One former Big Ten football beat writer's list of the conference's top 10 NFL Draft prospects:

1. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: The best player on the Big Ten's best team. An immediate starter with Pro Bowl potential.

2. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: Showed little improvement as a senior, but should be the third tackle selected behind Auburn's Greg Robinson and Texas A&M's Jake Matthews.

3. Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State: 143 tackles and a 4.38 40-yard dash time. He's rated behind Buffalo's Khalil Mack because...

4.  Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota: Anybody who stands 6-foot-5, weighs 310 pounds and runs the 40 in under 5.0 seconds is a load to block.

5. Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: Those OVI charges aren't helping his cause. His senior film isn't raising his stock, either.

6. Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State: Could be the first running back selected, which means he's likely to go in the second round.

7. DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State: Next up in an impressive group of defensive linemen coached by new Ohio State assistant Larry Johnson. 




8. Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin: Forget his height, weight and 40 time. This guy can play.

9. Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana: Rising on everybody's draft board and could surpass Penn State's Allen Robinson as the first Big Ten receiver drafted.

10. C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa: Any NFL offense is more imaginative than what Iowa runs, which should maximize Fiedorwicz's underrated talents.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Ohio State is ranked 23rd.

Not in one sport. But in all sports combined.

The updated version of the Division I Learfield Sports Directors' Cup were released April 17. Ohio State cracked the top 25. Barely.

Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports -- 10 men's and 10 women's. This makes Ohio State's ranking more troubling. The school sponsors 37 sports, the highest total in Division I.

Funding those sports isn't an issue. Ohio State's athletic department generated $142,043,057 in revenue in 2012, according to USA Today. Only Texas ($163,295,115) eclipsed that total.

The man leading Ohio State's athletic department is generously paid. Athletic Director Gene Smith has a base salary of $940,484. Bonuses could push his yearly earnings past $1.5 million.

Big money isn't yielding big results. So far in 2013-14, Ohio State has failed to qualify for NCAA tournament play in women's basketball, men's soccer, men's and women's ice hockey, and women's volleyball. The school's prominent spring teams aren't faring any better. The baseball and softball teams are 21-17 and 20-20, respectively.

Ohio State's struggles in multiple competitive sports are glaring after analyzing the standings. Four Big Ten schools -- Penn State (No. 2), Wisconsin (No. 3),  Michigan (No. 5) and Minnesota (No. 7) -- are in the top 10. Michigan State (No. 11) and Nebraska (No. 13) are also ahead of Ohio State.

When it comes to on-field results, Ohio State is a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten athletic department.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Time to ponder the $18,000 question?

We'll get to Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith's bonus for Logan Stieber's third NCAA title later in this post.

For now, let's explore the possibility of two Ohio programs winning NCAA team wrestling titles in 2015.

Notre Dame College will enter the season as the reigning Division II champion. As of now, the Falcons will have three returning national champs: 157-pounder Jonatan Rivera, 174-pounder Joey Davis and 184-pounder Garrett Lineberger. Things are subject to change with Davis, who is being pursued by multiple Division I programs.  

NDC's 2014-15 roster will be stacked. Last week, we examined the Falcons' prowess. Even if Davis leaves, Coach Frank Romano's team should be a prohibitive favorite to repeat in 2015.

Only one team defeated NDC in a dual meet this past season: Division I Ohio State. This brings us to the 2015 Division I team race.

Penn State has won four straight national titles after decades of mixed results. By cultivating abundant wrestling resources, ranging from spectacular donor and fan support to Pennsylvania's deep high school talent base, Coach Cael Sanderson has constructed a dynasty.

But Penn State loses two mega-talents in 165-pounder David Taylor and 184-pounder Ed Ruth. The duo combined for five NCAA individual titles and scored points in bunches. Replacing them is the biggest challenge Sanderson has encountered since arriving at Penn State.

The program best positioned to topple a Penn State lineup without Taylor and Ruth might be one looking for its first NCAA team title. 

Ohio State finished sixth last weekend in Oklahoma City, an encouraging performance considering  Coach Tom Ryan redshirted two four-time Ohio state champions, Nathan Tomasello (125 pounds) and Bo Jordan (165), and All-American 149-pounder Hunter Stieber, Logan Stieber's brother.

Besides Logan Stieber, a 141-pounder who could become the fourth four-time champion in Division I history, Ohio State returns NCAA qualifiers Nick Roberts (125 pounds), Johnni DiJulius (133), Mark Martin (174), Kenny Courts (184) and Nick Tavanello (285). A few returning NCAA qualifiers are in jeopardy of losing their jobs because Ohio State's recruiting class includes three elite talents in Kyle Snyder, Micah Jordan and Thomas Haines. The possibility of producing a four-time NCAA champion and winning a team title in the same season  might convince Ryan to unveil his best lineup in 2014-15.

Snyder, the nation's No. 1 overall recruit according to InterMat, skipped his senior high school season to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He's projected to replace NCAA finalist Nick Heflin at 197 pounds. Jordan, a four-time Ohio state champion, could start immediately at 157, and Thomas Haines, a four-time Pennsylvania state champion, should immediately challenge Tavanello for the heavyweight spot. Two-time Beachwood state champion Ryan Harris is also part of the Buckeyes' recruiting class.

In a strange twist, NDC's Davis could be a wrestler who decides the 2015 Division I team race. Ohio State and Penn State have expressed interest in Davis, who handled Martin in a dual meet this season. Davis should immediately compete for All-American honors -- and perhaps a national title -- at the Division I level. Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Cornell are other contenders for the 2015 team title.

Davis hasn't made a decision on his future. His father, Joey Davis Sr., told The News-Herald earlier this month Davis might take a year off from competition in 2014-15.

