Arrelious Benn is hoping to bring a little star power back to the big ten. Until then, I'm not capitalizing it.
The Big Ten lost some obvious play-makers in the draft. No more Chris Wells, no more Brian Robiskie, and no more James Laurinaitis. That’s just from Ohio State. Throw in Penn State’s receiving corps and Javon Ringer and you’ve got a good deal of talent and star power headed the way of the Big Ten’s reputation — away. A lot of people will tell me that Terrelle Pryor should have been the pick to man the QB spot, but until he shows me more consistency, I’m not buying it. He’s a phenomenal athlete with amazing abilities, but if you’ll look back to the 2008 PSU-OSU game his fumble cost the Buckeyes a win. Daryll Clark may lack some flash, but he’s a steady, heady winner. And for now, he’s my QB.
If Penn State can replace those receivers, they could be in for a repeat title. The Nittany Lions led the way with five members. And although it’s hard to believe after last season, Michigan notched four representatives which tied them with Ohio State and Michigan State for second place. Illinois and Iowa tied for third with two guys each. And Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Northwestern all managed to show with one player. All three play along the lines. Purdue and Indiana were noticeably absent from the all-star team. Not exactly a big surprise.
QB: Daryll Clark, Penn State, 6-02 231
Telling Stat: 19-6 TD-INT ratio
Video Evidence: Pretty nice drive from the all-conference QB.
RB: Evan Royster, Penn State, 6-01 212
Telling Stat: 1236 rushing yards, 12 TDs, 6.5 ypc
Video Evidence: Wow. Un-tackle-able.
RB: Brandon Minor, Michigan, 6-00 216
Telling Stat: 9 rushing TDs, 2 receiving TDs
Video Evidence: Never understood why Michigan and MSU weren’t bigger rivals. This should help.
WR: Arrelious Benn, Illinois, 6-02 214
Telling Stat: 1055 receiving yards, 15.7 ypc, 5 total TDs
Video Evidence: I can’t pick just one. So watch them all.
WR: Eric Decker, Minnesota, 6-02 215
Telling Stat: 2361 receiving yards and 19 TDs playing for Minnesota as a WR.
Video Evidence: Check it out. He can throw. And he’s a lefty.
TE: Charlie Gantt, Michigan State, 6-04 252
Telling Stat: 15.9 ypc, 4 TDs
Video Evidence: Travis Beckum’s gone. Big Ten tight ends get no YouTube respect now.
OT: Bryan Bulaga, Iowa, 6-06 312
Interesting Fact: Converted three two-point conversions as high school TE.
OT: Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin, 6-08 313
Interesting Fact: Fasted for 24 hours prior to Iowa game for Yom Kippur.
G: Dan Doering, Iowa, 6-06 300
Interesting Fact: High school conference champion in shot put.
G: Jon Asamoah, Illinois, 6-05 315
Interesting Fact: Favorite athlete is Shaquille O’Neal
C: Jim Cordle, Ohio State, 6-04 297
Interesting Fact: Wrestled for three years in high school
DE: Brandon Graham, Michigan, 6-03 270
Telling Stat: 10 sacks
Video Evidence: Yeah it was practice, but that’s a big hit on a big back.
DE: Corey Wootton, Northwestern, 6-07 270
Telling Stat: 10 sacks, 1 INT
Video Evidence: Some highlights. Pretty big.
DT: Jared Odrick, Penn State, 6-05 308
Telling Stat: 9.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks
Video Evidence: Where was Kraig Urbik on this one?
DT: Doug Worthington, Ohio State, 6-06 276
Telling Stat: 34 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 fumble recovery
Video Evidence: A young Michael Strahan?
LB: Sean Lee, Penn State, 6-02 234
Telling Stat: 138 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 INTs, 1 forced fumble in 2007
Video Evidence: This is what you want out of your LBs late in the game
LB: Greg Jones, Michigan State, 6-01 224
Telling Stat: 127 tackles, 2 sacks
Video Evidence: Really? Nothing?
LB: Navorro Bowman, Penn State, 6-01 228
Telling Stat: 106 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT
Video Evidence: Clutch fumble recovery
CB: Donovan Warren, Michigan, 6-00 187
Telling Stat: 53 tackles, 1 INT
Video Evidence: Even in high school, he was sick.
CB: Chris L. Rucker, Michigan State, 6-02 197
Telling Stat: 45 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INTs
Video Evidence: Maybe if he took out that middle initial.
SS: Kurt Coleman, Ohio State, 5-11 190
Telling Stat: 79 tackles, 4 INTs
Video Evidence: These guys better come up with some highlights in 2009
FS: Anderson Russell, Ohio State, 6-00 205
Telling Stat: 67 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 2 INTs
Video Evidence: The only thing I could find was this cheap shot on him.
KR: Arrelios Benn, Illinois, 6-02 214
K: Brett Swenson, Michigan State, 5-08 175
P: Zoltan Mesko, Michigan, 6-05 238
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