Draft Scout Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20 Player News, College Football: Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20

Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito announced Sunday night on social media that he's entering the transfer portal. In a post on Twitter, the redshirt junior wrote that he was grateful to the university and all the teammates he played with. Coach Dino Babers was not mentioned. "It's with a heavy heart that I am announcing that I will be entering the transfer portal," DeVito wrote. DeVito, a highly regarded recruit from Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey, succeeded Eric Dungey as the starter in 2019 and kept the job for two seasons, though he missed the final seven games of 2020 with a leg injury.

He started the first three games of this season but was replaced by Mississippi State transfer Garrett Shrader and has not played in the past four games. With the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Shrader at the helm, Syracuse (3-4) beat Liberty on a last-second field goal but has lost all three of its Atlantic Coast Conference games. Two were decided on the final play, one in overtime, and on Saturday the Orange fell to Clemson, 17-14, when kicker Andre Szmyt missed a 48-yard field goal in the final minute of regulation. DeVito accepted the backup role initially, hoping for another shot, but Shrader has elevated the offense with his running ability and Babers opted to keep him as the starter. - AP College Football

(DS#18 QB) rSr/2023

QB Tommy DeVito, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

10/05/21 - Chase Brown, Sr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 209 (DS#10 RB) + More +

OCT 4 BIG TEN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chase Brown, Illinois, RB – So. – London, Ontario – St. Stephens Episcopal (Fla.),...Rushed for a career-high 257 yards and tied a career high with two touchdowns in Illinois' 24-14 win vs. Charlotte. Also added a 17-yard reception...His 257 rushing yards marked the fourth-most in a single game in Illini history and the third-most by an FBS player in 2021, trailing only Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson (277 vs. Tulsa on Sept. 18) and Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III (264 at Northwestern on Sept. 3)...Scored a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter to give Illinois a 17-14 lead. Added his second touchdown of the game at the end of the third quarter on an 80-yard run to put Illinois up 24-14. His 80-yard score is tied for the 10th-longest run in program history...Earns the first Offensive Player of the Week accolade of his career...Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Artur Sitkowski (Aug. 30, 2021). - Big Ten Football

(DS#10 RB) Sr/2023

RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
Share/Comment: Here

10/02/21 - Chase Brown, Sr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 209 (DS#10 RB) + More +

Chase Brown rushed for 257 yards and two touchdowns and Illinois beat Charlotte 24-14 on Saturday. It stands as the fourth best single-game rushing performance in Illinois history, His 80-yard scoring run as time expired in the third quarter was the longest run of the year for Illinois (2-4). The last Illini to rush for more than 200 yards in a game was Reggie Corbin, who ran for 213 yards against Minnesota in 2018. Brandon Peters was 10 of 19 passing for 78 yards and one touchdown for the Illini. Josh McCray rushed 16 times for 64 yards, while Daniel Barker caught one pass for a touchdown.

Chris Reynolds was 17 of 23 passing for 191 yards and two touchdowns for Charlotte (3-2). Calvin Camp rushed seven times for 29 yards for the 49ers. Victor Tucker caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown, and Grant DuBose caught four passes for 70 yards. Elijah Spencer caught two passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. Illinois' two touchdowns in the second half both were on Brown runs, a 32-yard score midway through the third quarter and his 80-yard scamper as time expired in the third quarter. - Illinois/AP College Football

(DS#10 RB) Sr/2023

RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/06/21 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

AUG 30 BIG TEN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Artur Sitkowski, Illinois, QB - So. - Old Bridge, N.J. - IMG Academy (Fla.),...Entered the game late in the first quarter following an injury to starting quarterback Brandon Peters. In his first game action with the Fighting Illini, completed 12 of 15 attempts (80.0 pct.) for 124 yards and two touchdowns...The sophomore transfer from Rutgers tied his career high with two touchdown passes, matching his total from Nov. 28, 2020, when he led the Scarlet Knights to a 37-30 win at Purdue...Earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award...Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Josh Imatorbhebhe (Nov. 11, 2019). - Big Ten Football

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/06/21 - Blake Hayes, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 226 (DS#5 P) + More +

