No. 16 Illinois Fighting Illini

Editor’s Note: Beginning every May 1, Athlon Sports counts toward the release of its College Football Annuals by releasing one spot in its Top 25 every weekday for five weeks. The No. 1 team will be revealed June 4. Check AthlonSports.com every day to see who’s next in the countdown. The 2008 College Football Annuals hit newsstands June 3rd.

Juice Williams is determined to become more of a quarterback and less of an athlete who lines up under center and takes off with the ball. Progress was made when he improved his completion percentage from 39.5 as a freshman in 2006 to 57.3 last season, and he slightly upped his touchdown-to-interception ratio. And in the Rose Bowl the Illini signal-caller was 21-of-35 for 245 yards against USC. But Williams is dangerous with the ball in his hands and room to run, having compiled over 1,300 rushing yards in his first two years. Eddie McGee, 29-of-55 in 10 games last season, is still around for a change of pace.

Arrelious Benn caught 54 passes in his first year as a collegian and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by both the media and coaches. He also averaged 4.9 yards on 32 rushing attempts. But he is a wide receiver, and a replacement for Rashard Mendenhall, the most productive running back in the Big Ten last season, remains a question mark. Junior Daniel Dufrene could be the man, though incoming freshman Mikel LeShoure likely will be in the mix. Three starters are back on the offensive line to help.

Coach Ron Zook must replace his best defensive player in linebacker J Leman, who far outpaced the rest of the team with 132 tackles last season. The strength of the defense is up front, where three starters return to action. Will Davis, who led Illini defenders with 12.5 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks, leads the charge. Sophomore Josh Brent is an immovable, 6’2“, 325-pound force in the middle. Junior Vontae Davis rates as one of the best cornerbacks in the nation.

The 2008 conference slate opens up with trips to Penn State on Sept. 27 and Michigan a week later. The Illini will also have to take on Wisconsin on the road, but Ohio State comes to Champaign-Urbana on Nov. 15.

Ground Illini Illinois has led the Big Ten in rushing for each of the last two years.

Turnaround Illinois’ seven-game improvement in the win column from 2006 to 2007 was the nation’s best.

Offensive The 2007 Illini set school records with 3,338 rushing yards and 5,525 total yards.

Illinois superlatives:

WR Arrelious Benn and CB Vontae Davis are named Third-Team All-America and First-Team All-Big Ten.

OL Xavier Fulton and LB Brit Miller are named First-Team All-Big Ten.

QB Juice Williams, C Ryan McDonald, DLWill Davis and DL David Lindquist are named Second-Team All-Big Ten.

WR Lucas Taylor, C Josh McNeil and OL Ramon Foster are named Second-Team All-SEC.

OL Jon Asamoah, DL Derek Walker and LB Martez Wilson join the All-Big Ten Third Team.

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You can read the entire Illinois preview in the 2008 Athlon Sports College Football magazine, available for purchase now at the Athlon Sports store.

Also coming to AthlonSports.com this summer:
— Top 25 Heisman Hopefuls
— Live chats with Athlon editors
— Conference-preview videocasts
— Launch of the 2009 Athlon Consensus 100
— Athlon's college fantasy football draft kit

Other in-season offerings:
— Previews for every college football game
— Fantasy games
— Sideline Spirit voting
— Scenes From Saturday
— Updated Athlon 119
— Much more

Be sure to return to AthlonSports.com after June 15 when complete team previews for all 119 teams will be available.

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