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The biggest holes defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has to fill are in the secondary. Illinois lost a serious playmaker in Kerby Joseph and a veteran cornerback in Tony Adams. It isn't totally bleak, of course. Sydney Brown returns to punish anyone with the ball close to the line of scrimmage, and Devon Witherspoon is back as a potential lockdown corner. But Illinois still has to find another cornerback, figure out where to use Quan Martin and find a new playmaker with Joseph now with the Detroit Lions. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#1 CB) Sr/2023

CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/29/22 - Alex Palczewski, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-7, 303 (DS#20 OT) + More +

2022 PRESEASON OUTLAND TROPHY WATCHLIST: OT Alex Palczewski, Illinois,...Palczewski enters the 2022 season with 52 career starts, 36 at tackle and 16 at guard...2022 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten third team...2021 All-Big Ten honorable mention (coaches and media). - Illinois Football

(DS#20 OT) rSr/2023

OT Alex Palczewski, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/28/22 - Chase Brown, Sr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 209 (DS#10 RB) + More +

A day before Big Ten football Media Days starts in Indianapolis on Tuesday, cleveland.com compiled results of its 12th annual Big Ten poll. And beat writers who cover the league aren't thinking too fondly of what Illinois can accomplish in its second season under Bret Bielema. The Illini are picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten West, only ahead of Northwestern. Illinois received 65 points, with Northwestern checking in at seventh with 61 points.

Wisconsin is the favorite to win the Big Ten West, with the Badgers receiving 246 points and 31 first-place votes. Writers pegged Iowa in second place with 198 points, followed by Minnesota in third with 162 points, Purdue in fourth with 153 points and Nebraska in fifth with 123 points. No Illini players received any votes for those two individual honors. Illinois finished 5-7 last season, including 4-5 in the Big Ten as the Illini wound up fifth in the Big Ten West. The Illini kick off training camp on Saturday in Champaign and open the season at 3 p.m. on Aug. 27 against Wyoming at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#10 RB) Sr/2023

RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/28/22 - Kody Case, rSr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 182 (DS#141 WR) + More +

If there was a position of need - and there were several - the Illinois coaching staff trended toward adding a veteran. That was particularly true at wide receiver. The Illini addressed some of their depth issues at that crucial position in the Class of 2022 by adding five freshman receivers. But they still went out and added Northern Colorado's Jonah Morris and South Dakota's Kody Case in the transfer portal. Morris will be in his seventh season this fall, while Case will be in his sixth. "Maturity, that's probably the obvious answer for both of them," Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. said about what both Morris and Case provide. "They're both older and guys that have a lot of experience playing football games. It's probably something if you just looked at our roster overall that we were a little bit short on. When we looked to supplement our roster in general and at that position we probably erred toward the side of guys who are a little more mature."

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Morris, who started his college career at Indiana and also played at Akron, will provide a big target for Illinois in the passing game. Bielema praised his athleticism and catching abilities. The 5-10, 175-pound Case will likely be another option in the slot. "He's got a lot of intangibles that you really can't put a price tag on," Bielema said of Case. "When you watch his film, just a really exciting, dynamic guy to watch. Not only obviously in their conference, they play good football, but he had some crossovers games against Power Fives and really was intrigued with the way he competed in those games and the things I saw." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#141 WR) rSr/2023

WR Kody Case, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/25/22 - Luke Ford, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-6, 268 (DS#43 TE) + More +

2022 PRESEASON JOHN MACKEY AWARD WATCH LIST: LUKE FORD, ILLINOIS,...Ford started all 12 games at tight end in 2021...15 receptions for 114 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2021...Fifth on the team in receptions (15) in 2021...Career highs in receptions (3) and receiving yards (30) and scored his first career touchdown against Nebraska 8/28/21. - Illinois Football

(DS#43 TE) rSr/2023

TE Luke Ford, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/22/22 - Zakhari Franklin, rSr/2025, Illinois, 6-1, 204 (DS#84 WR) + More +

2022 PRESEASON BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST: Zakhari Franklin, UTSA,...Franklin is coming off a record-setting season in 2021 in which he helped lead the Roadrunners to a 12-2 record, the C-USA title, the program's first top-25 ranking and to their second straight and third overall bowl game. The Cedar Hill High School product smashed UTSA single-season standards for receptions (81), receiving yards (1,027), receiving yards per game (79.0) and receiving touchdowns (12) en route to first-team all-conference and second-team Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College honors.

