Illinois Fighting Illini WR Ryan Lankford was the team's most improved player this spring practice session. But he didn't have a catch on Saturday in the big 33-15 win over Arkansas State. Someone preferably Lankford needs to become Illinois' third option. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase threw for a career-best 267 yards. His 16 completions went to A.J. Jenkins, who had 11 … [Read more...] about Illini Need Wide Receiver Ryan Lankford to Develop Into Third Option
jason ford
Illinois Fighting Ilini Season Preview: Offense
Last year the Illinois Fighting Illini got a bowl win for the first time since 1999, a 38-14 drubbing of Baylor in Houston that kind of resembled their last bowl win, a 63-21 destruction of Virginia. The offense got very hot down the stretch last season, so hot that the unit set new records for points scored and total points. This year QB Nathan Scheelhaase is up for the … [Read more...] about Illinois Fighting Ilini Season Preview: Offense
Jason Ford Needs to be Illini Football BMOC
When Rashard Mendenhall left the Illinois Fighting Illini with a year of eligibility left in 2007, for the NFL Draft, Illinois suffered the next year. Aside from that whole "planes cannot take down a building" tweets of idiocy and the sponsorship pullout that followed, things have gone pretty well for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mendenhall. But for the two years that … [Read more...] about Jason Ford Needs to be Illini Football BMOC
#38 Illinois Fighting Illini: College Football 77 in 77
If there's one thing I know in life, it's that Illinois college football never ever conforms to your expectations. No one saw their two BcS appearances coming (2001, 2007); and since they followed both seasons up with sub .500 choking, both these bowl appearances are now looked upon as fluky. Whenever Illinois has been predicted to do well (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009) they fell … [Read more...] about #38 Illinois Fighting Illini: College Football 77 in 77
Illini Running Back Situation: Who takes over for Mikel Leshoure?
When Rashard Mendenhall left the Illinois Fighting Illini with a year of eligibility left in 2007, for the NFL Draft, Illinois suffered the next year. Aside from that whole "planes cannot take down a building" tweets of idiocy and the sponsorship pullout that followed, things have gone pretty well for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mendenhall. But for the two years that … [Read more...] about Illini Running Back Situation: Who takes over for Mikel Leshoure?
Who will be the Best Running Back in College Football in 2011?
Who will be the best tailback in college football this fall? You can get a good idea by looking at the Doak Walker Award watch list which was released yesterday. Illinois Fighting Illini senior Jason Ford and Notre Dame Fighting Irish junior Cierre Wood were among the 51 players named to the watch list on Friday. Ford is one of seven Big Ten running backs on the Walker … [Read more...] about Who will be the Best Running Back in College Football in 2011?
Illini Tailback Situation Part 1- Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure
By Paul M. Banks Heading into this season the talk about the Illinois Fighting Illini program, certainly offensively at least, was about the passing game; and the stellar group of receivers that were allegedly one of the best position groups in the nation. There were lots of questions about the defense and the running game- the latter of which took a big step backward last … [Read more...] about Illini Tailback Situation Part 1- Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure