Who, if anyone, from the West division could challenge Michigan State for Big Ten supremacy?
Big Ten West Preview
Illinois Fighting Illini
As expected, Oklahoma State transfer Wes Lunt has been named the starting quarterback for Illinois. His receiving corps are depleted compared to the one Nathan Scheelhaase was throwing to a year ago, with three major contributors gone, and this year’s group is left without much experience outside of two senior tight ends. Josh Ferguson is a strong running back who rushed for 779 yards a year ago, and with four starters returning on the offensive line, Ferguson should have the blocking he needs.
Youth and inexperience were issues on the Illinois defense last season. Eight starters are back, so those issues should be resolved in large part. The biggest questions involve the front four, where two sophomores are likely to be starting. Two starters return at linebacker, and three in the secondary. This year’s defense needs to improve over last year’s in several areas, but getting to quarterbacks and creating more turnovers should be at the top of the list.
Kicker Taylor Zalewski and punter Justin DuVernois both return. Cornerback V’Angelo Bentley is a dynamic return man.
Prediction: I think this could be one of those situations where the team plays better than the previous season, and yet the record doesn’t show it. There are just too many questions, especially on the defense, for me to give them more than four wins at this point. 4-8.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Six offensive starters are back for the Hawkeyes, including junior quarterback Jake Rudock (2,383 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago) and senior running back Mark Weisman (975 yards, eight touchdowns). Even behind Weisman, there’s good depth and a fair amount of experience at running back, while senior wideout Kevonte Martin-Manley leads a less experienced group of receivers. Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz will be sorely missed in the passing game. The offensive line has three starters back.
The defense has areas in excellent shape, and areas that are… not. The front four, with three starters returning and multiple upperclassmen backups, falls into the former category. The linebackers fall into the latter category, where all three starting seniors have graduated. That’s a loss of six interceptions, 35.5 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks. In the secondary, two very good starters are returning, leaving that unit in decent but not outstanding shape.
The Hawkeyes are looking at new options for both the kicking and punting games.
Prediction: Iowa has about as favorable a schedule as anyone in the Big Ten. They avoid Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State, and face their toughest opponents at home. I don’t expect this to be a super team, but they should finish with a very positive record. 8-4.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
It’s Mitch Leidner’s offense now. Philip Nelson transferred in the spring after the two shared quarterback duties a year ago. Leidner will have a lot of familiar faces around him, as senior running back David Cobb and four starters on the offensive line return. Freshman Berkley Edwards—younger brother of former Michigan Wolverine and NFL wide receiver Braylon—could also see time in the backfield after a strong showing in the spring. Leading receiver Derrick Engel is gone, but several wideouts with some experience remain on the roster, including Drew Wolitarsky, K.J. Maye, and Isaac Fruechte. The Gophers also have two strong tight ends in sophomore Maxx Williams and senior Drew Goodger.
Seven starters return on the defense, but there are two very key guys who aren’t returning—tackle Ra’Shede Hageman and safety Brock Vereen, both of whom were drafted in the spring. Linebacker Aaron Hill is another big loss for the Gophers. The defensive line has its other three starters back, including standout junior Theiren Cockran. Cockran had 7.5 sacks a year ago. Depth at linebacker is a bit of a concern, with Damien Wilson the only senior and the only returning starter. Any injuries and coach Jerry Kill could be forced to insert a freshman. The secondary, even without Vereen, should be in decent shape as the other three starters return.
Punter Peter Mortell is arguably the best punter in the Big Ten, and one of the best in the country. Redshirt freshman Ryan Santoso is expected to be the kicker. ESPN.com lists Santoso as 6’5″ and 245 pounds.
Prediction: I think this team is going to take a step back from last year, albeit a small one. It’s tough not to when you lose players the caliber of Hageman and Vereen. The Gophers have three tough road games, first at Michigan in late September and then at Nebraska and Wisconsin to finish the season. I think they’ll end up with one less win than a year ago and finish a respectable 7-5.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Huskers’ offense should look pretty different compared to a year ago, with just three starters back. Sophomore quarterback Tommy Armstrong stepped in last year when senior Taylor Martinez was injured, and it’s now his offense. Armstrong is mobile, but his decision-making needs work; he threw nine touchdowns last season, but also had eight picks. His top target this season will likely be senior wideout Kenny Bell, the most experienced receiver on the roster by far and the sole returning starter at that position. Senior running back Ameer Abdullah returns, having decided against entering the NFL draft after his 1,690-yard junior season, and bruiser Imani Cross will likely be the short-yardage back. The offensive line features just one returning starter, although left tackle Alex Lewis, a transfer from Colorado, is reportedly very skilled.
Four starters return on defense after tackle Aaron Curry left the team, reportedly unhappy with being relegated to backup status. Up front, junior end Randy Gregory will lead a young group of linemen. Gregory finished 2013 with 10.5 sacks. The linebacker group isn’t quite as young, and features several players who, while not returning starters, saw playing time last year. Three major contributors in the secondary are gone, but there are two seniors remaining who will be counted on to lead that group.
