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Quarterbacks
Projected Starter
- Brian Cupito, Soph. - Cupito should be able to produce and work well with
so many weapons around him, but the key will be for him to provide the leadership
and spark the Asad Abdul-Khaliq gave. He's an excellent passer who had to
work on his fundamentals after working exclusively in a shotgun formation
in his high school career. He's not big at 6-1 and 190 pounds, but he's
accurate.
Top Backup
- Adam Ernst, Jr. - The 6-2, 210-pound Ernst is more of a power passer than
Brian Cupito, but he's not quite as accurate and doesn't have the same finesse.
He proved to be a capable backup this spring looking good, but not great.
- John Carlson, Fr. - The true freshman fits the system well, but he won't
come in unless there's an absolute emergency. He's a good sized player who
can run with 1,650 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns in his high school career.
The Skinny: Asad Abdul-Khaliq always seemed to make things happen
and was solid at keeping the chains moving with both his feet and his arm.
Bryan Cupito and the rest of the new Gopher quarterback can throw with the
key being able to move the ball on third down like Abdul-Khaliq did.
Player to keep an eye on: Bryan Cupito ... Quarterback Rating: 5
Running Backs
Projected Starter
- Marion Barber III, Jr. - Barber got in shape and then tore up the Big
Ten rushing for 1,196 yards and 17 touchdowns in an All-America season.
He has a nose for the goal line like few backs in the game and is a solid
receiver out of the backfield. His numbers might not be Heisman worthy with
Laurence Maroney taking away carries, but he has to be considered among
the best players in college football if he gets over the sprained knee suffered
in the spring game.
- Justin Valentine, RFr. - Valentine will get the first look at fullback
to try and replace NFL bound Thomas Tapeh. He doesn't have the power or
blocking ability of Tapeh, but he should be an effective ball carrier.
Top Backups
- Laurence Maroney, Soph. - The Big Ten Freshman of the Year was the team's
best back by the end of last year. Showing quickness and power, Maroney
averaged a whopping 6.9 yards per carry rushing for 1,121 yards and ten
touchdowns. He turned on the production over the last five games of the
season rushing for 678 yards and five touchdowns.
- Amir Pinnix, RFr. - 190-pound redshirt freshman will have a hard time
seeing carries, but he's a talented big with excellent moves able to fill
in if needed.
- Maurice Alexander, Fr. - Yet another great young back to add to the mix,
the 5-9 true freshman will add a speedy option to the backfield. The star
sprinter can also catch the ball.
- Jason Lamers, Soph. - At 240 pounds, Lamers is the biggest fullback in
the mix and will be used mostly for his run blocking.
The Skinny: Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney rival Auburn's Carnell
Williams and Ronnie Brown as college football's best 1-2 rushing punch.
There's even more talent waiting in the wings in Amir Pinnix and Maurice
Alexander. Thomas Tapeh was a key to the attack and will be sorely missed
at fullback.
Player to keep an eye on: Amir Pinnix ... Running Back Rating: 10
Receivers
Projected Starters
- Paris Hamilton, Sr. - Hamilton had to sit out last year after hurting
his knee in spring ball, and now he should be one of the Big Ten's newest
stars even though he admitted this spring that he still wasn't 100% yet.
The former JUCO superstar has size, speed and excellent hands.
- Jared Ellerson, Jr. - Ellerson is one of the nation's most dangerous deep
threats averaging 20.7 yards per catch last year making 44 catches for 909
yards and five touchdowns even though he was out for the Sun Bowl.
- Logan Payne, Soph. - Payne only caught one pass for 11 yards last year.
The 6-2, 205-pound physical receiver will be the short to mid-range target
in the slot so the speed players can operate on the outside.
- Matt Spaeth, Soph. - It's asking a lot to try and replace All-American
Ben Utecht, but Spaeth can catch the ball with 12 grabs for 98 yards and
is a better run blocker. What he doesn't have it Utecht's deep speed.
Top Backups
- Keith Matthews, Sr. - Matthews has size and a little bit of experience,
but he has to prove that he's back to form after a knee injury limited him
last year. He'll back up Payne in the slot.
- Jakari Wallace, Jr. - The short quick element in the mix, the 5-8 Wallace
has deep threat potential after averaging 14.7 yards per catch last year
in a limited role.
- Jarod Posthumus, Jr. - The 6-4, 250-pound former quarterback has grown
into a good backup tight end. He has a bit more athleticism than Matt Spaeth,
and now he should become more of a factor in the attack.
The Skinny: The return of Paris Hamilton makes this decent receiving
corps potentially great. He should pair with Jared Ellerson to form one
of the best deep threat tandems in the Big Ten, so it'll be up to Logan
Payne and the tight ends to take care of everything underneath.
Player to keep an eye on: Paris Hamilton ... Receiver Rating: 7
Offensive Line
Projected Starters
- Tackle Rian Melander, Sr. - The second team All-Big Ten selection could
be in the mix for All-American honors at left tackle. At 295 pounds, he's
a top run blocker with the feet and athleticism to be counted on as a premier
pass protector.
- Guard Mark Setterstrom, Jr. - An honorable mention All-Big Ten performer
at left guard, the 300-pound Setterstrom built on his great freshman season
and returns as one of the team's most dependable run blockers starting every
game so far in his career.
- Center Greg Eslinger, Jr. - Eslinger has been a technician over the first
two years of his career, and now he finally bulked up to become worthy of
being the top center in America. The 6-3, 285-pound junior will be on the
short list for the Rimington Award and will be the anchor of the top line.
- Guard Brandon Harston, Sr. - The only newcomer to the starting mix, the
315-pound senior will do just fine at right guard. He's not as athletic
as the other linemen, but he's one of the biggest players in the mix and
should be a key in the rushing attack.
- Tackle Joe Ainslie, Soph. - He took over halfway through the season and
showed promise at right tackle. He's 6-7, 305 pounds and has to All-Big
Ten potential with a little more work on his technique.
Top Backups
- OT Mike Nicholson, Jr. - Versatile enough to play either guard or tackle,
he'll start the season backing up Joe Ainsile on the right side. He started
the first seven games of last year before getting dinged up.
- OG Josh Brenny, Soph. - The 305-pound sophomore will push for time at
right guard. He isn't the physical player that Brandon Harston is, but he'll
provide solid depth.
The Skinny: If this isn't the best line in the Big Ten, it's close
after leading the way to 289 rushing yards per game and only allowing 16
sacks. Four starters return with three legitimate All-Big Ten candidates
in Greg Eslinger, Matt Setterstrom and Rian Melander. Eslinger is an All-America
caliber rock in the middle. There's little developed depth, but there are
plenty of good prospects.
Player to keep an eye on: Joe Ainslie ... Offensive Line Rating: 9.5
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