Manningham far from being a favorite son in Ohio

By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer

One of the things that amplifies the rancor in the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, at least for Buckeyes fans, is that so many of Michigan's greatest players have migrated north.

Over the years, Michigan has invaded Ohio to snag standouts like Heisman Trophy winners Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson, as well as Thom Darden, Jim Mandich, Rob Lytle, Ricky Powers, Elvis Grbac, Dan Dierdorf, and Benny Friedman just to name a few.

It's one thing to battle your biggest rival. But it gets even more personal when your biggest rival used to be the kid down the street.

The latest native to be seen as a traitor by many Ohio State fans is Mario Manningham, a graduate of Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio.

In Saturday's showdown at The Big House, a lot of eyes - on both sides of the border - will be watching him. Manningham is in one of the best six-game stretches of his career, and that's saying a lot.

The junior leads the nation with a streak of six straight 100-yard receiving games and he has scored in each game, including a school-record 97-yard TD in last week's loss at Wisconsin.

``He's been unbelievable,'' Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr said. ``He's been sensational. He's a threat every time he touches the ball.''

Before a knee injury stunted Manningham last year, he had nine TDs in his first six games. He caught six TD passes in 2005 as a freshman.

``He did some great things as a true freshman,'' Carr said. ``A year ago, he really began to display the unique qualities as a receiver he possessed. He's got a great burst. He's tough, he loves the competitive part of it. In terms of all the things you want a wide receiver to do, he can do them.''

Except maybe wear his letter jacket in his hometown.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

CFI: THE BIG TEN REPORT

BY MICK MILLER
BIG TEN INSIDER

If you’re an old dude like me, you were raised on the Big Ten of yesteryear; Bo, Woody, three yards and a cloud of dust. This just in, someone else just scored. Four teams scored 48 points or more this weekend and a fifth scored 38 in a win. To me, the same old garbage thrown around by sportswriters about the weakness of the conference and how the BCS caters to the Big Ten is simply ludicrous. How many years have we had to hear about the team that doesn’t deserve to be where they are? Take it up with the schedule makers and as Ohio State reaches a number one ranking for a second straight season, let’s look at another exciting weekend in the conference.

Michigan 48 Purdue 21

After running for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, Michigan running back Mike Hart suffered what appears to be a minor ankle injury and sat the second half of the Wolverines’ best team performance of the season. Quarterback Chad Henne completed 21-of-28 passes and two touchdowns, both to wide receiver Mario Manningham, who returned from a one game suspension to have a career-high in yards with 147 on eight catches. The Michigan defense shut down Purdue’s conference best offense and Curtis Painter, holding him to 113 yards passing and the team to 5.4 yards per pass play.

Next Up: Michigan is at Illinois; Purdue invites Iowa


(3) Ohio State 38 Kent State 7

After not having a punt return longer than 21 yards all season, Buckeye wide receiver Brian Hartline set a school record with a 90-yard touchdown return in the second quarter, after catching a 14 yard touchdown from quarterback Todd Boeckman in the first. The offense appears to be catching up to the defense, which had fireworks of its own, a 70 yard interception return for a score by Donald Washington which was part of a 28-point second quarter, and allowed the Buckeyes to play the reserves in the second half. Ohio State held Kent State to 6-of-15 passing for 62 net yards.

Next Up: Ohio State hosts Michigan State

Northwestern 49 Minnesota 48 (2 OT)

After an earth-shaking performance last week in an overtime win against Michigan State, Wildcat quarterback C.J. Bacher threw for 470 yards (41-58 completions) and four touchdowns Saturday in bringing his team back from a 21-point deficit and a win versus the Golden Gophers. In an old fashioned quarterback gunfight, Minnesota redshirt freshman Adam Weber threw for 341 yards and five touchdowns while running for another 89 yards and a score. Wildcat receivers Ross Lane and Eric Peterman combined for 21 receptions, 222 yards and three touchdowns. Minnesota wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright had his best game of the season with 116 yards and three touchdowns.

Next Up: Northwestern travels to Eastern Michigan; Minnesota welcomes North Dakota State


Michigan State 52 Indiana 27

Spartan running back Javon Ringer led a dominating rushing attack against Indiana with 203 yards and two touchdowns while his backfield mate Jehuu Caulcrick added three scores on the ground. MSU dominated the time of possession battle and kept the high-powered Hoosier offense off the field. After tying the game at seven with quarterback Kellen Lewis’ 59-yard touchdown run on their first offensive play, Indiana saw themselves trail by as many as 32 points and were on the field for less than 19 minutes for the game. A 76-yard fumble return by Hoosier corner Tracy Porter pulled Indiana within 18, but that ended their scoring for the game. Quarterback Brian Hoyer was efficient with 20-of-23 completions and 190 yards and his lone touchdown pass went to the all-purpose Devin Thomas who added 13 receptions for 147 yards.

Next Up: Michigan State is at Ohio State; Indiana is at home versus Ohio State

Penn State 38 (19) Wisconsin 7

Following a rough week with off the field issues, Penn State erupted at home while Wisconsin lost for the second consecutive time after a 14-game win streak. Their usually dominant run game fizzled (held to 87 yards) and a balanced Nittany Lion offense broke out with 437 total yards against the Badger defense. Anthony Morelli threw for 216 yards and a touchdown and running back Reggie Kinlaw logged 115 yards on the ground and a score as Penn State excelled on both sides of the ball. The lone Badger bright spot was freshman wide receiver Kyle Jefferson with six receptions for 124 yards, picking up the slack for the injured senior Luke Swan. Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan could not get it going against the Penn State defense that sacked him five times on the day.