As Logan Stieber chases his fourth NCAA title and the sport's top programs chase Davis, Smith will be depositing a big check.

Next year's check should be bigger if the Buckeyes win their first NCAA wrestling team title in 2015.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Franklin's Luke Kennard received the 2014 Ohio Mr. Basketball award.

No arguing here with the selection. Kennard averaged 41.0 points per game. The total is astounding considering some teams don't regularly eclipse 40 point. Kennard also averaged 10.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

His list of suitors includes Duke, Ohio State, Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan. All five programs are participating in the NCAA tournament.

Finding former Ohio Mr. Basketball selections on college rosters represents a chore. Only two players in the club are playing college basketball: Marc Loving (2013) and Justin Fritts (2012).

Loving, who played at Toledo St. John's, averages 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game for Ohio State. The forward has worked his way into Coach Thad Matta's nine-man rotation as a freshman, but he might not crack the 2014-15 starting lineup. The Buckeyes don't have a senior forward on their roster and their 2014 recruiting includes three post players.

Fritts, a star guard from Mentor, recently completed his second season at Division II Wheeling Jesuit. He averaged 18.4 points and a team-high 5.3 assists per game to earn All-Mountain East Conference honorable mention status. Fritts performs double duty at Wheeling Jesuit. He's also a pitcher on the baseball team.

So what happened to other recent Mr. Basketball selections?

Trey Burke, the 2011 selection, is a point guard for the Utah Jazz. Burke, who attended Columbus Northland, turned professional after two outstanding seasons at Michigan. Jared Sullinger, Burke's high school teammate and the 2009 and 2010 winner, played two seasons at Ohio State before getting drafted by the Boston Celtics.

Jon Diebler and William Buford, the 2007 and 2008 selections, played at Ohio State. O.J. Mayo, the 2004 and 2005 selection, plays for the Milwaukee Bucks.

LeBron James was Mr. Basketball from 2001-03. Most would agree he has done OK for himself.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Look out Urban Meyer. You might have competition for the title of biggest Indians fan among Big Ten football coaches.

Nebraska baseball coach Darin Erstad, who played 14 season in the major leagues, received an interesting call from a fan named "Bo in Lincoln" during his radio show Tuesday. The fan happened to be the most popular -- or embattled -- man in perhaps the entire state: Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini.

Erstad quickly put the name and voice together and chuckled. Pelini then asked Erstad about the Indians' World Series chances. Pelini had good reason for asking the question. He's a Youngstown native who remains connected to Ohio.

Like many baseball savants, Erstad respects Indians manager Terry Francona. But Erstad isn't ready to consider Francona's team World Series contenders.

"I would say the Cleveland Indians have an outside shot of winning the entire thing," Erstad said in response to Pelini's question. "I would have to say Cleveland Indians fans are the most loyal fans because they have nothing to cheer for over so many years and people that cheer for them I tip my hat. They have to be huge fans of Mr. Francona because he's done a great job. I'm pulling for them. I hope they do great. But I would be shocked if they get to the playoffs."

Pelini didn't seem enthused by Erstad's answer.

"You rain on my parade," Pelini said.

At least the fiery Pelini didn't unload on Erstad and the duo completed their impromptu segment without peeving the FCC.

If the Indians are seeking celebrities to throw out first pitches in 2014, Pelini might be a good fit. Pelini is looking to improve his image after some serious public relations flops in 2013 and he will likely be passing through Ohio for recruiting purposes.

Meyer, an Asthtabula native, threw out a first pitch in 2012. Pelini wouldn't incite the same cheers. But the Indians promote their fans' passion, and few men display as much on a regular basis as "Bo from Lincoln."

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Bradley Roby can run fast. Carlos Hyde hurt himself running. Ryan Shazier didn't run.

Consider it a typical NFL Scouting Combine for a major college program.

Ohio State sent six players to the combine, including three of its biggest names from the 2013 roster.

As expected, Roby demonstrated the physical prowess, running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, the seventh fastest time among combine participants. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound Roby is a draft enigma. His measurable qualities all check out well -- he also completed 17 reps in the bench press -- yet his 2013 film isn't as impressive as his 2012 tape.

Still, no Buckeye boosted his stock more in Indianapolis than Roby, a potential first-round pick.

Hyde, a physical running back, suffered a hamstring injury while running the 40-yard dash. His time of 4.66 ranked in the middle of the running back pack. The 6-foot, 230-pound Hyde, unlike Roby, has impressive 2013 film.

Shazier opted against running the 40 at the combine because of a minor hamstring injury. He participated in the bench press (25 reps), vertical jump (42.0 inches, which is higher than Roby's leap of 38.5), broad jump (130.0 inches), 3-cone drill (6.91 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.21). The 6-foot-1, 237-pound Shazier neither boosted nor hurt his draft stock. One of the nation's most productive linebackers, Shazier won't last beyond the second round.

Offensive tackle Jack Mewhort, center Corey Linsley and wide receiver Corey Brown also participated in the combine. Mewhort is the top pro prospect among the trio, but tackle is considered a deep position. Mewhort put up 28 reps in the bench press and ran the 40 in 5.37 seconds.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Here are links to every Ohio college football recruiting class announced Wednesday. Some schools are waiting to receive information from every incoming scholarship player to release their classes. Division III schools are non-scholarship and don't participate in national signing day events. Division I-AA Dayton also doesn't offer football scholarships.

Division I

Akron

Cincinnati

Bowling Green

Kent State

Miami

Ohio State

Ohio University

Toledo

Division I-AA

Youngstown State

Division II 

Ashland

Central State (Did not release its class)

Findlay

Lake Erie College

Malone

Notre Dame College

Ohio Dominican (Did not release its class)

Tiffin

Urbana (Did not release its class)

Walsh

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy