by Doc's Sports
After covering the Big Ten for 30 years, I can't remember a scenario quite like this involving the conferences 2-deep at this position. Before I get into the rankings of this year's QB's, let's consider these facts and developments. The starting QB for Illinois this year had 4 starts at Iowa during the 2000 season. Purdue's #1 QB in 2001 is now competing for that spot at USC in the Pac Ten. The San Diego State starter in 1997 is now the backup at Michigan and the kid from Notre Dame who led the Irish to the Fiesta Bowl during the 2000 season and was 7-1 as a starter is now the signal caller at Indiana. Add to this the fact that Michigan State suspended their starter halfway thru the Big Ten season last year and Michigan's QB was often booed off the field his sophomore season in the Big House and we have the makings of a very interesting upcoming season! The Big Ten quite probably has five future NFL quarterbacks in it's fold this year. Remember, this is a running league? I will rank the 2-deep below for each team this year and as usual there will probably be a few surprises when the smoke clears in late November!
# 1 Michigan
John Navarre was much maligned his sophomore year 2001 and simply came back last year to throw for 2,905 yds., completing 55% and had a 21-7 ratio. The 6-6 228 lbs Navarre dropped 25 pounds before his junior year to increase his mobility and it increased dividends. Threw for 319 yds. in Michigan's bowl win last year! Behind him, is Spencer Brinton, who started several games at San Diego State in 1997,was hurt in the second game in 1998 and red-shirted, went on a 2 year church mission and ended up in Ann Arbor. Solid size 6-5 224 and quite probably could start at 3-4 other Big Ten schools!
I believe Navarre could have a Carson Palmer type season this year at Michigan with great receiver's to throw the ball to. He is a Heisman frontrunner capable of putting up huge #'s this year! He will only be the second QB in Michigan history to start the opener 4 years in a row, the other one being Rick Leach in the 1970's.
# 2 Purdue
Brandon Hance was Purdue's starter in 2001. He is now a USC Trojan. The door opened for Kyle Orton last year and the 6-4 junior now heads into his second year as the starter although he will be challenged by sophomore Brandon Kirsch who had extensive playing time his freshman season. Purdue has the luxury of Orton's strong arm and the quick mobility of Kirsch. Orton was highly recruited out of high school and will be the starter in the opener vs. Bowling Green, but I suspect Joe Tiller to use Kirsch in certain situations. This is a solid unit that will put up Purdue type numbers thru the air.
# 3 Penn State
Last year people forgot about Zack Mills the highly talented sophomore QB and rightly so as Paterno rushed Larry Johnson for over 2000 yds. I believe Mills is a winner and tough competitor much like Brooks Bollinger was at Wisconsin the past 4 years. Mills threw for 2417 yds his freshmen year at Happy Valley and look for more this year. Very mobile can run some option and is smart. Paterno has always said leadership is the defining quality in a great QB and Mills fits that role! Penn State's question is how to get backup QB Mike Robinson on the field more often. The 6-2 225 lbs backup sophomore played a big role early last season scoring 2 touchdowns against Nebraska. Paterno needs to find a way to get this kid on the field and use his 4.4 speed. He can run option line up as slot back or wide out Robinson probably has the stronger arm of the two. Penn State will keep teams off balance defensively with this double threat.
# 4 Illinois
Ron Turner the head man at Illinois announced this spring that Sr Jon Beutjer was his #1 guy. Last year Illinois played musical chairs with Beutjer and Dustin Ward. Ward was the backup the prior 2 years to Kurt Kittner and Beutjer finally took over at the midpoint of the season throwing for 2511 yds. with a 21-11 ratio. He had 4 starts at Iowa in 2000 and with the coaching staff leaning toward Brad Banks as the future starter, decided to transfer. Beutjer has the size 6-5 211 lbs to be an NFL QB, and should have a good year now that the job is his. The drawback is the fact Illinois lost their top 4 receivers and he has a new group to throw to. Ward, is also back for his Sr. year and this is a solid unit.
# 5 Ohio State
Craig Krenzel led Ohio State to a 14-0 National championship last year and returns to lead the Buckeyes his Sr year. Jim Tressel has a conservative philosophy with defense first and field position a key. Krenzel is one smart QB, a major in {molecular genetics} and simply eliminates mistakes. He does not possess the strongest arm or is he the most athletic QB in the Big Ten but he knows how to WIN! Behind him is red-shirt frosh Justin Zwick a very HIGH talent who threw for over 10,000 yds in HS. He is Ohio State's QB of the future and I believe he will see some time on the field this year.
