Illini Football 2026
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Truly a bit surprised we were able to recruit the Tongan Mormon away from the Mormon school with a Tongan Coach and that’s known for football. I have heard the FamILLy culture has been successful, but this is a big win for Bret.
blackdog
- Champaign
Well he already is the biggest. Definitely a really good shot to be the best too
Actually going to correct myself, he's not Somoan he's Tongan. Both Polynesian but two distinct people and languages. Would be like calling a British person French.
William the Conqueror has entered the conversation.
I love what Bret's saying about the offensive skill positions, but the general quietness about the OL as a whole and hoping they'll come together makes me think they're going to need significantly more time to gel. We knew it'd be a work in progress this year with all the new faces that should improve as the season goes on, but sounds like we're not quite where Bret wanted us to be at this point in terms of Bretisms, in which case that Duke game gets a lot more uncomfortable. Make or break year for Bart Miller
Really not concerned about the wideouts.Between questions on Oline and banged up Wideouts, woof. Please gel and get healthy. Here, I was worried about the defense,.
The top 4 will be awesome (assuming good QB play).
The concern about the 5th receiver has been way too over the top. Who was the 5th receiver last year? Ashton Hollins. He had 4 catches 108 yards.
The 5th receiver in 2024 had 4 catches 77 yards (Elzy).
I think Ty Robinson can fill that void (unless he’s hurt, no clue?).
5th receiver only gets used much jf one of the first 4 gets injured .
regardless, we should be okay there as is .
The quiet part is that run blocking will probably be a concern
blackdog
- Champaign
Perhaps. It seems to have been talked about that the OL is bigger than last year.
It's not. It's longer and more athletic, but the OL is not bigger.
Martin weights less than Davis, same with Getsky ^ Matelau; Henderson 25' ^ Henderson 26 and Priestly ^ Knapik.
Only Renfro is bigger than Kreutz.
Most seem to be leaner. That's team wide. Jordan Anderson was close to being unrecognizable (in a good way). He's still a good sized RB but would be tiny for a TE.
Last years oline was fat and slow. Gesky dropped 30lbs for the nfl. This years line is long and athletic
Exactly, I feel like we don't have to worry too much about pass blocking since Houser is a bigger guy and gets the ball out quickly. I don't know that this OL will be suited to running the power and off-tackle concepts that we keep blending into our scheme
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
sounds pretty good:
the proof's in the pudding, but all signs point to Houser killing it
the proof's in the pudding, but all signs point to Houser killing it
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
Henderson is down 15 pounds on program weight from 2025 to 2026. Martin, Matalau, Knapik are all going to be signficantly more athletic then who they replaced.
I'll never forget what Lunney ran in 2021 with UTSA....they ran wide zone to death against the Illini, put that DL on skates, very side to side....he really hasn't been able to do that here.
They tried to at the start of 2025 and it looked horrendous and they stopped.
I think he was given some significant say this past portal season on what he wants to see on the OL, for the first time.
Linebacker recruit?
Joel Goodson
- it's all ball bearings, nowadays
Lunney is gonna keep it pure vanilla in non-con. hoping we can shock them early and keep it up through 4
FWLIW, I'm buying the Houser hype and think our O line is gonna surprise
M-m-m pudding.
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