3 days to Missouri

• Great challenge awaits against a great opponent.
• No problem doing running back by committee.
• Team is quite healthy. Jeff Cumberland—who will not play vs Missouri—is recovering nicely from foot surgery two weeks ago.
• Senior Eric Block worked his way to a starting spot at tackle thru hard work, perseverance.
• Long snapper Tad Keely (who performed well in the Rose Bowl) has been awarded a scholarship.
• Arrelious Benn and Vontae Davis will return kickoffs; Benn and Dere Hicks will handle punt return duties; Anthony Santella is the punter.
• Still unsure about the starting kicker.
• Patrick Nixon needs to return home to improve his academics, could return to campus in January; Brian Gamble and Mark Jackson are off the team due to "institutional" issues.
• Juice is confident, a leader, like night and day from this time last year.
• Excited about Donsay Hardeman's potential.

• Missouri, who led the Big 12 in total defense last year, has some tricks prepared for Illinois.
• Redshirt freshman left tackle Elvis Fisher may feel some jitters in his first collegiate start opposite Illinois defensive end Will Davis.
• Chase Daniel is confident in his offensive line.

• The long road to Illini starter for Daniel Dufrene.
• Brit Miller is ready to be on the field for almost all non-offensive plays.
• Expect a rotation of up to nine guys on the defensive line.
• Loren Tate reflects on the remarkable transformation to the program under Zook in the past four years.
• Video - Ryan McDonald | Daniel Dufrene | Tad Keely | Curt Mallory