Big Ten preview

Sunday, August 27, 2006 ILLINOIS Coach: Ron Zook, fifth season overall, second at Illinois (25-23 overall, 2-9 at Illinois) 2005 record: 2-9 (0-8 Big Ten) Returning starters: 10 offense, 10 defense Key players: QB Tim Brasic, sr; RB Pierre Thomas, sr; RB E.B. Halsey, sr; WR Kyle Hudson, so; OT Akim Millington, jr; DT Chris Norwell, jr; LB J Leman, jr; S Justin Harrison, jr. Key departures: P Steve Weatherford; FB Jason Davis; DT Ryan Matha; CB James Cooper INDIANA Coach: Terry Hoeppner, eighth season overall, second at Indiana (52-32 overall, (4-7 at Indiana) 2005 record: 4-7 (1-7 Big Ten) Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense Key players: DT Greg Brown; OL Justin Frye; WR Jahkeen Gilmore; WR James Hardy; CB Leslie Majors; C Chris Mangiero; LB Will Meyers; CB Tracy Porter Key departures: DE Victor Adeyanju; LB Kyle Killion; LB John Pannozzo; T Isaac Sowells; RB Chris Taylor; RB Yamar Washington IOWA Coach: Kirk Ferentz, 8th season (49-36) 2005 record: 7-5 (5-3 Big Ten) Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense Key players: QB Drew Tate, RB Albert Young, G Mike Elgin, DE Kenny Iwebema, LB Edmond Miles Key departures: WR Ed Hinkel, WR Clinton Solomon, LB Chad Greenway, LB Abdul Hodge MICHIGAN Coach: Lloyd Carr, 12th season (102-34) 2005 record: 7-5 (5-3 Big Ten) Returning starters: 6 offense, 8 defense Key players: QB Chad Henne; RB Mike Hart; WR Steve Breaston; TE Tyler Ecker; LT Jake Long; DE LaMarr Woodley; DT Alan Branch; OLB Prescott Burgess; CB Leon Hall Key departures: WR Jason Avant; OL Adam Stenavich; OL Matt Lentz; OL Leo Henige; DT Gabe Watson; DT Pat Massey; CB Grant Mason MICHIGAN STATE Coach: John L. Smith, 18th season overall, fourth at Michigan State (128-78 overall, 18-18 at Michigan State) 2005 record: 5-6 (2-6 Big Ten) Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense Key players: QB Drew Stanton, Sr.; WR Jerramy Scott, Sr.; WR Matt Trannon, Sr.; RB Javon Ringer, So.; DT Clifton Ryan, Sr.; C/OG Kyle Cook, Sr.; OT Mike Gyetvai, Jr; LB David Herron Jr., Sr.; LB Kaleb Thornhill, Jr. Key departures: S Eric Smith, C Chris Morris, OT Stefon Wheeler, RB Jason Teague, WR Kyle Brown, OG Gordon Niebylski, DT Domata Peko MINNESOTA Coach: Glen Mason, 21st season overall, 10th at Minnesota (117-114-1 overall, 58-50 at Minnesota) Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense, three specialists Key players: QB Bryan Cupito, TE Matt Spaeth, RB Amir Pinnix, C Tony Brinkhaus, DE Steve Davis, SS Dominic Jones Key departures: C Greg Eslinger, RB Laurence Maroney, G Mark Setterstrom, RB Gary Russell, LB Kyle McKenzie, DT Anthony Montgomery NORTHWESTERN Coach: Pat Fitzgerald, first season 2005 record: 7-5 (5-3 Big Ten) Returning starters: 8 offense, 9 defense, 1 specialist Key players: RB Tyrell Sutton, so; WR Shaun Herbert; CB Marquice Cole; S Brendan Smith; LB Nick Roach Key departures: QB Brett Basanez; OT Zach Streif; LB Tim McGarrigle; DT Barry Cofield OHIO STATE Coach: Jim Tressel, 21st season overall, sixth at Ohio State (185-70-2 overall, 50-13 at Ohio State) 2005 record: 10-2 (7-1 Big Ten) Returning starters: 8 offense, 2 defense Key players: QB Troy Smith, RB Antonio Pittman, WR Ted Ginn Jr., WR Anthony Gonzalez, C Doug Datish, DT Quinn Pitcock, MLB John Kerr Key departures: LB A.J. Hawk, LB Bobby Carpenter, LB Anthony Schlegel, CB Tyler Everett, CB Ashton Youboty, FS Nate Salley, SS Donte Whitner, SE Santonio Holmes, C Nick Mangold PENN STATE Coach: Joe Paterno 41st season (354-117-3) 2005 record: 11-1 (7-1 Big Ten) Returning starters: 5 offense, 4 defense Key players: QB Anthony Morelli, RB Tony Hunt, OT Levi Brown, WR Derrick Williams, WR Deon Butler, DT Jay Alford, LB Paul Posluszny, CB Justin King, P Jeremy Kapinos Key departures: QB Michael Robinson, DE Tamba Hali, DE Matthew Rice, DT Scott Paxson, CB Alan Zemaitis, CB Anwar Phillips, S Chris Harrell, S Calvin Lowry PURDUE Coach: Joe Tiller, 16th season overall, 10th at Purdue (106-73-1 overall, 67-43 at Purdue) 2005 record: 5-6 (3-5 Big Ten) Returning starters: 7 offense, 4 defense Key players: WR Dorien Bryant, QB Curtis Painter, RB Kory Sheets, WR Kyle Ingraham, LB George Hall, DE Anthony Spencer, OG Jordan Grimes, OT Mike Otto, OT Sean Sester, OG Uche Nwaneri Key departures: QB Brandon Kirsch, SS Bernard Pollard, RB Jerod Void, TE Charles Davis, DE Rob Ninkovich, DE Ray Edwards, P Dave Brytus WISCONSIN Coach: Bret Bielema, first season Returning starters: 3 offense, 8 defense Key players: OT Joe Thomas, QB John Stocco, LE Joe Monty, RE Matt Shaughnessy, LB Mark Zalewski, S Roderick Rogers, S Joe Stellmacher, CB Allen Langford Key departures: RB Brian Calhoun, WR Brandon Williams, WR Jonathan Orr, TE Owen Daniels, TE Jason Pociask, C Donovan Raiola, FB Matt Bernstein. Associated Press Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.