ESPN College Football Recruiting

The Big Ten has been under fire as of late. After two poor performances by Ohio State in two straight national championship games, many were questioning the strength of the conference. The 2008 bowl season saw a better effort by the Buckeyes, but overall the conference went 1-6. With its reputation at stake, the Big Ten looks to infuse more talent to show doubters that the conference is as strong as any other. The Big Ten currently has five teams ranked among ESPN.com's top 25 recruiting classes of 2009, but only one program has a committed player in the top 25. Before signing day, the conference will surely try to add some more top talent to the mix.

Illinois

Coming off a Rose Bowl appearance, Illinois had a disappointing season. Despite taking a step backward on the field, the Fighting Illini are still doing well on the recruiting trail. They currently have a top-20 class and have done well in-state. Their top four prospects all hail from Illinois and three are ESPNU 150 prospects. The defensive line is getting some good, big help in the form of end Craig Drummond (Chicago/Morgan Park) and tackle Lendell Buckner (Chicago/Leo). Drummond, a top-10 end prospect, is a physically impressive kid and despite missing his senior year with an injury, he seems ready to go once he hits Champaign. Buckner is a big-bodied presence in the trenches. Ron Zook has also been busy in Ohio and has six commitments from that state. Cornelius "Tank" Carradine (Cincinnati/Taft) displays good potential and Bud Golden (Cincinnati/Sycamore) is a tough north-south runner.

Top prospect: Illinois got a pair of ESPNU 150 wide receivers from the same high school. One is Kraig Appleton (East St. Louis, Ill.) and the other, Terry Hawthorne (East St. Louis, Ill.), is the Fighting Illini's top prospect. Hawthorne is a speedy receiver who can cause some real problems in the vertical passing game and after the catch. He is an elusive athlete who impressed in Under Armour All-America Game practices and scored on more than half of his catches as a senior. Both Hawthorne and Appleton should be welcome targets in Illinois' passing attack.

Don't be surprised if … Hawthorne gets some serious consideration at the safety position. The greater need may be at wide receiver, but Hawthorne is also a fine safety and had seven interceptions in the postseason during his high school's state championship run.

Indiana

After snapping a 13-year bowl drought in 2007, the Hoosiers quickly fell back down to earth and finished last season with a 3-9 record. After a disappointing season, there is not a whole lot for Hoosiers fans to get excited about with the 2009 class. They have been busy in-state and in Ohio with 10 of their 15 recruits hailing from those two states. They do have the No. 3-rated player in Indiana on board. Edward Wright-Baker (Jeffersonville, Ind.) is listed as an athlete, but he is an underrated dual-threat quarterback and, with some development, could fit the Kellen Lewis mold. They also have another in-state quarterback prospect on board in Dustin Kiel (Columbus, Ind./East) as well as a pair of solid receivers in Jamonne Chester (Redford, Mich./Covenant) and Duwyce Wilson (Columbus, Ind./East), Kiel's teammate.

Top prospect: You know it is hard to get excited about a class when the top-rated prospect is a kicker. While this may not elicit cheers, Mitch Ewald (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) is a top-five kicker prospect and a need with Austin Starr graduating. While Ewald may be listed as the top prospect, the key addition for this class is really the athletic Wright-Baker.

Don't be surprised if … Indiana's final class ranking mimics that of their spot in the conference standings. They finished last in the Big Ten and unless some big moves are made between now and signing day, they will also likely finish last in the conference class rankings.

Iowa

The Hawkeyes were able to rebound from a sub-par 2007 season by going 9-4 and making it to a New Year's bowl. They also were able to spoil Penn State's national championship hopes this season, but now they need to focus on building for future success. It is a fairly small class at this point with only 12 commitments. The class does have two running backs on board in the speedy and exciting Brandon Wegher (Sioux City, Iowa/Bishop Heelan Catholic) and Brad Rogers (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), but it remains to be seen if they can help fill the void left by the departure of the conference's leading rusher, Shonn Greene, to the NFL. To try to help boost their passing attack, they have added a trio of receivers. One is Jordan Cotton (Mount Pleasant, Iowa), a high school running back who projects best to play receiver in college.

