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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#20 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#20 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#51 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#51 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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06/27/22 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 210 (DS#10 QB) + More +

Luke Atlmyer and Jaxson Dart are two quarterbacks vying for Ole Miss' starting quarterback job this fall. Altmyer is the sophomore returning quarterback for the Rebels and Dart is an incoming transfer from USC. While the competition is expected to be intense, Altmyer said he will have fun working alongside Dart, who passed for 1,353 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions for USC. "He's a very nice guy. He's a great player and competitor," Altmyer said while working as a camp counselor at the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on Friday. "Our relationship is very healthy. He's a super cool dude and very selfless and a great teammate.

"There is obviously a lot of competition and that builds some anxiety that comes with it, but I wouldn't want anything but the best for him." The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Altmyer competed in five games for Ole Miss last season, mostly behind starter Matt Corral, who has left for the NFL. Altmyer completed 20 of 37 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in 2021. He played when Corral injured his knee during the Sugar Bowl against Baylor in New Orleans on Jan. 2. He threw for 178 yards and a touchdown and completed 15 of 28 pass attempts in a 21-7 loss. Despite the bowl loss, Altmyer said the game was valuable. "I've learned so much from that experience," Altmyer said. "It's great having those reps and facing the adversity that comes with it. I still have things to learn, but I'm just going to keep on trying to do my best." - The Clarion Ledger

(DS#10 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: The Clarion Ledger
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05/26/22 - Tommy DeVito, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-1, 210 (DS#18 QB) + More +

With spring practice complete, all signs point toward a pair of incoming transfers making their first appearances with their new teams when the Pokes and Illini meet in Week Zero. Tommy DeVito transferred to Illinois this offseason after spending the past five years at Syracuse. DeVito had his 2020 season cut short due to injury and lost his starting job last fall, but showed promise in his first year as a starter in 2019 - passing for 2,360 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added two scores on the ground, and despite being sacked 44 times, finished the year with 122 rushing yards. This promise was on display again in Illinois' spring game, during which he completed 16 of 20 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. - Wyoming Tribune Eagle

(DS#18 QB) rSr/2023

QB Tommy DeVito, Illinois
News Source: Wyoming Tribune Eagle
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05/24/22 - Jonah Morris, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-3, 220 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Illinois football bolstered its roster for the 2022 season and its program moving forward with commitments from transfer wide receiver Jonah Morris and Class of 2023 offensive lineman TJ McMillen in the last two days. Morris' addition addresses a position of need for Illinois given real depth concerns at wide receiver. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver is arguably the Jalen Coleman-Lands of college football given the 2022 season with the Illini will be Morris' seventh.

Morris started his college career at Indiana and redshirted in 2016 before playing primarily on special teams for the Hoosiers in 2017. He transferred back home to play at Akron and started all 12 games for the Zips in 2018 while catching 26 passes for 381 yards and a touchdown. A training camp injury cost Morris the entire 2019 season, and he opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season before transferring to Northern Colorado. He caught 20 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown in five games with the Bears in 2021. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2023

WR Jonah Morris, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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05/05/22 - Keith Randolph Jr., rJr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 296 (DS#19 DT) + More +

Keith Randolph Jr., defensive lineman. The one-time high school basketball standout seems ready for a Mercilus-like breakout in 2022. He had four sacks in 2021. Double that number and he might be looking at an early entry into the NFL. He's got the size (6 feet, 5 inches and 300 pounds) and athleticism to take his play to another level. Randolph missed the spring game with an undisclosed injury, but is expected to be ready for the season. Playing opposite improving Johnny Newton should boost Randolph's pressure numbers. The NFL personnel people who get to know Randolph will enjoy being around him. He is one of the friendliest guys on the Illini roster. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#19 DT) rJr/2024

DT Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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04/29/22 - Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 210 (DS#10 QB) + More +

The Red team defeated the Navy team 48-36 in Ole Miss's annual Grove Bowl on Saturday. Leading the way for the Red team was sophomore quarterback Luke Altmyer. Altmyer played a good game, throwing for 182 yards and no interceptions. He also rushed for 77 yards on five attempts and ran in for two touchdowns. Although he did have great numbers on the ground, Altmyer didn't look very sharp through the air, posting just a 41% completion percentage. But, he did show flashes of how accurate he can be when he threw a strike to junior running back Ulysses Bentley IV for a 42 yard gain in the first quarter. "I think I've just gained so much confidence," Altmyer said when asked where he's improved the most since last season. "I think confidence for a quarterback is the biggest asset, and I think last year I lacked a lot of it, just being new and being around a bunch of new guys." On the other side, the Navy team was led by sophomore quarterback Jaxson Dart. Dart didn't have the best game, throwing for 166 yards and two interceptions with a 36% completion percentage, while overthrowing his receivers with the deep ball multiple times in the first half. - Daily Mississippian

(DS#10 QB) rSr/2026

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
News Source: Daily Mississippian
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