By Adam Frank 

NEWS & NOTES

-- Special Teams was an obvious sore spot last year for the Illini but one player that exceeded expectations was redshirt freshman Matt Eller.  Hitting 15 of 20 field goals, including a game-winner to beat Iowa, Eller filled the void left by Jason Reda.  However, Derek Dimke, who handled kickoffs during the latter part of the season, has provided some competition for Eller this Spring.  The incumbent Eller still has the slim lead in the race.   

-- Arrelious Benn struggled a bit in the return game but has improved in practice.  Everyone remembers his kickoff return against Penn State in 2007 that some might say got the proverbial “ball rolling” in the Illini’s run to the 2008 Rose Bowl.  Jack Ramsey and Jarred Fayson have also handled some return duties this Spring. 

-- Ron Zook continues to look for more consistency from punter Anthony Santella.  Aside from a spectacular Rose Bowl performance, Santella has drawn the ire of Illini fans last year for failing to pin opponents deep in their own territory.  The much maligned 2008 Illini defense actually yielded less yards then the Rose Bowl defense of 2007.  A closer look only leads to the fact that opponents had much better field position in 2008 than 2007. 

-- Mikel Leshoure and Jason Ford have surpassed Daniel Dufrene and Troy Pollard on the depth chart.  Zook praised both sophomores-to-be for shaving off weight and adding muscle during the offseason.  Leshoure has shown a knack for finishing off drives, something Rashard Mendenhall did with ease in 2007.  With blue-chippers Justin Green and Bud Golden are coming in this Summer so expect a heated battle at the running back spot in Camp Rantoul.   

-- Clay Nurse and Antonio James have worked themselves into a nice rotation at the second defensive end spot.  With underrated Doug Pilcher safely secured at one starting end spot, both Nurse and James have spent the last three weeks vying for that second spot. 

Jerry Brown, whose career at Illinois has centered on off-the-field issues and a poor practice work ethic, continues to get second team reps.  Brown posses the speed to be a great third down guy. 

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- Speaking of Fayson, the Florida transfer who has been the best offensive player thus far in the Spring, left Saturday’s scrimmage early with an apparent foot injury.  Fayson left the field in crutches and with an ice pack on his foot.  

“They took him to get X-rays to find out,” Illinois coach Ron Zook said. “Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious.”  There was no update as of Sunday afternoon on Fayson’s condition.

SCHEDULE TAKES SHAPE

-- The Big Ten announced several of their primetime and early season games earlier this week.  Illinois’ season opener against Missouri, in St. Louis, will be a 2:30pm CST kickoff and will air on ESPN.  The Illini return home on September 12 to face Illinois State, which is schedule for a late 6pm CST kickoff on the Big Ten Network.  The only other game announced for Illinois features the Illini traveling to Indiana on October 17 in another 6pm CST start.   

The remaining games will be announced later as the season gets closer.  Its safe to say that both the Penn State (October 3) and Michigan (October 31) home dates will be either afternoon or primetime contests and that the Big Ten opener in Columbus will also be a late afternoon affair. 

-- In a much anticipated move, the Illinois-Cincinnati game was moved from November 28 to November 27, the Friday after Thanksgiving.   

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Who will be the leaders of this team?

      The obvious start to this question is Juice Williams.  Now entering his fourth season as the starting quarterback, Juice must take the reigns as the voice of the Illini.  At the prototypical leadership position, Juice’s game will speak louder than his words this year as coaches are looking for him to limit his turnovers, but, more importantly, provide a calmness to a Illinois team that will feature a young and inexperienced offensive line.

      

The other offensive players reportedly taking on some leadership responsibilities are Arrelious Benn, Jarred Fayson, and Jon Asamoah.  All three are strong candidates for All-Big Ten and maybe even some All-American consideration.

      

On the defensive side of the ball, Donsay Hardeman, who is sitting out the contact portion of practices due to offseason shoulder surgery, continues to be the loudest voice.  A junior college transfer from Georgia Military Academy, Hardeman has shown the toughness and intensity on and off the field that make him a coach’s dream.  Sixth-year senior Sirod Williams is another guy to keep an eye on.  A starter during his first two years at Illinois, look for Williams to be in the defensive tackle rotation as well as a captain for a couple games this Fall. 

      

Aside from Hardeman and Williams, Doug Pilcher and Martez Wilson are two other guys that anchor extremely inexperienced defensive line and linebacker units respectively.  Both Pilcher and Wilson will be forced into leadership roles which might develop them into captains.