Big Ten Football

Amid the recent movement at the top of the 2021 NFL draft, Justin Fields had his first major moment in front of NFL scouts Tuesday during Ohio State's pro day. 

Among the notable NFL personnel in Columbus, Ohio, were New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas, assistant general manager Rex Hogan and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, per ESPN's Rich Cimini. They own the second overall pick in this year's draft. 

Peter Schrager of Fox Sports and NFL Network noted that Jets head coach Robert Saleh didn't make the trip because his wife is due to give birth at some point soon. 

Once he stepped onto the field, Fields lit up the stopwatches with a 40-yard dash that clocked in at 4.45 seconds. Here is a full list of his measurables, via NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala:

Fields' 40 time became a major talking point from his workout:

Even though Fields has rare speed at the quarterback position, the main attraction for NFL teams is what he can do as a passer. The 22-year-old didn't disappoint:

Tom Fornelli and Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports praised Fields' performance as well as wonder why there appear to be so many questions about him leading up to the draft:

Fields did have a midseason lull last year with 613 passing yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions in three games against Indiana, Michigan State and Northwestern. He rebounded in the Sugar Bowl with 385 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-28 win over Clemson. 

Head coach Ryan Day told reporters after the Buckeyes' 52-24 loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship Game that Fields wasn't 100 percent due to a hip injury he suffered against Clemson. 

With four weeks remaining until the NFL draft, the consensus seems to be that things will start to get interesting when the San Francisco 49ers go on the clock at No. 3 overall. 

At this point, it would be a surprise if the Jacksonville Jaguars don't take Trevor Lawrence and the Jets don't end up with Zach Wilson. 

The 49ers traded up with the Miami Dolphins with the intention of taking a quarterback. Fields, Mac Jones and Trey Lance seem to be the most likely candidates for them. 

There's still plenty of time for teams evaluating this class to decide, but Fields' performance on Tuesday would seem to solidify his status as a potential top-five pick. 

Micah Parsons solidified his standing as one of the top prospects in the 2021 NFL draft with a huge performance at Penn State's pro day Thursday.

The linebacker especially impressed with his 40-yard dash:

There will be no single 2021 NFL combine event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Parsons would clearly be among the best in the class with his numbers. His fellow linebacker and 2020 top-10 draft pick Isaiah Simmons also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds and was the only front-seven player to break 4.45 seconds.

Parsons is also likely to hear his name called early even after opting out of the 2020 season.

The 2019 All-American is rated the No. 19 overall player in the class by Bleacher Report. B/R's Justis Mosqueda listed the Penn State product as the most versatile, best blitzer and best run-stopper among all linebackers.

Although Jim Harbaugh has never beaten Ohio State or even won a Big Ten East division crown—let alone a conference championship—in six years as Michigan's head coach, athletic director Warde Manuel is not giving him a win ultimatum for the 2021 season.

"Given the contract, obviously I am willing to be patient," Manuel said, per Tom VanHaaren of ESPN. "But he and I understand that we need to win. This is Michigan, nobody wants to win more than Jim in football, and me overall. We want success, so did I put a number to his first year? The answer is no."

VanHaaren noted Michigan signed Harbaugh to a contract extension in January that reduced his base salary from more than $8 million in 2020 to $4 million in 2021. However, it also features up to $3.475 million in bonuses each season and runs through 2025.

To say Harbaugh has failed to meet expectations with the Wolverines would be an understatement.

After all, he reached a Super Bowl as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and turned around a struggling Stanford program. A coach with a resume like that who understood Michigan's tradition and expectations from his time as a player for the Maize and Blue seemed like a home-run hire.

For some time, that is exactly what it was for Michigan.

The Wolverines went 10-3 and won the Citrus Bowl in his first season and were firmly in the College Football Playoff hunt at 10-1 in his second season when they lost a heartbreaker in double-overtime to the Buckeyes before losing the Orange Bowl to Florida State.

