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Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman says neither he nor anybody in his department were aware for three weeks of a document time-stamped on Dec. 5 consisting of felony charges being made against Terrence Shannon Jr.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 29, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Josh Whitman’s answer to the reason no disciplinary action was taken against Terrence Shannon Jr. immediately following a charging document being filed on Dec. 5 in Douglas County, Kansas District Court is simple. 

He hadn’t seen it and neither did anybody else in his office.

The official stance of Whitman, the athletics director at the University of Illinois, is that nobody in his department - including himself - was aware for over three weeks that such a document existed.

According to the student-athlete conduct policy, Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. is slated to have a review by the ‘Student-Athlete Conduct Panel’ to assess his suspension. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 29, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — The next step for Terrence Shannon Jr. and his indefinite suspension from the Illinois men’s basketball program is a three-person committee to determine if his punishment should stand.

Terrence Shannon Jr. surrendered to authorities in Douglas County, Kansas Thursday morning on rape charges after an arrest warrant was issued the previous day. Citing the university’s student-athlete misconduct policy, Shannon Jr. was immediately suspended indefinitely from all activities regarding the men’s basketball program.

In his media conference Friday night inside State Farm Center before No. 11 Illinois hosts Fairleigh Dickinson University, Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman confirmed the next step in the process for Shannon under the university’s student-athlete misconduct policy is an official review by the ‘Student-Athlete Conduct Panel’

The first time that Terrence Shannon Jr. is slated […]

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio, Illini Uber-Insider

December 29, 2023

Despite the off-court issues that are facing the Illini, they are set to play the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on Friday evening in their last tune up before they take on 19 Big Ten opponents over the next 3 months. 

The Illini will be without Terrence Shannon Jr, the All-American Guard who is currently suspended for a rape charge in Kansas and will have to learn to navigate the difficult remaining schedule without their star. It starts on Friday against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Setting the Stage

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio and Illini Uber-Insider 

December 29, 2023

Brad Sturdy has a lot of information and here it is.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 29, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll start looking at each player on the offense in the 2024 class in many different categories. First up is QB Trey Petty.

Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. was arrested after turning […]

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 28, 2023

Illinois revealed two major transfer additions on signing day, and somehow the transfer of a starter from another Big Ten team with two years of eligibility remaining was minor news compared to the commitment of All Conference Left Tackle JC Davis. Make no mistake, the transfer addition of Kevin Wigenton was awfully big too. Wigenton started six games for Michigan State last year and ended the season with a PFF grade of 66.9, which was good for second on the team.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio & Illini Uber-Insider

December 27, 2023

It’s been a while since Illinois grabbed an early commitment from a prospect like Morez Johnson, probably going back to Jereme Richmond in the class of 2010. While Richmond slid a bit in the rankings, Johnson has moved up due to some excellent play on the Nike EYBL Circuit that saw him lead the entire circuit in rebounding while helping Meanstreets into the final 8 at the Peach Jam. This was an early victory for Illinois assistant coach Tim Anderson and Brad Underwood. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 25, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look on defense of the 2024 class and whether Bret Bielema is focusing too much on JUCO and not enough on the transfer portal.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 26, 2023

Illinois signed a pretty good class of high schoolers and JUCO players last week on signing day, but the biggest news of the day was the transfer commitment of All Conference Left Tackle JC Davis from New Mexico. Davis is a plug and play transfer who fills Illinois' biggest need on offense for the 2024 season. The commitment of Davis would be a great moment regardless of the situation. This guy is a really good football player who would start on just about any team in the United States.  Take a look below.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 26, 2023

When the NCAA decided to change the outlook of college athletics with transfers, transfer portal, and recruiting in general, head Illinois head coach Brad Underwood set the tone for the University of Illinois.

A lot of coaches do not like the new landscape of college athletics and the direction it is going. Unfortunately, those who do not embrace the new trend may be fighting an uphill battle or looking for a new job. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 25, 2023

Illinois commit Hayven Smith is back on campus again to watch her future teammates this past week at the State Farm Center. Smith, a legitimate 6-foot-6 center with a big upside to her future, is watching more games to learn what the Illini are trying to do offensively and defensively. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 25, 2023

I hope you all enjoyed part 1 of the signing day spotlight on the offense. I have to admit those nine offensive players were a little more fun to review, but the 10 defenders the Illini announced on signing day a few days ago are pretty good players as well. I'm going to start with the three young men most likely to play next year (by default): the defensive linemen.

Eddie Tuerk- DL

Many Illini watchers were excited to see that Coach Bielema announced Tuerk as a defensive lineman on signing day, but I have to say I concluded when he committed back in June that he was a much better player on that side of the ball. Tuerk is a good-sized young man at 6'5 and now 290 pounds, but he doesn't have the frame to carry much more weight than that without compromising his agility and straight-line speed. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he bulked up from 260 pounds last year to 290 now, but I think that's right about where he should stop. Unless he's going to be a center, you'd be asking Tuerk to either limit his athletic ability or play undersized in the Big Ten, where there are very few linemen under 300 pounds. Take a look at his abbreviated senior film. The defensive highlights stand for themselves, while the offensive highlight focuses on his speed.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 25, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll start breaking down the 2024 class that signed this week and continue to take a look at trending portal news.