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Luke Ford was more of a target in the scrimmage than he was all last season. Ford, who transferred to Illinois in 2019 from Georgia, grabbed just two catches for 15 yards in 2020. During the orange-and-blue game, he caught five passes for 88 yards, including a one-handed 16-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. "I appreciated Luke's effort," Bielema said. "I've seen his maturity level in everything he's doing. I really like his demeanor and work ethic. I think he's concentrating on what's important now. He's concentrating on being a good football player. You put in your time and you get rewarded for it. He's really bought in." - Herald-Review Times

(DS#43 TE) rSr/2023

TE Luke Ford, Illinois
News Source: Herald-Review Times
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04/19/21 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Artur Sitkowski's roller-coaster Rutgers career has come to a close. The quarterback and Old Bridge native has entered the NCAA transfer portal. He has three years of eligibility remaining and will be able to play immediately at his next stop after the NCAA granted all athletes a one-time free transfer earlier this week. Sitkowski was a heralded recruit under former coach Chris Ash and started 11 games during a disastrous freshman season in 2018 where he threw a nation-leading 18 interceptions. He lost the starting job to transfer McLane Carter in 2019, then appeared in three games before opting to redshirt following Ash's firing. Sitkowski briefly entered the transfer portal at the end of that season, but withdrew his name after Greg Schiano's hire. He then lost a preseason battle to transfer Noah Vedral last fall, but ended up coming off the bench to help lead the Scarlet Knights to two of their three wins. - Star Ledger

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: Star Ledger
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04/16/21 - Brandon Peters, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 228 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Brandon Peters' first senior season didn't go so well. He got COVID-19. Missed a big chunk of the games. Watched his team finish 2-6 and his coach get fired. In a word: Bummer. But thanks to some astute decisions by college football's higher-ups, the Illini quarterback has another chance to make a last impression. "I'm really blessed to have another year to play football," Peters said. "I'm really excited with what Coach B(ielema) is putting together here. It's been really fun so far. I think the sky is the limit with this staff." He is getting a mulligan. On a shanked shot that plunked in the water.

"That last year definitely left a bad taste in my mouth," Peters said. "Wasn't the year I was hoping for, anyone expected. Everything happens for a reason. I believe that." Peters is having fun playing football. That's the idea. "Guys are getting really good coaching," he said. "They're buying in." Entering his sixth college season in his fifth offense, Peters and the rest of the quarterbacks are spending the spring learning Tony Petersen's system. Peters and his main competition, third-year freshman Isaiah Williams, talked to the media Tuesday, via Zoom of course, for the first time this spring. Peters said he likes what he sees of Petersen and the new Illini attack. "He's really an attention-to-detail-oriented kind of guy," Peters said. "He brings juice. He's going to let you know when you mess up." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#15 QB) rSr/2022

QB Brandon Peters, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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04/13/21 - Jack Badovinac, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 303 (DS#103 OG) + More +

Bret Bielema's in-state recruiting push includes trying to draw graduated athletes to Illinois football from out-of-state colleges. It worked with Michigan State fullback/tight end Max Rosenthal, a New Trier product who announced his transfer to the Illini in January. And it worked again Thursday afternoon, when Loyola graduate Jack Badovinac announced via Twitter that he's committed to Illinois. The 6-foot-2, 295-pound offensive lineman has spent four years at FCS program Colgate.

Badovinac made 33 starts in his Colgate career, including in both of the Raiders' spring 2021 games. Colgate went 0-2 and experienced a pair of cancelations, including Saturday's scheduled contest with Holy Cross. Badovinac was listed at left guard in one of those two games' box scores. Badovinac twice made the All-Patriot League first team, as voted upon by the conference's coaches, and is a member of the 2010-19 Colgate All-Decade Team. Prior to his college tenure, Badovinac helped Loyola to the 2015 IHSA Class 8A state championship. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#103 OG) rSr/2022

OG Jack Badovinac, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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04/03/21 - Jack Badovinac, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 303 (DS#103 OG) + More +