That became a common pattern, as Michigan was 10-1 again in 2018 and in the middle of the CFP race when it got blown out by Ohio State 62-39. Florida also destroyed the Wolverines 41-15 in that season's Peach Bowl.

It was the last time the Wolverines were in the discussion among the country's best teams by the end of the season, as they went 9-4 in 2019 and an ugly 2-4 during the shortened 2020 campaign. That Ohio State has won the Big Ten four straight years and is an elite powerhouse competing with the likes of Alabama and Clemson for playoff spots and top recruits every year has only made things worse for the Wolverines.

It also led to changes, and VanHaaren noted that Harbaugh added co-defensive coordinators Mike Macdonald and Maurice Linguist, linebackers coach George Helow, running backs coach Mike Hart and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss to the staff.

There may not be a win total the head coach is expected to meet in 2021, but Manuel still made it clear the expectation is to win.

Ohio State football is pausing all team activities because of a rise in positive COVID-19 tests within the program.

Athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement:

"Our decisions on the welfare of our student-athletes, staff members and those coming to our campus, and our determination as to when we will reopen and resume activities, will continue to be guided by our medical staff.

"We have been successful in safely hosting nearly 100 athletic events on campus this year with limited disruptions, but this pandemic is not over. We will continue to stress the safety measures of wearing masks, consistent and thorough hand washing and physical distancing and we will remain vigilant in those areas."

The decision to pause activities came after the Buckeyes went through a round of PCR testing Monday.

Coronavirus issues during the 2020 season caused three of Ohio State's games to be canceled. Two of the cancellations (at Maryland, vs. Michigan) were due to COVID-19 issues with the opposing teams.

Last year marked the first time since 1917 that the Buckeyes and Wolverines didn't play.

Ohio State is scheduled to begin spring practices March 19. Head coach Ryan Day said last month the team is "hoping" to play a spring game April 17.

Indiana football coach Tom Allen has turned a breakout 2020 season into a new seven-year contract worth $4.9 million per year.

The school announced the news Monday. Allen, who previously made $3.9 million per year, is under contract through the 2027 season.

Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson said in a statement:

"Tom Allen has proven himself to be not only the right person for our student-athletes and our program, but one of the best football coaches in the country. The enthusiasm and outlook for our program is at an all-time high, and the future of Indiana Football is in great hands. I look forward to Tom leading our program for many years to come."

Allen was named the Big Ten's Coach of the Year by both media and coaches, leading the Hoosiers to a 6-2 record and a trip to the Outback Bowl.

Indiana peaked at No. 7 and ranked 12th in the final Associated Press poll, the school's highest finish since 1967.

Allen served as the Hoosiers' defensive coordinator in 2016 but moved into the lead role when head coach Kevin Wilson resigned before that season's bowl game. He took over a program that didn't have a winning season in the previous eight years and last posted an eight-win season in 1993.

After going 5-7 in each of his first two years, Allen led Indiana to an 8-5 record in 2019 and a trip to the Gator Bowl.

The 2020 squad was even better with a 6-1 mark in the regular season, the only blemish a seven-point loss to Ohio State. A 26-20 loss to Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl ended the season on a sour note, but there should be high expectations in 2021 if starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. returns to full strength after tearing his ACL in November.

The 50-year-old Allen is set to make $4.3 million in 2021, and his salary will increase by $200,000 in each year of his deal, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. His contract will also extend by one year for each bowl appearance.

Andy Hoffman, who was the father of Nebraska superfan Jack, died Monday at the age of 42.

Elizabeth Merrill of ESPN reported the news, noting Hoffman was diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme—a rare brain cancer—in July 2020. Jack is also a brain cancer patient.

Hoffman raised more than $8 million for Team Jack to help fight pediatric brain cancer after Jack's diagnosis. He also survived two strokes and recovered after he contracted COVID-19. However, an MRI after he recovered from COVID-19 revealed the cancer had spread.

