Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 10, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Players tend to be the first people who will know who can contribute to a team and are usually the last people to be incredibly shy about those who can’t.

In an offseason when he doesn’t have the opportunity to watch his players all the time, Bret Bielema likes to use veteran team captain and leading receiver Isaiah Williams as a litmus test for some of his high-profile new arrivals.

Last winter, the Illinois third-year head coach detailed how he pulled aside . . .