AUG 30 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Blake Hayes, Illinois, P - Sr. - Melbourne, Australia - Brighton Grammar (Melbourne, Australia),...Averaged 45.3 yards on six punts during Illinois' 30-22 win vs. Nebraska. Registered two 50-plus-yard punts...Landed three punts inside the 20, including his first punt of the season which went out of bounds inside the 1-yard line...Forced a safety by pinning a Nebraska punt returner inside the 1-yard line. Illinois junior defensive back Kerby Joseph made the tackle in the end zone to give Illinois an early 2-0 lead...Garners the second Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career and first since Sept. 23, 2019...Last Illinois Special Teams Player of the Week: James McCourt (Nov. 16, 2020). - Big Ten Football

(DS#5 P) rSr/2022

P Blake Hayes, Illinois
News Source: Big Ten Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/03/21 - Brandon Peters, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 228 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters may not miss too much time after all, despite injuring his left shoulder in the team's season-opening win against Nebraska last Saturday. First-year coach Bret Bielema said Peters has been progressing quickly, and even threw in practice on Tuesday. "BP, it's coming along probably quicker than most people thought," Bielema said Wednesday night during his weekly radio show at Papa Del's in Champaign. "He threw the ball around (Tuesday), was able to get out there and do that. We're going to kind of evaluate and see where he's at Thursday and make a decision and move forward. It's a lot of how they recover the second day after throwing." The Illini didn't miss Peters all that much thanks to efficient play from backup quarterback Art Sitkowski. The Rutgers transfer completed 12 of 15 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-22 victory during Bielema's first game at Illinois. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#15 QB) rSr/2022

QB Brandon Peters, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

09/01/21 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Bret Bielema was struck by one aspect the first time he spoke with Art Sitkowski after the Rutgers quarterback entered the transfer portal. Sitkowski's maturity resonated with the Illinois football coach in the spring and continued to impress Bielema through the summer into training camp and, ultimately, the Illini's season opener. Sitkowski was thrust into the spotlight in the first quarter of Saturday's game against Nebraska after Brandon Peters left with an injury. And the 6-foot-5, 225-pound quarterback settled in after a semi-bumpy start and guided Illinois to a 30-22 victory. "I wasn't going to be surprised at all if Art was put in the moment about how he would handle the moment," Bielema said. "I didn't know how he was going to play, but I knew the handling of it wouldn't be an issue. It's just his demeanor. He's so serious, but also has a good light to him." Illinois will likely lean on Sitkowski again this Saturday for its 6:30 p.m. nonconference game with Texas San Antonio. Peters didn't suffer a long-term injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder, but Bielema isn't counting on the Illini's starting quarterback to be available against the Roadrunners. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/30/21 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Thrust into the lineup after Brandon Peters went down with an injury to his left (non-throwing) arm, Sitkowski didn't let Illinois get off course. He only turned in one real highlight play, but the Rutgers transfer completed 12 of 15 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns while not turning the ball over. (Thanks to a pair of Nebraska penalties for keeping it a clean sheet). Can't ask for much more than that. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/28/21 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Under a new coach, with fans packed into the stands for the first time since 2019 and its backup quarterback at the helm, Illinois beat Nebraska 30-22 on Saturday to kick off the 2021 college football season. The Big Ten conference win didn't come without a price for the Illini. Illinois starting quarterback Brandon Peters left the game holding his left (non-throwing) shoulder after being sacked hard near the end of the first quarter. He was 3-of-4 passing for 35 yards. He did not return and was replaced by Artur Sitkowski, a sophomore transfer from Rutgers. Peters' status wasn't clear following Saturday's game.

