http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...-for-breakout-players-in-week-4-big-ten-games
Week 3 of the college football season provided a slew of big-time matchups for Big Ten programs and the conference passed the majority of its tests with flying colors. But the past is history and it's time to look ahead to another fall Saturday of games.
Each Wednesday this season, we'll be here to help you power through the final few days to game day by providing a couple extra angles to keep in mind for the coming week of Big Ten contests. This week, our Big Ten writers offer their takes on which player is in line for a breakout game in Week 4. Let's get to it:
Austin Ward: Nebraska QB Tommy Armstrong Jr.
For all the acclaim Northwestern draws for its stout defense, it has actually been pretty vulnerable against the pass this season. And with Armstrong rolling early for the Huskers, rewriting the record books and even avoiding turnovers through three games, the Wildcats could be in trouble as they open conference play. No team in the Big Ten is allowing more yardage through the air than Northwestern’s average of 261, and the new and improved version of Armstrong should be licking his chops.
Brian Bennett: Iowa RB Akrum Wadley
Of all the frustrating aspects of Saturday’s home loss to North Dakota State, the Hawkeyes should fume the most over their sad rushing performance. They mustered just 34 net yards on 25 carries against an FCS defense. Somehow, Iowa gave Wadley -- its most explosive running back, one who’s averaging 7.6 yards per carry this year -- only four handoffs in the game. To be fair, Kirk Ferentz’s squad was banged up on the offensive line, with guard Sean Welsh and center James Daniels out. They’re expected back this week and just in time to face a Rutgers defense that ranks 94th nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (against a schedule that included Howard). The Hawkeyes would be wise to feed Wadley, a native of Newark, New Jersey, who’ll be making his homecoming this weekend. I’m predicting he tops 100 yards and scores at least once.
Michigan WR Amara Darboh
A week from now we'll be talking about Darboh as the best threat on Michigan's offense. Only five players in the country have more receiving yards than the senior, who fell behind teammate Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt on the pass-catcher pecking order at Michigan last season. He has consistently climbed since this spring and is averaging 20.4 yards per catch through three games. He could put himself firmly in the conversation to be the conference's best receiver with another solid performance against Penn State in the Big House. All it should take is a catch or two like the screen pass he turned into a 45-yard touchdown against Colorado last weekend.
Jesse Temple: Wisconsin LB T.J. Edwards
Edwards missed Wisconsin's season opener against LSU while recovering from an offseason foot injury. He played only 14 snaps in Week 2 against Akron and still recorded a sack. He was back in the starting lineup in Week 3 against Georgia State. All he did was lead the Badgers with 11 tackles. Edwards was Wisconsin's leading tackler a year ago as a redshirt freshman and should be a force this week now that he's back in rhythm. Michigan State loves to run the ball and is averaging 46.0 rushing attempts per game. That means Edwards will have plenty of chances to make a huge impact in the marquee Big Ten game of Week 4.
Josh Moyer: Michigan DL Chris Wormley
Through three games, Wormley has just one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Expect a change in those numbers Saturday. In the meeting against Penn State last season, Wormley finished with five tackles and two stops in the backfield -- and that didn’t include his countless pressures or QB hits. The left side of Penn State’s offensive line has struggled early on this season, allowing two blindside hits that led to fumbles, and Wormley is poised to take advantage. The fifth-year, 302-pound senior matches up well here and will find a way to impact this game.
Week 3 of the college football season provided a slew of big-time matchups for Big Ten programs and the conference passed the majority of its tests with flying colors. But the past is history and it's time to look ahead to another fall Saturday of games.
Each Wednesday this season, we'll be here to help you power through the final few days to game day by providing a couple extra angles to keep in mind for the coming week of Big Ten contests. This week, our Big Ten writers offer their takes on which player is in line for a breakout game in Week 4. Let's get to it:
Austin Ward: Nebraska QB Tommy Armstrong Jr.
For all the acclaim Northwestern draws for its stout defense, it has actually been pretty vulnerable against the pass this season. And with Armstrong rolling early for the Huskers, rewriting the record books and even avoiding turnovers through three games, the Wildcats could be in trouble as they open conference play. No team in the Big Ten is allowing more yardage through the air than Northwestern’s average of 261, and the new and improved version of Armstrong should be licking his chops.
Brian Bennett: Iowa RB Akrum Wadley
Of all the frustrating aspects of Saturday’s home loss to North Dakota State, the Hawkeyes should fume the most over their sad rushing performance. They mustered just 34 net yards on 25 carries against an FCS defense. Somehow, Iowa gave Wadley -- its most explosive running back, one who’s averaging 7.6 yards per carry this year -- only four handoffs in the game. To be fair, Kirk Ferentz’s squad was banged up on the offensive line, with guard Sean Welsh and center James Daniels out. They’re expected back this week and just in time to face a Rutgers defense that ranks 94th nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (against a schedule that included Howard). The Hawkeyes would be wise to feed Wadley, a native of Newark, New Jersey, who’ll be making his homecoming this weekend. I’m predicting he tops 100 yards and scores at least once.
Michigan WR Amara Darboh
A week from now we'll be talking about Darboh as the best threat on Michigan's offense. Only five players in the country have more receiving yards than the senior, who fell behind teammate Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt on the pass-catcher pecking order at Michigan last season. He has consistently climbed since this spring and is averaging 20.4 yards per catch through three games. He could put himself firmly in the conversation to be the conference's best receiver with another solid performance against Penn State in the Big House. All it should take is a catch or two like the screen pass he turned into a 45-yard touchdown against Colorado last weekend.
Jesse Temple: Wisconsin LB T.J. Edwards
Edwards missed Wisconsin's season opener against LSU while recovering from an offseason foot injury. He played only 14 snaps in Week 2 against Akron and still recorded a sack. He was back in the starting lineup in Week 3 against Georgia State. All he did was lead the Badgers with 11 tackles. Edwards was Wisconsin's leading tackler a year ago as a redshirt freshman and should be a force this week now that he's back in rhythm. Michigan State loves to run the ball and is averaging 46.0 rushing attempts per game. That means Edwards will have plenty of chances to make a huge impact in the marquee Big Ten game of Week 4.
Josh Moyer: Michigan DL Chris Wormley
Through three games, Wormley has just one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Expect a change in those numbers Saturday. In the meeting against Penn State last season, Wormley finished with five tackles and two stops in the backfield -- and that didn’t include his countless pressures or QB hits. The left side of Penn State’s offensive line has struggled early on this season, allowing two blindside hits that led to fumbles, and Wormley is poised to take advantage. The fifth-year, 302-pound senior matches up well here and will find a way to impact this game.
