ESPN Big Ten Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

After examining the four teams -- Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan and Iowa -- that enter preseason camp with varying degrees of uncertainty at quarterback, it's time to look at the rest of the league. The popularity of the spread offense has dramatically changed the QB spot in the Big Ten, but big numbers don't always correlate to the best players, and quarterbacks are heavily judged on their team's performance.

Ohio State's Todd Boeckman, for example, ranked 10th in the league in passing average (182.5 ypg) but led in passing efficiency (148.9 rating) and took his team further than any other signal caller (the BCS title game). The league's top four passers -- Northwestern's C.J. Bacher, Purdue's Curtis Painter, Minnesota's Adam Weber and Indiana's Kellen Lewis -- all played for teams that finished in the league's bottom half. So it's a bit tricky.

Here's the rundown:

1. Kellen Lewis, Jr., Indiana -- He has the league's best combination of arm strength, decision-making and athleticism. Last season, he eclipsed 3,000 passing yards with 28 TDs and only 10 INTs, to go along with a team-high 736 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Time away from the team (suspension) could hurt him, but the second-team All-Big Ten selection will catch on soon enough.

2. Todd Boeckman, Sr., Ohio State --If Boeckman trims his interceptions total, he'll likely vault to the top of the list. After waiting his turn, the 24-year-old helped Ohio State return to the BCS title game, completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 25 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. He ranked 13th nationally in pass efficiency and seems ready for a stellar senior season, though he might have to share time with Terrelle Pryor.

3. Curtis Painter, Sr., Purdue -- You can't question the numbers: 8,763 career pass yards, 59.9 percent career completion ratio, 10 300-yard passing games, only 35 interceptions in 1,269 career attempts. The next step for Painter is winning big games. He's 0-7 against Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin. Purdue's challenging schedule provides Painter with plenty of chances to remove that label -- and move up this list.

4. Juice Williams, Jr., Illinois -- It wouldn't be surprising if Williams finishes higher than No. 4 at season's end. He improved his completion percentage by 18 points last fall and led Illinois to the biggest win in recent program history, a road upset of No. 1 Ohio State, and the Rose Bowl. Williams' growth as a passer complements his elusiveness as a runner, and with top target Rejus Benn healthy, the junior could have a huge year. He still must improve his TD-INT ratio (13-12 last season) and prove he can lead the offense without Rashard Mendenhall.

5. C.J. Bacher, Sr., Northwestern -- Bacher led the Big Ten and set a single-season school passing record (3,656 yards) last fall, but the big numbers masked an inconsistent performance. He must force fewer throws and exploit a talented receiving corps after tossing as many touchdowns (19) as interceptions in 2007. Bacher has a first-rate arm and will benefit with a healthy Tyrell Sutton. If he makes better decisions, particularly under pressure, the Wildcats' offense will surge.

6. Brian Hoyer, Sr., Michigan State -- As coach Mark Dantonio said this spring, Hoyer's next step is closing out games. He was efficient in helping the Spartans back to a bowl game, but the team went 2-7 in games decided by seven points or fewer. He threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in the Champs Sports Bowl loss to Boston College. If Hoyer displays better poise in the clutch as a senior, he'll move up this list, even without Devin Thomas at his disposal.

7. Adam Weber, So., Minnesota -- The potential is there with Weber, who ranked second nationally among freshmen in both passing touchdowns (19) and passing yards (2,895). Like Lewis, he also led his team in rushing and set several school records. But to get to Lewis' level, Weber must reduce his interceptions and get the offense to the end zone more often. He can make the home-run throw, but checking down for the sure thing will pay off more often than not.