Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, April 27, 2015
When it comes to NFL quarterback production, the Big Ten has lagged.
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How bad has it been? The league hasn?t had a signal-caller taken in the first round since Penn State?s Kerry Collins was tabbed by the Panthers in 1995 with the No. 5 pick. Many feel current Penn State rising junior Christian Hackenberg will end that drought when he comes out for the draft.
No Big Ten quarterbacks figure to be drafted this year. Rutgers? Gary Nova may be the league?s best hope. Northwestern?s Trevor Siemian also is gaining interest. If either is picked, it will be very late in the draft.
The last 10 years, the Big Ten has had just 10 quarterbacks picked, including Rutgers' Mike Teel (2009). Six schools haven?t had a QB selected at all. Purdue and Michigan State have led the way with two signal-callers selected.
The highest picks? MSU?s Drew Stanton (2007/Lions) and Michigan?s Chad Henne (2008/Dolphins), as each were second-rounders. Ohio State?s Troy Smith won the Heisman in 2006 but was just a fifth-round pick of the Ravens in 2007 and had a brief NFL career.
The best current Big Ten quarterbacks in the NFL are the Patriots' Tom Brady of Michigan and the Seahawks? Russell Wilson, a product of Wisconsin. But he spent all but his final season at N.C. State.
Here is a look at the Big Ten quarterback NFL draft leader board from 2005-14.
Michigan State: 2 (Drew Stanton, 2nd 2007/Lions; Kirk Cousins, 4th 2012/Redskins)
Purdue: 2 (Kyle Orton, 4th 2005/Bears; Curtis Painter, 6th 2009/Colts)
Iowa: 1 (Ricky Stanzi, 5th 2011/Chiefs)
Michigan: 1 (Chad Henne, 2nd 2008/Dolphins)
Northwestern: 1 (Mike Kafka, 4th 2010/Eagles)
Ohio State: 1 (Troy Smith, 5th 2007/Ravens)
Rutgers: 1 (Mike Teel, 6th 2009/Seahawks)
Wisconsin: 1 (Russell Wilson, 3rd 2012/Seahawks)
Illinois: 0
Indiana: 0
Maryland: 0
Minnesota: 0
Nebraska: 0
Penn State: 0
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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