# 6 Mich. State
New head coach John L. Smith recently announced that Sr Jeff Smoker has been reinstated to the Spartan team after being suspended midway thru last years season. Smoker had some off the field problems in the past and has taken responsibility for those actions and is working hard to gain a leadership role on this Spartan club. Given a second chance, Smoker could deliver. Consider these accomplishments. He is the #3 all-time leading passer in MSU history throwing for 5,537 yds. completing 64% with a 40-25 touchdown to interception ratio! Starting 6 times as a true frosh in 2000 he took over the starting job in 2001 and had an exceptional year. As mentioned above there are always intangibles and surprises every year in the Big Ten and Smoker is capable of delivering a solid senior season. Rs. Frosh Drew Stanton will battle Jr. Damon Dowdell for the backup spot. Dowdell started the last 5 games last year and also saw duty as a true frosh in 2001. I could have easily ranked this unit in the top 2 in the Big Ten but with the uncertainty of Smoker's status they land here!
# 7 Minnesota
Asad Abdul Khaliq now enters his final season as a Gopher. He has shown flashes of creativity and at times has been very erratic. A senior QB in the Big Ten however is usually a positive situation. Khaliq started 4 times in 2000 had 8 starts in 2001 and 12 starts last year. I look for him to have a solid year with a much-improved Gopher team. He is very dangerous inside the red zone running option and keeping defenses off balance. Sr. Benji Kamrath who started last year against Northwestern will again be the backup. If Khaliq stays healthy and makes good decisions the Gophers will be in the mix.
# 8 Wisconsin
Out of all the teams in the Big Ten that can least afford to lose their starter this is the team! Hard nosed Brooks Bollinger a 4 year starter in Madison has now departed for the New York Jets and left as the all-time career leader in wins for the Badgers with a 31-13 record as a starter. Bollinger did not make mistakes which is imperative if your head coach is Barry Alvarez. A very experienced Senior Jim Sorgi finally takes over the starting job after playing in 27 games the last 3 years,5 of them starts. Now that the job is his he needs to settle down and avoid interceptions, which have plagued his career. Sorgi {6-5 202} has gotten stronger in the off season. That's the good news. But if he goes down to injury in the physical Big Ten there is hardly any experience behind him. Junior Matt Schabert has taken a few snaps but I look for rFr John Stocco to play a role at the backup position. Sorgi has the luxury of having perhaps the best receiving corps in the Big Ten. Providing he stays healthy Wisconsin will move the ball thru the air and I expect big numbers from him.
# 9 Indiana
In 2000 Matt LoVecchio led Notre Dame to the Fiesta Bowl and had a 7-1 record as a starter. He did not seem to fit into Bob Davies plans his So year with little playing time and transferred to the Hoosiers program where he sat out last year. LoVecchio {6-3 210 Sr} is very accurate and mobile and was impressive running the scout team last year. He is very capable and the receiving corps is much more experienced than last year. Graeme McFarland {6-1 203 rFr} looks like the #2 guy and competed fairly well with LoVecchio in the spring.
#10 Northwestern
The Wildcats had to replace Zak Kustok last year who was masterful running the spread offense. Tony Stauss started the opener against Air Force and struggled. Brett Basanez took over and ended up throwing for 2204 yds despite missing action in several games because of injury. Stauss transferred to N Dakota St and Basanez is back for his So season in Evanston. He is more than capable of having a huge So season with the Cats after throwing for 368 yds against Illinois in the season finale. Fighting for playing time will be So Derell Jenkins a 4.5 speedster who saw action last year as a true frosh.
#11 Iowa
Brad Banks will be a tough act to follow after the stellar season the Hawkeyes had last year. Nathan Chandler {6-7 250 Sr} saw some action in mop up duty behind Banks. Chandler is a pure drop back passer, which will be a change for Hawkeye fans. Losing a tight end the caliber of Dallas Clark will impact this teams ability thru the air. There is no experience behind Chandler. Jason Manson rFr looks like the backup coming out of spring. Add to this the fact Iowa lost 4 offensive lineman to the NFL draft and it could take a while for the passing game to find itself.