Aside from place-kicking last season, Illini was pretty much abysmal

The Illini ranked 120th -- that's last -- in kickoff returns last season under former coach Ron Zook with 15.7 yards per return. (New name: Bravo Company.) In punt returns, they ranked 118th with 2.9 yards per return. (New name: Recon.) Illinois' opponents averaged about seven yards more per kickoff return and four yards more per punt return.

Special teams coordinator Tim Salem, who operated in the same role the last three years at Central Florida, said the deficiency was a combination of the blocking and the returning. The Illini tried out several returners during drills at Camp Rantoul.

"Right now in the special teams phase, we're working on the fundamentals," said Salem, whose kickoff return unit at Central Florida ranked No. 3 in the nation last season with 26.9 yards per return. "Finding guys to be able to catch the ball, finding guys who can block and finding guys who have talent in the open field. Right now, we're trying to improve the individual, and if we improve the individual, we improve the team."

chicagotribune.com