Next Up: Penn State travels to Indiana; Wisconsin hosts Northern Illinois

Iowa 10 (18) Illinois 6

A stout Hawkeye defense defused the nation’s fifth-ranked Illini running game to 137 yards on 35 attempts, and came up with just enough offense for their first conference victory, and handing Illinois their first Big Ten loss. In the third quarter, Illinois head coach Ron Zook decided to accept a five-yard penalty that made it third and seven instead of fourth and two for Iowa at the Illini 15-yard line. Hawkeye quarterback Jake Christensen proceeded to hit tight end Brandon Myers with a 20-yard touchdown pass that proved to be the difference in the game. Hawkeye running back Albert Young gained 99 yards on 25 carries while the star Illini halfback Rashard Mendenhall was held to 67 yards on 15 rushes. Illinois quarterback Eddie McGee, replacing starter Juice Williams, threw an interception the end zone from the 12-yard line to seal the win for Iowa. Freshman receiver Arrelious Benn had four receptions for 87 yards for Illinois, including two for 52 yards on their final drive.

Next Up: Iowa is at Purdue; Illinois hosts Michigan

TEN PRO PROSPECTS FROM THE BIG TEN

BY MICK MILLER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS
BIG TEN WRITER


The Big Ten continues to cultivate, and the National Football League salivates. Some of the top talent and impact players that college football has to offer comes from the Big Ten, which produced 32 players in the 2007 NFL Draft, including two of the top five in Wisconsin left tackles Joe Thomas (#3) and Penn State’s Levi Brown (#5). In all, six went in the first round, with Ted Ginn of Ohio State (#9), Michigan’s Leon Hall (#18), Anthony Spencer of Purdue (#26) and Ginn’s fellow OSU wide out Anthony Gonzalez (#32).

This year’s crop is just as bountiful as these ten players will provide teams at the next level cornerstones to build upon.

1. Jake Long, OT, Michigan – The draft status of both Thomas and Brown gives us an idea into the draft potential of Long. It was Long, not Thomas, who won the conference’s Lineman of the Year award, to go along was First-Team All-Big Ten and a consensus All-American selections. Considering where Thomas and Brown were selected, Long’s potential certainly places him in the top five.

2. Dan Connor, LB, Penn State – Although Buffalo Bill draftee Paul Posluszny got all the print, Connor had the better season from the opening kick. He also was a Bednarik finalist last season and his 113 tackles (including nine for a loss) has placed him 99 tackles behind Posluszny’s newly established school record. Some experts consider him a better linebacker prospect than Posluszny.

3. James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State – The Bronco Nagurski Award (nation’s top defensive player) winner had a solid 2006 season and led the Buckeyes with five interceptions from his linebacker spot as he chalked up 115 tackles and four sacks to boot. Said to be not as athletic as former first rounder A.J. Hawk, he will be equally productive in college and at the next level.

4. Justin King, CB, Penn State – How happy is the valley with this Thorpe Award candidate and possibly the first defensive back off the board when he decides to leave for the pros? King has the size (6-0, 186), the speed (4.38) and versatility (Dean’s List in ’05 and Academic All-Big Ten in ’06) to improve on a 2006 when he was selected to the Second Team All-Big Ten. Claiming to be the healthiest he has ever been, coaches are expecting a monumental year.

5. Jack Ikegwuono, CB, Wisconsin – Big (6-1, 199 lbs) and fast, Ikegwuono ran down Arkansas all-world running back Darren McFadden from behind on the opening drive of the Capital One Bowl when it appeared to be a sure touchdown. This play not only displayed the measurables, but showed the type of heart this Badger plays with as well. It fueled the Badgers to a 17-14 win in the bowl game and will carry over into this season. He only had two interceptions, as teams simply threw away from him.

6. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State – Another big (6-1, 202 lbs) corner who simply takes half the field away from opposing offenses. With 4.3 speed and solid tackling ability, he has NFL written all over him. He had four interceptions last season, including a 61-yard for a touchdown on one of his picks. Jenkins was First Team All-Big Ten and after a huge sophomore year, the sky is the limit.

7. Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State – A Second Team All-Big Ten selection last season, Gholston led the Buckeyes with 8.5 sacks while starting all 13 contests. The 6-4, 260 pound junior runs a sub-4.7 forty and looks to pick up the slack on a defensive line that lost three seniors. Having the benefit of a redshirt freshman year could vault Gholston into the first round in the 2008 NFL Draft.

8. Chad Henne, QB, Michigan – A starter since his freshman year, Henne had a solid 2006 with 2,508 yards, 22 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions. In his three seasons in Ann Arbor, he has thrown for 7,777 yards, 70 touchdown passes, and 28 interceptions. With an intact offense coming back and some shootouts bound to come his way this season, Henne could topple all of the Michigan passing records this season and take his place amongst other NFL Wolverine quarterbacks.

9. Alex Boone, OT, Ohio State – A mountain of a man in the midst of a Buckeye reload could be a top ten pick in the 2008 Draft if he comes on with a strong junior campaign. Considered the best offensive line prospect since Orlando Pace, who himself went number one overall. A poor showing in the National Championship loss to Florida has placed a chip on his shoulder and he is out to prove himself.

10. Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan – Derailed by injury last season, Manningham stepped his summer training regimen by working out with quarterback Chad Henne and the rest of the Wolverine receivers on routes, fundamentals, and overall conditioning. At 6-0 and 181 pounds, Manningham is electric on the outside and opens everything up for the Maize and Blue underneath. A big game performer in the clutch, he is looking to explode this season and take his place amongst the greats at the U of M at the receiver position.