"No injury updates yet," first-year Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. "But as you could see, it was Brandon's non-throwing arm, so there's that." Sitkowski engineered several long scoring drives using a balanced attack under Bielema's new system, which he worked to perfection during a successful tenure at Wisconsin. Sitkowski was 12 of 15 passing for 124 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. "I can't say enough about Art," Bielema said of his backup quarterback. "You know, from day one he just projected a serious, very direct kind of personality. He walks like a quarterback and he talks like a quarterback. When I see our players rallying around a quarterback like that, well, you know you've got something." The Illini rushing attack was led by Mike Epstein, who rushed for 75 yards on 16 carries, including a 45-yard run in the first quarter. - Illinois/AP College Football

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: Illinois/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

08/23/21 - Marquez Beason, rSo/2024, Illinois, 5-11, 185 (DS#999 WR) + More +

One of Illinois football's newest wide receivers likely won't play in the Aug. 28 season opener versus Nebraska. Illini coach Bret Bielema revealed this week that Marquez Beason is dealing with a hamstring injury that should sideline him until "probably Week 2 or 3 of the season." It's not clear if Bielema was considering the Cornhuskers matchup inside Memorial Stadium as Week 0 action - similarly to the Big Ten - or a Week 1 game when he made that comment. "Literally that last summer workout - I was standing right there - it was a routine cone drill," Bielema said. "(Beason) went to accelerate out of it and pulled his hammy a little bit. And pretty significant pull...He's just not anywhere close to being able to be out there right now." Beason switched from cornerback to receiver at his own request during spring practices this year. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Dallas missed his entire true freshman season in 2019 after tearing the ACL in his right knee during training camp. The former four-star recruit started two games on defense last season for the Illini, compiling seven tackles. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 WR) rSo/2024

WR Marquez Beason, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/22/21 - Mike Epstein, rSr/2022, Illinois, 5-11, 205 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Mike Epstein isn't here to talk about the past. Honestly, that's never been his preference. And it wasn't earlier this week during his first time speaking with reporters since deciding during the summer to return to play a fifth season of college football at Illinois. Hard to blame him on that front. Epstein's past at Illinois is rife with some serious ups and downs. Success on the field. But injury after injury after injury - two foot fractures and a torn ACL, to be specific - that's kept him off it. So Epstein is focused solely on what both he and his team can accomplish this fall. No looking back on what his Illinois football career has been, and no looking forward past what he can do in the moment for the Illini.

"I'm not going to get too much into that personal stuff going on with me," Epstein said when asked about his decision to return to Illinois for the 2021 season. "I'm just really glad to be back and excited about the future here and glad they welcomed me back with open arms. I really just genuinely want to do what I can to help this team. "If that's taking the carries 10 times a game, 15 times a game, 20 times a game, it really doesn't matter to me. I want to see wins like we all want to see wins. Whatever I can do to help this team, I promise you, I'll do it." The 23-year-old Epstein had a decision to make this offseason, though. He returned to south Florida after the end of the 2020 season and finished out the academic year and his bachelor's degree in marketing at home. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 RB) rSr/2022

RB Mike Epstein, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/19/21 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

Linebackers coach Andy Buh is thrilled to have super-senior Jake Hansen back for his sixth year with the Illini. "He's fun to coach," Buh said of Hansen, who has been on the Illinois roster since 2016. "He's seen a lot of football...I love what he brings every day to the team. All of the great things about being around a veteran leader, he brings." Aside from a knee injury that forced Hansen to miss the entire 2017 season, the Tarpon Springs, Fla., native has been a key cog for the Illini from the jump. Hansen tallied two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2020, and his 10 career forced fumbles ranks third on Illinois' all-time list behind Simeon Rice (13) and Whitney Mercilus (11). - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/18/21 - Alec Bryant, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-3, 250 (DS#94 DE) + More +

Bret Bielema hinted at coming additions to the Illinois football roster following Saturday's practice at Memorial Stadium. The Illini coach was coy, though. No hint was given about the identity of those potential additions, whether they be transfer, freshmen or another walk-on or two. The mystery somewhat resolved itself Tuesday when former Virginia Tech defensive end Alec Bryant announced via social media he was transferring to Illinois.

