1. Michigan State: The Spartans return Senior captain Kirk Cousins who will be entering his 3rd year as the starter. It seems like Cousins has been the QB for MSU since the Reagan administration.
2. Northwestern: Dan Persa is great, as long as he can stay healthy. I’m still not sold that he is 100% healthy after suffering a torn Achilles last year after throwing the game winning TD pass against Iowa. Evan Watkins was serviceable as his backup last year and should be solid if Persa goes down.
3. Michigan: Have you ever heard the expression “trying to fit a square peg through a round hole”? Denard Robinson is an electric athlete, and he’s also about 5-10, and about to be turned into a drop back passer in a pro-style attack. I think Hoke and the Wolverines offensive staff are smart enough to utilize DRob’s athleticism, but I worry about a little bit about them trying to turn Robinson into something he’s not just to prove a point. Will Hoke and company try to turn him into a prototypical Michigan drop-back pocket passer just to prove that they are going to run a “Michigan” offense? Devin Gardener is a talented backup and may be better suited to Michigan’s new scheme.
4. Wisconsin: Jon Budmayr was about to turn into the next great Badgers: game managing, efficient, never makes mistakes, makes a few plays on third and long, plucky quarterback, but along came Russell Wilson to give the Badgers arguably their best athlete at quarterback maybe ever. Wilson under center makes UW the B1G favorite with a bullet, in my opinion.
5. Illinois: When Nathan Scheelhaase was named the starting quarterback for the Illini last year at this time I have to admit that I snickered a bit. I don’t know if it was because of his name or the fact that he was going to be the starting qb for Illinois that made him such an easy target, but I was wrong. Scheelhaase is extremely talented and now that Ron Zook isn’t allowed to screw up the offense, look for Scheelhaase to put up good numbers in second year offensive coordinator Paul Petrino’s offense.
6. Nebraska: Taylor Martinez must stay healthy. Even when Martinez is healthy he is limited as a passer. The Huskers don't have much depth after Martinez so he must not only remain healthy, but effective.
7. Penn State: Both Matt McGloin and Robert Bolden are capable of being All B1G quarterbacks, but as the old saying goes “if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have any”. McGloin and Bolden will prevent each other from getting into a rhythm and developing chemistry with their WR/TE’s. Look for both to play significantly this year, which means that neither will assert themselves as “the guy”, and will equal average numbers in the passing game.
8. Iowa: James Vandenberg looked great in the Horseshoe two years ago almost leading the Hawkeyes to a road victory in a game that had Big Ten championship implications. The trouble is we haven’t seen him play in two years. A.J. Darby and John Wienke will provide the Hawkeyes with capable backups.
9. Minnesota: This is the one team that could absolutely sky rocket up the rankings. MarQueis Gray was the number 2 rated dual threat QB recruit in the country behind Terrelle Pryor as a senior in High School. Minnesota beat out Oregon for his services and now will feature him in an offense that is tailor made for his skills as a quarterback.
10. Ohio State: I can’t put Ohio State any lower than 10th can I?! Joe Bauserman will be able to get the job done for the Buckeyes but lookout for freshman Braxton Miller to make a run at playing time. Look for Miller to be the starter by the end of the year.
11. Purdue: Rob Henry was average at best for the Boilermakers after starter Robert Marve went down with an injury. Henry can run a little but he can’t hit the broad side of a barn as a passer. The Boilermakers better hope that Marve can play up to the hype they generated for him after they announced he was transferring from Miami (FL) aka the “U”.
12. Indiana: I don’t know if it’s going to be Dusty Kiel or Edwin Wright-Baker under center for the Hoosiers, but I will say this, whoever gets the job will put up solid numbers throwing to a good set of receivers in a passing friendly offense. New Head Coach Kevin Wilson will have the Hoosiers higher in the QB power rankings by the end of the season.
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