Last year saw the Illinois Fighting Illini football team have their best season since the 10-2 Big Ten title, Champaign campaign of 2001. And a big part of that was due to the defensive front seven. While yes, it was an overall team effort, across the board, the defensive line and linebackers position group was critical. With the Illini returning a very high percentage of their … [Read more...] about Illini Football: Front Seven, Led by Gabe Jacas, Key to 2025 Success
illini football news
Illinois Football Enters Season with Highest Expectations in a Generation
The annual spring and summer sports lull is about to end! Yes, the "we have no revenue college sports going on at the moment" dead zone of the calendar concludes...now. The Illinois football team began their training camp on Friday at Memorial Stadium, with Illinois football coach Bret Bielema holding a press conference on Thursday to preview fall practice. And the current … [Read more...] about Illinois Football Enters Season with Highest Expectations in a Generation
Illini Football News and Notes: Josh McCray, Recruiting Rankings
It has been a very eventful off-season for the Illini football program. In 2025, they'll return 18/22 starters from a team that went 10-3, won the Citrus Bowl and finished #16 (one spot ahead of Alabama) in the final AP poll. Obviously, the outlook for this team is very positive, as it should be, as spring football nears its conclusion. Lots of Illini football news and notes … [Read more...] about Illini Football News and Notes: Josh McCray, Recruiting Rankings
Former Illini Star Trulon Henry Charged with Child Sex Crimes
This has got to be one of the more disturbing stories of the college football offseason. Former University of Illinois linebacker Trulon Henry, who was injured in a off-campus shooting his senior year of college, has been charged with child sex crimes. According to WGN-TV, Henry, 39, was officially charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal … [Read more...] about Former Illini Star Trulon Henry Charged with Child Sex Crimes
Chicago Bears Kelvin Hayden: out for season
Update: Chicago Bears nickelback Kelvin Hayden has been ruled out for the season with a torn hamstring, the team announced Wednesday. … [Read more...] about Chicago Bears Kelvin Hayden: out for season
Illini win Tim Beckman’s debut convincingly
One thing is for sure- this Illinois Fighting Illini team can play some defense. With starting quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase injured, safety Ashante Williams returned an interception 60 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown to help Illinois and new coach Tim Beckman hang on for a 24-7 win Saturday over Western Michigan in the season opener for both teams. The Illini … [Read more...] about Illini win Tim Beckman’s debut convincingly
Illini Football Media Day highlights
New Illinois football head coach Tim Beckman takes over for the fired Ron Zook. The rookie head coach (on a Big Ten level) from Toledo addressed the media yesterday (Here is the link to the 25 minute video) after a week at Camp Rantoul; the Illini train on the former Chanute air force base. Here are some of the highlights of what he had to say … [Read more...] about Illini Football Media Day highlights
Illini Coach Tim Beckman addresses issue of recruiting Penn State players
Newly minted Illini head Coach Tim Beckman addressed the issue of the day surrounding his program, and the Big Ten conference in general, the Penn State football roster being re-opened for recruiting. Beckman took the topic head on with the opening statement in his time at the podium: … [Read more...] about Illini Coach Tim Beckman addresses issue of recruiting Penn State players
Illini get much needed boost to the return game in NIU transfer
Illini Coach Tim Beckman landed a pretty important although bound to be somewhat overlooked recruit today. It's the ultimate needs-based pick up. Yuo can easily say without hyperbole that Illinois had the worst special teams in all of college football last year. Aside from the placekicking, it was all around atrocious and cost them a win at Penn State, and probably another two … [Read more...] about Illini get much needed boost to the return game in NIU transfer
Illinois Alumni Association takes shot at Northwestern marketing slogan
I received a mass email today from the Illinois Alumni Association. The subject heading: ILLINOIS: Chicago's Big Ten University The message content: Illinois alumni don't need an expensive roadside billboard to let people know we're the best public Big Ten university in Chicago! Instead, make your case in your office space by displaying your loyalty for everyone to … [Read more...] about Illinois Alumni Association takes shot at Northwestern marketing slogan