The reason for roster additions with training camp underway and the season opener against Nebraska just 17 days away is Bielema's pursuit of a maxed-out roster of 120 players. Bryant makes for 119, but that includes offensive lineman Jordyn Slaughter, who broke his ankle last week and is likely out for the season. "Obviously, Jordyn gets hurt, and if you came in at 120, now you're down to 119," Bielema said. "We've had a couple guys get some injuries that might be out significant time - especially some non-scholarships players - and all of a sudden that's going to take an effect on your whole number. We were not at max 120, but that's where I want to get to." Bryant played in just a single game as a true freshman at Virginia Tech in 2020. Given the changes to eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Bryant will still have a potential five years to play four seasons with the Illini. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#94 DE) rSr/2026

DE Alec Bryant, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/18/21 - Julian Pearl, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-6, 312 (DS#26 OT) + More +

Alex Palczewski's knee injury at the end of the 2020 season opened the door for Julian Pearl. The Danville native received invaluable experience filling in for three games as the starting right tackle on the Illinois offensive line. Pearl had played in three games as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and four others before Palczewski's injury in 2020, but the chance to get consistent reps - against top Big Ten competition - made a world of difference for the 21-year-old's college development. "At the quarterback position and the (offensive) line, I think snaps are everything," Illinois offensive coordinator Tony Petersen said Tuesday afternoon. "For Julian to get some snaps, like he did, was awesome. He's out there getting better every day like the rest of the offensive line. The more scrimmage, 11-on-11 snaps, they can get, the better they're getting every day."

The difference for Pearl in getting his first break as a starting Big Ten offensive lineman was more about building confidence. Thrust into having to perform, the 6-foot-6, 310-pound lineman thrived. "It made a huge difference in me being able to execute blocks against guys that normally I wouldn't be going against," Pearl said Tuesday. "Usually, I'd be second string in practice going against the same guys. Once you go against other Big Ten players and execute blocks correctly, it's a great confidence boost. It allows you to really see yourself visualizing success, and I think that's really helped me." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#26 OT) rSr/2024

OT Julian Pearl, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/15/21 - Brandon Peters, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 228 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Brandon Peters has maintained a fairly low-key vibe since arriving at Illinois in the summer before the 2019 football season following three years at Michigan. Peters has never been that brash QB1. Confident in his abilities? Sure. A big, bold personality? Not so much. But as Peters' comfort level at Illinois has increased, so have the peeks into the subtly funny 23-year-old with a dry sense of humor. Peters has been in his element on the football field since the start of Illinois' training camp. He handled his first round of media availability at training camp in the same way.

Like when he demurred from sharing any details about how the Illinois offense has changed, following Bret Bielema's lead in making sure Nebraska knows as little as possible heading into the Aug. 28 season opener at Memorial Stadium. "I'm not going to spill the beans," Peters joked to one reporter. Or when he responded to some of his teammates calling the first day of training camp intense. "Intense?" Peters said with a wry smile. "I guess not so much for me. I'm not in the trenches. I would say it was intense in the fact we were working hard out there and moving around a lot." And, finally, when he counted out the number of offensive coordinators he's had in his college career on his fingers. "Five is kind of a lot now that I think of it," he quipped. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#15 QB) rSr/2022

QB Brandon Peters, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

Previous 15 Notes

|Back to Page One|

Next 15 Notes

Warning: Undefined array key "TeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 56

Warning: Undefined array key "DSTeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 57

Illinois Football Videos

Buy Draft Scout Weekly

** Draft Scout Data **
(Everything Online PLUS)

Support Draft Scout

The Database Engine for NFLDraftScout.com, Draft Scout is being repurposed...Support the Future Development of ScoutNation.com...

Draft Scout Archives

** 2010-2022 Draft Scout Archives **
(Yearly Player Data Exports, Prospect Lists & More)

Draft Scout Future

100% Dedicated and Never Done

80% Innovated

45% Hidden

35% Built

2025 CFB/2025-2029 NFL Draft Scout

2024 CFB/2024-2028 NFL Draft Scout

2023 CFB/2024-2027 NFL Draft Scout

NFL Draft Scout History

2022 Draft Scout

Draft Scout by Conference

2023 Draft Scout Offense

2023 Draft Scout Defense

2022 Draft Scout Offense

2022 Draft Scout Defense

Illinois Football Videos

Buy Draft Scout Weekly

Support Draft Scout

Draft Scout Archives

Draft Scout Future

Synergization

Did You Know?

Hidden Designs

Future Development