Franklin also matched his own school mark from 2020 with four 100-yard receiving games last fall, including a season-high 155 yards on 10 grabs in the 37-30 road win over Illinois, to give him a program-best nine for his career. His 2021 campaign vaulted him atop the UTSA all-time charts for receptions (168), receiving yards (2,212) and TD catches (22). He also owns the program's single-game record for receptions with 12, which he turned into 138 yards and a pair of scores versus Army in 2020. - UTSA Football

(DS#84 WR) rSr/2025

WR Zakhari Franklin, Illinois
News Source: UTSA Football
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07/22/22 - Chase Brown, Sr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 209 (DS#10 RB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON DOAK WALKER AWARD CANDIDATE: Chase Brown (Jr.), Illinois,...After spending his freshman year at Western Michigan, Chase Brown played the last three years at Illinois. Last season he led Illinois with 170 carries for 1,005 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, along with 14 receptions for 142 receiving yards. He is the only returning player in the nation with two of the nation's top 17 rushing games from 2021. Third in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (100.5) and fifth in the Big Ten and 27th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (5.9). Ran for 223 yards on 33 carries and one touchdown at #7 Penn State to help Illinois win the longest game in college football history (20-18, 9 OT). Joined Howard Griffith (1990) and Rashard Mendenhall (2007) as the only players in program history with multiple 200-yard rushing games in a single season. - Illinois Football

(DS#10 RB) Sr/2023

RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/19/22 - Chase Brown, Sr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 209 (DS#10 RB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: Chase Brown, Illinois,...As a sophomore in 2021, Illinois running back Chase Brown (5-11, 205) led the team with 170 carries for 1,005 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, along with 14 receptions for 142 receiving yards on the season… Ran for 223 yards on 33 carries and one touchdown at #7 Penn State to help Illinois win the longest game in college football history (20-18, 9 OT)… Joined Howard Griffith (1990) and Rashard Mendenhall (2007) as the only players in program history with multiple 200-yard rushing games in a single season… His 223 rushing yards at #7 Penn State were the most ever by an opponent at Beaver Stadium and the fourth-most ever against Penn State. - Illinois Football

(DS#10 RB) Sr/2023

RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/18/22 - TeRah Edwards, rSr/2025, Illinois, 6-3, 321 (DS#90 DT) + More +

TeRah Edwards saw limited action in his freshman year redo last fall and ultimately redshirted after playing in just three games for Northwestern before transferring to the Illini this winter. He had one tackle in the Wildcats' win against Indiana State, which matched his single tackle against Illinois from the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season and his first freshman year.

There's really only one spot to be filled on Illinois' defensive line, and that's at nose tackle between the law firm of Keith Randolph Jr. and Johnny Newton. Someone has to replace Roderick Perry II. The realities of the position, of course, necessitate having multiple options. Edwards will at least be in the mix and could be a long-term future option. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#90 DT) rSr/2025

DT TeRah Edwards, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/14/22 - Josh Kreutz, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 290 (DS#6 C) + More +

Josh Kreutz got a redshirt year out of his first season at Illinois, but he was among the handful of true freshmen that actually played. It wasn't a large role - just some spot appearances on the offensive line - but it showed the trust the Illini staff had in the three-star recruit with a multi-time Pro Bowl center as a dad. This coming season probably won't yield a bigger role for Kreutz, but that's OK. Throwing freshmen offensive linemen to the wolves usually doesn't pan out all that well. Allowing them a year or two or three to develop is the path to building a sustainable program. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#6 C) rSr/2026

C Josh Kreutz, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/12/22 - Aidan Laughery, rJr/2027, Illinois, 5-10, 200 (DS#33 RB) + More +

Aidan Laughery's senior season with the Falcons amounted to just three quarters played in their season-opening loss to Carlinville and then limited action in the final three games of the year but was never 100 percent. It wasn't the first leg injury to derail Laughery either, with another robbing him of competing at state track as a junior. The Illinois backfield is rather crowded with Chase Brown, Josh McCray, Reggie Love III and Chase Hayden all returning. Fellow freshman Jordan Anderson provides even more competition. But Laughery could still find a way to contribute, whether that's as a returner on special teams or other ways offensively to take advantage of his speed. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#33 RB) rJr/2027

