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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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08/18/21 - Alec Bryant, rSr/2026, Illinois, 6-2, 251 (DS#234 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#234 DE) rSr/2026

DE Alec Bryant, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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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
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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
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08/09/21 - Owen Carney Jr., rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-3, 269 (DS#34 DE) + More +

Senior linebacker Owen Carney Jr. has been adjusting to a leadership role on the Illini defense. "Stepping into that role is new to me," Carney said. "I feel like I'm getting adjusted to it and every day has become more natural to me." It's no surprise that the Miami native is sliding into a position of authority for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' unit despite a position switch to outside linebacker this offseason from defensive end. He's played all 21 games over the last two seasons, earning second-team all-Big Ten honors in 2020. Further, he ranked fourth in the conference with five sacks a season ago, three of which came during a 31-24 loss at Purdue on Oct. 31. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#34 DE) rSr/2022

DE Owen Carney Jr., Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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08/07/21 - Tarique Barnes, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-1, 231 (DS#46 ILB) + More +

Linebacker Tarique Barnes is ready to return to the Illinois defense's starting lineup after a leg injury cut short his 2020 season, during which he amassed 25 tackles, 11/2 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception in just five games. "I took it one day at a time and kept my head on," Barnes said of his recovery. "You've got to think about coming back before you can put everything before that." Now completely recovered, Barnes is looking to take the next step with the help of new strength and conditioning coach Tank Wright. "Personally, I wanted a body change," Barnes said. "(Wright) definitely helped me put more muscle on. I just feel myself getting in better shape." The added size should allow Barnes to continue to play a big role within a defense that also includes standout linebackers Jake Hansen, Khalan Tolson and Calvin Hart Jr. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#46 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Tarique Barnes, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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08/07/21 - Chase Brown, Sr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 209 (DS#10 RB) + More +

Chase Brown's physical gains are going to require those in charge of maintaining the Illinois football roster to stay on their toes. The 5-foot-11 running back was listed at 195 pounds for his second season with the Illini after transferring from Western Michigan in 2019. Entering Year 3 - the first under coach Bret Bielema and his staff - Brown's online biography shows him checking in at 200 pounds. About that. "I'm running around at 210 right now," Brown said Wednesday outside Memorial Stadium following the third day of training camp. "My strength's through the roof." Brown led the Illini with 540 rushing yards on 104 carries and scored three touchdowns last season. He showed the ability to escape defenders both vertically and horizontally across the field.

It helped him land a spot on the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation's best running back. None of that left Brown satisfied. Evident by the offseason commitment to bettering his body. "I remember I sat down with Coach B, and one of the first things (he said), he's like, 'You know what? You're going to stay around 205, 210," Brown said. "That's all he needed to say to me. That kind of motivated me to transform my body." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#10 RB) Sr/2023

RB Chase Brown, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/29/21 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

For the second time in as many days, Illinois sixth-year linebacker Jake Hansen has been named to the preseason watch list for a college football award. This time, Hansen earned a spot on the Nagurski Trophy watch list, which was announced Tuesday morning. The award is given annually to the nation's top defensive player as determined by the Football Writers Association of America. Hansen on Monday was named to the watch list for the Butkus Award, given to college football's best linebacker. Hansen also is on the watch list for the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's best defensive player as determined by select NCAA coaches and sports writers and the Maxwell Football Club. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/26/21 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

The former Rutgers quarterback has only been with the Fighting Illini for a few weeks after his transfer this spring, but he is already earning his teammates respect in Champaign. "There are a lot of positive things about his involvement," Bielema said Thursday at Big Ten Media Days. Sitkowski, an Old Bridge native, entered the NCAA transfer portal in April following a wild three years with the Scarlet Knights. Illinois was in the market for a veteran passer, preferably with two or three years eligibility left, and Bielema said things moved quickly once the two sides made contact. Familiarity helped; former Rutgers defensive coordinator Andy Buh is now the Illini's linebackers coach and several of Bielema's assistants knew Sitkowski from the recruiting trail.

Former Rutgers coach Chris Ash, who coached with Bielema at Wisconsin and Arkansas, also put in a good word. "A couple of my coaches knew of him [and] I called Chris and he was very upfront about what kind of person he was, player he was," Bielema said. "Art was really one of the first guys (targeted) after we got done with spring ball. It was a pretty quick courting relationship. I called him, had a couple of conversations, he had a couple of conversations with [offensive coordinator Tony Petersen] and all of a sudden he wanted to make this real." - Star Ledger

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: Star Ledger
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