Ndamukong Suh, who won the Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus All-American during his dominant career at Nebraska, said he was "heartbroken" by the news and highlighted Hoffman's work to help fight cancer:

As Merrill noted, Jack was diagnosed with a cancerous glioma at the age of five in 2011. It was Hoffman's research that helped the family find a doctor in Boston who extracted more than 90 percent of Jack's tumor.

Nebraska put Jack in for a play during its 2013 spring game, and he proceeded to run for a touchdown in front of a packed house. He went on to win an ESPY award and meet President Barack Obama.

Andy Hoffman is survived by Jack, his wife Bri and his daughters Ava and Reese.

Alan Bowman is moving to Michigan as a graduate transfer.

Bowman spent the past three seasons at Texas Tech, throwing for 5,260 yards, 33 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for the Red Raiders.

Bowman's decision comes after Joe Milton entered the NCAA's transfer portal.

As a graduate transfer, the Grapevine, Texas, native can suit up immediately for the Wolverines in 2021. He was only a redshirt sophomore in 2020, too. Since the NCAA allowed all fall sports athletes to gain an extra year of eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowman could be at Michigan for as many as three seasons.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh might only see Bowman as a stopgap, though.

J.J. McCarthy was the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. As a senior at IMG Academy, McCarthy had 1,392 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.

Quarterback play has been one of the biggest issues during the Harbaugh era, and the Wolverines' fortunes under center have been in stark contrast to one of their biggest rivals.

Ohio State lost J.T. Barrett, one of the greatest signal-callers in program history, and immediately slotted Dwayne Haskins into the starting role. Upon Haskins' exit, Justin Fields arrived and played like a Heisman Trophy contender.

The Wolverines, on the other hand, have cycled through the likes of Milton, Wilton Speight, Shea Patterson, John O'Korn and Brandon Peters.

Harbaugh is approaching a pivotal season after Michigan went 2-4. While he just signed a four-year extension, the contract includes a lower buyout than his previous deal, thus allowing Michigan to more easily move on if it isn't satisfied with the program's direction.

With that in mind, adding Bowman while having already signed McCarthy provides a lot of depth at quarterback.

An offense that ranked 44th in passing (250.3 yards per game) and 78th in passing efficiency should take some big strides forward.

Will Johnson, a 5-star cornerback from Grosse Pointe South in Michigan, committed to the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday. 

The 6'3", 190-pound Johnson is considered the No. 11 prospect in the country in the class of 2022, the No. 5 cornerback and the No. 1 player from the state of Michigan, per 247Sports.com.

Allen Trieu of the recruiting site wrote the following scouting report on Johnson:

"Great size and still growing. Has length, but is also filled in and looks like a prototypical outside cornerback prospect. Good athlete who excels on the basketball court and has shown top notch ball skills on the football field. Has the size and ball tracking ability to defend bigger outside receivers. Has good technique. Smooth in his backpedal and transition. Smart as far as zone coverage. Has yet to time at an event or in track, so verified speed is one question mark right now. It is possible he will outgrow cornerback if he keeps getting taller and bigger, but at present, projects as a blue-chip boundary cornerback who will be an impact college player and have a good chance to be a higher draft choice." 

Johnson will follow his father's footsteps as a college football athlete. His dad, Deon Johnson, played cornerback for Michigan in the early '90s. 

"In terms of playing football, he is my biggest inspiration to play football," Johnson said in April, per Jared Purcell of MLive.com.

"He always makes sure I stay grounded and humble and always moving forward," he added. "He's always in my corner. He's put me in a lot of situations and showed me a lot of situations of what to do and not to do."

He also has some serious game on the basketball court, though he believes his future is as a football player and a cornerback. 

"Definitely corner," Johnson said. "I've always played that growing up. I think that's my main position when I go to college." 

Like father, like son. Johnson is heading to Michigan, keeping the family legacy alive. 

It's another great get for the Wolverines, who already have two 4-star prospects in the class of 2022 (safety Taylor Groves and athlete Kody Jones). They're looking to build upon a strong 2021 recruiting class that finished No. 10 in the nation per 247Sports' composite rankings, though it did lag behind hated rival Ohio State, which placed No. 2.

