Latest Big Ten QB buzz includes Buckeyes' timeline to name a starter

OK, Urban Meyer has said it: He wants to name a starting quarterback by the middle of training camp.

Now, we can all watch, wonder and wait ? who will it be? If I was coach, it would be J.T. Barrett No. 1; Cardale Jones No. 2; Braxton Miller No. 3. Cleveland.com says Jones will start Saturday's spring game, which Meyer said will feature the first-team offense and defense for two series of limited contact. Redshirt freshman Stephen Collier will start for the other team. My man Barrett will participate in a halftime quarterback challenge with Jones and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.

That spring game airs live on BTN and BTN2Go (here's the BTN2Go link if you won';t be near a TV).

Speaking of quarterback timelines, here is Rutgers? timeline for naming a replacement for Gary Nova.

NJ.com says RU boss Kyle Flood doesn't expect the battle between Chris Laviano and Hayden Rettig to be decided before the summer.

"Chris Laviano and Hayden Rettig are probably a little bit ahead of Gio (Rescigno) right now," Flood said. "I don't think it will be a race that will get settled this spring. But I think as we get into training camp we'll probably have about 10 days in training camp where we can let that play out between Chris and Hayden. I'm not saying it couldn't be resolved this spring, but I don't think that after 10 practices that we'll have a final decision."

More QB babble: The arrival of Iowa transfer Jake Rudock no doubt will juice up the goings-on under center in Ann Arbor. He has to win the job, right? No way the Wolverines trek to Salt Lake City for the opener vs. Utah with a greenhorn at quarterback.

"I expect there will be very good competition. He's a player who is hungry to compete," Jim Harbaugh said. "It's good for him academically and very good for him athletically with the opportunity to compete for a role, whether that be a starting role (or not), I know that's where his goals are aligned.

"I'm excited to watch it go down."

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The Aaron Hernandez trail had an impact at Iowa, where brother D.J. is a G.A.

?All you can do is lend support,? Kirk Ferentz said this week. ?It?s a very tough thing for D.J. to go through. D.J. is a tremendous young man. He had a great career at the University of Connecticut and was a very unselfish player there, a two-time captain, a very good student. It?s just there are a lot of things in life that are very tough to explain, and I?m not sure anybody can explain this one. Certainly it?s been a tough period for him.?

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My kindergarten teacher was a little ol? lady named Mrs. Williamson. Couldn?t have been taller than 5-0 and probably weighed 100 pounds. Sweet, sweet lady. So, what do you think kindergartners thought when 6-9, 320-pound Minnesota OT Jonah Pirsig walked in to teach their class? Exactly.

This thing has ?Hollywood sitcom? written all over it.

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Nebraska had its basketball world rocked when Terran Petteway announced he was turning pro. As you might have expected, opinions were divided on the wisdom of his decision.

Ex-Husker Eric Piatkowski isn?t too stoked about Petteway?s chances.

?If he gets drafted, it?s going to be in the end of the second round,? Piatkowski said. ?He has a lot of work to do on his game.

?If that doesn?t come to fruition - it?s tough to make an NBA roster if you don?t get drafted in the first round - then he could have a heck of a career playing in Europe.?

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It looks like the Michigan satellite football camp schedule is set: The Wolverine staff will visit nine camps in seven states beginning in June.

This sure seems like exciting stuff. But I still wonder why a school like Michigan needs to this. Schools like Oklahoma State and Auburn? Yes. Michigan? No.

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The running back competition at Michigan State spring football practice sounds glorious. Who will win the job?

Redshirt freshman Madre London is in the race with Jeremy Langford gone.

"You know Larry Scott is going to come in, and hopefully Delton Williams will come back, and we're still going to have Gerald Holmes," London told Mlive.com. "We're not going to give anyone a spot, so we are all just competing.

"The position is free, so we'll just see who is going to take it."

Lots of good options. I am really excited to see Scott. He sounds special.

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Purdue needs to continue to improve its football facilities, which need a lot of improving. Let me type that again: Purdue needs to continue to improve its football facilities, which need a lot of improving.

The IndyStar.com says that by the end of the year, Purdue A.D. Morgan Burke will present a master plan to the board of trustees outlining a series of projects that will enhance Ross-Ade Stadium's South End Zone and Mollenkopf Athletic Center.

"I think we have to continue to find ways of making sure we're putting ourselves in the best position, whether it's facilities, academics, whatever it is to be competitive in this league," Purdue football coach Darrell Hazell said. "You'll see a lot of constant change, which hopefully leads to the results on the scoreboard. That's the goal. It's all tied together.

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Greg Pickel of Pennlive.com has one last look at this Saturday?s Blue-White game. Who will be the MVP?

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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.

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