Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson led the Big Ten in receiving last season as the conference’s only wide receiver to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards (only one to break 806 yards as well). Robinson was also the conference’s leader in receiving touchdowns with 11, five more than Indiana’s Cody Latimer, who was second in the conference with six touchdown receptions. Robinson’s breakout year came at the right time, helping to fill any void left by the Oklahoma-bound Justin Brown, who took advantage of a free NCAA transfer as part of the sanctions against Penn State. Robinson’s efforts were rewarded and acknowledged by the Big Ten with a receiver of the year award at the end of the season and he figures to be one of the top receivers again this season in spite of a fairly unproven, if not uncertain, quarterback situation.
So when ESPN.com’s Big Ten blogging duo presented the question in a post yesterday, it was not much of a surprise to see Robinson get the first mention from both writers. Brian Bennet suggests the competition is really for who is the second best receiver in the conference, and it seems as though Rittenberg agrees. Both do bring up the same concerns I have when it comes to what kind of production he will have. Until we know for sure just how this quarterback situation plays out, it would be unfair to expect Robinson to automatically have a repeat performance in the production aspect.
Quick Hits
UCLA claims to be Linebacker U. Yeah, about that… [Nittany Lions Den]
Beaver Stadium ranked fourth best Big Ten stadium. [Big Ten Network] Or second. [Athlon Sports]
Around the Big Ten
Speaking of receivers, Michigan is searching for a legitimate down field threat in 2013. Does one exist? [MGoBlog]
John Cooper put together a complicated legacy at Ohio State, according to Eleven Warriors. Oh, you want to talk about complicated legacies?
Nebraska has some new shoes from adidas for the upcoming season. Nothing too offensive here. [Corn Nation]
Wisconsin all of a sudden is battling some potential depth concerns at safety with a transfer of of JUCO Donnell Vercher falling through. [Madtown Badgers]
Big Ten Week on Crystal Ball Run continues. Yesterday offered a look at how the conference’s biggest games could be played early in the schedule. Also, is Ohio State the best threat to the SEC‘s title run this season?
Big Ten Network wants to know who you think will be the Big Ten’s best defensive player. Their poll omits Big Ten Freshman of the Year Deion Barnes and BTN blogger Brent Yarina doesn’t even have Barnes in his top five (technically, top six). Well, Barnes is included in the poll, if you consider him “Other.” [Big Ten Network]
In Scores of Other Games
Who has the softest non-conference schedule in the country? Bruce Feldman says Arizona. Alabama has the eighth softest schedule, Ohio State tied for ninth… Bret Bielema wants rules changed to slow down no-huddle offenses. Losing to Oregon in the Rose Bowl will do that to a guy. I imagine Saban is crafting Alabama’s no-huddle offense right now just for one game… Excuse me, I am off to play some of the NCAA Football 14 demo…
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