RB Aidan Laughery, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/11/22 - Jonah Morris, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-3, 220 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Illinois' returning production at wide receiver is fairly limited. As in 74 catches for 917 yards and four touchdowns - the majority of which belongs to Isaiah Williams. That creates an opportunity for any number of other receivers to step into a prominent role, and Morris brings a physical presence at the position fairly unique to the current roster. Jonah Morris' lone season at Northern Colorado was his first on the field since 2018 at Akron. The veteran wide receiver (at least age-wise since he's 24 years old and Illinois is his fourth college) played in five games for the Bears and finished the season with 20 receptions for 143 yards and one touchdown. Most of that production came with eight catches for 74 yards and the score against Houston Baptist. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2023

WR Jonah Morris, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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06/29/22 - Tommy DeVito, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-1, 210 (DS#18 QB) + More +

Brandon Peters finally exhausted his eligibility after 27 seasons, so Illini coach Bret Bielema, lacking good in-house options, snagged from Syracuse DeVito, who threw 19 touchdowns in 2019 before sharing starting duties in 2020 and 2021. DeVito can make all the passes. Illinois hopes he can be more durable than the oft-injured Peters. - Lincoln Journal Star

(DS#18 QB) rSr/2023

QB Tommy DeVito, Illinois
News Source: Lincoln Journal Star
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06/28/22 - Sydney Brown, rSr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 211 (DS#2 SS) + More +

The one-year anniversary of name, image and likeness taking college athletics by storm hits next week. It took nearly that entire calendar year for Illinois football players Chase Brown and Sydney Brown to take advantage of those new NIL opportunities. The Brown twins, who hail from Windsor, Ontario in Canada, are part of the roughly 12 percent of college athletes from outside of the United States. The way NIL deals could complicate F-1 student visas meant those international athletes had their opportunities curtailed. Heading back to Canada this month, though, opened the door for the Browns to finally take advantage.

They partnered with Australian athletic leisure ware brand LSKD and with some law firms in Canada. "We had people that were interested in my brother and I enough to invest money and use us as ways to endorse their company," Chase Brown said. "We've been excited to work with them and partner with them and look forward to future opportunities." Sydney Brown is putting NIL on the back burner for the moment. The Illinois football team has reconvened for the summer and workouts, including, for the first time, the opportunity to work with the coaching staff, is his focus. "It was fun, but it's distracting," Sydney Brown said about exploring NIL opportunities while at home in Canada. "I'm looking forward to stepping away from it for a little bit. As beneficial as it is, it's distracting at the same time. It takes you away. It's a whole other side of life. It's just different. There's football, and then there's NIL." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#2 SS) rSr/2023

SS Sydney Brown, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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06/27/22 - Isaiah Williams, rJr/2024, Illinois, 5-09, 182 (DS#34 WR) + More +

He finished 129th nationally in catches per game last season. This year, Isaiah Williams ranks much higher than that when it comes to his importance to Illinois' new-look offense under first-year coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. Like No. 1 or 2. The converted quarterback caught 47 passes in 2021 during his first season at receiver. That was good for 13th in the Big Ten. Williams also tallied 525 receiving yards and four touchdowns for a 5-7 Illini team in 2021. Solid numbers for sure. But they are about to go up. "He's that player that all coaches and media talk about," Lunney said. "You have to figure out a way to get the football to Isaiah."

Remember, Williams is not a lifelong receiver. Until last season, Williams played quarterback his whole life. "Every day is a new day for him," Lunney said. Williams is putting in the time. Lunney appreciates the effort. "I see him working at his craft a lot on his own," Lunney said. "That speaks volumes about him. He realizes that move for him last year was a good thing for him as a football player. He's embraced that on a daily basis, whether it's been the JUGS machine or in the office with Coach (George) McDonald on his own time asking questions. Or with me." Williams' skill set is a plus at receiver. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound St. Louis native is "great in confined small spaces, in and out of cuts. "He's got something different than a lot of guys playing quarterback have," Lunney said. "You saw that last season. We're going to need to see it a lot this fall for us to be productive." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#34 WR) rJr/2024

WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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