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Illinois defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton played his high school football games just 30 minutes from Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. 

 By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 1, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

TAMPA, Fla. -- Illinois’ star defensive lineman believes their will be a ‘Johnny Newton section’ decided to just him for the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl. 

Since the moment Illinois (8-4) was selected to play in Tampa for its bowl game against No. 22 Mississippi State (8-4) for the Illini’s first New Year’s bowl game since 2007, Newton has been acting as a ticket broker on the roster trying to manufacture and convince teammates to give me their allotment of tickets to play the final game of the 2022 season just 30 minutes from where he played high school football at Clearwater Central Catholic. 

By IlliniGuys Staff January 1, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 6, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

No one within or surrounding the Illini basketball program thought the Orange and Blue career of Skyy Clark would last four years.  It turns out, it may not even last four months.

In a shocking development, the former five-star Skyy Clark has decided to take a break from the Illinois program after one semester and just 13 games. Clark was given the keys to drive the team, but lost his starting job to fellow freshman Sencire Harris as head coach Brad Underwood shook up his lineup and wanted to promote Harris' tenacity on defense.

By Larry Smith/IlliniGuys Staff

January 1, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The month of December couldn't have been more inconsistent for Fighting Illini basketball. 

Struggle in their first true road game at Maryland.  Whip a powerhouse Texas team in overtime in New York City three nights later in a primetime marquee matchup.

Fall flat at home against Penn State.  Record a 21-point win over Alabama A&M after exam week.  Get an historic punch in the mouth against Missouri.

The roller coaster left Illini Nation feeling queasy around Christmas weekend and perhaps unsure if they wanted to open any gifts in orange and blue wrapping under the tree.  But Illini coach Brad Underwood never hesitated.

Fenelus drove down to Tampa Friday night with his family and attended Illinois’ Saturday afternoon practice session. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

Illini defensive coordinator Aaron Henry (left) and defensive backs coach Antonio Fenelus (center) at the 2012 Rose Bowl news conference during their Wisconsin Badgers playing days. (Courtesy Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

December 31, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. -- As soon as Ryan Walters accepted the Purdue head coach job, Bret Bielema know the answer of who he’d be hiring and Saturday the Illinois second-year coach answered the question of why it was Antonio Fenelus. 

Fenelus, who will turn 33 years old on January 19, was a four-year letterwinner at safety for Wisconsin under Bielema as the Badgers head coach and the defensive back from Boca Raton shined as a senior in 2011 where earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors. However, it was Fenelus’ experience and perceived work ethic outside of being under Bielema’s purview that has made the Illini head coach want to bring his former player back on staff as soon as possible.

Illinois Football looks to add to the history books with a win at Raymond James Stadium Jan. 2, 2023.

Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Correspondent

December 31, 2022 

Throughout the long-standing history of Illinois football, January bowl games simply mean more.

Without the services of Chase Brown, Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. looking forward to show his offensive’s future talent at tailback. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 31, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. -- On the second day of 2023, Illinois will be showcasing the future of its tailback talent they hope to be using throughout the rest of the calendar year. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

December 30, 2022

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

In this edition of the Farrell Report — Illinois I’ll take a look at what the Illini have at RB from the 2023 class, make a guess at who the new defensive backs coach will be and drop some portal info.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

December 30, 2022

The Illini completed their non-conference schedule with an 85-52 pasting of Bethune-Cookman, righting the ship a bit after the debacle against Missouri a week ago. Although the competition was less than stellar, this was an opportunity to see what tweaks Brad Underwood was able to make as the Illini head into Big Ten Conference play. 

Here’s what we saw:

Antonio Fenelus has been added to Bret Bielema’s Illinois staff to fill the vacancy left by Ryan Walters’ head coach hiring to Purdue and Aaron Henry’s promotion. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 30, 2022

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has hired his third former player from his time as a defensive coordinator and head coach at Wisconsin to his Illini defensive assistant coaching staff. 

Antonio Fenelus will be getting his first full-time positional coaching job at a Football Bowl Subdivision school as the new defensive backs coach on an Illini coaching staff that also features Bielema’s former players Aaron Henry (defensive coordinator) and defensive line coach Terrance Jamison. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema wanted a big reaction from his team when he announced Aaron Henry’s promotion to defensive coordinator. What he got was calmness in a trying coaching silly season week for the Illini. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 30, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. -- Aaron Henry’s promotion didn’t provide for a theatrical YouTube-style reaction by this returning Illinois roster of players.

By IlliniGuys Staff December 29, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff December 29, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Dec. 29, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Stephen Lee/USA Today Sports)

Last month Luke Altmyer thanked Ole Miss coaches, teammates, and fans for what they had done, but felt it was time he moved on.  Today he announced his destination:  Illinois.

The pro-style quarterback was ranked as one of the nation’s top 15 signal callers coming out of high school in the class of 2021.

The Illini going through a recent rough patch is what the team ultimately needs to have a successful tournament run.

Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Correspondent

December 29, 2022

It could be worse, right?