Colgate offensive lineman Jack Badovinac committed to Illinois football on Thursday afternoon. The 6-foot-2, 295 pound offensive lineman started 31 of 34 career games for the Raiders and was a two-time All-Patriot League player, originally from Wilmette. Badovinac graduated from Loyola Academy, coached by former Illini John Holecek. - WCIA

(DS#103 OG) rSr/2022

OG Jack Badovinac, Illinois
News Source: WCIA
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03/30/21 - Casey Washington, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-1, 201 (DS#42 WR) + More +

Casey Washington, a wide receiver from Illinois who transferred to Wake Forest, is now back in the transfer portal. Washington was enrolled at Wake Forest and was taking part in spring football practice, but neither Washington nor the university disclosed the reason for his short stay. Washington, who is 6 feet 2 and 190 pounds and is from Round Rock, Texas. He made 21 catches for 238 yards in 18 games at Illinois. - Winston Salem Journal

(DS#42 WR) rSr/2024

WR Casey Washington, Illinois
News Source: Winston Salem Journal
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03/29/21 - Owen Carney Jr., rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-3, 269 (DS#34 DE) + More +

Owen Carney Jr. recognizes he might display a more intense personality than some of his Illinois football teammates. "I'm a serious guy because when I hit the building, I just put on my pro hat," the senior outside linebacker said Thursday, during a Zoom call with media members. "I just try to lead by example and come every day to work. So if that's the vibe you get from me, I guess I'm doing it right." First-year Illini football coach Bret Bielema can be plenty serious in his own right. But his wavelengths appear to be just a bit different from those emitted by Carney. "Coach B, about 80 percent of the time you're probably going to see him with some flip-flops on," Carney said. True to form, Bielema appeared at a Big Ten tournament sendoff earlier this month for the Illinois men's basketball team wearing shorts and flip-flops. "Every account I have of Coach B is very new," Carney continued. "He does like to play music in his office and just vibe out. Sometimes he has different moods. He has the mellow to him. He has the reggae to him. And, of course, you know he's always going to wear his flip-flops." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#34 DE) rSr/2022

DE Owen Carney Jr., Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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03/26/21 - Mike Epstein, rSr/2022, Illinois, 5-11, 205 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Illinois running back Mike Epstein currently isn't on the University of Illinois campus, Illini coach Bret Bielema said Wednesday afternoon, and the senior's future with the Illini presently is unclear. Bielema also added linebacker Jake Hansen and offensive lineman Alex Palczewski aren't going through spring ball. Hansen, a second-team All-Big Ten linebacker last season, announced earlier this month he would return to Illinois for a sixth season instead of pursuing the NFL draft. Palczewski is recovering after offseason knee surgery to repair a torn ACL.

But unlike Hansen or Palczewski Epstein isn't in Illinois at the moment. "I've had several conversations with Mike. Mike's back in Florida taking classes," Bielema said of the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native. "Just trying to steer him as best as possible. Whether or not he returns in the fall is strictly in his hands. I've invited him back and told him we'd love to have him be a part of the team. "It's just not my position to comment on it at all, so (I) put it in his hands on what he wants to do." Epstein has spent four injury-riddled seasons with the Illini, playing in 20 games during that time. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 RB) rSr/2022

RB Mike Epstein, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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03/10/21 - Brandon Peters, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 228 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Illinois football will play its Orange and Blue Spring Game next month, the team announced Monday. Bret Bielema's first on-field event as Illini coach - albeit an intrasquad exhibition - will transpire at 7 p.m. April 19 at Memorial Stadium and be broadcast by Big Ten Network. Illinois hasn't conducted a spring game since April 13, 2019, when Lovie Smith was in charge of the program. Team Butkus defeated Team Grange 24-10, with the former group including the first-team defense and the latter outfit including the first-team offense. Fans will not be permitted inside Memorial Stadium for this year's scrimmage, as they were for the most recent spring game. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#15 QB) rSr/2022

QB Brandon Peters, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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03/08/21 - Clayton Bush, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-0, 212 (DS#76 SS) + More +

