Football

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 31, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- For the fifth day of practice and third practice in full pads the Illinois players and coaches moved indoors (mostly because of the weather but also because they had some things with the tempo offense to get in place before Saturday’s scrimmage) inside the Smith Family Football Complex for the first time during this spring season.

I do feel like we’ve addressed practically every position group with these practice reports already so be prepared they’re likely to get shorter in the future. The one major takeaway today was Luke Ford, who is expected to be an every-down starter at the tight end position in the upcoming 2022 season, was not in a green, non-contact jersey today and seems fully cleared to participate in Saturday’s scrimmage session inside Memorial Stadium this weekend.

Here are some quick notes:

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

March 29, 2022

Illinois continued its early offseason recruiting activity when it secured a commitment from East St. Louis linebacker Antwon Hayden on Tuesday. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

Marchi 29, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- Welcome to the fourth day of practices and second practice in full pads where the Illinois players and coaches moved to the grass fields next to the Smith Family Football Complex for the first time during this spring season.

The one major takeaway was the work being done by outside linebackers coach Kevin Kane with a position group that will require some inexperienced players stepping into new roles following the graduation of Owen Carney Jr. and Isaiah Gay from the past two seasons. One of the players who has quickly emerged is Virginia Tech transfer Alec Bryant, which should not be seen as a surprise after the 240-pound pass rusher was seen as a priority signee when arrived in Champaign last August but was ineligible to play during last season.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

March 29, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy ERT Preps)

Antwon Hayden, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete from East. St. Louis, Illinois, pledged to the Illini this morning. Last week the Illinois coaching staff was able to land four-star Kaden Feagin, a 6-foot-3, 221-pound athlete from Arthur, Illinois. Both know each other and talk to each other from time to time. Hayden is the Trent Frazier version of the class of 2023. He has known for a while how much he has liked Illinois, so he is recruiting others to join him and Feagin. Frazier was great at selling men's basketball coach Brad Underwood's dream; Hayden is selling football coach Bret Bielema's vision.

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 25, 2022

Andrew Hines is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker from Atlanta, Georgia, who made the trip to Champaign recently and came away in awe.

The Illinois offensive line personnel give the Illini coaches more options but also more debate as to the starting five going into the 2022 season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 26, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- For what you'd expect in a first-year coaching staff, Bart Miller arguably walked into a more ready-made situation than several of his colleagues.

Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Student Correspondent

March 27, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, IL – Casey Washington may be losing his hair, but not his confidence.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 26, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN -- Once again (and for the last time), since I was stuck in airports during the open media window and interviews coming out of the first Illinois spring practice, we’re going to go ahead and call this the third practice report but forget that the first practice existed.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

March 24, 2022

Illinois made its first big splash on the recruiting front when 4-star athlete Kaeden Faegin of Arthur, Illinois decided to stay close to home when he chose the Illini. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

March 25, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Redzone)

The Fighting Illini are off to a great start with the class of 2023 after Wednesday's commitment of 4-star running back Kaden Feagin from Arthur-Lovington looking to lead the charge.

With the Knights' highly-touted two-way star in the fold, head coach Bret Bielema now locks in on making good on his pledge of prioritizing the best in-state prospects.  And that means Antwon Hayden is high on his priority list..

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker/athlete from East St. Louis will visit the Illinois campus this weekend. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 24, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- So, since I was stuck in airports during the open media window and interviews coming out of the first Illinois spring practice, we’re going to go ahead and call this the second practice report and forget that the first practice existed. Yes, it existed and this report may reference what Illinois second-year head coach Bret Bielema said on Tuesday but this is just a convoluted explanation to you, the loyal reader, why the first IlliniGuys.com practice report is titled ‘Practice Report No. 2’.

Welcome to the second day of spring practices for the Illinois football program on colder, cloudy day where the forecast called for spitting rain but it didn’t deter the squad led by Bielema from practicing outside on the Memorial Stadium turf.

The one major takeaway is the speed and tempo that this offense wants to run with now that former UTSA offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. is in charge of the play-calling. The one thing we’ve consistently told our subscribers at IlliniGuys.com is we don’t expect the offensive philosophy or formations to change a lot because both Bielema and Lunney believe in a power running game out of big packages that can and should be able to set up a play-action pass game. So, except Illinois to find itself in a lot of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two wide receivers) a lot and even some 22 personnel (two running backs, one wide receiver and two tight ends) some because of Luke Ford’s versatility to block inside the tackle box but also be split out in the slot.

Bret Bielema has said early and often that he’s searching for his version of a Ayo Dosunmu-type impact recruit to build the foundation for a rebuild of Illini football. Kaden Feagin wants that label. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 23, 2022

ARTHUR, Ill. -- Nearly a year ago to the day, Illinois new head coach Bret Bielema said he was still looking for his Ayo Dosunmu.

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting
March 14, 2022

Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema has landed his basketball version of Ayo Dosunmu in football today.

Kaden Feagin is a 6-foot-3, 221-pound athlete from Arthur, Illinois, a four-star recruit who is definitely a difference maker.

Feagin has explosive speed, strength, and vision with 4.5 speed.

Why is this such a big deal for the coaching staff and the football program? In just his second year Bielema and his staff have proven they can now battle the upper echelon teams in the country.

Feagin picked Illinois over the likes of Iowa, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Notre Dame, Purdue, Tennessee, and Rutgers.

This verbal will show how serious Illinois is when it comes to keeping the best players in the state, which is what Bielema said he would do, and it shows nationally; if you come to Illinois, the days of just taking football without a fight are done.

The Illinois recruit told IlliniGuys previously, "I've been to campus a few times, the game time experience was amazing to me. With a new staff, Illinois is a completely new team now."

Getting this commitment from Feagin early will be a sign to other potential prospects that Illinois is going to win top-notch recruiting battles.

Please follow me on Twitter @KedPrince4

Email: PrinceKedric@yahoo.com

Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Student Correspondent March 22, 2022 CHAMPAIGN, […]

The Illinois football program will be operating its second set of spring practices under head coach Bret Bielema and first spring session with new quarterback Tommy DeVito and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 22, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- Bret Bielema gets to open his second set of spring practices this morning with numerous questions to answer and problems to solve before the Illini squad host the annual Orange and Blue Game on Thursday, April 21 under the lights at Memorial Stadium.