2009 Spring Game Reviews - Big Ten

Over 95,000 people saw the Ohio State spring game, and that was just part of the spring fun across the college football landscape. What actually happened in all the spring games? Check out the reviews and recaps all the final scrimmages for all the teams (at least from the ones who have played so far). In case you missed anything, here's what you need to know.

Spring Preview 2009

Big 10 Spring Game Reviews

Spring Game Reviews
- ACC | Big East | Big Ten | Big 12 | C-USA | Ind.
- MAC | M-West | Pac 10 | SEC | Sun Belt | WAC

The Spring Games So Far ...

Illinois
April 25 – In gusty conditions that made throwing the ball tough, the Blue team, made up of the first teamers, beat the White 20-0 with QB Juice Williams completing 13-of-26 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He struggled with his consistency, mostly because of the wind, and threw some miserable passes to go along with his ten-yard scoring play to Chris Duvalt. Daniel Dufrene, who had a terrific spring, ran for 27 yards and a four-yard touchdown, but the star of the day was Jerry Brown, who made seven tackles, two sacks, and six tackles for loss. LB Martez Wilson closed out a terrific spring with 4.5 tackles and a broken up pass. Backup QB Eddie McGee only completed 3-of-8 passes for the Blue team, while Jacob Charest completed 2-of-3 passes for nine yards for the White team and 6-of-13 passes for 44 yards for the Blue.

Indiana
April 18 – The Pistol offense worked. The experiment of moving QB Kellen Lewis to receiver appears to be a go after he and QB Ben Chappel worked well together. Chappel completed 14-of-22 passes for 205 yards and two scores as the Crimson beat the Cream 28-27. The real excitement was over RB Darius Willis, the one-time star recruit who ran 13 times for 80 yards and looked like the type of workhorse the offense can work around. Damario Belcher turned into a big-play receiving weapon catching six passes for 82 yards and a score for the Crimson, while Lewis caught five passes for 52 yards and spent a little time under center handing the ball off. Even so, Lewis isn’t being considered for the No. 2 QB role with Teddy Schell looking strong completing 9-of-11 passes for 130 yards and a score.

Iowa
April 18 – Iowa spent its final spring scrimmage working on the backups at some key spots. Star LB A.J. Edds was out with a shoulder injury and safety Brett Greenwood also missed time as two of the key players gone, but the real issue was on offense where Jewel Hampton, the replacement for RB Shonn Greene, was out nursing a sore hamstring. Backups Jeff Brinson and Paki O’Meara were fine, but nothing special and struggled in pass protection, as did the offensive line. The defensive front dominated the scrimmage, but the offense had a few bright spots. Former quarterback Marvin McNutt has looked like a natural at receiver all spring long, and he was decent in the scrimmage showing a good connection with QB Ricky Stanzi.

Michigan
April 11 - Tate Forcier might not have looked like an All-American after one spring game, but the true freshman was fine in the starting quarterback role. He ran well, threw well on the move, and appeared to be more comfortable than any of last year’s Wolverine quarterbacks. However, he was inconsistent throwing the ball and the defense was sitting a slew of key players, but Forcier was still a big positive for a crowd starved for decent quarterback play. RB Carlos Brown also got everyone buzzing with an impressive 80-yard touchdown dash.

Michigan State
April 25 – In as exciting a spring game as any this year, Oklahoma transfer Keith Nichol came up with a big day in the battle for the No. 1 quarterback spot by completing 20-of-28 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns in the White’s 38-37 overtime win over the Green. His two-point conversion throw to Dan Fortener was the game-winner. Kirk Cousins, the other quarterback in the battle for the starting spot, completed 29-of-43 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns for the Green team with Charlie Gantt catching two scoring passes. All-America LB candidate Greg Jones came up with ten tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss helping the Green team stuff the White running game. The Green team didn’t pound the ball, either, as the team relied on the passing games in the scrimmage and didn’t find the immediate replacement for Javon Ringer.

Minnesota
April 25 – Adam Weber is the starting quarterback going into the fall, but MarQueis “O.J.” Gray showed that he’ll deserve playing time after completing 8-of-10 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns with Brodrick Smith catching four passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns highlighted by a 59-yard score. Weber was solid on his own completing 9-of-12 passes for 77 yards. While Gray’s first appearance after being ineligible last year will get the headlines, the star of the day was Troy Stoudermire, who ran two times for 63 yards with a 54-yard scoring dash, caught three passes for 31 yards, and returned three kickoffs for 143 yards. The offense ended up scoring 34 points on the defense is an O vs. D scrimmage (the squad wasn’t split up).

Northwestern
April 25 – The Wildcats showed off their running game with three backs, Stephen Simmons, Jeravin Matthews, and Alex Daniel, combining for 207 yards and four scores as the offense had its best scrimmage of the spring. This was the first time all off-season that the defense didn’t control the action. All eyes were on QB Mike Kafka, a great runner who has to prove he can consistently throw. He connected on 12-of-21 passes for 134 yards and a score, but 55 of the yards came on a touchdown pass to Andrew Brewer. Backup QB Dan Persa completed 8-of-9 passes for 65 yards.

Ohio State
April 25 – Almost 96,000 fans watched the Gray team beat the Scarlet 23-3 with Terrelle Pryor completing 13-of-18 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns with Taurian Washington catching four balls for 92 yards and a 44-yard score and Ray Small making four grabs for 74 yards and a 42-yard touchdown. Trying to make a push for the starting running back job was Marcus Williams, who ran six times for 94 yards, highlighted by a 75-yard tear, and Brandon Saine, who ran six times for 55 yards. Backup QB Joe Bauserman struggled completing just 10-of-21 passes for 119 yards and an interception. Sophomore LB Brian Rolle led all defenders with 11 tackles with a sack.

Penn State
April 25 – Almost 77,000 fans showed up to see the Blue team beat the White 21-16 with Mathew McGloin completing 9-of-13 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns while running for 28 yards in a losing cause. Starter Daryll Clark was in midseason form completing 10-of-13 passes for 123 yards in his few drives of action for the Blue side. In the hunt for replacements for all the lost receiver stars, Zug Graham led the way catching four passes for 62 yards and a score. White team LB Michael Zordich led all tacklers with six stops, while Sean Lee, the All-America linebacker who’s trying to come back from a knee injury, didn’t play.

Purdue
April 18 – It’s the Joey Elliott show now. Any and all concerns and thoughts about the quarterback situation appear to be gone after suffering a badly dislocated shoulder late last year. He led the Gold team (the offense) to a 36-29 win over the Black completing 20-of-33 passes with a touchdown pass and an interception, but most importantly, the arm appears to be close to full strength and head coach Danny Hope has been more than a little impressed. Backup QB Caleb TerBush was uneven, but had a few moments completing 16-of-34 passes for 185 yards with a pick. Kevin Smith was the leading receiver with 99 yards and a score on six catches, while Ralph Bolden paced the running game with 26 carries for 153 yards.

Wisconsin
April 18 – With most of the starters, the Cardinal team dominated the White 56-20 (with the White getting double points for touchdowns) with the big story the play of QB Curt Phillips. The redshirt freshman was one of the stars of the spring, finishing off the session by completing 10-of-16 passes for 122 yards and two scores and running for another. Last year’s late-season starting QB, Dustin Sherer, completed 6-of-9 passes for 101 yards and a pick-six, and he ran for a ten-yard score in his limited work before Phillips took over. Zach Brown ran for 110 yards and a score on just 14 carries providing a push for John Clay, the projected starter, who ran for 62 yards on 12 carries.