Top prospect: Iowa may have lost the state's top prospect, but it did land the second-rated player in Iowa: wide receiver Keenan Davis (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington). The Under Armour All-American is a key in-state keep as the Iowa passing attack could use a little punch. The Hawkeyes' top receiver averaged fewer than 50 yards per game, and Davis is a receiver with good size and speed. In addition to having soft hands, he is also a tough runner after the catch and can help to create some big plays. He also can aid in the return game.

Don't be surprised if … Iowa still adds more pieces to the puzzle by signing day and while a bit of a long shot they could get seriously into the mix for wide receiver Justin Brown (Wilmington, Del./Concord).

Michigan

After a disappointing first year for coach Rich Rodriguez -- during which the Wolverines won only three games -- fans now turn their attention to what they hope is a brighter future. As Rodriguez tries to mold this team in his image, he has seen ups and downs on the recruiting trail with his first full class. The Wolverines have suffered some decommitments along the way, but currently still sit in the top 15 of the class rankings. The big focus is the quarterback position; Michigan is diligently trying to find the right player to fit its system. The Wolverines have suffered some decommitments at this position, but they do have one committed quarterback prospect who may be an ideal fit in Tate Forcier (San Diego/Scripps Ranch). Michigan also has some prospects with good upside. DE Anthony LaLota (Princeton, N.J./The Hun School) is still fairly new to the game of football, but has the tools to be a good college defensive end, and Taylor Lewan (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral), who just wrapped up his first year as an offensive tackle in the Under Armour All-America Game, has a great frame and wonderful potential.

Top prospect: The knock on Craig Roh (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral) is that he is too lean, but the kid is a wiry and muscular defender who plays the defensive end position well. He has the frame to pack on more weight and showed on film and at the Under Armour All-America Game that size is not a serious concern. He is an excellent prospect who plays smart and uses good technique to his advantage. He has an excellent motor and is good with his hands. Roh is a disruptive pass-rusher who has a good spin move and will work a counter off of it. In a conference in which teams still like to run the ball, Roh will need to get bigger, but the kid is a fine football player; he should be able to at least contribute as a pass-rusher early on.

Don't be surprised if … Michigan only trails archrival Ohio State in the final conference rankings. Illinois and Penn State especially are not far behind, but the Wolverines should add enough to finish with the conference's second-rated class.

Michigan State

Mark Dantonio led the Spartans to a 9-4 record and a bowl appearance this season. Now he seems poised to lead the Spartans to their first top 25 recruiting finish in the Scouts Inc. era. They currently have two ESPNU 150 prospects on board and just added a key in-state prospect in top-five tight end prospect Dion Sims (Orchard Lake, Mich./Saint Mary's Prep). Michigan State is losing one of the nation's top rushers in Javon Ringer, but have two top-25 running backs on board in Larry Caper (Battle Creek, Mich./Central) and Edwin Baker (Oak Park, Mich.) -- the No. 11-rated back in the nation. The class also boasts a top-20 quarterback prospect in Andrew Maxwell (Midland, Mich.), who's a poised and talented pocket passer.

Top prospect: Michigan State has four offensive line prospects on board, including ESPNU 150 offensive tackle David Barrent (Clive, Iowa/Valley). The No. 8-rated tackle is a big addition for Michigan State for two reasons. First off, the Iowa native was at one time committed to the in-state Hawkeyes, so the Spartans were able to weaken a conference foe and strengthen their own class at the same time. Secondly, and more importantly, Barrent is a promising player. He has nice size and is a sound player for a high school prospect. He quickly gets out of his stance and uses his hands very well. His pad level height is a concern, but he has good leg drive and is tenacious. Barrent is a good line prospect and should develop into a productive offensive tackle for the Spartans' offense.

Don't be surprised if … Michigan State has its highest conference finish and first top-25 class.

Minnesota

Despite a poor end to their 2008 season, the Golden Gophers can still sell recruits on a fine overall turnaround in which they went from one win in 2007 to seven in 2008. With progress on the field, Minnesota is now trying to stay successful on the recruiting trail. Coach Tim Brewster is known as a tireless recruiter and has really upped his game in-state. The Golden Gophers did lose out on the state's top overall prospect, but landed its Nos. 2 through 4 prospects, including big tight end Ra'Shede Hageman (Minneapolis/Washburn) and defensive end Matt Garin (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview). They also have commitments from a pair of good safeties, led by Kerry Lewis (Lancaster, Texas), an undersized but good player. Plus, Kendall Gregory-McGhee (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail) is a promising tight end prospect out of Colorado.

