Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, May 1, 2015

The Big Ten had three first-round picks, as Iowa T/G Brandon Scherff went No. 5 to the Redskins, then Michigan State CB Trae Waynes went No. 11 to the Vikings, and Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon went No. 15 to the Chargers. I was a bit surprised to see Scherff go so high, but he?s a safe pick, and he is very good. Waynes went about where I thought he would as did Gordon. But I thought Gordon would be the first back taken. He wasn?t, as the St. Louis Rams took Georgia?s Todd Gurley at No. 10.

Remember when Nebraska DE Randy Gregory was projected to be a first-round pick? Even a high first-round pick by some? Well, it didn?t happen, as questions about his judgment and acumen intensified in the days leading up to the draft.

Omaha.com notes that the status of Gregory became muddied after it was disclosed on March 25 that he had tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine, and also told NFL.com that he twice tested positive while at NU. Leading into the draft, chatter started to build that Gregory could fall to the second round.

?Obviously with the injury and the off-the-field concerns, we figured he would drop maybe into the second or third round,? said ESPN analyst Mel Kiper on Thursday.

***

Jim Harbaugh has offered a scholarship to an eight-grader from Florida?

According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Harbaugh and Michigan recently extended a scholarship offer to eighth grade prospect Blake Hinson. I think a lot of times coaches do this to get publicity. And, in this case, it has worked for Harbaugh. Congrats. It seems Harbaugh makes news every day.

***

I have to hand it to Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. He isn?t sugar-coating the state of his program. We all know 2015 could be a defining year for Ferentz, who is in his 17th season in Iowa City.

Chad Leistikow of HawkCentral.com says one of Ferentz's most telling remarks at a recent booster function was: "I've been doing this for 16 years, and as I can tell you, I'm hardly immune to the fact that it is a bottom-line business."

In other words, Leistikow says, Ferentz hears you, disgruntled fans. He knows attendance and season football ticket sales are expected to take a hit. He knows he needs to win to earn another vote of confidence from top administrators. I bet Ferentz delivers.

***

Dan Duggan of NJ.com asked Rutgers players who was the best back they faced in 2014: Melvin Gordon, Tevin Coleman or Ameer Abdullah? My fav of that bunch? Gordon.

***

This is a bummer: Indiana A.D. Fred Glass says there is no imminent renewal of the Indiana-Kentucky hoop rivalry.

"I have not had any conversations with my counterpart at Kentucky (Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart) since the last effort to resuscitate the series was unsuccessful," Glass told IndyStar.com. "There is nothing imminent, no plans, no breakthroughs. Really nothing new."

We?re all losers without these two iconic programs playing. C?mon. Let?s get this done.

***

Penn State president Eric Barron recently discussed the possibility of the return of the Paterno statue.

Speaking of Penn State, here is a look at its first-round draft history.

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.