In just his second practice back from a torn right ACL, Illinois wide receiver Mike Dudek tore the ligament again. It’s the same exact injury that kept him out of the entire 2015 season. Some say he could be lost for the entire 2016 season too; while others say he might return some time during conference play.
Either way, his absence means that the receiving corps is quite possibly the biggest question mark on this Illini football team.
Dudek was probably the best overall player on the 2014 Zaxby’s Bowl team. He had a breakout freshman season that year, accruing the fifth most single season receptions, and seventh most single season yards in Illini football history.
Fans maintain optimism that his future remains bright. Your heart bleeds for a guy like him, or Tracy Abrams, or Derrick Rose; guys who keep getting bit by the injury bug.
Moving on, here are the guys who will step up and try to replicate, and then hopefully exceed, Dudek’s production.
Malik Turner
Turner becomes the position’s new alpha dog. The junior from Springfield had 39 receptions for 510 yards and 3 touchdowns last season, but those numbers will certainly rise significantly this season. If so, it would continue the upward trajectory of his career. Turner doubled his production from year one to year two.
When asked who the “go-to” receiver will be in this group, Turner responded with some Media Dayisms about doing it by committee, but he offer some insight into Dudek’s recovery:
“He’s taking it well, he’s a strong guy who works really hard. He worked back to the point where he was looking good, looking normal and I know he’ll work back to that point again.”
Dudek will be able to move laterally again in about a couple weeks or so.
“We got a lot of guys stepping up and we’re all learning,” Turner said of the receiver group as a whole.
“We’ve got guys that have played before, guys coming back. We got Justin back, stepping up, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Last year, then Coach Bill Cubit often mentioned the egregious amount of drops plaguing the 2015 Illini football team. It sounded like an excuse, but Cubit had a very fair point. A few more catches here and there and the 5-7 Illini indeed go bowling.
Of course, if you can’t best a weak Minnesota team late in the season when there’s a bowl berth on the line, then you don’t deserve a postseason appearance anyway. These days, a bowl berth is pretty much handed to any power five conference team that can stand up and receive it. Especially after the 4-1 start to the season, missing a bowl was unacceptable, and it is fair and just that Cubit is no longer here.
Malik Turner had some issues with drops last season, as did the rest of the group. It was such a problem that QB Wes Lunt’s completion percentage dropped to 56%. If the receivers can do their job and help get that north of 60%, (63% or 64% would be great), then you should expect this Illini football team in the postseason next year.
Desmond Cain
Cain, a true frosh last year, put up a 53-492-1 in ’15. Like Turner, he will also see a big boost in productivity. Maybe Cain can start to develop into that deep threat that Wes Lunt lacked last season? Cain’s nickname is “Des,” not “Cainer,” so sorry to any Illini football fans who want to live-Tweet Illinois games in the meathead manner that Blackhawks fans tweet the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Cain gave his case for Illini football fans to be optimistic about this group.
“As you saw the past couple practices we have gotten better. We’re doing better than last year actually, so everybody can expect great things out of the whole receiving corps,” said Cain.
Cain discussed how Dudek is dealing with this latest set back.
“He’s a positive guy, His spirits are really up,” said Cain of Dudek’s mindset and demeanor.
“Our jobs as friends, teammates, is to keep him comfortable, let him know that everything is going to be okay.”
Justin Hardee
Every good football team needs a decent third receiver and the hope is that Justin Hardee can step into that role. He returns after missing all of last season with a broken foot.
Lovie described Hardee thusly: “no one works hard than him.”
Turner had a many kind words. “He’s a bullet. He’s the fastest guy on the team.”
Others to watch
Lovie’s Bottom Line on the Illini football WR corps
“We don’t have a whole lot of household names right now at the receiver position, but we feel that for what we want to do, we’ll be fine,” Smith said at Illini football media day.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.