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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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01/19/21 - Owen Carney Jr., rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-3, 269 (DS#34 DE) + More +

Illinois' top defensive lineman from the 2020 season is reversing course - a piece of good news for coach Bret Bielema's first team. Defensive end Owen Carney Jr. on Sunday announced he's returning to the Illini for the 2021 campaign, 18 days after revealing he'd entered the transfer portal. Carney played in at least 10 games during each of his first three Illini seasons and 43 overall, including all eight this past season. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound native of Miami amassed 70 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 91/2 sacks during his Illini career. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#34 DE) rSr/2022

DE Owen Carney Jr., Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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01/14/21 - Isaiah Gay, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-2, 232 (DS#99 OLB) + More +

Less than an hour after new Illinois defensive line coach Terrance Jamison introduced himself to local media, his position group secured a key presence for the 2021 season. Gay, a native of Nashville, N.C., played in 39 games during the first four seasons of his Illinois career. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior defensive end produced 19 tackles, three tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups in seven games during the 2020 campaign, and his collegiate stat line includes 96 tackles, 11 1/2 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#99 OLB) rSr/2022

OLB Isaiah Gay, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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01/13/21 - Max Rosenthal, rSr/2001, Illinois, 6-1, 260 (DS#999 FB) + More +

Max Rosenthal is the latest former Michigan State football player to find a new home. And he is not leaving the Big Ten. The fullback/tight end announced via Twitter he will transfer to Illinois to play for new coach Bret Bielema, whose pro-style offense historically uses a fullback. The redshirt junior and former walk-on - the Spartans' first outbound transfer to land at another Power Five program this offseason - has two years remaining and will be eligible immediately thanks to the NCAA's waivers for 2020. An advertising management major at MSU, Rosenthal said he plans to pursue his graduate degree at Illinois. - Lansing State Journal

(DS#999 FB) rSr/2001

FB Max Rosenthal, Illinois
News Source: Lansing State Journal
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01/08/21 - Chase Hayden, rSr/2023, Illinois, 5-11, 202 (DS#96 RB) + More +

For the second time in as many days, Illinois football coach Bret Bielema has secured a transfer commitment. Wednesday's came from East Carolina running back Chase Hayden, who previously spent three years at Arkansas. Hayden's freshman season of 2017 coincided with Bielema's last year overseeing the Razorbacks. A 5-foot-10, 210-pound product of Memphis, Tenn., Hayden compiled 62 yards on 16 carries in his lone campaign with the Pirates. The majority of his college production came as an Arkansas freshman and sophomore. Hayden carried the ball 118 times for 577 yards and five touchdowns in those two seasons, adding 12 catches for 84 yards. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#96 RB) rSr/2023

RB Chase Hayden, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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01/07/21 - Jamal Woods, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-2, 294 (DS#35 DT) + More +

Jamal Woods hasn't found it particularly easy to stay on the football field during his time at Illinois. After playing in 11 of 12 games as a true freshman in 2017, Woods missed 16 games in the following three seasons because of injuries. That includes four games he didn't play in during his pandemic-abbreviated 2020 season, which was supposed to be his final season with the Illini. Despite those setbacks, Woods isn't wondering "what if" about his Illini tenure. That's because the starting defensive tackle announced Tuesday that he'll return to Champaign-Urbana for a fifth college season. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#35 DT) rSr/2023

DT Jamal Woods, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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01/06/21 - Jamal Woods, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-2, 294 (DS#35 DT) + More +

Illinois' defensive line got a boost on Tuesday. Versatile lineman Jamal Woods announced his return to the Illinois football team, taking advantage of the additional year of eligibility granted by the NCAA in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Woods gives the Illini a veteran presence along the line. Defensive end Owen Carney Jr. entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Isaiah Gay has yet to announce his intention for next season and neither has defensive tackle Roderick Perry. Woods and Calvin Avery give an interior presence while younger players like Keith Randolph, Johnny Newton and Seth Coleman have high upside but lack a bit of experience. Injuries have been an issue for Woods, who has 13.5 tackles for a loss in four years. He's missed 16 games in the last three years because of injury. A successful season, he said, is a healthy season. - Herald-Review Times

(DS#35 DT) rSr/2023

DT Jamal Woods, Illinois
News Source: Herald-Review Times
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01/06/21 - Ethan Tabel, rSr/2022, Illinois, 5-11, 230 (DS#19 LS) + More +

James McCourt is an avid golfer and perhaps one of the best on the Illinois football team, so it was fitting when he produced a cross-sport reference on Monday afternoon. McCourt, Illinois' kicker, punter Blake Hayes and long snapper Ethan Tabel are effectively caddies for one another. After years of practices and meetings, they've become an extremely tight-knit group and know the intricacies each other's games. If a snap, kick or punt is wrong or a bit off, they each know how to talk to one another about a small tweak to fix things. As it turns out, they're all taking advantage of the NCAA-granted extra year of eligibility and announced their returns to the football team. - Herald-Review Times

(DS#19 LS) rSr/2022

LS Ethan Tabel, Illinois
News Source: Herald-Review Times
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01/04/21 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

Hansen declared for the 2021 NFL draft on Monday, and he's joined in that regard by fellow Illini Kendrick Green, Milo Eifler and Josh Imatorbhebhe. Another key defensive starter in 2020, defensive end Owen Carney Jr., announced he would enter the transfer portal on Wednesday. Losing each of those contributors creates a significant hole for Illinois. But the return of the Illini's other starting offensive linemen somewhat blunts Green's absence, while both Eifler and Imatorbhebhe played just two seasons for Illinois.

Hansen is a different story, especially considering fellow linebacker Eifler is also leaving. Hansen played immediately for the Illini, seeing 29 starts at linebacker during his last three years. He finished third in team history with 10 forced fumbles and also contributed 243 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, seven sacks and three interceptions during his Illinois career. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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01/03/21 - Nate Hobbs, Sr/2021, Illinois, 5-11, 196 (DS#45 CB) + More +

Illinois defensive back Nate Hobbs declared for the NFL Draft on Saturday. The senior from Louisville, KY totaled 31 tackles this season, 22 solo tackles. Including one interception and two passes defended. Hobbs is the fifth player to announce they will declare for the 2021 NFL Draft, while five other players have announced they will return to Champaign for another year. - Herald & Review

(DS#45 CB) Sr/2021

CB Nate Hobbs, Illinois
News Source: Herald & Review
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01/02/21 - Doug Kramer, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-2, 299 (DS#9 C) + More +

Fellow senior defensive end Isaiah Gay has not yet declared his intentions for next season, nor as defensive lineman Jamal Woods. Keith Randolph Jr. and Seth Coleman, both redshirt freshmen, played significant snaps for the Illini this season. Wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe, offensive lineman Kendrick Green and linebackers Milo Eifler and Jake Hansen have all declared for the NFL Draft while offensive linemen Alex Palczewski, Vederian Lowe and Doug Kramer Jr. announced they'd return for an extra year. - Herald-Review Times

(DS#9 C) rSr/2022

C Doug Kramer, Illinois
News Source: Herald-Review Times
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