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Illini Football 2023 Preseason Camp Practice Report #3 - First Night in Shoulder Pads

Illini Football 2023 Preseason Camp Practice Report #3 - First Night in Shoulder Pads

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 6, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Good evening and welcome to the third evening of fall football camp for the Illinois program for the 2023 season in the third campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema that begins under lights in Memorial Stadium.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Mikey Lewis

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Mikey Lewis

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 5, 2023

Recently California combo guard Mikey Lewis trimmed his list of schools to six.

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Illini AD Josh Whitman Championing Big Ten’s Addition of Washington & Oregon

Illini AD Josh Whitman Championing Big Ten’s Addition of Washington & Oregon

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer August 5, 2023 CHAMPAIGN, […]

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Illini Football 2023 Preseason Camp Practice Report #2 - Matthew Bailey’s Lower Right Leg Immobile

Illini Football 2023 Preseason Camp Practice Report #2 - Matthew Bailey’s Lower Right Leg Immobile

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 4, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Good evening and welcome to the second evening of fall football camp for the Illinois program for the 2023 season in the third campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema that begins under lights in Memorial Stadium.

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Ked's Practice Update - Amani Hansberry

Ked's Practice Update - Amani Hansberry

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

Aug. 2, 2023

Illinois signed the nation's top 75 recruit in the country according to ESPN. Amani Hansberry is an incoming freshman from Baltimore. 

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The Farrell Files Illinois - Zafir Stewart & New Illini Recruiting Strategy

The Farrell Files Illinois - Zafir Stewart & New Illini Recruiting Strategy

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

August 4, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll personally rank OL Zafir Stewart and how the recruiting strategy has changed heading into Bret Bielema’s third season.

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Dropping the Bomb: Illinois Trying to Find a Deep Passing Attack With Altmyer

Dropping the Bomb: Illinois Trying to Find a Deep Passing Attack With Altmyer

The addition of Luke Altmyer and the return of several veteran receiving targets along with the second year in Barry Lunney Jr.’s system suggests a possible opening up of the Illini pass game. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 4, 2023

Cover Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A common complaint of the Illinois football offense in the 2022 season was the lack of deep passing attempts but the answer to why that was the case wasn’t very complicated. 

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Illini Football 2023 Preseason Camp Practice Report #1 - Art Sitkowski Taking Active Role in Illini's QB Development

Illini Football 2023 Preseason Camp Practice Report #1 - Art Sitkowski Taking Active Role in Illini's QB Development

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 3, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Good evening and welcome to the first preseason camp practice for the Illinois program for the 2023 season in the third campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema that begins under lights in Memorial Stadium.

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Preseason Camp Opening Provides Instant Introduction to New Illini DBs

Preseason Camp Opening Provides Instant Introduction to New Illini DBs

The opening of preseason practices on Thursday night will be the first opportunity that Illinois coaches will get a look at new key faces in the defensive backfield. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 3, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Miami Herald)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In several ways, the reloading of the Illinois defensive backfield begins on Thursday night at Memorial Stadium. 

In the first closed preseason practice, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. on the stadium turf, Illinois coaches will get their first look at some key additions to the roster that were acquired in the transfer portal spring window and some freshmen who were unable to get enrolled for spring practices. Some of these key new additions, including 2022 Freshman All-America selection Demetrius Hill of Florida International University and safety Clayton Bush of Southern Illinois, will be trying to quickly show why they deserve to be in the rotation of Aaron Henry’s secondary as the Illini defensive coordinator transitions to his first full season as the play-caller on that side of the ball. 

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Ked's Practice Report - Final Pre-Spain Workout

Ked's Practice Report - Final Pre-Spain Workout

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 3, 2023

I had the opportunity to watch the Illinois practice session before the 3-game, 10-day trip to Spain.

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Bret Bielema’s Illini Contract Includes Newly Signed Big Ten Non-Compete Amendment

Bret Bielema’s Illini Contract Includes Newly Signed Big Ten Non-Compete Amendment

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema isn’t permitted to resign from his current position to become a head coach at another Big Ten Conference school, including his alma mater Iowa, through Jan. 31, 2029. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
August 3, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Bret Bielema recently signed an amendment to his contract with the University of Illinois that unconditionally restricts him from taking another Big Ten Conference head coach job over the course of the six-year deal. 

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Illini Men's Basketball Pre-Spain Open Practice Report - Welcome to the Ty Rodgers Lead Guard Era

Illini Men's Basketball Pre-Spain Open Practice Report - Welcome to the Ty Rodgers Lead Guard Era

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Good afternoon and welcome to the only open Illinois men’s basketball practice session before Brad Underwood’s squad embarks on a two-week journey to Spain starting Thursday. The 90-minute session open to the media at the Ubben Practice Facility was the ninth of 10 allotted practice sessions before the Illini leave for the trip.

We’ll start with who was on both teams because sometimes this practice report will mention the blue and orange teams so in order to not confuse folks, here were how the practice was divided up. 

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The Farrell Files Illinois - Brandon Hansen & B1G TE Rankings

The Farrell Files Illinois - Brandon Hansen & B1G TE Rankings

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

August 2, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll continue ranking this class so far player by player with OL Brandon Hansen and I’ll look at the tight end units in the Big Ten and where the Illini stand.

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Illini 2024 QB Commit Petty Is Getting Rebel Attention

Illini 2024 QB Commit Petty Is Getting Rebel Attention

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

(Cover photo courtesy Trey Petty's Twitter page)

(Editor's Note: Matt posted this premium information earlier today on the IlliniGuys.com members forum.)

So...I'm starting to hear from sources close to the situation that the Ole Miss offer to Trey Petty is more than just a courtesy offer.

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Ked's Practice Update - Kendall Bostic

Ked's Practice Update - Kendall Bostic

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 1, 2023

Kendall Bostic is Illinois's gain and Michigan State's loss.

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