Illini Football 2026
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That's because he portaled after last season
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
Ah. I actually thought he left but 247 did not have anything listed on his profile. Now I see he's at Western Illinois.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
This one thing makes me wonder about the current NIL model as a sustainable thing. It's easier to raise $ the first time around. But the 2nd, 3rd, 4th times get harder. Especially when as you mentioned some of those NIL expenditures don't pan out. It'd be like at church if they pass the offering plate for a special offering to raise funds for a building project. Got the building built - and then immediately started asking for money to rebuild the building that was just built.
Defense scares me. They might give up an uncomfortable amount of points to UAB.Random thoughts and guesses -
I'm not sold on Matelau and Martin. Hope it doesn't play out but B1G D-Lines are a very tough deal for an OL. Next year, yes. This year
I think special teams will be just fine, not a top B1G group but very solid. I'm more optimistic than most.
Hauser should be excellent. Illinois did well with Altmyer and his shortcomings. Altmyer's interception this past weekend was because he threw late...again. Still doing it and yet at Illinois he was fantastic. Hauser solves some OL issues himself getting rid of the ball quick, which will really help with the above OL concern.
Hauser - going to be treated at practice like grandma's fine china. Do not touch. Lose him and it's a problem. Zero experience at back up. Keep him healthy, get him out once Illinois has a game wrapped up, forget style points unless some crazy scenario occurs where Illinois is in the playoff race (not likely, IMO).
Speaking of Hauser, has he bought a "Barry Hauser is my Dad" shirt yet? He should and Illinois and the Band should play that up. Maybe be a guest conductor wearing that T-shirt. The band kids work extremely hard and I suspect would really enjoy some QB love. Tie them even more into the program.
I'm concerned, like many, that cumulatively the front 6 on D is a very very marginal B1G group. Individually they are fine but collectively.....The top guys are not there. I'm wondering if Hauck & Co. are wondering what they got themselves into? Worst Case, at least year 2 they'll have a better opportunity in the portal. I'm sure Bret and Josh will throw more money at it. Best case, this group exceeds expectations and keeps it close enough for the Illinois O to win most games.
Not having to get Feagin touches at RB improves that whole group. Getting Feagin touches at TE (or wherever he lines up) improves that whole group. That's a big positive for this offense.
I'm not sure what to make of the WR group yet. Stepp is good, is there enough B1G depth talent there? We will find out but it does make it more important for Illinois to be better at running the ball.
When this staff removes its star players from a blowout early will be a first. My pet peeve with Bret and company.
I disagree -- they love both Boyd and Clayton. They are playing it sly naming Boyd as the back-up because they do not want Clayton to get down just because Boyd is slightly ahead this year with his extra year in the system, when they view them as equal long-term candidates to be starter next year.
The idea that our homegrown talented QBs with years in the system are necessarily inferior to a transfer next year is simply wrong.
what percentage of the fan base knows who the band conductor is, 1%? maybe it's because i don't live in c-u.
otherwise, great write-up, thank you. although it made me a little pessimistic for this year, ha.
I think the starters on offense are set in stone, and the two-deep doesn't seem to have a ton of mystery either (IANAI):
QB- Houser, Boyd
RB- Valentine, Laughery
WR1- Dixon, ?
WR2- Clement, ?
WR3- Platt (Trimble to start the season)
TE- Abney, Feagin
LT- Martin, Stewart
LG- Matelau, Tuerk
C- Renfro, McMillen
RG- Henderson, Hansen
RT- Knapik, Schuster
Dez Schuster is probably the main backup at tackle, if Martin gets hurt I'd bet Knapik would switch to LT and Schuster would be RT. Hansen is probably our top backup guard and McMillen our backup center, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Tuerk get some snaps.
The biggest mysteries have to be who comes after the top 4 in the WR room. Cichy has been said to impress, but you'd think Ty Robinson would play if healthy just to get some height out there. Eberhart? Just basically copy and paste "if healthy" after every name.
Defense I'd have to think a lot harder about...
Ryllini
- Lombard
I think you are right. From where I sit, Boyd's arm talent is for real, he is just smaller I haven't seen as much from Clayton, but I'm sure it's there. I bet they kick the tires on a transfer, but I hope we have the next 2-3 seasons of QB play on roster and hit the portal hard on the defensive front.
it seems as if getting a starting QB from the portal is pretty much the standard procedure for 75% of the teams in P4.
might we one day get the 5* stud right outta high school ? yea, but I donāt see it happening soon . As tough as it is needing to get a guy every year or two , getting a proven winner at age 20 or 21 is much easier than at age 17 or 18.
might we one day get the 5* stud right outta high school ? yea, but I donāt see it happening soon . As tough as it is needing to get a guy every year or two , getting a proven winner at age 20 or 21 is much easier than at age 17 or 18.
Necessarily? No. Will there be QBs in the portal next year that are better than those two. Almost certainly yes. So it comes down to our willingness to pay.
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