Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illinois Football Hoping to Find a Diamond in the Rough with Illinois Prospect
Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
September 14, 2022
During Saturday's football game between Virginia and Illinois, the coaches decided this was the time to get some players on campus that a lot of schools do not know about.
Holmes Injury Forces Illini Freshmen Into Bigger Responsibility
Illinois freshmen outside linebackers Gabe Jacas and Alec Bryant to be thrusted into action after the season-ending injury to Ezekiel Holmes last weekend.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
September 15, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois outside linebackers coach Kevin Kane describes Ezekiel Holmes as the most cerebral player in his meeting room.
Recruiting: Illinois Keeps State's Top Punter Home With Duley Commitment
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting
September 14, 2022
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has kept his promise: Illinois needs to keep the best players in state. Put a product on the field to show them that it is OK to play football at Illinois.
Today Bielema and his staff picked up a major commitment from Declan Duley, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound punter from El Paso, who is coming fresh off a visit to the Illinois campus this weekend.
The Farrell Report - Bielema Jet Setting Recruiter
Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert
September 14, 2022
(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)
After a dominant 24-3 win over Virginia last Saturday, Illini head coach Bret Bielema wasted no time hitting the recruiting trail post game.
Watch: Illini coach Bret Bielema gives a bye week update
Illini football head coach Bret Bielema gives an update […]
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Four-Star Punter Receives Illinois Offer
Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
September 13, 2022
Typically, kickers and punters do not receive scholarship offers at the DI level.
IlliniGuys 2022 Football Film Review: Illinois 24, Virginia 3
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
September 13, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- When defenses execute a blitz, it is a gamble.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illini Football Recruiters Started the Youth Movement
Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
September 12, 2022
Saturday was a home football game, which traditionally means colleges all across the country are vying for position to bring in recruits.
The Trench Report: Virginia
By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst
September 12, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
I was more bullish on the Illini's chances against the Virginia Cavaliers than my Illini Guys cohorts because of one reason: the Cavalier offensive line. Though Virginia was set to return all five starters from last year's group that dominated the Illini, all five of them transferred despite Virginia keeping its offensive line coach during an overall coaching change. That left the Cavaliers with a grad transfer from Dartmouth, three redshirt freshman, and a true freshman at left tackle as their starting five. So, with the Illini returning a talented and experienced defensive line that had been playing well so far this year, the stage was set for some defensive line domination and that's just what we saw on Saturday as Illinois racked up 5 sacks among its 9 tackles for loss.
The first clip I chose to highlight this week came early in the game...
The Farrell Report - Secondary Play Is Raising Recruit Eyebrows
Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert
September 12, 2022
(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)
Following a performance that saw Illinois beat Virginia 24-3 at home on Saturday, the Illini have a new component to pitch to recruits
Illini Play Through Mistakes in Blowout Win Over Virginia
A week after committing more turnovers and penalties to lose at Indiana, Illinois doubled down on losing plays but unlike last week in Bloomington, the Illini easily overtook Virginia at home.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
September 11, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois coaching staff spent the entire week of practice trying to preach to its team that mistakes, turnovers and costly penalties will continue to get them beat.
Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Illini Defense Stands Tall in Win Over Virginia
Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy September 11, 2022 The Illinois Fighting […]
Message to Illini Fans: Please Enjoy Ryan Walters While You Have Him
Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters might be one of the nation’s best assistant coaches but will any college football bluebloods pursue him on the way to a national title run?
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
September 11, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- While it’s not exactly a buying market in the real estate world, Ryan Walters might soon want to have his realtor’s number handy.
Illini Defense Dominates Virginia, 24-3
By IlliniGuys Staff September 10, 2022 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]
Kendall Smith Second Half Improvement Defining On-Field Leadership
Illinois safety Kendall Smith’s roller coaster performance at Indiana last week exemplifies that he’s still learning his role as a sixth-year senior.
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Game Preview: Virginia at Illinois
Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022: 3 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium
Surface: Field Turf
Capacity: 60,670
Records: Virginia 1-0; Illinois 1-1
Betting Line: Illinois by 4
Series notes: Illinois leads the all-time series against Virginia by a 2-1 margin despite the fact that the Cavaliers easily took care of the Illini 42-14 last season in Charlottesville. This is the first time the schools will play in Champaign. The Illini’s two wins over Virginia came in bowl games with dominating wins in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl and 1999 MicronPC.com Bowl.
TV: ESPNU; Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O'Donnell (analysis), Michael Martin (sidelines) & Steve Kelly (Pre/HT/Post) » The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius/ XM satellite radio & SiriusXM Internet and at FightingIllini.com.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
September 9, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Mike Granse/USA Today Sports)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Kendall Smith managed to remind everybody watching last week that at the same time of being a sixth year senior leader he’s also an inexperienced starter.
In the 23-20 loss at Indiana last Friday night, the Hoosiers were able to connect on two deep passes over the head of Smith as the deep safety in the Illinois secondary including a 52-yard touchdown strike that gave Indiana an early lead.
“It’s something you’ve got to learn from,” Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said on Monday of Smith’s first-half mistakes. “He just kind of got caught with his eyes in the backfield a little bit. Kudos to Indiana for taking advantage of that and really blowing the top off of the coverage. We let one go over our head. We’ll learn from it. We’ll be better in those situations. I don’t think that was the end-all-be-all to the game.”
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