Football

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 13, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- When defenses execute a blitz, it is a gamble. 

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.

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...

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

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.

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy September 11, 2022 The Illinois Fighting […]

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. 

By IlliniGuys Staff September 10, 2022 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]

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.”

Chicago St. Rita pass rusher Pat Farrell says he intends to be in attendance for the Illini’s Homecoming game on Oct. 15 versus Minnesota.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 10, 2022

(Photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

CHICAGO -- John Holececk knows a little something about linebacker play and can identify an elite level talent at that position.

So, when his Loyola Academy program and its head coach rolled into St. Rita High School on Friday night, the former All-Big Ten selection and the eight-year NFL veteran was determined to give the opposing star linebacker the spotlight treatment Loyola possessed the football.

To say Pat Farrell was a big part of St. Rita’s plan on Friday night would be massive understatement. The 6-foot-5 and 235-pound athlete is hard to miss at his edge rush position and Loyola’s offensive game plan made sure to know where No. 52 was on the field at all times. Loyola’s run game ran away from Farrell and when Ramblers senior quarterback Jake Stearney, who is committed to Colgate, would get in an obvious passing situation, Farrell would see not only a massive offensive tackle but a tight end and even sometimes a tailback chip block him in a three-man effort to keep the three-star 2023 prospect away from the backfield.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

September 10, 2022

The Fighting Illini knows it takes talent to win games in the Big Ten.

That's one of the reasons defensive tackle Ty'Lheir Grose will be on campus to watch the Illini take on the Virginia Cavaliers at 3 p.m. today

Grose is a 6-foot-2, 290-pound junior college prospect (Lackawanna College) who is hoping for an Illinois offer.

September 9, 2022 The Illini battle Virginia who destroyed […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

September 9, 2022

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

Every coach tries to flip commitments

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 8, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Based on all verbal accounts from Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, the team’s optimal offensive line will be back in place this weekend.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

September 7, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Champaign, Ill. --  When Moline’s Matthew Bailey committed to Illinois, rumors started to fly.

Bailey had several mid-major offers, but his high school coach Mike Morrissey had said in a previous interview, “Matthew is a special kid: first, he’s extremely smart, but on the football field he’s very gifted. He has interest from other Power Five schools but Bret Bielema and his staff did a wonderful job recruiting him.”