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If Lovie Smith is upset with Oluwole Betiku for leaving Illinois early, he has an unusual way of showing it. Betiku flew into town Friday to get ready for Monday's Illinois Pro Timing Day. At the airport, Betiku saw Smith, who was picking up his grandson. "He gave me a ride to my place," Betiku said. "We had a good conversation. He was great. He's like a father to me." The defensive end transferred to Illinois from Southern Cal before the start of the 2019 season. After limited playing time with the Trojans, he was an immediate hit with the Illini.

Despite missing three games because of injury, Betiku led the team with nine sacks. Betiku could have come back to Illinois for another year. But on Jan. 11, the 22-year-old declared for the NFL draft. "After the season, I looked at my numbers, I looked at how I played, and I just felt like I'm ready for the challenge," Betiku said. Betiku didn't seek much advice before making the jump. "I really just focused my soul and sat by myself in the house and asked myself, 'I've already graduated, I've got a college degree. What am I waiting for?'" Betiku said. "I might as go try to be a professional player." What happens next is up to him. "At the end of the day, wherever you go, however you go, you have to make a team, you have to work hard," Betiku said. "I believe in my hard work and my effort. I've always bet on my effort and myself." - News Gazette Tribune

(DS#24 OLB) Jr/2020

OLB Oluwole Betiku Jr, Illinois
News Source: News Gazette Tribune
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03/09/20 - Oluwole Betiku Jr, Jr/2020, Illinois, 6-3, 249 (DS#24 OLB) + More +

A total of six former Fighting Illini football players took part in Illinois' annual NFL Pro Day Monday morning, March 9, at the Smith Football Center and Irwin Indoor Practice Center in front of 30 NFL scouts. Taking part in Monday's workouts were six Fighting Illini from the small 2019 Redbox Bowl squad - Oluwole Betiku Jr., Dre Brown, Reggie Corbin, Stanley Green, Dele Harding, and Tymir Oliver. Jamal Milan had measurements taken, but was unable to participate in drills due to injury.

The Illini started off with measurements and vertical leap testing inside the Smith Center before moving to the Irwin Indoor complex for speed an agility drills. After the drill testing, the Fighting Illini took part in position-specific drills on the turf at the Irwin Practice Facility. Betiku may have helped his stock the most on Pro Day, running an unofficial 4.69 40-yard dash, which would have ranked third among all defensive linemen at the NFL Combine. His 4.26 short shuttle time would have ranked first at the combine, while his 7.26 3-cone time would have been fourth. - Illinois Football

(DS#24 OLB) Jr/2020

OLB Oluwole Betiku Jr, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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02/12/20 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Greg Schiano has added another former Rutgers assistant coach to his Scarlet Knights staff. Schiano announced Tuesday that Joe Susan will serve as special assistant to the head coach. The veteran mentor has more than 40 years of experience at the collegiate level, including nine recently as head coach at Bucknell and nine on Schiano's previous staff. Susan most recently served as special assistant to the director of athletics at Bucknell. He had resigned as head football coach following the 2018 season. Susan was on Schiano's original staff in 2001, serving two seasons as offensive line coach. He moved to tight ends in 2003 and added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2004. Susan has worked at Davidson, Princeton, Memphis, Delaware and Gettysburg in a coaching career that started in 1977. - AP College Football

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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01/17/20 - Sydney Brown, rSr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 211 (DS#2 SS) + More +

Illinois defensive passing game coordinator and safeties coach Gill Byrd said Friday he is leaving the program because of an unspecified illness in his family. Byrd, who worked with head coach Lovie Smith for three NFL teams, coached at Illinois for two seasons. "Gill Byrd is like a brother to me," Smith said. "As good a coach as he is on the field, Gill is even a better person. I hope for nothing but the best for Gill and his family. We will miss him greatly around our program." Smith said Keynodo Hudson will coach all defensive backs next season after coaching the cornerbacks in 2019.

