Big Ten Notebook: Ohio State's Jake Stoneburner atones for offseason arrest

Ohio State's Jake Stoneburner has done everything Urban Meyer has asked of him since an offseason arrest cost him his scholarship. (US Presswire)

• Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema confirmed that he fired former offensive line coach Mark Markuson on the Big Ten teleconference on Tuesday. His replacement, 27-yeah-old Bart Miller, was needed to infuse a new attitude amongst the linemen, according to Bielema. “I just needed to change the room,” Bielema said. “I felt that if I just let the same atmosphere and same environment continue, we were going to have much of the same results,” reported Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

• Ohio State tight end Jake Stoneburner began the summer on an ominous note after being arrested along with left tackle Jack Mewhort. He was subsequently taken off scholarship by coach Urban Meyer but has since worked his way back into good favor being accountable and playing numerous positions, including wide receiver and fullback. “I made a mistake and everyone had to pay for it,” Stoneburner, who said he’s learned his lesson, said to Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch.

• State" data-canon="Michigan Wolverines" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> is the only team in the Big Ten that can realistically say it has met expectations. Two weeks into the season, most teams have dissapointed while a few have surprised. Either way, the Spartans are clearly the top team in the conference, wrote Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press.

• Minnesota quarterback MarQueis Gray broke off a huge 75-yard touchdown run last week vs. New Hampshire that was all a product of something offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover had noticed with the over-aggressive defense, reported Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. Perfect execution from the fake handoff, to the blocking scheme, resulted in Gray’s longest play of his career. “Good play-action -- he tried to tackle the running back,” Gray said. “If he doesn’t, I get cussed out.”  

• Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said he expects to play in Saturday’s game vs. Charleston Southern, reported Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune. Scheelhaase, who suffered an ankle injury against Western Michigan, could only watch helplessly as the Fighting Illini were throttled last weekend against Arizona State, 45-14. “I’m feeling a lot better, feeling ready to go,” he said. 

• Michigan coach Brady Hoke called his defensive line, which is still adjusting to three new players, a work in progress and said that two games into the season, it was the most troubling aspect to the Wolverines. In two games, the Wolverines have allowed 522 yards on the ground, a 261 yard per game average. “It’s just that consistency that we’re lacking right now,” defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said to Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press.  

For more Big Ten coverage, follow Mike Singer and Dave Carey @CBSSportsBigTen.