The Big Ten postseason player rankings kick off with ...
No. 25: Ben Chappell, QB, Indiana, Sr., 6-3, 242
2010 numbers: Led the Big Ten and ranked 14th nationally in passing yards per game (274.6); finished third in the league in total offense with 3,309 yards; tossed 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions; completed 62.5 percent of his passes.
Preseason rank: Unranked
Why he's here: Indiana had too many problems to get over the hump in 2010, but Chappell did everything he could to get the Hoosiers to a bowl game. He threw 16 touchdown passes and no interceptions in Indiana's five victories, and had a record-setting performance (480 pass yards, 3 TDs) in a shootout loss to Michigan. Indiana had virtually no rushing attack and a very suspect defense, but Chappell gave his team a chance in all but three games. If Damarlo Belcher comes down with a Chappell pass in the end zone against Iowa, maybe the Hoosiers make a bowl. Everyone remembers the 83-20 debacle at Wisconsin, but Indiana trailed by only seven points in the second quarter and had the ball in Wisconsin territory when Chappell suffered a game-ending hip injury. You saw how ugly things got for IU without Chappell on the field. Few Big Ten players meant more to their teams than he did to the Hoosiers.
No. 25: Indiana QB Ben Chappell
