This is an interesting year for quarterbacks in the Big Ten. Eight of the conference's 11 projected starting quarteracks are returners who played significant time last season. And interestingly, the three schools who don't have returning starters and whose QB situations are up in the air are three of the traditionally elite teams in the Big Ten (Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin).
It's still early, with spring games just being completed, but it's never too early to look ahead and make meaningless rankings. So how would you rank the conference's quarterbacks at this point? Below, I take a shot at it, but feel free to submit your own.
1. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State, Senior (2007: 63.9%, 2379 yards, 25 TD, 14 INT, 148.9 rating, 63 rushing yards, 0 TD)
- Terrelle Pryor has to wait. Boeckman's not first in terms of pure talent, but he's poised and has a strong supporting cast.
2. Curtis Painter, Purdue, Senior (2007: 62.6%, 3,846 yards, 29 TD, 11 INT, 132.3 rating, -20 rushing yards, 0 TD)
- Has the arm and system to excel, assuming enough of his receivers step up.
3. Kellen Lewis, Indiana, Junior (2007: 60.0%, 3,043 yards, 28 TD, 10 INT, 134.2 rating, 736 rushing yards, 9 TD)
- Could be first on this list, except that he was supsended indefinitely from the team and missed all of spring practice.
4. C.J. Bacher, Northwestern, Senior (2007: 61.0%, 3,656 yards, 19 TD, 19 INT, 124.7 rating, 31 rushing yards, 4 TD)
- Maybe this is hometown bias speaking, but Bacher is primed for a breakout year in new O.C. Mick McCall's spread system
5. Juice Williams, Illinois, Junior (2007: 57.3%, 1,743 yards, 13 TD, 12 INT, 119.2 rating, 755 rushing yards, 7 TD)
- Electric? Sure. But he has a long ways to go to be a real threat passing the football.
6. Brian Hoyer, Michigan State, Senior (2007: 59.3%, 2,725 yards, 20 TD, 11 INT, 131.9 rating, -105 rushing yards, 1 TD)
- Should build on a solid junior year as long as the receiveing corps can make up for Devin Thomas' production.
7. Adam Weber, Minnesota, Sophomore (2007: 57.5%, 2,895 yards, 24 TD, 19 INT, 120.8 rating, 617 rushing yards, 5 TD)
- Will hearing footsteps of blue-chip recruit MarQueis Gray be a motivation or a distraction as Weber tries to master spread O?
8. Jake Christensen, Iowa, Junior (2007: 53.5%, 2,269 yards, 17 TD, 6 INT, 116.9 rating, 0 rushing yards, 1 TD)
- His place as the No. 1 is probably less than solid, especially if he can't improve on that completion percentage.
9. Allan Evridge/ Dustin Sherer, Wisconsin, Senior/ Junior (2007: Evridge -- 5-12, 66 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT; Sherer - -Did not play)
- Evridge would seem to have the edge in terms of natural ability and experience, but it sounds like the job is still up in the air
10. Daryll Clark/ Pat Devlin, Penn State, Senior/ Sophomore (2007: Clark -- 6-9, 31 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, Devlin: 0-1, 0, 0, 0)
-- Clark is probably the frontrunner but Devlin's athleticism could get him on the field
11. Nick Sheridan/ Steven Threet, Michigan, Sophomore/ Freshman (2007:Did not play)
- Neither of these guys is Chad Henne, nor are they Pat White. Will either be good enough? We'll see.
