2008 Illinois Fighting Illini Preview

The 1951 Illini football team went 9–0–1 and blasted Stanford in the Rose Bowl. The 1952 team went 4–5. In 1963, Illinois won the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl. The 1964 team, led by returning star Dick Butkus, tied for fourth in the Big Ten. The 1983 Illini had the only 9–0 conference record in Big Ten history. In 1984, they were 6–3 in the league and didn’t go to a bowl game. The 2001 Illini won the Big Ten and played in the Sugar Bowl. The 2002 team went 5–7, losing at home to San Jose State.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Illini

The Illinois coaches won’t admit it, but this program is ahead of schedule. They figured to get to a minor bowl last season and make a big splash in 2008. A win against No. 1 Ohio State and a Rose Bowl appearance meant an earlier-than-expected move to the national scene. If Illinois is to return to a BCS game, it will need more improvement from quarterback Juice Williams. After facing plenty of skepticism going into the 2007 season, and even during it, Williams has become one of the team’s strengths. He needs to cut his interceptions and increase his touchdown totals while becoming one of the team’s leaders. He’s got oodles of help on offense, starting with receiver Arrelious Benn. The Illini will miss Rashard Mendenhall, but Daniel Dufrene, Troy Pollard and pals will provide enough yards by committee to ease the pain. Defensively, Illinois has the pressure package Ron Zook craved when he came to C-U, with Will Davis leading a talented line corps. The schedule provides several stiff challenges, starting with the St. Louis opener against Missouri. There are back-to-back trips to Penn State and Michigan to open the Big Ten season. If the Illini are undefeated heading into mid-October, they will be thinking much bigger than a Big Ten title.

The pattern has been established at Illinois. Win big one year, fall flat the next. Ron Zook is hell-bent on changing it. The fourth-year coach wants to follow his first BCS berth (Rose Bowl) with a second. And a third. And a fourth.

“We’ve made a little progress,” Zook says. “But by no stretch of the imagination are we where we’ve got to be yet. To me, you can say your program has turned the corner when you win consistently. That’s our next goal.”

At every chance during the offseason, Zook preached about the importance of hard work and effort. The only motivation Zook needed to give players was the final score of the Rose Bowl: USC 49, Illinois 17.

“In our last game, we weren’t very good,” Zook says.

Quarterbacks

There wouldn’t have been a Rose Bowl appearance without the emergence of Juice Williams. And there wouldn’t be preseason Top 25 talk without the junior’s return. After struggling with his accuracy as a freshman starter, Williams improved his completion percentage 18 points. It was a bump the coaches expected, but one that surprised many fans. After Williams got knocked out of the Missouri game and backup Eddie McGee threw for 257 yards, some wanted to see Williams replaced. But the coaches stuck with Williams, who led the team to nine wins, including a victory at No. 1 Ohio State. Because of his running ability, Williams is a nightmare for defensive coordinators. He is the team’s leading returning rusher after gaining 755 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. He kept the game-clinching drive against Ohio State going with three runs on third down and one on fourth. To prepare for the season, Williams added muscle to his 6'2" frame, gaining 10 pounds to 233. He has also added weight to his words, becoming more of a vocal leader. Williams admits to being more confident and relaxed going into his third season. “It just comes with experience,” he says. “The longer I’m here, the more confident I’ll be.” McGee played in 10 games, hitting 53 percent of his passes. Unlike the 2007 season, the coaches know they have a competent replacement if Williams gets hurt.

Running backs

Rashard Mendenhall left the program with a year of eligibility remaining. After being named Big Ten MVP and setting school records for yards and touchdowns, there wasn’t much left for Mendenhall to prove. One guy won’t replace him. More likely, two to four. Daniel Dufrene, Mendenhall’s backup in 2007, gets the first shot. Dufrene, who began his career at Vanderbilt before heading to junior college for a season, showed flashes of his ability, including an 80-yard run that led to the first Illini touchdown in the win at Ohio State. Troy Pollard didn’t participate in spring drills after suffering a torn knee ligament during the season. The Floridian will be given a long look at tailback. Two true freshmen also figure to get on the field. Champaign Centennial’s Mikel LeShoure graduated from high school a semester early so he could participate in spring drills. With Pollard out, LeShoure took a healthy chunk of the spring carries. At fullback, Illinois has to replace underrated Russ Weil. Rahkeem Smith is first in line, but converted safety Darius Purcell looked good during spring drills.

