Dinkytown - There are days when life as an unemployed, semi-portly hack aren't that bad, days like Thursday that led me to the University of Minnesota and it's 14th spring football practice. Being paid by minnesota.rivals.com to be around the Bierman Sports Complex on a 79 degree day is far from the worst thing.
While watching the first 20 minutes of the day's festivities with the Star Tribune's Kent Youngblood, who looks no stronger than he did a year ago despite his almost daily attempt at lifting weights at the work compound, quarterback Adam Weber came up.
Full disclosure - I have a bit of a man crush on the junior from Mounds View HS (Sid might be brainwashing me). He disappointed me at times at the end of last season, but the way he played in the win at Purdue last year sold me. In addition, the reports from spring ball, from observers not contractually tied to the Gophers, have been positive.
He has a good chance to shatter every school passing record and take this team to a New Year's Day Bowl Game for the first time since Sid was in his 40's, yet Youngblood was questioning whether Weber belongs in the discussion of the top-five quarterbacks in the conference. And yes, Youngblood, to the best of my knowledge, was sober when he said that.
Let's aid the ink-stained wretch with a ranking of the signal callers in the Big Ten, a conference that returns the six-most efficient players from that position in 2008.
Rankings based on who gives their respective team the best chance to win in '09, not who the best pro prospects are.
1) Daryll Clark, Sr., Penn State - In his first year as a starter in 2008, he played marvelously well. He was a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien award, given to the best collegiate quarterback. It'll be interesting to see how he performs without his three best receivers, who all have no eligibility remaining - Deon Butler, Derrick Williams, and Jordan Norwood.
2) Terrelle Pryor, So., Ohio State - He too will be an interesting case study without the services of RB Beanie Wells and WRs Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline. He reportedly has added almost ten pounds of muscle after already being able to run over would-be tacklers a year ago. As a true freshman, he led the conference with a rating of 146.5
3) Adam Weber, Jr., Minnesota - The coaches thought highly enough to vote him onto the second team All-Big Ten a year ago. Of players that were relevant, he led the conference in completion percentage. It's a rebuilt offensive line with a new coach that will be better, thus will give him more time to throw. His running game, which was the worst in the Big Ten last year, will also be more of a factor. MarQueis Gray will also get some snaps.
4) Juice Williams, Sr., Illinois - He did not prove to me last year that he could overcome the departure of RB Rashard Mendenhall. The evidence being the 16 interceptions he threw and a completion percentage of 57.5. In 2007, he was solid. In 2008, he was mediocre, like the team, which failed to get to a bowl game.
5) Ricky Stanzi, Jr., Iowa - Based on the game here last year, (which always in my mind will be remembered most for the antics in a certain bathroom) Stanzi should be much higher and Weber lower, but we'll look at the total package. It's not that I don't like Stanzi, but I can't justify picking him above any of the top-four.
6) Dustin Sherer, Sr., Wisconsin - He's far from a lock to be the starter when they open the season, but is the front runner for the time being. They are a team that relies heavily on the running game. In other words, not much is asked of the quarterback. Showed some flashes last year, but you have to wonder why he couldn't even beat out Allan Evridge for the job last August.
7) Mike Kafka, Sr., Northwestern - Was Steve Young-esque against the Gophers in '08. He needs to demonstrate more regularly that he can throw the ball and not just run it.
8) Ben Chappell, Jr., Indiana (former quarterback Kellen Lewis is now a receiver) - They, like the Gophers, have a new offense this year. In limited time last year, Chappell posted decent numbers.
****The remaining three spots are occupied by guys with little or no experience. Instead of doing my best Mike Mayock impression by breaking down youtube highlights, I will take a guess at how they should be ranked.
9) Keith Nichol/Kirk Cousins, both sophomores, Michigan State - Cousins was the understudy to Brian Hoyer last year. Nichol transferred from Oklahoma and was used as the scout team qb in '08. The starting job won't be settled until August.
10) Nick Sheridan (Jr.)/Tate Forcier (true Fr.)/Denard Robinson (true Fr.), Michigan - Forcier is an early-enrollee and may very well win the job come September.
11) Joey Elliott (Sr.)/Caleb TerBush (Fr.), Purdue - New head coach Danny Hope says TerBush is the better passer. They will continue to run the spread offense.