Football

Illini DL Jamal Woods Returning For Sixth Season

Illini DL Jamal Woods Returning For Sixth Season

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Miles McVay Talks Weekend Recruiting

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Miles McVay Talks Weekend Recruiting

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 15, 2022

Miles McVay is an offensive tackle

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Football Coaching Analysis - What can we expect from Barry Lunney?

Football Coaching Analysis - What can we expect from Barry Lunney?

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 13, 2022

While fans of major college teams around the country wouldn't have been surprised by Illinois' sudden replacement of Tony Petersen with Barry Lunney, Jr

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Hunter Nourzad’s Final Five Transfer Options

Hunter Nourzad’s Final Five Transfer Options

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 13, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Cornell graduate transfer offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad has narrowed his list of suitors to five schools

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Reunited And it Feels So Good:  Lunney’s

Reunited And it Feels So Good:  Lunney’s "Tempro” Offense Fits Bielema’s Vision

Nearly a decade ago, Bret Bielema gave Barry Lunney […]

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Illini’s New 2022 Schedule Includes First Trip to Indiana Since 2013

Illini’s New 2022 Schedule Includes First Trip to Indiana Since 2013

Instead of playing a third straight game inside Penn […]

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IlliniGuys Website Celebrates 1st Anniversary

IlliniGuys Website Celebrates 1st Anniversary

January 12, 2022 CHICAGO, Ill. -- The multi-media website […]

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Lunney Jr.’s Hire Represents A Revival of The Tight End Position at Illinois

Lunney Jr.’s Hire Represents A Revival of The Tight End Position at Illinois

By Matt Stevens -- IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 10, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The hope in the hiring of Barry Lunney Jr. the program’s 12th offensive coordinator in the last 13 years, is the program will finally be able to make good on a promise.  

Since 2009, when then-Illini offensive coordinator Mike Locksley agreed to become the next head coach at New Mexico, Illinois has gone through 11 different offensive coordinators. All of them have pledged, in one way or another, to heavily involve the tight end position in the pass game of the Illini offense. 

In those 13 years, Illinois has never had a tight end be among the top 30 targets in the Big Ten Conference despite having spotty consistency at the position. In 2020, Daniel Barker, who announced earlier this winter he was intending to investigate his options with the upcoming National Football League draft process, was the team’s second-leading receiver...

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Football Recruiting Spotlight on Chase Miller and Fabrizio Pinton

Football Recruiting Spotlight on Chase Miller and Fabrizio Pinton

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 10, 2022

Illinois added a couple of notable preferred walk-ons Saturday

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illini Get a Steal in Preferred Walk-on Chase Miller

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illini Get a Steal in Preferred Walk-on Chase Miller

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

January 9, 2022

Illinois assistant football coach George McDonald may have found a gem in the class of 2022

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Illinois Football Picks Up Surprise Commitment from Texas Kicker/Punter

Illinois Football Picks Up Surprise Commitment from Texas Kicker/Punter

Fabrizio Pinton, a 6-foot-3, 215-lb combo kicker-punter from the Air Force Academy and The Woodlands (TX) High School, verbally committed to Bret Bielema and Illinois football on January 8, 2022.

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Barry Lunney Jr. Hired as Illini’s New Offensive Coordinator

Barry Lunney Jr. Hired as Illini’s New Offensive Coordinator

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema goes with a comfortable choice in selecting UTSA offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. as the Illini’s new offensive coordinator

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January x, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bret Bielema is much more familiar with his second offensive coordinator hire at Illinois. 

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Recruiting: Four-star lineman receives Illinois offer

Recruiting: Four-star lineman receives Illinois offer

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

January 8, 2022

Miles McVay is a 6-foot-7, 335-pound offensive tackle from the class of 2023 from East St. Louis, Illinois.

Because McVay was recently offered by Illinois, IlliniGuys.com caught up with him to get the latest on his recruitment.

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COLUMN: Bielema’s Decision to Replace Offensive Coordinator Immediately Shows New Attitude in Illini Football Leadership

COLUMN: Bielema’s Decision to Replace Offensive Coordinator Immediately Shows New Attitude in Illini Football Leadership

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 5, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Relevant and powerful college football programs make the move that Bret Bielema made this week at the offensive coordinator. 

Sure, it’s a little cold, maybe a little distasteful and even probably a little impatient move to terminate a person after just one season of work and after one season of a complete program rebuild by all staff members involved. It’s also something championship programs do when they see an element going in the opposite direction everybody desires. 

There’s no doubt in anybody’s mind that Bielema wanted to fire somebody...

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Offensive Coordinator Hotboard: Bielema Leaning Toward Arkansas Reunion

Offensive Coordinator Hotboard: Bielema Leaning Toward Arkansas Reunion

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has met with UTSA offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., who worked for Bielema at Arkansas. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Beat Writer

January 4, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- All signs are pointing toward Illinois head coach Bret Bielema

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