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Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer August 27, 2022 CHAMPAIGN, […]

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 27, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Chase Brown has the potential to do what only two other Illinois running backs before him accomplished.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 27, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Every player in the wide receiver room at Illinois saw the hiring of offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. as a new beginning of options. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 27, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- At random times during the day or night,

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 26, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- If there’s one promise Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Bart Miller can continue to make to Illinois fans it’s

Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Correspondent

August 26, 2022

CHAMPAIGN — Let me start off by saying that this isn’t a post for everyone.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 26, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- At 52 years old, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema sometimes wishes his younger self was a lot more like Tip Reiman. 

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By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 25, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The most production loss from last season to one position group at Illinois is where this coaching staff sees the most potential for talent depth. 

After the loss at Purdue in late September, Owen Carney Jr. and Isaiah Gay participated in a majority of the snaps at the outside linebacker position and were key cogs in allowing Illinois to maintain a pass rush in defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ 3-4 scheme. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst August 25, […]

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 25, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- If there’s one promise Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Bart Miller can continue to make to Illinois fans it’s that the position group closest to the football on every play will be bigger, more athletic and more ready for the Big Ten Conference. 

Last season, the average starting offensive lineman in the Big Ten Conference was nearly 6-foot-5 and 312 pounds. Illinois’ offensive line in 2021 had four consistent starters under that physical landmark in at least one, if not both, categories. Of course, that’s not to say some of that veteran leadership, intelligence and nastiness attitude won’t be missed in 2022 as Doug Kramer was significantly under in both factors (6-foot-2 and 300 pounds) but managed to play himself into getting drafted in the sixth round by the Chicago Bears. Does this 2022 Illinois offensive line have attractive NFL talent on it? Likely yes but even if the answer is no, it won’t be because they are undersized. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 24, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The good news is Terrance Jamison has more bodies in his defensive line coach meeting room than when he began his job at Illinois. 

The bad news is any injuries to prominent lineman Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. would still be a serious blow to the front line of the Illini’s 3-4 defensive scheme. Newton and Randolph will once again be counted on to not only secure the edges in the run defense of second-year coordinator Ryan Walters’ scheme but also increase its production of getting vertical up the field in pass rush situations. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

August 24, 2022

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

Is there anything more important than a quarterback to a college football team?

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 23, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters and cornerbacks coach Aaron Henry return what is likely the most dominant element of the Illini defensive unit despite losing a multi-starter at cornerback (Tony Adams) and a NFL third round pick as a nickel safety (Kerby Joseph).

Despite not finding its footing from a pass rush standpoint for the first month, Illinois was able to hold opponents to just 215.2 yards passing per game because the last line of the Illini’s defense was able to cover and disrupt teams with a brand of physicality and athleticism rarely seen as Lovie Smith was trying to use youth in his back four. 

Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman wants fans to understand that the reported uptick in revenue coming to his department due to the Big Ten television deal has already been earmarked for past projects. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 23, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Bloomington Pantagraph)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Josh Whitman might be spending a large portion of his future dissuading any belief that the new Big Ten Conference media rights deal will equate to a major facility project or groundbreaking upgrade. 

The University of Illinois athletics took the opportunity Monday afternoon to address the fact and fiction regarding the league’s media right deal, which the Associated Press has reported is worth around $8 billion over a six-year period.