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After once being the first verbal commitment to Illinois football head coach Lovie Smith, Ricky Smalling will not return for his senior season, team spokesperson Kent Brown confirmed. Loren Tate first reported the news on WDWS last week and Scott Richey of The Champaign News-Gazette reported it on Saturday morning. Also, senior running back Ra'Von Bonner and redshirt senior offensive lineman Jake Cerny are not part of the team this fall due to personal reasons, that news was first reported by The News-Gazette.

Smalling committed in 2016 as a three-star recruit from Chicago Brother Rice High School and led the Illini in receiving as a true freshman in 2017 (501 yards) and was the fourth true freshman in program history to lead the team in receiving yards. His 31 receptions that year were tied for a team lead with Malik Turner. As a sophomore in 2018, Smalling started and played in 11 games and led the team in receptions (33), receiving yards (406) and receiving touchdowns (5). He started the first seven games last year and had 24 receptions for 225 yards with one touchdown before suffering a season-ending injury. - Herald-Review Times

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2022

WR Ricky Smalling, Illinois
News Source: Herald-Review Times
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07/27/20 - Doug Kramer, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-2, 299 (DS#9 C) + More +

2020 WUERFFEL TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Doug Kramer, Illinois, senior, offensive line,...Kramer is a Three-time Academic All-Big Ten...Graduated with a degree in finance with a 3.3 GPA..Raised $1,550 for the Walk for Wishes...2019 NFF Mental Toughness Award...2020 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten third team. - Illinois Football

(DS#9 C) rSr/2022

C Doug Kramer, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/26/20 - Brandon Peters, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 228 (DS#15 QB) + More +

2020 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: QB Brandon Peters, Illinois,...Started 11 games in 2019...152-of-275 passing for 1,884 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season...74 carries for 213 yards and three touchdowns on the season...Fifth in the Big Ten in passing touchdowns (18), eighth in yards per completion (12.4), eighth in points responsible for (126), ninth in completion percentage (55.3), ninth in passing efficiency (128.6), 10th in passing yards (1,884), and 10th in total offense (190.6). - Illinois Football

(DS#15 QB) rSr/2022

QB Brandon Peters, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/25/20 - Blake Hayes, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 226 (DS#5 P) + More +

2020 PRESEASON RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST: Blake Hayes, Illinois,...All-Big Ten first team (media) in 2019...All-Big Ten first team (coaches)...Associated Press All-Big Ten first team...77 punts, 3,437 punt yards (44.6 yards/punt), 32 punts inside the 20, 22 punts of 50+ yards, only two touchbacks during the 2019 season...Led the Big Ten and ranked 18th in the nation in punting average (44.6). - Illinois Football

(DS#5 P) rSr/2022

P Blake Hayes, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/25/20 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

2020 BUTKUS AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Jake Hansen, Illinois,...2019 All Big-Ten honorable mention (coaches)...2019 All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)...Eight career forced fumbles are fourth-most in program history (dating back to 1990)...72 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one interception, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries for the 2019 season...Led the nation in forced fumbles (7) and ranked fifth in fumbles recovered (3) for the 2019 season. - Illinois Football

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/25/20 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

2020 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: LB Jake Hansen, Illinois,...The Football Writers Association of America, in conjunction with Charlotte Touchdown Club named Illinois senior LB Jake Hansen to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. It is the third watch list for Hansen after he was on the Bednarik and Butkus watch lists earlier this month. Hansen had 72 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one interception, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries for the 2019 season. - Illinois Football

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/25/20 - *Kendrick Green, rJr/2021, Illinois, 6-2, 305 (DS#7 OG) + More +

2020 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: G Kendrick Green, Illinois,...The Football Writers Association of America named Illinois junior OL Kendrick Green to the Outland Trophy watch list. It is the first career watch list for Green...Started 12 games at left guard and one game at center...All-Big Ten honorable mention (media). - Illinois Football

(DS#7 OG) rJr/2021

OG *Kendrick Green, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/25/20 - Alex Palczewski, rSr/2023, Illinois, 6-7, 303 (DS#20 OT) + More +

2020 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: OT Alex Palczewski, Illinois,...Palczewski started all 13 games at right tackle in 2019...Ended the season with 36 straight starts...All-Big Ten third team (coaches)...All-Big Ten honorable mention (media). - Illinois Football

(DS#20 OT) rSr/2023

OT Alex Palczewski, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/19/20 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

2020 PRESEASON BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: LB Jake Hansen, Illinois,...2019 Butkus Award Semifinalist...2019 All Big-Ten honorable mention (coaches)...2019 All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)...Eight career forced fumbles are fourth-most in program history (dating back to 1990)...72 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one interception, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries for the 2019 season...Led the nation in forced fumbles (7) and ranked fifth in fumbles recovered (3) for the 2019 season. - Illinois Football

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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07/14/20 - Brandon Peters, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 228 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Peters quickly squashed the notion of a quarterback competition in last August's training camp, his first at Illinois after transferring from Michigan. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound native of Avon, Ind., asserted himself into the No. 1 spot and held onto that title for the remainder of the season. Peters missed two games last fall because of a concussion, but he still had the most productive and efficient season by an Illinois quarterback since Wes Lunt in 2015. Peters completed 152 of 275 passes for 1,884 yards, 18 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Pigeon-holing Peters as a pocket passer, though, isn't quite right. His rushing totals weren't outlandish - 74 carries for 213 yards and three touchdowns - but the one-time Division I basketball recruit managed to break a few big runs when they mattered most.

As Illinois offensive coordinator Rod Smith would say, Peters is "not an oak tree back there." The Illini quarterback has shown that off even more since the team's voluntary workouts with Hernandez and his staff resumed. "Watching him run, he looks absolutely incredible," Hernandez said. "He's got his big, long stride, and he's taking people down with it, winning some races. There's some competitiveness. He has definitely put some 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 to our quarterback to get it done. Hopefully it's going to continue to spread throughout the remainder of our guys as well." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#15 QB) rSr/2022

QB Brandon Peters, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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07/13/20 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

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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