB John Clay, Wisconsin: Nothing against Juice Williams—I think he will have a great year—but I’m skeptical that Williams will be able to turn the corner with his accuracy and cutting down the interceptions. If Williams makes a mistake in a big game, I feel his stock will drop, despite putting up solid numbers. I believe that the table is set for Wisconsin to pound the ball, especially when they need to protect a defense that lacks all-around experience. What do you do to protect an inexperienced defense? Keep them off the field. How do you keep them off the field? Time of possession. How do you possess…? You get the idea. Hand the rock over to the big fellow and watch him roll downhill all season. The Badgers’ schedule can also give John Clay the type of competition where he can flourish. One could expect big numbers during their non-conference schedule, and heading in to the Big Ten, solid games against Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa, and Northwestern (with remaining games against weaker defenses such as Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana, and Michigan) will make him a bona fide star.

Defensive Player of the Year: LB Greg Jones, Michigan State: As stated above, the Spartans are primed to have a solid unit on the defensive side of the ball. With a more experienced defensive line freeing up gaps for the linebackers, expect Greg Jones to be in the thick of most plays. I expect Jones to increase his tackles-for-losses (12) and tackles (127) based on the proposition of more freedom near the line of scrimmage. The battle for this crown will be closer than the offensive POY battle, but I bet you a lollipop a linebacker ends up shining by season’s end.

Photo Credit: The Ohio State Department of Athletics, Illinois Sports Information