Alfred Davis (defensive tackles coach) and Jimmy Lindsey (defensive ends) will join the program. Davis spent the past two seasons at Hutchinson Community College while Lindsey spent the last three seasons at Western Kentucky. Illinois is coming off a 6-7 season that included three straight losses, but Smith and others are optimistic after reaching a bowl game and putting together a four-game winning streak highlighted by an upset of then-No. 6 Wisconsin. The Illini open the season Sept. 4 against Illinois State. - AP College Football

(DS#2 SS) rSr/2023

SS Sydney Brown, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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01/13/20 - Blake Jeresaty, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 305 (DS#999 OG) + More +

2019 AFCA FCS COACHES' SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: OL Blake Jeresaty, Jr., Wofford,...Jeresaty, a junior center from Charleston, South Carolina, became the fifth Terrier to earn the Jacob Blocking Trophy and the first since 2011. He is part of an offensive line that is ranked first in the nation in fewest sacks allowed, with only four. The line paved the way for the nation's second-ranked rushing attack at 305.8 yards per game. He led the team in knockdown blocks with 127 on the season. He was named All-Southern Conference second team last season. He was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District the past two years. - Wofford Football

(DS#999 OG) rSr/2022

OG Blake Jeresaty, Illinois
News Source: Wofford Football
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01/04/20 - Artur Sitkowski, rSr/2024, Illinois, 6-4, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Rutgers has hired Sean Gleeson as its offensive coordinator, the latest New Jersey native or former Scarlet Knights' assistant to join the staff. Coach Greg Schiano announced the hiring Saturday. Gleeson spent last season as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. He worked the previous six seasons at Princeton. Former Rutgers receiver Tiquan Underwood was named the wide receivers coach on Friday. Earlier, Schiano hired Jim Panagos for a second stint as defensive line coach and made Camden native Fran Brown his secondary coach. "Sean is one of the brightest young offensive minds in college football and we are happy to welcome him and his family to Rutgers," said Schiano, who was hired in December for a second tour with the Scarlet Knights. "He has worked his way up the ranks with a history of developing quarterbacks and highly productive offensive schemes."

Gleeson, of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, guided one of the most explosive offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision in his lone season with Oklahoma State. Three Oklahoma State offensive players earned All-Big 12 honors, including Big 12 Offensive Player Chuba Hubbard, who led the nation with 2,093 yards rushing and an an average of 179.54 all-purpose yards. In Gleeson's time at Princeton, the Tigers won three Ivy League championships and averaged 36.9 points. He helped the Tigers to an undefeated 2018 season. - AP College Football

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Artur Sitkowski, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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12/29/19 - Reggie Corbin, Sr/2020, Illinois, 5-08, 205 (DS#32 RB) + More +

RB Reggie Corbin had mixed success this season but has been a force in the Illini's backfield while averaging nearly five yards a carry. Corbin is 12th on Illinois' career rushing charts with 2,320 yards. He has two 100-yard games this season while splitting time in the backfield with Dre Brown. - AP College Football

(DS#32 RB) Sr/2020

RB Reggie Corbin, Illinois
News Source: AP College Football
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12/28/19 - Roderick Perry II, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 304 (DS#54 DT) + More +

2019 ALL-MEAC SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DL Roderick Perry, r-Jr., South Carolina State,...Other Bulldogs receiving All-MEAC honors were senior's De'Montrez Burroughs (WR), Alex Taylor (OL) and Tyrell Goodwin (DL) were all named to the MEAC First Team, while redshirt senior Malik Mickle (OL), redshirt junior Roderick Perry (DL) and redshirt sophomore Decobie Durant (DB) were named Second Team All-MEAC respectively. Juniors LaBron Morris (RB) and Mike Terry (OL) each was tabbed to the Third Team All-MEAC. - South Carolina State Football

(DS#54 DT) rSr/2022

DT Roderick Perry II, Illinois
News Source: South Carolina State Football
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12/26/19 - Jack Badovinac, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 303 (DS#103 OG) + More +