Top prospect: Adam Weber will only be a redshirt junior, but Minnesota is hoping it found its signal-caller of the future in Moses Alipate (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson). The lone ESPNU 150 member of the class is a big and strong-armed passer. He is still a bit raw in technique, but the kid does possess good measurables, arm strength, athleticism and competitiveness. He should have a bright future at Minnesota.

Don't be surprised if … Minnesota falls short of another top-25 recruiting class.

Northwestern

The Wildcats surprised many with their 9-4 finish and almost upset Missouri in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Off a strong season, Pat Fitzgerald is working to put together a strong class that can keep his program on an upward swing. With senior quarterback C.J. Bacher leaving, the Wildcats have landed Evan Watkins (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North), a top-30 quarterback prospect with a strong arm. The linebacker position was filled with upperclassmen this season, so they have added three linebackers led by No. 25-ranked inside linebacker Will Studlien (Sunbury, Ohio/Big Walnut). Thinking special teams, Northwestern is bringing aboard kicker Jeff Budzien (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) to try to replace Amado Villarreal. The class, which lacks any ESPNU 150 prospects, is solid, but the biggest hole is a lack of needed youth along the defensive front and at the wide receiver position.

Top prospect: Northwestern landed its top prospect from in-state with Patrick Ward (New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic). The top-20 offensive tackle has good size and is fairly polished for a high school player. His footwork is good and you can tell on film that he works to be a technician. He also displays good athleticism and plays with good leverage. He can lunge some as a pass-blocker because he will get aggressive, but overall Ward is a talented player who should be able to contribute in the trenches fairly quickly at Northwestern.

Don't be surprised if … Northwestern misses on both Davon Custis (Columbus, Ohio/Saint Francis De Sales) and California running back prospect Cameron Marshall (San Jose, Calif./Valley Christian) down the stretch. However, they could land one, and Custis may be the better possibility of the two.

Ohio State

A third straight national championship appearance was not in the cards for Ohio State this season, but a second straight top-six finish in the recruiting rankings could be. The Buckeyes currently sit fourth with a few big targets still out there. The class currently has 24 prep commitments with 13 hailing from Ohio. The Buckeyes are losing two key defenders at linebacker in James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, but are bringing in three top-30 linebacker prospects to try to reload. Jordan Whiting (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) and Adam Homan (Coldwater, Ohio) are the No. 29- and No. 15-rated inside linebackers and Dorian Bell (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) is the No. 4-rated outside linebacker. The receiver position is also suffering a key loss, but the Buckeyes have several good receiver prospects in this class, including ESPNU 150 prospect Duron Carter (Ft Lauderdale, Fla./St Thomas Aquinas).

Top prospect: The Buckeyes received bad news after the season when they found out RB Chris Wells was opting for the NFL. With his departure goes a key part of their offense, but help could be on the way. With Wells leaving, landing No. 3-rated back Jaamal Berry (Miami/Palmetto) becomes that much bigger of a get. He suffered injuries through his senior season, but when healthy, Berry is a dynamic runner. He will bring a different style to the table than Wells did. Although Berry is a good-sized back and a strong in-line runner, he will not be as potent as Wells. However, he will be a more explosive runner. He has excellent acceleration and elusiveness and can supply big plays. Berry could be called on early and should be able to handle the task, if he can stay healthy.

Don't be surprised if … Ohio State adds one or even two more prospects to this 2009 class. With players such as Marlon Brown (Memphis, Tenn./Harding Academy), Darren Myles Jr. (Atlanta/Carver), Tajh Boyd (Hampton, Va./Phoebus) and Marcus Hall (Cleveland/Glenville) serious possibilities, the Buckeyes still have a chance to strengthen this class more by national signing day.

Penn State

Joe Paterno has taken a lot of heat for his age and many have called for him to hang it up, saying this is a younger man's game. Despite some naysayers, Joe Pa has proved he can get it done. He led the Nittany Lions to an 11-2 record and a Rose Bowl berth. On the recruiting trail, the legendary coach is not doing too shabby either, as Penn State currently sits with a top-15 class and has three ESPNU 150 prospects on board. With Pat Devlin transferring, Penn State is hoping Kevin Newsome (Hargrave Military Academy) can be Daryll Clark's successor. The class also features some good offensive line help with two top-25 tackle prospects in Eric Shrive (Scranton, Pa./West Scranton) and Mark Arcidiacono (Philadelphia/St. Joseph's Prep) and the No. 5-rated center in Ty Howle (Bunn, N.C.). Special teams is a key and with accomplished kicker Kevin Kelly moving on, the Nittany Lions have landed the No. 2-rated kicker, Anthony Fera (Houston/Saint Pius X), to try to replace him. The biggest hole in this class of 23 commitments is the lack of wide receivers to help compensate for the loss of three key playmakers.

