2011 Bowl: 20-14 W over UCLA @ Hunger Bowl
Head Coach: Tim Beckman
Odds to win Big Ten: 18/1
Betting Futures from Bovada
Offense
QB Nathan Scheelhaase (2110 yards passing, and a team leading 624 yards rushing) was recruited to play for Mike Locksley, and the Jr. QB is going to now be working in his third system in his third year at Illinois. Adjust meant is imperative. He has two offensive coordinators to work with and last year he improved his pass game, so Fighting Illini fans are hoping that trend can continue with yet another change in the youngster’s career.
At running back, sophomore Donovonn Young is going to have to continue to get better after a pretty solid freshman year. Last year, he carried for 451 yards and six TDs. He was injured during spring (foot) and his back up on the depth chart Josh Ferguson played a mere three games last year as a freshman, so Illinois faithful are praying for a speedy recovery for Young.
At receiver, the Illini feature Spencer Harris, Jon Davis, and Dairus Millines, who all combined for 67 total catches last year, which helped account for the mere 184.0 yards per game in the air for the Illini, who ranked 7th of the 12 teams in the Big Ten in passing offense. It hurts missing A.J. Jenkins, who received 90 catches last year on his own, but was drafted by the 49ers and is no longer in the fold. Ryan Lankford and Millenes will be the main two to keep an eye on.
The OL was a strength for Illinois in 2010, but they have actually regressed last year. They finished 102nd nationally in sacks allowed and weren’t providing their runners with good blocking either. Beckman addressed this by bringing aboard Luke Butkus as the line coach and they return three starters, the best of whom is Graham Pocic (center).
Defense
Illinois lucked out when tackle Akeem Spence and end Michael Buchanan decided not to enter the NFL Draft. Their return should keep the Illini good defensively, as last year they were 15th in the nation, allowing only 19.6 points per game.
They have produced four First Team All Big Ten linebackers in the last six years, and Jr. Jonathan Brown will likely make that seven. CB Terry Thawhorne has a lot of big play potential and had an interception which led to a 39 yard trot for a score at the Kraft Hunger Bowl last year. Justin Green mans the other corner, but they need help at safety, where Steve Hull is pretty decent, but Supo Sanni missed most of the spring with an Achilles’ tendon injury.
Special Teams
Beckman spent a lot of his time in spring practice addressing special teams play. The coverage and punt returns units, consequently, should be improved, as they really couldn’t get much worse than last year. Freshman Ryan Frain can win the placekicking job and will likely do so in training camp, but Justin DuVernois has altered his mechanics and will be worth keeping an eye on, as improvement or regression is an equally likely scenario.
Outlook
Beckman believes this team can contend for a Big Ten title. I guess that’s important because few others do, and college football oddsmakers agree, setting their chances at a pretty big long shot with 18/1 odds layer down on it.
If they are to make any waves in the Leaders division of the Big Ten, the time is now. With OSU’s ineligibility and strengthening team, not to mention the Sandusky scandal, there is the brief window for the Illini to sneak a championship in…just don’t expect them to actually do it.