Receivers

Arrelious Benn was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after catching a team-best 54 passes for 676 yards and two touchdowns. Benn reluctantly sat out spring drills after having shoulder surgery in the offseason, although he watched practices in full uniform, itching to get on the field. The shoulder injury, suffered during training camp, bothered Benn during the season. He didn’t have full range of motion and was forced to wear a harness. The harness will be gone in 2008, and Benn promises to put up bigger numbers. With input from other spots, the receiver position should be improved. Jeff Cumberland is a converted tight end who gained 131 yards in the finale against Northwestern. Brian Gamble moved from safety during training camp and was the team’s No. 4 receiver. Converted cornerback Chris Duvalt moved to receiver in the spring and worked his way into the rotation. One overlooked missing part in 2007 was Chris James, who suffered a torn knee ligament during training camp. James was ready to return in time for the Rose Bowl, but the coaches didn’t want to burn his redshirt season. At tight end, returnee Michael Hoomanawanui is expected to get a training camp challenge from freshmen London Davis and Hubie Graham.

Offensive linemen

Second-year coach Eric Wolford wanted the Illini to cut the sacks allowed while improving the run blocking. They followed their coach on both counts. The sacks dropped from 30 to 16, and Illinois led the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 257 yards per game and 5.6 per carry. Three-fifths of the starting line returns, led by All-America candidates Ryan McDonald and Xavier Fulton. McDonald enters his third season at center, the position his dad played for the Illini in the 1970s. Fulton was a struggling defensive lineman before the Illinois coaches turned him into an offensive tackle. Now, pro scouts are projecting him to be a first-day draft choice in 2009. The third returning starter is right guard Jon Asamoah. He will help break in the new starting right tackle, likely to be Ryan Palmer. The opening at left guard figures to go to Randall Hunt or Eric Block, who has served as the line’s sixth man throughout his career.

Defensive linemen

Tom Sims likes to keep his players fresh. The former NFL lineman has plenty of guys to pick from in 2008, starting with second-team All-Big Ten end Will Davis. One of 13 Washington, D.C.-area players on the team, Davis led the Illini with 9.5 sacks in 2007. The talent at end doesn’t stop with Davis. Derek Walker and Doug Pilcher have 50 career starts between them. Pilcher had 5.5 sacks in 2007. David Lindquist returns at one tackle spot; the former walk-on recorded 4.5 sacks a year after leading the Big Ten in fumble recoveries. Four-year starter Chris Norwell needs to be replaced at the other tackle spot, with sophomore Josh Brent and redshirt freshman D’Angelo McCray strong candidates.

Linebackers

Outside linebacker Brit Miller moves to the middle, replacing longtime starter J Leman. The talkative Miller should be one of the leaders on defense and has a chance to pile up tackles. One outside spot will go to Martez Wilson. He shared team Rookie of the Year honors with Benn after recording 29 tackles. Illinois coaches think Wilson has star potential, especially when he gains comfort in the defense. The third linebacker spot is expected to go to Ian Thomas or Rodney Pittman. The Illini will be looking to the freshman class for depth.

Defensive backs

All-Big Ten junior Vontae Davis leads a trio of talented cornerbacks that also includes Dere Hicks and Miami Thomas. The coaches spent spring drills trying to find replacements at safety. Former Tigers/Cubs farmhand Bo Flowers is in the mix. So are Nate Bussey, Travon Bellamy and Garrett Edwards. Incoming junior college transfer Donsay Hardeman, who has good size at 6'2", will get a long look.

Specialists

The Illini apparently solved their punting problem when Anthony Santella starred in the Rose Bowl. But longtime kicker Jason Reda has graduated, leaving the job to either returning walk-ons Matt Brandabur or Michael Cklamovski or incoming freshman Derek Dimke. Benn is one of the Big Ten’s best kick returners and took one back for a score against Penn State in 2007.

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