Punter Sam Foltz returns, but a replacement for kicker Mauro Bondi hasn’t been announced. Punt returns were an issue that need to be improved upon for the Huskers this season.
Prediction: Depth is a concern at multiple positions on defense. If the defense stays healthy, though, and Armstrong cuts down on the interceptions, I see no reason why this team can’t go 8-4.
Northwestern Wildcats
With Kain Colter having graduated, Trevor Siemian is now the undisputed leader of this offense. He’ll have excellent depth and a fair amount of experience available to him at wide receiver (although senior Christian Jones is out for the season with a knee injury), but the running game is a huge question with the departure of Venric Mark. Mark was to be suspended for the first two games of the season, and announced earlier this month that he’ll be transferring to Division II West Texas A&M. (Mark claims the transfer is simply to be closer to his family and is unrelated to his impending suspension.) The offensive line, too, has questions despite three returning starters; that unit struggled at times last season and will need to improve.
The defense, with seven starters back from what was a good unit a year ago, should be in good shape. The front four could stand to be a bit stouter than a year ago, although they finished the season with a respectable 27 sacks. Linebacker was a position of strength for the Wildcats in 2013, and senior starters Collin Ellis and Chi Chi Ariguzo have returned after combining for seven interceptions. The secondary will feature three returning starters, all upperclassmen, backed up by several highly-regarded sophomores and freshmen.
Kicker Jeff Budzien is gone, and Venric Mark was the Wildcats’ biggest weapon in the return game. Special teams are a huge question mark at the moment.
Prediction: The Wildcats play what should be tough road games at Notre Dame and Penn State, but they get Wisconsin and Michigan at home and avoid Ohio State and Michigan State entirely. They should go no worse than 6-6.
Purdue Boilermakers
The run game has potential to be good this season, and the Boilermakers will need it to be. Senior Raheem Mostert is also a track star, and last year’s starter Akeem Hunt is a talented back as well. The blocking will have to be better than it was a year ago, when Purdue averaged just 67 rushing yards per game—and that’s not a given, with just one full-time starter returning on the offensive line. Some of the younger players on that unit are really going to have to step up. As for the passing game, sophomore Danny Etling was handed the reins at quarterback after becoming the starter partway though the 2013 season. The receivers as a whole lack experience, and like the line, will need some young players to step up. Running back Hunt may be used as a receiver at times as well.
The front four is the least-experienced unit on the defense. Senior end Ryan Russell is the only returning starter. Two of the three starting linebackers are returning starters and seniors, and Purdue has some highly-regarded underclassmen there as well. The secondary has three returning starters and multiple upperclassmen on the depth chart; senior safety Landon Feichter was the team’s defensive MVP in 2012 but suffered through injuries last season.
The Boilermakers will be using a new punter this season, as Cody Webster graduated. His replacement, junior Thomas Meadows, may also kick as Paul Griggs was just 6-of-12 on field goals last season.
Prediction: Purdue only won a single game last season, against an FCS opponent, so they literally (almost) can’t be any worse. I see five games on their slate that should be winnable, and I’m going to say they win four of them to go 4-8.
Wisconsin Badgers
While head coach Gary Andersen wouldn’t name a starting quarterback for the team’s opener in Houston against LSU, running back Melvin Gordon had no such reservations, saying publicly that Tanner McEvoy would be starting over incumbent Joel Stave. McEvoy will be missing the top three receivers from a year ago, meaning some inexperienced players on that unit will need to contribute from the get-go. On the bright side for the Badger offense, running back Melvin Gordon passed up the NFL for another year in Madison, and will be in the backfield. Gordon was half of arguably the best college running back tandem ever, as he and James White combined for an FBS-record 3,053 yards in 2013. (White was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round last spring.) Four of the five guys blocking for them up front have returned as well.
On defense the focus is on speed. The front seven doesn’t have a single returning starter, but there are several experienced upperclassmen on the two-deep; a few players have changed positions over the course of the offseason as well. All-America linebacker Chris Borland, a third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, will be sorely missed. The secondary was a weak spot at times last season, but it could be the strong point this year, as all three returning defensive starters play in the backfield. The emphasis on speed could pay off there as well, with DBs who are better able to keep up with receivers and beat them to over- or underthrown passes.
It appears the kicking competition in Madison is ongoing. Senior wideout Kenzel Doe is the likely returner of both kicks and punts.
Prediction: The Badgers escape virtually all of the Big Ten powerhouses and should win the division handily. 10-2.
Predicted Order Of Finish
1. Wisconsin
2. Nebraska
3. Iowa
4. Minnesota
5. Northwestern
6. Illinois
7. Purdue
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on twitter @lastwordlindsay. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for? GO!
