PETERSON: Big Ten blogging updates

12:30 p.m.

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini  showed up wearing a tie.

That’s rare, according to Huskers insiders.

**

8:45 am UPDATE:

Ran into Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith in the hotel lobby.  He asked a lot of questions about his former employer, Iowa State, and wished the Cyclones well.

And oh by the way: He said he’s shutting down interviews. The Buckeyes meet with the NCAA on Aug. 12 to determine their fate after players were caught accepting illegal benefits.

8 am UPDATE:

Here”s the Iowa depth chart:

OFFENSE

SE: McNutt, Staggs, Shumpert

LT: Reiff, Tobin

LG: MacMillan, Scherff

C: Ferentz, Boffeli

RG: Gettis, Orne

RT: Zusevics, Van Sloten

TE: Herman, Fiederowicz

QB: Vandenberg, Wiennke,  Derby

WR: Davis, Martin-Manley

RB: Coker, White

FB: Gimm, Rogers

PK: Meyer

DEFENSE

DE: Daniel, Gaglione

DT: Alvis, Bigach, Nardo

DT: Daniels, Davis

DE: Binns, Forgy, Hardy

OLB: Nielsen, Getz

MLB: Morris, Davis

OLB: KIrksey,  Hitchens,  DiBona

LC: Prater, Bernstine

SS: Sleeper, Donatell

FS: Hyde, Miller

RC: Castillo, Lowery

P:  Guthrie

========

FIRST UPDATE: No Marvin McNutt or Shaun Prater.

No Hawkeyes, for that matter, on the Big Ten Conference “Watch List” for the 2011 season.

The coaches didn’t want a pre-season all-conference team, so the Big Ten selected to players on whom to keep an eye.

No Hawks.

Here’s the release:

BIG TEN ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST

Twelve players highlighted in inaugural list

Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced today its inaugural football Players to Watch list, with 12 players earning preseason recognition. Big Ten coaches voted to institute a preseason Players to Watch list beginning this season, honoring five student-athletes each from the Legends Division and Leaders Division. The 2011 list was selected by a media panel and features additional honorees due to a tie.

Representing the Legends Division are Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick and linebacker Lavonte David and Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa.

The Leaders Division honorees are Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, Indiana wide receiver Damarlo Belcher, Ohio State center Mike Brewster and defensive tackle John Simon, Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti and Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball and James White.

All five Legends Division players received postseason recognition in 2010, with Robinson, Crick and David earning All-America honors and first-team All-Conference accolades. Robinson was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year while David was tabbed the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Persa was also named first-team All-Big Ten while Cousins was an honorable mention All-Conference choice.

The group of Leaders Division standouts includes five All-Conference selections from 2010. Brewster earned All-America accolades and first-team All-Big Ten honors. White was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a second-team All-Conference selection. Belcher, Simon and Ball were each All-Big Ten honorable mention selections.

The complete list of Big Ten football preseason Players to Watch appears below:

LEGENDS DIVISION

Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan

Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State

Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska

Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska

Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern

LEADERS DIVISION*

Nathan Scheelhaase, QB, Illinois

Damarlo Belcher, WR, Indiana

Mike Brewster, C, Ohio State

John Simon, DT, Ohio State

Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State

Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin

James White, RB, Wisconsin

*Additional honorees due to tie

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Tags: Big Ten Conference, Big Ten Media Days, Depth chart, Gene Smith, Iowa football, Ohio State

Category: Iowa Hawkeyes Football