Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/79325
neapolis. If both of them continue, it's going to be a really long season. QUOTABLE Kill on Gray's potential: "I think he'll be a very, very exciting football player to watch, not only in the Big Ten but throughout the coun- try. He did a great job in the spring. Our big deal is that we need to get people around him. We've got to get receivers and running backs and peo- ple who can step up and make plays. We've worked hard in recruiting to do that." LEADERS DIVISION 1. OHIO STATE 6-7, 3-5 STRENGTHS Braxton Miller is back after leading Ohio State in both passing and rushing as a freshman, and he seems to perfectly fit the spread of- fense that Urban Meyer has imported from Florida. Did someone say perfect fit? "Braxton Miller has a lot of skills that Tim [Tebow] didn't have," Meyer said. "He is dynamic. He's the most dynamic athlete I've ever coached at quarterback. … That's how good of an athlete he is." No pressure, kid. Also, the Buckeyes return a number of dy- namic athletes on the opposite side of the ball, with nine starters back from a defense that finished fifth in the Big Ten last season. CONCERNS The Buckeyes' two-deep is as solid as ever, except perhaps for its wide receiver spots, where Devin Smith is the only proven star. But the team is transitioning into a new sys- tem, and Meyer's coaching staff does- n't have a lot of familiarity with the team's conference rivals. Also, Ohio State had a run of disciplinary prob- lems in the off-season that resulted in the suspension of offensive line- man Jack Mewhort and tight end Jake Stoneburner and the dismissal of linebacker Storm Klein. Further- more, blue-chip freshman tailback Bri'onte Dunn was charged with pos- session of marijuana after a traffic stop in July. That was a bad bit of timing, as starting tailback Jordan Hall is out with a foot injury. OUTLOOK Those free tattoos don't seem so egregious now – not after every- thing that's happened at Penn State in the past year. But the NCAA did see fit to give the Buckeyes a one- year bowl ban, which means they will need to wait till 2013 to reap the full benefits of their $26.6 million invest- ment in Meyer. QUOTABLE Meyer: "I like our players. I like our team. … The energy level is real high right now in Columbus with our football team, so I'm anxious to get going." 2. WISCONSIN 11-3, 6-2 STRENGTHS The Badgers fixed their most glaring problem when they signed Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien to replace Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback. O'Brien was named the Atlantic Coast Con- ference's Rookie of the Year in 2010 and threw for 4,086 yards in two sea- sons with the Terps. He's joining a team that is loaded elsewhere, espe- cially in the offensive backfield, where Montee Ball is a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender after rushing for 1,923 yards and 39 touchdowns last season. Opening holes for Ball will be senior tackle Ricky Wagner and jun- ior center Travis Frederick, two of the top offensive linemen in the league. On defense, Butkus Award contender Chris Borland anchors a strong unit from his middle linebacker spot. CONCERNS Replacing Casey Dehn, a projected starter at right offensive tackle "will be a challenge for us," coach Bret Bielema said. Dehn had experienced academic trouble earlier in his career, and it was announced in July that he would probably not return to the team. His likely replace- ment, sophomore Rob Havenstein, is massive at 6-8, 343 pounds – hey, these are the Badgers we're talking about – but he's coming off shoulder surgery. On defense, Wisconsin could stand to get a few more sacks. They finished with 25 last year to rank fifth in the Big Ten – but otherwise, things are looking pretty good. OUTLOOK With Ohio State and Penn State both ineligible for the postsea- son, it's hard to imagine anyone other than Wisconsin representing the Leg- ends Division in the Big Ten Champi- onship Game. The Badgers won the division last year even with those two schools in contention. Whether they have the manpower to overcome Michigan or whichever opponent the Legends Division serves up is another matter. QUOTABLE Bielema on Ball's Heisman candidacy: "Everybody in our pro- gram is going to help him get that award." 3. PENN STATE 9-4, 6-2 STRENGTHS Even with all its recent troubles, Penn State can still lay claim to the title of Linebacker U, with senior All-Conference contender Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti spearheading a talented and aggres- sive unit this fall. The guys in front of them, particularly senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill, should be solid, as well. On offense, the receiver corps looks to be fairly talented, and the Li- ons should be stronger at tight end than they've been in a couple of years with Garry Gilliam returning from major knee surgery. CONCERNS The backfield went from a major strength to a major concern when Silas Redd departed for South- ern Cal. Bill Belton figures to get the start, but a committee approach is possible – provided there is a commit- tee. Elsewhere, a secondary that looked thin after the departure of all four starters from last season looks even thinner now. The Lions will rely heavily on unproven players, and that's a significant concern given that Penn State will face four of the Big Ten's better quarterbacks – Nathan Scheelhaase, Kain Colter, James Van- denberg and Braxton Miller – in the first month of the conference season. On offense, the line needs four new starters, although the institution of a new strength program and the hiring of longtime Texas assistant Mac McWhorter figure to pay dividends. OUTLOOK Who's to say? Bill O'Brien did a terrific job holding his team to- gether following the announcement of the NCAA's near-death penalty, and