Illini Spring Practice Report No. 3: Palcho On ‘Maintenance Day’; Bielema Loving His Bigger Tailbacks
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.
Football Recruiting Spotlight on Kaden Feagin
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.
Recruiting: High-Priority 2023 Prep Star Visiting Illinois This Weekend
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.
Practice Report No. 2: Art Sitkowski Still Not Allowed to Throw; Illini Adjusting to Speed of Barry Lunney’s Offense
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.
‘Let’s get this show on the road’: Newly Committed Kaden Feagin Embracing Being Bielema’s Ayo-type Recruit for Illinois Football
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.
Breaking: Illinois Football Scores Major Recruiting Win in Landing 4-Star Prep Star Kaden Feagin
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
Barry Lunney and Ryan Walters Talk Spring Practice
Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Student Correspondent March 22, 2022 CHAMPAIGN, […]
Matt Stevens’ Four Downs: Keys to 2022 Illini Spring Practices
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.
Football Spotlight: Offseason Redux - Linebackers
Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst
March 15, 2022
Ryan Walters just loves to mix things up mid-season.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illini Fans, Keep an Eye Out for this Football Prospect
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
March 14, 2022
Antwon Hayden, an outside linebacker at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds in the Class of 2023 from East St. Louis, Illinois, updates his recruiting with IlliniGuys.
Kerby Joseph Amazed at Sudden, Huge Rise in 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Former Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph arrived at Illini Pro Day Friday as a star after being a relative unknown through his first two years in Champaign.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 12, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- It’s safe to assume Kerby Joseph arrived Friday morning at the Smith Family Football Center with a different reputation than when he arrived in Bret Bielema’s office 13 months ago.
Illini TE coach/Special Teams Coordinator Ben Miller Taking Leave of Absence After Colon Cancer Diagnosis
Illinois football assistant coach Ben Miller announced Thursday afternoon […]
Illini Story Time: Illini’s Tommy DeVito’s Favorite QB? Illini Recruit Target Aaron Rodgers
New Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito says his favorite NFL player is Aaron Rodgers - a priority recruiting target by then-Illini head coach Ron Turner.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuy Staff Writer
March , 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In his first and only live media availability in early February, new Illinois transfer quarterback Tommy DeVito admitted that his favorite National Football League signal caller was Aaron Rodgers.
Illinois Football Hits the St. Louis Area Again
Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
March 1, 2022
Antwon Hayden, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete from Saint Charles, Missouri, picked up an Illinois offer Wednesday night.
IlliniGuardians NIL Collective Teams Up With Current & Former Illini For Impactful Chicago Event
(Publisher's note: This was republished with permission from Illini […]
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