Football

Illinois defensive tackle Gentle Hunt transferred as a All-SWAC player from Florida A&M but suddenly bought into a transition plan to the Big Ten that will likely include a redshirt season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 22, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Gentle Hunt came to Illinois as one of the better defensive lineman in the Southwest Athletic Conference after being an integral piece for a 2023 Celebration Bowl champion and HBCU national championship program.

Nothing about the transition from Florida A&M to Illinois suggested a reset of expectations was on the horizon but 305-pound nose tackle learned very quickly that progress isn’t exactly linear when making a change in the transfer portal.

Before the 38-16 victory over Michigan State on Saturday, Hunt had played a grand total of one snap of defense in a game and hadn’t contributed at all compared to his own internal expectations for the 2024 season. During the first bye week of the season, Hunt had a meeting with Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and according to the fourth-year leader of the Illini program, the meeting was anything other than contentious.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 22, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — During last weekend’s Michigan State football game, Illinois hosted one of the top running backs in the 2026 class, Chase Enlow, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound prospect from Princeton, N.J.

Illinois is anticipating the possibility of 2024 four-star junior college signee Daniel Brown could be an integral part of this weekend’s plan for the game at Rutgers. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 22, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Bret Bielema is essentially anticipating making a trade on his active roster for Illinois’ next game. 

Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant set a Memorial Stadium record for single-season receiving touchdowns (six) and career receiving scores (13) in his final game in Champaign.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 21, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Pat Bryant started playing flag football at 3 years old and last weekend was the first time a certain thought crawled inside his mind - don’t cry.
Bryant, who will turn 22 years old on December 10, spent the entire morning before his final home game at Illinois trying to intentionally avoid the emotions of what Senior Day can be for a four-year starter and then the tradition of Illinois wide receivers Justin Stepp ended all of that hope.

“I kept thinking the whole time since we went to the team hotel on Friday that I wasn’t going to cry and then Coach Stepp handed me my letter before the game,” Bryant said. “Before this one, my letter from him was more personal. It included stuff about how much of a pleasure it was to coach me and I had to let it out. Coach Stepp got me.”

Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry unleashed a third-down package that had been prepared for several weeks but required several key misfit pieces to perfectly fit in this scheme. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 20, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The package unleashed on Michigan State by the Illinois defense is simply called “dime” but is anything but a basic six-man secondary coverage package. 

Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry spent the first bye week of preparation trying to evaluate his calls and schemes to self-scout the Illini defensive unit and admitted afterwards that he and his coaching staff actually outsmarted itself by adding too many calls to the playsheet. This scouting mistake was exploited by Purdue head coach Ryan Walters as the career defensive coach took over the offensive play-calling duties for that week because he was betting on the idea that Henry would go away from the simplicity of what was working for Illinois through the first month of the 2024 season. 

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 19, 2024

Illinois turned in a very good senior day performance last Saturday against Michigan State and managed to surge back into the rankings as a result.  I thought it was a great, business-like game for the Illini and on second watch I thought the mature play and coaching of the Illini staff made all the difference in the game. To underscore that conclusion, I chose several highlights that proved the theme.

I'm starting on the defense this week because statistically the pass rush was the difference in the game.  Illinois turned in five sacks on the day and eight tackles for loss that were the result of similar penetration by the defensive front to the successful pass rushes.  I cut off the video just a bit early, but Gabe Jacas has a tight end lined up over his outside shoulder to start this play, but the tight end makes it clear that he isn't going to block and the result is Jacas ignores him entirely.  He dominates right tackle Ashton Lepo with a long arm move due to a really poor pass blocking set which basically invites Jacas to take Lepo's left shoulder and run unimpeded to quarterback Aidan Chiles.  That's just back coaching across the board.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 19th, 2024

(Photo courtesy player's page on X)

Champaign, IL – Late last week, Perry Cole, a standout three-star defensive lineman from Trinity Valley Community College in Palestine, Texas, announced his final four schools. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound athlete has narrowed his options to Illinois, UNLV, Minnesota, and TCU, attracting major interest among Illinois football followers.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]

November 17, 2024

(cover photo courtesy USA Today)

It's mid-November and the table is about to be set in the Big Ten!

Here are some top headlines:

Not every win is pretty.

Illinois defensive coordinator has been the figurehead of a lot frustration and anger from fans since his promotion by his boss Bret Bielema. The 38-16 win on Saturday proved he has lots of answers.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 17, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — No hyperbolism necessary here - the last 21 minutes or so of this football is the absolute best tape of an Illinois defense with Aaron Henry as the play-caller. And it may not even be close. 

By IlliniGuys Staff November 16, 2024 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]

After four years of developing into one of the […]

November 16, 2024 The Illini come into this game […]

The season-ending injury to Dylan Rosiek in the 25-17 loss to Minnesota is going to force Illinois to rely on several players with little to no significant playing experience. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 14, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The players inside the Smith Family Football Complex may need to acknowledge the private messaging in the public command coming from Illinois inside linebackers coach Archie McDaniel.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 13, 2024

Illinois made a big splash on the recruiting front during its week off when 4-star quarterback Michael Clayton II of Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida chose the Illini over offers from numerous other high majors.