Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, April 27, 2013

The Big Ten had just seven players selected through the first three rounds of the NFL draft. The league almost equaled that total with five picks in the fourth round. And so it went on the final day of the draft, when rounds four through seven were conducted on what was a big day for the Big Ten with 15 picks. The headline pick was Michigan?s Denard Robinson, who went with the second pick of the fifth round (135th overall). Four other Big Ten players were selected before him today, but Robinson was the big name many had been waiting to hear.

Many speculated when the Michigan icon would be picked, as he makes a transition from quarterback to receiver/running back/return man in the NFL. Early word is Jacksonville will use Robinson at running back even though he had durability issues in college.

NOTABLES NOT DRAFTED
Johnny Adams, CB, Michigan State
Brian Arnfelt, DE, Northwestern
Will Compton, LB, Nebraska
Marcus Cromartie, CB, Wisconsin
Glenn Foster, DT, Illinois
Tyler Hoover, DE, Michigan State
Travis Howard, CB, Ohio State
Josh Johnson, CB, Purdue
Brett Maher, K/P, Nebraska
Eric Martin, DE, Nebraska
Stephon Morris, CB, Penn State
Graham Pocic, C, Illinois
Adam Replogle, DT, Indiana
Craig Roh, DE, Michigan
Etienne Sabino, LB, Ohio State
Devin Smith, CB, Wisconsin
Matt Stankiewitch, CB, Penn State
Baker Steinkuhler, DT, Nebraska
Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio State
Anthony Rashad White, DT, Michigan State
Nathan Williams, DE, Ohio State

It also was noteworthy to see Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti get picked in the seventh round by the Vikings. Mauti has overcome numerous knee injuries to get to this point, playing a spirited role for the Nittany Lions during their surprisingly strong 8-4 season in 2012.

Illinois defensive tackle Akeem Spence was the first Big Ten player off the board today, going with the third pick (100th overall) of the fourth round to the Buccaneers. Spence was one of four Illinois players to be picked, more than any other Big Ten school.

Michigan State tight end Dion Sims was picked next, going ninth in the fourth round (106th overall) to the Dolphins. This pick seemed to validate Sims coming out early. Penn State linebacker Gerald Hodges went 23rd in the fourth round (120th overall) to the Vikings.

Michigan State defensive end William Gholston went with the 29th pick in the fourth round (126th) to the Buccaneers. Ohio State defensive end John Simon was the Big Ten?s last selection of the fourth round, going 32nd in the third round (129th) to the Ravens.

The first Big Ten had to wait only two picks into the fifth round to see Michigan?s Robinson get picked 135th overall by the Jaguars.

Illinois cornerback Terry Hawthorne was the 17th pick of the fifth round (150th), going to the Steelers.

BY THE NUMBERS
POSITION
Quarterbacks: 0
Running backs: 3
Tight ends: 1
Receivers: 1
Offensive linemen: 4
Defensive linemen: 8
Linebackers: 2
Defensive backs: 3
Kickers: 0

SCHOOL
Illinois: 4
Michigan State: 3
Penn State: 3
Wisconsin: 3
Ohio State: 3
Nebraska: 2
Michigan: 2
Purdue: 1
Iowa: 1
Minnesota: 0
Northwestern: 0
Indiana: 0

Iowa corner Micah Hyde went 26th in the fifth round (159th) to the Packers.

Wisconsin offensive tackle Ricky Wagner was the last pick of the fifth round (168th), going to the Ravens.

The first player from the Big Ten picked in the sixth round was Michigan defensive tackle William Campbell, who went to the Jets with the 10th pick in the round sixth round (178th). Campbell?s selection appears to be the biggest reach of any Big Ten player, as many felt he wouldn?t be picked. Some speculate that Campbell may be converted to offensive line.

Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead was the only other Big Ten player picked in the sixth round, going with the 22nd selection in the round (190th).

The seventh round saw Mauti going with the seventh pick in the round (213th) to the Vikings, where he?ll play with Hodges again. Illinois defensive end Michael Buchanan went with the 20th pick in the seventh round (226th).

Ohio State offensive tackle Reid Fragel went with the 34th pick in the seventh round (240th) to the Bengals. He was a tight end before converting to tackle last season. Nebraska safety Daimion Stafford was the 42nd pick of the seventh round, going to the Titans, making him the final Big Ten player selected.

Northwestern, Indiana and Minnesota were the lone Big Ten teams that didn?t have a draft choice. Rutgers, which joins the Big Ten in 2014, had seven picks.

ROUND 1 – OVERALL
PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION NFL TEAM
31 Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin Dallas Cowboys
ROUND 2 – OVERALL PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION NFL TEAM
44 Kawann Short, DT, Purdue Carolina Panthers
48 Le'Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State Pittsburgh Steelers
49 Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State New York Giants
58 Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin Denver Broncos
ROUND 3 – OVERALL
PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION NFL TEAM
86 Hugh Thornton, G, Illinois Indianapolis Colts
87 Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State Seattle Seahawks
ROUND 4 – OVERALL
PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION NFL TEAM
100 Akeem Spence, DE, Illinois Tampa Bay Buccaneers
106 Dion Sims, TE, Michigan State Miami Dolphins
120 Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State Minnesota Vikings
126 William Gholston, DE, Michigan State Tampa Bay Buccaneers
129 John Simon, DE, Ohio State Baltimore Ravens
ROUND 5 – OVERALL
PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION NFL TEAM
135 Denard Robinson, RB , Michigan Jacksonville Jaguars
150 Terry Hawthorne, CB, Illinois Pittsburgh Steelers
159 Micah Hyde, CB, Iowa Green Bay Packers
168 Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin Baltimore Ravens
ROUND 6 PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION NFL TEAM
178 William Campbell, G, Michigan New York Jets
190 Rex Burkhead, RB, Nebraska Cincinnati Bengals
ROUND 7 PLAYER, SCHOOL, POSITION NFL TEAM
213 Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State Minnesota Vikings
226 Michael Buchanan, DE, Illinois New England Patriots
240 Reid Fragel, OT, Ohio State Cincinnati Bengals
248 Daimion Stafford, SS, Nebraska Tennessee Titans

***

About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

And if you want to leave a comment on this post, use the box below. All comments need to be approved by a moderator.