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Jake Hansen missed the final four games of the 2019 Illinois football season with a back injury. What the Illini linebacker did before his season-ending setback, though, was still notable. Notable enough to wind up on the Bednarik Award watch list on Monday. The Bednarik Award is presented to the top defensive player in the country. Hansen was a Butkus Award semifinalist - the honor given to the nation's top linebacker - in 2019 despite playing in just nine games. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker finished his redshirt junior season at Illinois with 72 tackles, 7 1/2 tackles for loss and 3 1/2 sacks. - News Gazette

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette
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07/08/20 - Josh Imatorbhebhe, rSr/2021, Illinois, 6-1, 218 (DS#49 WR) + More +

Every time I have talked to Josh Imatorbhebhe in the last year, I get smarter. Illinois football's star receiver is thoughtful and insightful. He has seen college sports from multiple angles. So, it was no surprise to me last week when the 22-year-old Imatorbhebhe went to Twitter with his idea to have an NCAA Players Association. "We have absolutely no representation when it comes to decision making," Imatorbhebhe wrote. Of course, the reaction was swift. Some of it positive and encouraging, suggesting Imatorbhebhe lead the way. "Band together! Start one. You absolutely need a voice in all of this," one post read. "Y'all are speaking out and I love it. Do what you gotta do and we got your back!" tweeted another.

Other comments were negative. "Don't play bro, nobody is forcing you to get a free education and exposure. Walk away, get a better deal," one wrote. "Quit whining. You have it better then 90% of the people in the world, AND after college, if you take it seriously, you will have a great career with alumni always willing to help. You live in a bubble and have no clue," tweeted another. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#49 WR) rSr/2021

WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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06/29/20 - Brandon Peters, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 228 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Illinois football head strength and conditioning coach Lou Hernandez gave a list of players who looked impressive early on as the team returns for voluntary workouts. Hernandez mentioned linebackers Jake Hansen and Khalan Tolson, wide receiver Donny Navarro, tight end Luke Ford, punter Blake Hayes, defensive lineman Jamal Woods, offensive linemen Alex Palczewski and Vederian Lowe and Peters as players who have been particularly impressive early on voluntary workouts.

"Watching him run, he looks absolutely incredible," Hernandez said of Peters. "He's got his big, long stride and he's taking people down with it and winning races. There's a competitiveness. He's definitely put the work in to help showcase some of his athleticism. "He's definitely standing out right now as a guy who continued to lift, continued to run and continued to work on his overall performance. I think that right there shows a lot to this football team how important it is for our quarterback to get it done and hopefully it's going to continue to spread throughout the remainder of our guys as well." 'Helping other people is more important than ever.' Lovie Smith's Illinois staff has 8 black coaches - more than any FBS program. Can it be an example that helps close the racial disparity in college football? Peters, who hasn't been made available to the media since the Redbox Bowl loss to California, threw for 1884 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with eight interceptions last season while rushing for 213 yards and three touchdowns. - Herald-Review Times

(DS#15 QB) rSr/2022

QB Brandon Peters, Illinois
News Source: Herald-Review Times
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06/28/20 - Dre Brown, rSr/2020, Illinois, 5-11, 208 (DS#91 RB) + More +

Dre Brown has had quite the 2020. And it's not even halfway over. The Illinois football team's most outstanding offensive player during the 2019 season spent the first two months of the year training in Naperville, getting his 5-foot-11, 210-pound frame ready for the rigors of NFL draft prep. He then had a solid pro day in Champaign on March 9 at the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility, boosting his hope he could wind up on some NFL teams' radars. A potential late-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent once the draft concluded seemed feasible. Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit. Stifling almost all of Brown's opportunities to impress teams in person during the weeks leading up to the NFL draft.

"I knew I needed to get in front of coaches and shake their hands," Brown said. "That character piece of mine would have helped me out in the process. "It was tough because I was banking on either signing as an undrafted free agent or get a mini-camp invite. Without that, it's kind of hard to put a close to this chapter in my life. I never really got a chance. That was probably the hardest part." Brown's dreams to suit up for a pro football team this spring and summer never came to fruition. He's staying in shape, though, just in case an opportunity presents itself later this summer. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#91 RB) rSr/2020

RB Dre Brown, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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06/25/20 - Calvin Avery, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-2, 345 (DS#37 DT) + More +

Avery arrived at Illinois with serious expectations as a consensus four-star recruit, but the 6-foot-2, 330-pound defensive tackle has managed just spot duty in the rotation the past two seasons. With the graduation of Jamal Milan, Tymir Oliver and Kenyon Jackson, the Illini need serious help at tackle. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#37 DT) rSr/2023

DT Calvin Avery, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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06/22/20 - Roderick Perry II, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 304 (DS#54 DT) + More +

Amid reports in many states of a resurgence in confirmed COVID-19 cases, including Georgia, the annual season-opening showcase is scheduled to be played at "Pete" Petit Field at Georgia State Stadium. Grant, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge executive director, told The News-Star that his event organizers believe they have a plan in place to be able to host Grambling State and South Carolina State on Sept. 6.

