ajayxeed: Big Ten personnel nuggets

Friday, July 29, 2011

CHICAGO -- A few personnel nuggets from around the league as Day 1 of media days is in the books.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke hasn't made a decision on the status of senior wide receiver Darryl Stonum, suspended indefinitely in May following a drunken driving arrest, his second since coming to Ann Arbor. Hoke said he wanted to wait "all the way through the summer and see how he's handling all the things he needs to do." Hoke said Stonum is making progress, and a decision could come before Michigan opens preseason camp Aug. 8.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said standout quarterback Dan Persa is 100 percent healed from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles' tendon. Persa now must work on getting into football shape and shaking off the rust from a long layoff. "It's going to be a little bit different because his body is going to operate a little bit different," Fitzgerald said. "Now it's about adding the strength, getting the conditioning level up, getting back to having fun."

Kevin Wilson didn't have much of a chance to evaluate Indiana's running backs this spring because they were all injured. Fortunately, he'll get a better gauge when the Hoosiers open camp. Junior Darius Willis likely is the front-runner to start, although the competition certainly should be open. "We are all healthy," Wilson said. "That's exciting. A lot of those young men in spring, that was the position that was a little bit in flux. That position concerned me more than quarterback."

Purdue coach Danny Hope said running back Ralph Bolden and quarterback Robert Marve both are on track to return from their respective knee injuries. Bolden likely could have practiced full-go this spring, while Marve is "where he needs to be" after dealing with his second ACL tear since 2009. "Getting Ralph and Robert back will be huge for our football team," Hope said.

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