2019 ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE FIRST TEAM (COACHES): OL: Jack Badovinac, Colgate, Jr.,...Badovinac ended this season riding a string of 32 consecutive starts, which leads all comers on the offensive side of the ball. He began the season at right guard but switched over to left guard and made his final nine starts at that position. - Colgate Football

(DS#103 OG) rSr/2022

OG Jack Badovinac, Illinois
News Source: Colgate Football
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12/05/19 - Blake Hayes, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-5, 226 (DS#5 P) + More +

2019 ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM (COACHES): Punter Blake Hayes, Illinois,...44.8 yards/punt this season, #2 in Illini history (45.4 by Steve Weatherford in 2004)...#2 in the Big Ten and #18 in the nation in punting average...28 punts inside the 20, most in a season in Illini history...Only two touchbacks on the season, tied for the fewest in a season in Illini history...20 50+-yard punts, tied for most in a season in Illini history...13 punts inside the 10, including six downed on the 1- or 2-yard lines. - Illinois Football

(DS#5 P) rSr/2022

P Blake Hayes, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/05/19 - Jake Hansen, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-1, 239 (DS#14 ILB) + More +

2019 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Jake Hansen,...Butkus Award Semifinalist...Missed the Michigan State, Iowa games with an injury...Leads the nation in forced fumbles (7) and ranks fifth in fumbles recovered (3) entering the Northwestern game. - Illinois Football

(DS#14 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Jake Hansen, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/05/19 - Doug Kramer, rSr/2022, Illinois, 6-2, 299 (DS#9 C) + More +

2019 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Doug Kramer,...Illinois senior running back Reggie Corbin and junior Alex Palczewski both earned All-Big Ten honors, the conference announced Wednesday on Big Ten Network. Corbin was voted to the third-team by both media and coaches, while Palczewski was a third-team honoree by the coaches. In addition, sophomore OL Kendrick Green, WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, and OL Doug Kramer each garnered honorable mention status. - Illinois Football

(DS#9 C) rSr/2022

C Doug Kramer, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/05/19 - *Kendrick Green, rJr/2021, Illinois, 6-2, 305 (DS#7 OG) + More +

2019 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Kendrick Green,...Illinois senior running back Reggie Corbin and junior Alex Palczewski both earned All-Big Ten honors, the conference announced Wednesday on Big Ten Network. Corbin was voted to the third-team by both media and coaches, while Palczewski was a third-team honoree by the coaches. In addition, sophomore OL Kendrick Green, WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, and OL Doug Kramer each garnered honorable mention status. - Illinois Football

(DS#7 OG) rJr/2021

OG *Kendrick Green, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/05/19 - Sydney Brown, rSr/2023, Illinois, 5-10, 211 (DS#2 SS) + More +

2019 ALL-BIG TEN THIRD TEAM (COACHES): DB Sydney Brown, Illinois,...Starting safety...Career-high 13 tackles, two interceptions, and a 76-yard interception returned for a touchdown Ranks fourth on Illinois’ career kickoff return average list (25.1 ypr) entering the Iowa game...Did not play in the first two games of the season due to injury. - Illinois Football

(DS#2 SS) rSr/2023

SS Sydney Brown, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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12/05/19 - Dele Harding, Sr/2020, Illinois, 6-1, 229 (DS#16 ILB) + More +

2019 ALL-BIG TEN THIRD TEAM (COACHES): LB Dele Harding, Illinois,...On Tuesday, punter Blake Hayes (Punter of the Year, first team coaches & team media) and linebacker Dele Harding (first team media, third team coaches) headlined a group of nine Illini defensive and special teams players to garner Big Ten recognition. Harding leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the nation in tackles per game (12.0) entering the Northwestern game. - Illinois Football

(DS#16 ILB) Sr/2020

ILB Dele Harding, Illinois
News Source: Illinois Football
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