Football

This week’s film session will focus on Seth Coleman taking practice to the game, Isaiah Williams trying too hard and Barry Lunney’s red zone resurgence. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyist

November 1, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy David Craan/Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Every Thursday, Illinois associate head coach/outside linebacker coach Kevin Kane conducts what he calls ‘Pass Rush Thursday’ where he’ll show the players in his positional room specific things that the coaching staff drills on a practice-to-practice basis. 

Even if, as redshirt freshman last season in his first days with the new Illini staff led by head coach Bret Bielema, Seth Coleman internally wondered why it mattered which one of his two hands he raised during a quarterback hurry, the first turnover at Nebraska is a perfect example as to the answer. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

November 1, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

Cooper Catalano, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound linebacker from Germantown, Wisconsin, recaps his visit to Illinois.

Catalano made the visit to Champaign recently after the Fighting Illini offered Catalano his first DI football scholarship offer in early July.

y Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 31, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

I was a little afraid that Nebraska was going to sneak up on the Illini and pull off an upset on Saturday, but my fears turned out to be unfounded as Illinois controlled the action as the defense dominated the Cornhuskers on route to a 26-9 win.  The defense carried the day by dominating a Nebraska offense that had put up a lot of points in recent games.  Nebraska had one big play for their touchdown, but Illinois' defense was outstanding otherwise.  Regardless, there was one play that I had to rewind several times during the game in order to fully appreciate it:

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

October 31, 2022

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

The on-field momentum for the Illinois football program continued with another win

Mike Cagley, co-host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular October […]

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 30, 2022

Illinois made it three new football commitments in a four-day span when three-star defensive end Alex Bray from Chesterfield Missouri pledged to the Illini on Monday.

Illinois safety Sydney Brown caps Nebraska’s run attack and executes momentum swing turnovers in the 26-9 road win

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 29, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy David Craan/Illinois Athletics)

LINCOLN, Neb. -- With his twin brother on the offensive side getting all the attention this season, Sydney Brown went out of his way to introduce himself to the country. 

In front of a national television audience, Brown replicated everything Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has been saying about his senior safety playing the best football of his career.

Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Contributor October 29, 2022 In the […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 29, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

Yes, you read that right: an Iowa high school football player made a visit to Illinois! Why is this such a big deal? The three major football programs in Iowa (Iowa State, Iowa, and UNI) never lose players from the state.

October 29, 2022 The Illini are coming off of […]

By Zain Bando - IlliniGuys Student Correspondent October 28, […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

October 28, 2022

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

The transfer portal is all important in college football nowadays and the leadership of Tommy DeVito who had lost his mojo at Syracuse is a great example.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirms that he and the rest of the coaching staff expects long-term injured players Josh McCray and Caleb Griffin to make the trip to Nebraska. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 27, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The long-standing plan of the Illinois football staff to get Josh McCray back on the playing field after the second bye week is days away from coming to fruition. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed Thursday afternoon that the sophomore tailback has been active with the first-team unit in practice this week and the previous week.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 27, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Saboor Karriem's Twitter page)

Illinois' coaching staff spent their off week tying up some loose ends in recruiting, and it paid off with the second commitment in two days.  Three-star cornerback Saboor Karriem, who the staff has been aggressively pursuing since the Spring, pledged to the Illini on Saturday and Illini fans will be very glad that he did.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

Illinois slated to open Big Ten Conference play in […]