O'Donnell the last of his class

When Martin O'Donnell signed with Illinois on Feb. 5, 2003, he expected to have a fistful of buddies alongside him for his entire college career.

O'Donnell, named by Parade magazine as the nation's top offensive lineman coming out of Downers Grove South High School, was one of five highly touted linemen in the same recruiting class for then-coach Ron Turner.

"We got five of the best offensive linemen in the Midwest," Turner gushed that day.

But as O'Donnell prepares for his fifth and final year at Illinois, he looks around and sees none of his peers.

"It's kind of strange," O'Donnell said. "I'll make a joke or reference things that happened my first year there and I'll laugh, but nobody else will get it because none of them were around.

"I'll make a reference to someone who was at Illinois four or five years ago and they'll just give me a blank stare. I kind of feel senile."

While O'Donnell has started 32 of Illinois' last 33 games at left guard -- only defensive tackle Chris Norwell owns more career starts on the current roster -- his classmates combined for 15 starts before going in different directions.

Kevin Gage, O'Donnell's teammate at Downers Grove South, never saw the field because of injuries and left the team shortly after Ron Zook took over the program in December 2004.

Jim LaBonte (Montini) and James Ryan (Batavia) stuck it out for four years, but they didn't return for their final year of eligibility. LaBonte graduated in May with a sociology degree.

Ben Amundsen (Moline) remains on the roster, but he broke his leg in spring practice and won't be a factor in his final year.

"It's tough to do five years at a Big Ten university," said O'Donnell, who earned a history degree in May and will attend graduate school this fall. "Academically. All the social responsibilities. Not to mention football and the kind of strain it puts on everything in your life."

Illini roll call: When Illinois reports for fall camp today, two members of its nationally ranked recruiting class won't be on hand, and a third freshman's arrival remains in doubt. Pennsylvania running back Deries Hodge (grades) and Ohio defensive lineman Steve Matas (personal) won't join the Illini this fall. Both might take the opportunity to join the program next year.

Four-star wide receiver Anthony Morris (Thornton High School), meanwhile, rests on the academic borderline. If he qualifies, Morris should join Arrelious Benn as immediate threats in Illinois' passing game.

The Illini expect sophomore power forward/tight end C.J. Jackson to report for camp today, which would trigger an intriguing bit of NCAA paperwork.

The responsibility for Jackson's scholarship would shift from the basketball team to the football squad, which leaves Bruce Weber with a third open slot for the 2008-09 squad. Jackson turned out for football in the final week of spring practice, then worked out with the football team all summer.

Doering's turn? After earning first-team All-America honors at Barrington High School, Dan Doering seemed on the fast track to success at Iowa. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound redshirt sophomore has appeared in just one game for the Hawkeyes, but coach Kirk Ferentz insists Doering hasn't fallen behind schedule.

"He was widely acclaimed and all that type of thing," Ferentz said. "That's the danger of recruiting hype that goes with a player.

"Typically, for most linemen, it's a matter of progression and maturing and learning a lot of intricacies that are involved in line play."

Assuming Doering has learned his lessons, there are opportunities to put them into practice this fall.

Iowa lost three starting linemen to graduation, and Ferentz says only one returner, junior guard Seth Olsen, has earned a job.

While sophomore center Rafael Eubanks and junior left tackle Dace Richardson (Wheaton Warrenville South) probably have the lead for two of the open spots, Doering is in the mix for the other two.

He finished a strong spring ball as the second-string left guard behind fellow sophomore Andy Kuempel, who boasts no more experience than Doering.

"I'd say he's on a good path right now," Ferentz said. "He's one of the guys in contention this August."

Running back surplus: With five Big Ten teams using new starting quarterbacks this fall, the spotlight could shift several yards away in the offensive backfield.

Running backs will fill the league's marquee this fall, as seven of the top 10 rushers return. Led by Michigan senior Mike Hart, the Big Ten preseason offensive player of the year, the group also features Wisconsin's P.J. Hill, the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and 1,000-yard rushers Amir Pinnix of Minnesota and Tyrell Sutton of Northwestern.

The spread offense hasn't lost its popularity in the league, but could the Big Ten be heading back to its smash-mouth roots?

"I don't think any running back in the Big Ten would mind it," said Javon Ringer, who is thrilled Michigan State decided to scrap the spread for a more traditional offense. "Running backs love getting the ball. Finally, hopefully I can be able to put myself up there with that category of running backs. I've never gotten up to 20, 30 carries a game."

Big talker: Even when surrounded by reporters, Ohio State tackle Kirk Barton struggles to unplug the fan inside. Barton is an admitted sports radio junkie and started listening to ESPN gabber Jim Rome in the second grade. Not surprisingly, the 6-foot-6, 310-pound Barton is one of the Big Ten's most engaging personalities.

"You know those guys who go to fantasy camp?" Barton said Wednesday. "They go to Notre Dame or the Boston Red Sox and they pay like five grand and they get to be a Red Sox. That's kind of what I am. Except I'm 22 and I have some ability."

Just a pinch.

Barton was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection last year and appeared on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top offensive lineman. He soon could be headed to the NFL, though being a sportscaster might sound better.

"Kids were listening to Britney Spears and Puff Daddy and I listened to Dan Patrick and Jim Rome," Barton said. "But then I get in front of (the media) and I've got to remember I'm (Ohio State coach) Jim Tressel, not Jim Rome. I've got to channel him."

Helpful advice: Running back Tyrell Sutton remembers the haze of last summer, when Northwestern mourned the sudden passing of coach Randy Walker while also preparing for the season. Indiana faces the same test this year after coach Terry Hoeppner died June 19 of complications from a brain tumor.

How should the Hoosiers cope heading into the season?

"Don't hold anything in," Sutton said. "That was probably one of the worst things. We had a lot of guys that didn't know what to do, myself included. We had guys who were possibly seeing shrinks about the death. You really couldn't pinpoint what was wrong with anyone.

"The biggest thing is to be around each other as much as possible, don't hold anything in, just get it out there. It's going to feel great when you know that everyone's playing for him."

Nose tackle: There was a silver lining for Northwestern tackle Dylan Thiry when teammate David Ngene, a senior defensive end, broke his nose during an unofficial team workout in late June.

"He didn't get by me," Thiry said, smiling. "It was good because I knew he was going hard. You broke my nose but hey, you weren't taking three steps and stopping."

Thiry underwent surgery four days later and should be fine when Northwestern begins full contact drills late next week.