"No one knows how things are going to go going forward, but we're hosting football," Grant said. "We're making the call. As it stands today, we're hosting. Unless circumstances change, and no one know what that would be, but we're playing. "Both schools have said it's their full intention to be here. So it's our full intention to provide everything possible so people can have fun, come together responsibly and enjoy HBCU college football." Questions around the 2020 opener between Grambling and SCSU began to swirl last week as four HBCU games were canceled due to coronavirus concerns. - The News-Star

(DS#54 DT) rSr/2022

DT Roderick Perry II, Illinois
News Source: The News-Star
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05/28/20 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

The Illinois football team can start returning to campus in less than a week. The first wave of athletes is scheduled to arrive June 3. While there was some initial excitement that a plan was in place to return a bit of normalcy to their summer, some of the Illini leaders are taking a measured approach to their eventual return. Jake Hansen's concerns don't lie with the uncertain nature of the coronavirus. The redshirt senior linebacker has more questions about what the voluntary workouts and training sessions will be with the team back on campus. "Am I going to be able to get the quality work in that I would be able to usually get during this time in the summer?" Hansen said. "If not, then I'd like to be at home where I could work out in my personal gym and do things where I know I'm going to be able to get the right amount of work and the quality of work I want to get in. If we are able to do that at Illinois, then by all means I'm going to be at Illinois as soon as possible. I think that's what it sounds like we're going to be able to do." Every student-athlete will be tested for COVID-19 upon their return to campus, quarantined alone for a brief period of time in a residence hall and tested again before they're allowed to return to their own campus residence and start working out. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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05/25/20 - Doug Kramer, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-2, 299 (DS#9 C) + More +

Even with Brandon Peters and Josh Imatorbhebhe, the unit won't run well without solid work from the offensive line. The guy that keeps it together is center Doug Kramer. Hurt late in the season, Kramer was missed in the bowl game. Kramer is crucial not only for his physical ability, but also his leadership. He was not a highly-touted recruit when he signed with Bill Cubit in early 2016, but he was on my first-team All-Big Ten ballot after 2019 and I suspect he will be again after this season. - The News-Gazette

(DS#9 C) rSr/2022

C Doug Kramer, Illinois
News Source: The News-Gazette
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05/16/20 - Chinedu Udeogu, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-3, 275 (DS#999 DE) + More +

Chinedu Udeogu arrived at Cal for the 2016 season as a three-star defensive end before redshirting as a true freshman. Udeogu stuck at defensive end in 2017, but shifted to a hybrid defensive end/linebacker role in the Golden Bears' 3-4 defense in 2018. An injury in the second game of the 2019 season ultimately saw Udeogu return as a tight end, where he repped again this spring before practices were canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Udeogu is transferring to Illinois. As a defensive tackle. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Inverness native, who played his high school ball at Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, Md., announced his commitment to Illinois on Saturday.

"I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to be graduating from the University of California Berkeley with a (bachelor's) in Business Administration!" Udeogu wrote in a note posted to Twitter. "Along with the opportunity to represent Cal these last four years on the football field. After missing last season due to injury, I'm excited to announce that I'll be continuing my athletic and academic journey at the University of Illinois receiving a (master's) of science in economics." Udeogu had a role in Cal's defensive line rotation his first two seasons on the field. He appeared in all 25 games in 2017 and 2018 combined and finished with 19 tackles in those two seasons. He had one tackle in 2019 before his injury. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 DE) rSr/2022

DE Chinedu Udeogu, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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05/16/20 - Chinedu Udeogu, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-3, 275 (DS#999 DE) + More +

In a homecoming move, Cal redshirt senior Chinedu Udeogu has announced via Twitter that he will transfer to Illinois to complete his final year of football eligibility. Udeogu, who was born in Inverness, Illinois, will be a graduate student next fall, meaning the NCAA will allow him to play immediately as opposed to sitting out a year. At Cal, Udeogu spent most of his time at linebacker before being converted to a full-time tight end this spring. According to his Twitter post, though, he will be moving back to the other side of the ball as a defensive tackle with the Illini. In his career thus far, Udeogu appeared in 27 games for the Bears, compiling a total of 20 tackles. Off the field, he completed his bachelor's degree in business administration at UC Berkeley, and will work toward a Master of Science in economics at the University of Illinois. - Daily Californian

(DS#999 DE) rSr/2022

DE Chinedu Udeogu, Illinois
News Source: Daily Californian
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05/12/20 - Chase Hayden, rSr/2023, Illinois, 5-11, 202 (DS#96 RB) + More +

