Big Ten news and notes:

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  • Purdue running back Ralph Bolden, who missed all of 2010 with a knee injury, is trying to rehab from a from a similar injury he suffered in last year’s season finale against Indiana, reported Mike Carmin of the Lafayette Journal and Courier. "Whenever Ralph is ready, that's when we'll go," Purdue coach Danny Hope told reporters. "We'll work with him and see how he does. When he's ready, we'll let it happen."
  • Ohio State receivers are under heavy scrutiny this preseason after no player at the position caught more than 14 passes last year, reported Bob Hunter of The Columbus Dispatch. “Potential … we all know in this game it just means you haven’t done it (for real) yet,” Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman told the newspaper. “At least we have some glimmer of hope a little bit at that position, which is encouraging.”
  • Northwestern running back Venric Mark is the shortest player on the roster at 5-foot-8, but could be a major contributor this season after returning punts and moonlighting at linebacker last season, reported Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune. “He’s powerful and fearless in terms of pass-blocking and running between the tackles,” Northwestern running back Tyris Jones told the newspaper. “Inside zone is his favorite play.”
  • Nebraska safety Daimion Stafford still gets butterflies when he steps on the field, reported Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln Journal Star. “With football, I never try to get into my comfort zone because that’s when you think you’re good and stuff like that,” Stafford told the newspaper. “And I try not to think like that.”
  • Iowa linebacker James Morris said the defense won’t be a weakness this season, reported Pat Harty of the Iowa City Press-Citizen. “For the last year everybody keeps asking me these questions like how are we going to have a defense, we have no defensive line?” Morris told the newspaper. “And I’m like, ‘What are you guys talking about?’ I wish you could come to our practices and see because I know what you don’t know.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big Ten bloggers Dave Carey and Mike Singer, follow @CBSSportsBigTen.