The Farrell Report - Transfer Portal News
Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert
January 2, 2023
(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)
The focus is on the bowl game of course and Illinois is unlike some other programs in this respect.
New Year’s Day Bowl Game Serves As Reward For Jamal Woods’ 6-year Illini Journey
Game Preview: 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl - No. 22 Mississippi […]
IlliniGuys ReliaQuest Bowl Predictions
January 2, 2023 The first ever IlliniGuys football picks […]
ReliaQuest Bowl Notebook: Newton’s Clearwater Crew Secured As Many 100 Tickets; Illini OC Lunney Jr. Believes Sitkowski ‘will be a phenomenal coach’; Who Dots the ‘I’ in Bielema’s Victory Formation?
Illinois defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton played his high school football games just 30 minutes from Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
January 1, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
TAMPA, Fla. -- Illinois’ star defensive lineman believes their will be a ‘Johnny Newton section’ decided to just him for the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl.
Since the moment Illinois (8-4) was selected to play in Tampa for its bowl game against No. 22 Mississippi State (8-4) for the Illini’s first New Year’s bowl game since 2007, Newton has been acting as a ticket broker on the roster trying to manufacture and convince teammates to give me their allotment of tickets to play the final game of the 2022 season just 30 minutes from where he played high school football at Clearwater Central Catholic.
Bielema Values Experience & Work Ethic of New DB Coach Hire Antonio Fenelus
Fenelus drove down to Tampa Friday night with his family and attended Illinois’ Saturday afternoon practice session.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
Illini defensive coordinator Aaron Henry (left) and defensive backs coach Antonio Fenelus (center) at the 2012 Rose Bowl news conference during their Wisconsin Badgers playing days. (Courtesy Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
December 31, 2022
TAMPA, Fla. -- As soon as Ryan Walters accepted the Purdue head coach job, Bret Bielema know the answer of who he’d be hiring and Saturday the Illinois second-year coach answered the question of why it was Antonio Fenelus.
Fenelus, who will turn 33 years old on January 19, was a four-year letterwinner at safety for Wisconsin under Bielema as the Badgers head coach and the defensive back from Boca Raton shined as a senior in 2011 where earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors. However, it was Fenelus’ experience and perceived work ethic outside of being under Bielema’s purview that has made the Illini head coach want to bring his former player back on staff as soon as possible.
The Illini Hope New Year's Bowls Become Commonplace
Illinois Football looks to add to the history books with a win at Raymond James Stadium Jan. 2, 2023.
Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Correspondent
December 31, 2022
Throughout the long-standing history of Illinois football, January bowl games simply mean more.
Lunney Excited About Illini’s Tailback Future Showcase in ReliaQuest Bowl
Without the services of Chase Brown, Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. looking forward to show his offensive’s future talent at tailback.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
December 31, 2022
TAMPA, Fla. -- On the second day of 2023, Illinois will be showcasing the future of its tailback talent they hope to be using throughout the rest of the calendar year.
The Farrell Report - News and Notes
Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert
December 30, 2022
(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)
In this edition of the Farrell Report — Illinois I’ll take a look at what the Illini have at RB from the 2023 class, make a guess at who the new defensive backs coach will be and drop some portal info.
Bret Bielema Hires Former Player & DB Coach Antonio Fenelus to Illini’s Staff
Antonio Fenelus has been added to Bret Bielema’s Illinois staff to fill the vacancy left by Ryan Walters’ head coach hiring to Purdue and Aaron Henry’s promotion.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
December 30, 2022
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has hired his third former player from his time as a defensive coordinator and head coach at Wisconsin to his Illini defensive assistant coaching staff.
Antonio Fenelus will be getting his first full-time positional coaching job at a Football Bowl Subdivision school as the new defensive backs coach on an Illini coaching staff that also features Bielema’s former players Aaron Henry (defensive coordinator) and defensive line coach Terrance Jamison.
Aaron Henry’s Promotion Provided Comfort & Calmness for Returning Illini Players
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema wanted a big reaction from his team when he announced Aaron Henry’s promotion to defensive coordinator. What he got was calmness in a trying coaching silly season week for the Illini.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
December 30, 2022
TAMPA, Fla. -- Aaron Henry’s promotion didn’t provide for a theatrical YouTube-style reaction by this returning Illinois roster of players.
Illinois Snares Ole Miss QB Luke Altmyer From Transfer Portal
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting
Dec. 29, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Stephen Lee/USA Today Sports)
Last month Luke Altmyer thanked Ole Miss coaches, teammates, and fans for what they had done, but felt it was time he moved on. Today he announced his destination: Illinois.
The pro-style quarterback was ranked as one of the nation’s top 15 signal callers coming out of high school in the class of 2021.
What Could Illinois be Getting in Transfer QB Luke Altmyer?: ‘He’s just so smart’
Luke Altmyer’s high school coach details what qualities made him a Top 150 player in ESPN’s rankings of prospects in the 2021 recruiting class.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
December 29, 2022
Just over two years ago, Luke Altmyer broke Starkville High School’s single game passing record in a 41-7 victory at Germantown High School with 426 yards.
Will Isaiah Williams Play for Illinois in 2023? ‘That’s the plan, as of right now’
After watching assistant coach Cory Patterson leave for Ryan Walters’ staff at Purdue, Illinois wide receiver declines to guarantee his plans for 2023.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
December 29, 2022
TAMPA, Fla. -- Isaiah Williams has once again been introduced with an adult decision to his college football career.
Could Illinois Future Quarterback Picture Start to Take Shape?
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
Cover photo courtesy MSN.com
December 28, 2022
Luke Altmyer, Ole Miss courtesy MSN.com
Getting a veteran quarterback is still up in the air.
Illini QB Tommy DeVito Confirms ReliaQuest Bowl Will End College Career
Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito details what he says was a four-week process on a possible eligibility waiver.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
December 28, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tommy DeVito will end his college football career in the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl.
The Illinois quarterback confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the bowl game on Jan. 2 against Mississippi State will be his final college football game before beginning preparation for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Before the media availability at Raymond James Stadium immediately following the team’s picture, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has been intentionally vague about the situation when asked about DeVito’s status for the 2023 season. Following the first day of early signing period on Dec. 21, Bielema said “I’m not saying it has sailed but there’s a hope there’s a way out there that could get him back” and unless that waiver denial by the NCAA Eligibility Center was confirmed in the last seven days, the Illinois staff were already well aware that DeVito’s final game would be in Tampa, Fla.
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