MARCH 8 MISSOURI VALLEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE: S Clayton Bush, Southern Illinois -- led the team with 10 tackles (7 solos, 3 assisted). He also contributed a pass breakup and helped lead a Saluki defense that limited YSU to three points in the second half. - Missouri Valley Conference Football

(DS#76 SS) rSr/2024

SS Clayton Bush, Illinois
News Source: Missouri Valley Conference Football
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03/08/21 - Nicario Harper, rSr/2024, Illinois, 5-11, 200 (DS#38 FS) + More +

MARCH 2 OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nicario Harper, SAF, 6-1, 180, R-So., Atlanta, Ga., Jacksonville State,...Harper led a stellar JSU defensive effort against No. 23 Tennessee Tech, recording a game-high 13 tackles and also intercepting a pass in the 27-10 win. His interception came with just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter at the JSU three-yard line to stop a TTU scoring threat and keep the JSU lead at two possession. The play also set up the Gamecocks' final scoring drive. Harper was the leading tackler on a defense that held TTU to just 227 total yards and only 75 yards on the ground and also forced five turnovers. Others Nominated: Don Parker, Murray State; Nyle Love, Tennessee State; Jamaal Thompson, Tennessee Tech. - Ohio Valley Conference Football

(DS#38 FS) rSr/2024

FS Nicario Harper, Illinois
News Source: Ohio Valley Conference Football
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03/03/21 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

Bret Bielema tweeted late Monday morning about "unexpected good news coming," capping the post with Illinois football's new "#famILLy" hashtag. Mere minutes later, that good news revealed itself. Linebacker Jake Hansen is returning to the Illini for a sixth season of college football, he announced Monday through the Illinois football Twitter account. Hansen in December 2020 declared for the NFL draft. "The 2020 football season wasn't exactly how I imagined my time at Illinois to end," Hansen said in a video clip. "After extensive talks with Coach Bielema and the University of Illinois staff, I've decided that I have unfinished business in the orange and blue. I'm excited to get back up to Champaign and get to work with my teammates and my new coaches. Go Illini." Hansen is the second Illini upperclassman to reverse course after announcing a departure from the program this offseason. Defensive lineman Owen Carney Jr. announced in December that he was entering the transfer portal before determining in January that he would come back to Illinois. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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03/01/21 - Clayton Bush, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-0, 212 (DS#76 SS) + More +

MARCH 1 MISSOURI VALLEY TOP PERFORMANCES: S Clayton Bush, Southern Illinois - Western Kentucky transfer S Clayton Bush made three tackles on defense, including a critical strip-sack of Bison QB Zeb Noland late in the 3rd quarter when NDSU had the ball deep in Saluki territory and SIU ahead, 17-7. - Missouri Valley Conference Football

(DS#76 SS) rSr/2024

SS Clayton Bush, Illinois
News Source: Missouri Valley Conference Football
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01/21/21 - Roderick Perry II, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 304 (DS#54 DT) + More +

Illinois football's defensive line received yet another boost Tuesday when the team announced that Roderick Perry II will return for the 2021 season. Perry joined Illinois ahead of the 2020 campaign after four years at South Carolina State. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound athlete out of Raleigh, N.C., earned All-Big Ten honorable-mention status by posting 17 tackles, 21/2 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass breakup. Perry is the fourth Illinois defensive lineman to announce his return for coach Bret Bielema's first season in charge, joining Jamal Woods, Isaiah Gay and Owen Carney Jr. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#54 DT) rSr/2022

DT Roderick Perry II, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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01/19/21 - Casey Washington, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-1, 201 (DS#42 WR) + More +

Illinois football's receiving corps suffered another blow Monday with the announcement of Casey Washington's foray into the transfer portal. Washington becomes the third Illini in that position group to leave the program over the last two months, joining Josh Imatorbhebhe (declared for NFL draft) and Trevon Sidney (entered transfer portal). A native of Round Rock, Texas, Washington spent two seasons at Illinois and played in 18 games. He racked up 10 receptions for 106 yards during the 2020 campaign and finishes his Illini career with 21 catches for 238 yards. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#42 WR) rSr/2024

WR Casey Washington, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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