Three months to the day after announcing he was transferring from Arkansas, running back Chase Hayden has found a landing spot. Hayden, who played two full seasons at Arkansas and in four games last season to retain a redshirt, is headed to East Carolina. As a graduate transfer, he will be immediately eligible and have two years of eligibility remaining. Hayden rushed for 574 yards and four touchdowns on 117 carries in his Razorbacks career, including 249 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman in 2017 before his season was cut short after seven games with a broken leg. In his first career game, Hayden rushed for 120 yards and scored a touchdown on 14 carries against Florida A&M. He became the third Arkansas freshman to rush for more than 100 yards in his debut. - Northwest Arkansas Times

(DS#96 RB) rSr/2023

RB Chase Hayden, Illinois
News Source: Northwest Arkansas Times
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04/28/20 - Oluwole Betiku Jr, Jr/2020, Illinois, 6-3, 249 (DS#24 OLB) + More +

Oluwole Betiku Jr. went seven rounds without hearing his named called during last week's NFL draft. Then Saturday night and all of Sunday and Monday passed without the former Illinois defensive end landing as an undrafted free agent with one of the 32 NFL teams. Betiku got the chance he was looking for Tuesday when the New York Giants announced they had signed the 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end and nine other rookie free agents. Betiku is the first former Illini to sign following the 2020 draft. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#24 OLB) Jr/2020

OLB Oluwole Betiku Jr, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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04/22/20 - Blake Jeresaty, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 305 (DS#999 OG) + More +

Blake Jeresaty believes in risks - in challenging himself to take a less comfortable path in the interest of personal growth. He could have returned to Wofford, an FCS school, for his redshirt senior season and continued to be not only one of the best centers in the Southern Conference, but all of the FCS - he was an All-American last season. He also could have fallen into a level of complacency without really testing his own boundaries as a football player. Jeresaty, a 6-foot-2, 290-pounder, knew he could play football at a high level, but was lightly recruited out of Bishop England High School in Charleston, S.C. because he was undersized. Wofford took a chance on him and he developed into a top-tier center. In a November game against Clemson - yes, that Clemson - the idea that he could play against anyone started to take root in his mind.

He didn't falter against a perennial national championship contender and held his own like he did in every other FCS game in which he played. But there's not time time to contemplate every play over the course of a season. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and stopped athletics in their tracks, Jeresaty had time to let that game fester. Eventually, he elected to enter the transfer portal, where in the back of his mind he knew he wanted to play at a Power Five program, and those programs came calling. For seven days he remained uncommitted in the portal before pledging to join the Illinois football team as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining and eyes on an open right guard spot to fill out an experienced offensive line. He's the third graduate transfer of the offseason to verbally commit to Illinois. - Herald-Review Times

(DS#999 OG) rSr/2022

OG Blake Jeresaty, Illinois
News Source: Herald-Review Times
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04/11/20 - Blake Jeresaty, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 305 (DS#999 OG) + More +

Offensive line depth has been a persistent issued during Lovie Smith's tenure as Illinois football coach. The Illini partially addressed that by adding three prep linemen in their 2020 class. Saturday's commitment from Wofford transfer Blake Jeresaty will also more immediate help to Illinois' depth up front as a graduate transfer. The Charleston, S.C., native started the last two seasons for the Terriers, an FCS program, and earned All-American honors in 2019.

Jeresaty played in 35 total games in three seasons at Wofford after redshirting as a true freshman in 2016. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound lineman made all 28 of his career starts at center. Jeresaty is the second transfer addition this week after Illinois also received a commitment from New Mexico State wide receiver Desmond Dan Jr. on Thursday. The Illini added another graduate transfer in early March in Wisconsin linebacker Christian Bell, who will likely shift to defensive end for Smith. - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#999 OG) rSr/2022

OG Blake Jeresaty, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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03/28/20 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

The quarterback position hasn't been one of stability in recent seasons for Rutgers, and it remains a question mark heading into the 2020 season. The cancellation of spring practice and the Scarlet-White game because of the coronavirus pandemic doesn't help to provide much clarity.So there's again going to be some intrigue in training camp, whenever it begins, as Greg Schiano and his coaching staff decide who they want to hand the reins of the offense to. Sitkowski entered the NCAA transfer portal, appeared prepared to leave Rutgers, and then a major development unfolded: Greg Schiano returned and Sitkowski removed his name from the portal.Now he'll enter training camp as a frontrunner for Rutgers' quarterback competition.

It was a turbulent few months for Sitkowski, who threw for 429 yards and one touchdown in three games last season. Sitkowski requested to voluntarily redshirt after Nunzio Campanile took over upon Chris Ash's firing, a request that Campanile honored. Now Sitkowski is back at Rutgers, a 6-foot-5, strong-armed quarterback who could see another chance. New offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sean Gleeson is known for his development of QBs and ran a pro-style offense in previous stops, so this could be a much-needed opportunity and a fresh start for Sitkowski. - Asbury Park Press

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: Asbury Park Press
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