Football

Former Illini All-American Martin O’Donnell announces end to a […]

New Illinois football assistant coaches Archie McDaniel and Justin Stepp have been given a promise by their new boss Bret Bielema that he intends for them to add their name to the list of people who have been promoted to coordinator or head coach roles.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 16, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Similarly to the promise a coach makes with a prospect, a pledge has been made by the Illinois head football coach to his two newest assistant coach hires - I’ll get you better.

Throughout the short interview process of hiring wide receivers coach Justin Stepp and inside linebackers coach Archie McDaniel, Bret Bielema has vowed to these two men that he can get them to a future coordinator position or even possibly a head coach spot in their respective careers. 

“The one thing that I consistently got from everybody who I talked to was (Bielema) makes you better as an assistant coach in every aspect of coaching,” McDaniel said in his first public comments since being announced hired to Bielema’s Illini staff on Feb. 9. “That was extremely attractive to me and intrigued me more than anything. I consider myself a sponge. I’ve been doing this 18 years and constantly am looking for ways to grow professionally and personally.” 

Illinois RHP Jack Crowder, one of the program’s most anticipated signees in 2021, hopes to put all his natural ability together for a final year of college baseball.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 15, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — The last person to throw a pitch last season for Illinois may likely throw its first pitch in the 2024 campaign.

Senior right-hander Jack Crowder is likely to get the baseball first as the Illini look to rebound from its first under .500 season since 2017. And in a lot of ways, Crowder getting this opening game start for a 9 a.m. CST first pitch against Akron at Wake Forest’s David F. Couch Ballpark is fitting because the 6-foot-4 pitcher is looking to turn his results around as well. 

In his last appearance at the Big Ten Tournament at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., Crowder held Michigan to just one run over the final four innings while striking out five in a 55-pitch outing. He’ll be looking to find that level of success in Illinois’ first game of the 2024 season. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 15, 2024

It was a surprise when Matthew Bailey committed to Illinois right before signing day in 2022. No one even knew that Mac Resetich was even interested in playing football in college when he signed for Illinois on signing day last year, so that news came out of nowhere too. No serious Illinois football fan should have been shocked when Illinois offered Tanner Heckel a scholarship right before signing day in 2024.

Grant Beerman Eyes Future Amidst Multiple College Offers Including Illinois

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 14, 2024

Standing at an impressive 6-foot-4 and weighing 210 pounds, Grant Beerman has caught the attention of college football programs across the country, earning offers from prestigious schools such as Illinois, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Duke, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Virginia, and more.

Beerman's junior year was nothing short of spectacular, earning him a well-deserved spot as a first-team All-Conference player in the Greater Miami Conference (GMC). His stat line speaks for itself, boasting 79 tackles, including 12 for loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 pass breakups. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

February 14, 2024

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

I’m this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the battle between Bret Bielema and Mario Cristobal and take a look at 2024 OT signee Andrew Dennis in four key categories.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 13, 2024

Hailing from East Saint Louis, IL, Jason Dowell is making waves in the football world as a standout 6-4, 275-pound Defensive Line 2025 prospect from Althoff Catholic High School. With an impressive four-star rating, Dowell has become one of the most sought-after recruits in the state of Illinois and nation.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is keen on keeping Dowell within the state, recognizing his potential as a game-changer on the defensive line. Dowell has garnered interest from Auburn, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State, Kansas, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon, Missouri, and USC.

In a recent interview with IlliniGuys,

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

February 12, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the other big coaching hire, LBs coach Archie McDaniel.

By Larry Smith, Co-Founder, IlliniGuys & Co-Host/Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 11, 2024

(Photos courtesy Larry Smith)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - It was January, 2007 and the story I was working on was 'could pro sports play in Las Vegas?'  My producer at CNN Sports twisted my arm (wink wink) to make the three-day trip to Sin City immediately after the BCS game in suburban Phoenix.  Florida shocked favored Ohio State to reign as king of college football on that night, but the real stunner came during our interviews in Vegas. 

I sat down with then-mayor - and former mob lawyer - Oscar Goodman, an executive at MGM Grand, and the general manager of the Triple-AAA baseball affiliate that called Las Vegas home and they were very persuasive in their collective view.  I landed on that Tuesday a skeptic, but I left on Friday a convert - firmly believing Las Vegas would eventually be a major league sports city.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 9, 2024

Maybe its just me, but I get more excited about the yearly crop of PWO commits at the second signing day as they come in than I do about the first signing day. The reason is these guys are "free" and don't count against any of the scholarship limitations so you can take as many of them as you want. My excitement has intensified with these last two classes under Bielema though, because Coach Bert has made his grassroots recruiting campaign a priority and it has paid off especially well on guys like this. Last year's PWO crop was the best I'd ever seen.... until this year.

Here they are, in order of commitment:

New Illinois linebackers coach Archie McDaniel brings a vast amount of experience developing talent and recruiting prospects in the Lone Star State of Texas. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 9, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema believes he has found a connection to Texas prospects in the form of his new linebackers coach hire. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

February 9, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the new wide receiver hire (hint, it’s a good one) from a positional and recruiting aspect.

Stepp’s move to Illinois marks his first collegiate assistant job north of the Mason-Dixon Line after spending the last six years as a wide receivers coach in the Southeastern Conference. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 8, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Justin Stepp gets to reunite with Barry Lunney Jr.’s offensive philosophy once again. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 8, 2023

On Wednesday, Illinois signed a valuable addition to its football roster as three-star Kansas defensive back Tanner Heckel signed a national letter of intent. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound athlete hails from Lyndon (HS) in Kansas and is set to bring a diverse skill set to Illinois.

The outside linebackers coaching position is open at Illinois for the third time in four offseasons as Charlie Bullen leaves for the NFL’s New York Giants. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 7, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Charlie Bullen’s time as a full-time position coach at the collegiate level lasted just 13 months. 

Shortly after Illinois head coach Bret Bielema completed a local media conference inside the Smith Family Football Complex, the New York Giants announced Charlie Bullen was leaving the Illini program after just one season for the same job title with the National Football League franchise.