With Ohio State also interested in adding Johnson, his commitment to the Wolverines is a double bonus for Michigan. 

Former University of Wisconsin wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who now plays professionally for the Detroit Lions, is suing his former school over its handling of a sexual assault investigation against him while he was a student-athlete.

Per Steve Megargee of the Associated Press, Cephus filed the lawsuit in a Madison, Wisconsin federal court and is accusing the university of "violating his due process rights, violating Title IX provisions and breach of contract."

According to Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Dane County (Wisconsin) district attorney's office filed charges against Cephus in 2018.

Those charges were third-degree sexual assault and second-degree sex assault of an intoxicated victim related to two alleged sexual assaults on April 22, 2018, per Genaro C. Armas and Steve Karnowski of the Associated Press.

Two women that Cephus met earlier that day said that Cephus sexually assaulted them while they were too intoxicated to consent, per Ed Treleven of the Wisconsin State Journal. Cephus said he had consensual sexual encounters with both women.

At trial, he testified that he invited teammate Danny Davis into the room after the sexual encounters because he had never had sex with two women before. Cephus said he told Davis to take a picture of the women, but one of the women became angry and told him to delete the photo.

Cephus was acquitted of all charges in August 2019 and reinstated to the school and the team. The Lions selected him in the 2020 NFL draft. 

One of the women has since sued the University of Wisconsin for reversing its previous expulsion decision and allowing him back on the Badger football team.

"The lawsuit filed in federal court in Madison by 'Jane Doe' accused the university and its chancellor of ignoring state and federal law by shutting her out of the process that allowed Cephus to be re-admitted and return to the team," the Associated Press wrote in Sept. 2020.

Per Megargee, Cephus' lawsuit alleges that he would have been drafted earlier and earned more money if he had not been expelled from the university for violating its nonacademic conduct code. The suit argues that the school's Title IX investigation and decision to expel Cephus should have been delayed until after the criminal trial was over and further evidence was released.

Cephus' lawyer, Andrew Miltenburg, told Megargee the 22-year-old is seeking to "set a precedent so that schools are more careful and more diligent in how they proceed on these cases and not just sort of rushing ahead to judgment."

Cephus is seeking "unspecified damages" in his case against the school, per Megargee.

George Clooney's production company is partnering with Sports Illustrated to create a docuseries on the sexual abuse scandal at Ohio State, according to the Hollywood Reporter's Rick Porter.

The project is based on a story by Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim published in October.

Beyond laying out the allegations against Dr. Richard Strauss, a former sports doctor at Ohio State, Wertheim raised questions about why the school wasn't facing the same kind of sustained scrutiny placed on other schools in similar situations.

He also noted how Ohio State reached a settlement with Strauss' victims that paid them far less than the settlement Michigan State reached with victims of Larry Nassar.

In May 2019, Ohio State released the results of an independent investigation into the allegations of abuse committed by Strauss.

Per the Columbus Dispatch, the investigation found that nearly half of the 177 victims identified were abused within 10 years after Strauss was hired in 1978. It also found that the abuse dated back to as early as 1979.

The investigation found that complaints against Strauss had been made by members of the men's fencing team in November 1994. Dr. John Lombardo, the former medical director of the Ohio State Sports and Medicine Program, wrote a letter responding to complaints and referenced "a decade of rumors" surrounding Strauss.

Upon learning of two fondling complaints in January 1995, the director of Ohio State's University Health Services at the time, Ted Grace, mandated Strauss to have a chaperone during exams. The complaints didn't preclude him from receiving a positive employment evaluation.

Months after Ohio State published the outcome of the investigation, the school faced another lawsuit that brought the total number of victims to roughly 350.

Wertheim's story and the overall reporting on the matter raised questions about whether Ohio State adequately looked into claims against Strauss prior to his retirement in 1998. Strauss killed himself in 2005.