Top prospect: With several key upperclassmen manning the secondary for Penn State, it was a key that they landed some talent in the defensive backfield. A big get for the Nittany Lions was Darrell Givens (Indian Head, Md./Lackey), the No. 6 corner. Penn State has had success with other Maryland-area prospects and hope Givens can be as good, if not better. The Under Armour All-American is a corner with good size and athleticism. He is also an instinctive player; while not always great in technique, he knows how to use his natural tools to be successful. He can also be physical in press coverage and is a good player in man-to-man. Givens is a talented corner and the top prospect in Penn State's class. In addition to ability, Givens is also a key get because he was once committed to conference rival Ohio State.

Don't be surprised if … Penn State strikes big again in Maryland and lands No. 2-rated outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins (Wheaton, Md./Good Counsel). The Nittany Lions still have to battle several schools for Jenkins' service, including national champion Florida, which may be their toughest challenger, but they look to be a serious contender. Also, don't be surprised if they get some needed wide receiver help before it is all done in the form of Justin Brown (Wilmington, Del./Concord).

Purdue

Of the Boilermakers' 18 commitments, 15 hail from either Florida or Georgia and two others are from Texas and Kentucky. They have been especially busy and successful in the sunshine state. They have landed a productive and well-rounded tight end out of a successful program in Gabe Holmes (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas) as well as Antwon Higgs (Pompano Beach, Fla.), a versatile defender with good speed and an attacking style. The class also consists of defensive tackle prospect Brandon Taylor (Miami/Dr Krop), who's the son of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. They have no current commitments from in-state talent.

Top prospect: Purdue's run defense finished last in the Big Ten, so it is probably good that its top prospect is a defensive tackle. Eric McDaniel (Calhoun, Ga.) is a good-sized kid who flashes the ability to be a disruptive presence in the trenches. He needs to be more consistent in areas of his play, but he can get some penetration, make it tough to run up the middle and can even apply some pressure. Playing with two seniors at the defensive tackle position and struggling against the run, McDaniel's addition is not only a good pickup but a needed pickup.

Don't be surprised if … Purdue misses on Myles (Atlanta/Carver), the No. 5 safety -- even though he received an official visit and his father played at Purdue.

Wisconsin

The Badgers had big expectations on the field in 2008, but things did not unfold the way Wisconsin fans had hoped. Coming off a bad loss to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl, Wisconsin now looks to try to replace some key departing players. Wisconsin is losing a good receiving target at tight end in Travis Beckum, and while Brian Wozniak (Cincinnati/Loveland) may not be able to match his receiving skills, he is a solid receiver and a good blocker. The fullback position is far from glamorous, but Wisconsin does employ one. With both of their fullbacks being seniors, the addition of Tyler Dippel (Slinger, Wis./Union), the No. 1-rated player at the position, is a good one. While most of the Badgers' recruiting focus is in the Midwest, they do have a trio of commitments from Florida, led by Conor O'Neill (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas), a good prospect at the outside linebacker position.

Top prospect: With Allan Evridge a senior and Dustin Sherer going into his senior year, the Badgers are wisely bringing another quarterback into the mix. They have a commitment from a good, underrated prospect at the position in Jon Budmayr (Woodstock, Ill./Marian Central Catholic). The top-20 quarterback prospect suffered a fairly serious injury his senior season, but he is still a good pickup for the Badgers. He reminds us in some ways of departing Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and while he may not be the same athlete, he does have very good accuracy and quickness. He also displays good leadership and toughness.

Don't be surprised if … Wisconsin dips back into Ohio, where it has landed four commitments and adds a safety in former Ohio State commit Bradley McDougald (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Scioto).

Craig Haubert is the recruiting coordinator for Scouts Inc. and has more than a decade of coaching experience. Haubert was an assistant at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and also served as the fullbacks/linebackers coach and director of football operations for the Detroit Fury of the Arena Football League.