First Look: Illinois
After going 9-4 in 2007 and earning a trip to the Rose Bowl, Illinois has had a much more difficult time this season. Currently, the Fighting Illini have an overall record of 5-5, and are tied for fourth in the Big Ten with Minnesota and Northwestern with a record of 3-3.
Illinois began the season ranked 20th and took on then-No. 6 Missouri in both team’s season-opener at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, in a game that saw the Illini and the Tigers combining for 92 points and 1,081 yards of total offense. Unfortunately, Illinois lost 52-42.
The Illini rattled off two straight wins after the loss, defeating Eastern Illinois 47-21 and Louisiana-Lafayette 20-17. It’s been an up-and-down year for Ron Zook’s Illinois squad, because the Illlini have yet to put together back-to-back wins since.
Illinois lost at then-No. 12 Penn State 38-24 before traveling to Ann Arbor to defeat Michigan 45-20.
The Illini’s next two games were at home, dropping a 27-20 decision to Minnesota, then handed Indiana a 55-13 lopsided loss.
Three weeks ago, Illinois lost to Wisconsin 27-17 in Madison, but returned to Memorial Stadium to down Iowa 27-24.
Illinois’ most embarrasing loss came last Saturday in front of just 12,865 fans at Ford Field in Detroit as Mid-American Conference member, Western Michigan, came away with a 23-17 win.
One player from last season that’s sorely missed is running back Rashard Mendenhall, who was one of the top ball carriers in the nation last year, rushing for 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns before he was selected in first round (23rd overall pick) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in April’s NFL Draft.
Taking over for Mendenhall is junior running back Daniel Dufrene, though he’s averaging just 63.9 yards in 11.4 attempts per ball game. Overall, he has rushed for 575 yards on 103 carries (5.6 ypa) but has yet to reach paydirt.
Ohio State fans will remember Dufrene from last year as he was the one who ran 80 yards down the far sideline in the first quarter against the Buckeyes and fumbled before going out-of-bounds, but the play was never reviewed.
Junior quarterback Juice Williams is the team’s top rusher with 577 yards while toting the rock 141 times in 10 games. He is averaging 57.7 yards per game and 4.1 yards per attempt.
After completing 57.3 percent of his throws and passing for 1,743 yards with 13 touchdowns to go along with 12 interceptions during his sophomore campaign, Williams has bettered most of those numbers from a year ago. So far this season his completion rate is slightly lower (57.1%), but he has thrown for 2,769 yards with 20 TDs and 14 INTs. Williams, though, has also thrown seven of his interceptions in the last three games.
2007’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year Arrelious Benn is Illinois’ top receiver and clearly Williams’ favorite target by hauling in 61 passes for 947 yards and three TDs. He also averages 10.1 yards per punt return.
Senior wide receiver Will Judson and junior tight end Michael Hoomanawanui both have 21 receptions and two touchdown catches.
Defensively, senior inside linebacker Brit Miller leads the team in total tackles (110) and tackles of loss (16.5), while sharing the team lead in sacks with senior defensive end Derek Walker (6.0).
