Illinois held an open practice on a rainy Friday evening in Champaign from 5 p.m. to approximately 7:15.
It was a typical practice script for the spring, with walk-thrus, warmups, position drills, 7v7, some running game work, then team.
Here are a few notes by position:
Quarterback
* All three of the scholarship quarterbacks got equal reps, and walk-on Cam Miller got a few reps. Rod Smith said it's an open competition, and that will continue into fall camp when Isaiah Williams gets here.
* MJ Rivers was sharp considering it's just the 3rd practice of the spring. His pocket presence has improved a lot, he had a good command of the offense, and was decisive in the passing game. He had a couple of errant throws on deep balls, but was accurate overall and very good on the quick hitters and intermediate routes.
* Matt Robinson and Coran Taylor were both inconsistent throwing the ball, especially Taylor who is still struggling with his accuracy. Robinson has improved his arm strength, though, and he's been pretty good this spring so far. He had the best throw of the day, a strike over the shoulder of Donny Novarro on a corner route.
Running back
* They are taking it easy with Reggie Corbin this spring. He's the MVP of the offense and there's really no reason for him to take a bunch of hits in spring ball.
* Ra'Von Bonner continues the trend of improving his body and explosiveness. He was faster last year than he was as a freshman, and he has taken another step forward. He was decisive and showed an extra gear that we haven't always seen from him.
* Dre Brown had a long TD run. Dre isn't as elusive as he once was before knee injuries, but he still has good straight-line speed.
* Redshirt freshman Jakari Norwood saw some time as a slot receiver during 7-on-7. He has jets, but is still pretty skinny.
Wide receiver / tight end
* No wide receiver really jumped out and had a big day. Novarro had the best catch on the throw from Robinson. He's an interesting guy to watch.
* Trenard Davis had the most catches, but they were all on quick-hitters that really didn't go anywhere.
* TE Luke Ford is the real deal. A future pro. He's the speediest tight end that Illinois has had since Matt LaCosse, and he has a bigger frame and better hands than LaCosse. Rivers hit Ford on a deep route down the seam that was one of the highlights of the practice.
* Edwin Carter is walking around without a brace on his knee.
Offensive line
* Starters are as expected: Tackles Lowe and Palczewski, center Kramer, and guards Petitbon and Green.
* Bob McClain has a different coaching style than Luke Butkus, but he's not soft by any means. He makes a lot of on-the-spot corrections.
* Richie Petitbon is a solid replacement for Allegretti at right guard, but he's not going to be the star that Allegretti was. He's strong and fundamentally sound, but not a great athlete. He's a little rusty on the footwork on the zone plays. It's a power running game at Alabama.
* Kendrick Green looks like he could be a break-out player this year. He just needs to be more consistent, but he's playing with more confidence this spring and has a full grasp of the scheme now.
* Julian Pearl is an offensive tackle now. He's a couple of years away from competing for playing time. Bigger but still not nearly big enough.
* Jordan Slaughter and Keivan Myers can be pretty good backups at guard. Slaughter looked really good physically. Myers still needs to cut weight, but is a strong kid. Both are still learning and got a lot of instruction from McClain on their footwork.
Defensive line
* The only starter up front that's really locked in is Bobby Roundtree. He's always been an impressive physical specimen, but he's now matured mentally and is become a leader of this group. Really good football player. He was in the offensive backfield a lot today.
* On the inside, they rotated Jamal Milan, Tymir Oliver, Calvin Avery, and Verdis Brown, Avery is ready to take a sophomore leap, but still needs better conditioning. Milan took limited reps. He's always fighting some kind of leg issue. Verdis is a huge body and athletic, but very raw from a technique standpoint. He needs reps. He has the rest of the spring and fall camp to improve, but has a ways to go.
* Lere Oladipo is backing up Roundtree at strong-side defensive end after playing inside last year. He's a better fit out on the edge, and should be a solid player this year. He's disruptive because of his length.
* Isiah Gay is out with an injury, so Ayo Shogbonyo is running with the 1's at WDE. He's quick, but undersized and got pushed around quite a bit today.
Linebackers
* Starters right now are MLB Dele Harding, WILL Jake Hansen, and SAM Delano Ware. Hansen wore a green jersey, which means limited contact.
* Khalan Tolson took quite a few first team reps. He looks much improved and is a potential break-out performer. He's much bigger in the upper body and is moving well.
* They are bringing Milo Eifler along slowly. He's running with the 2's at the WILL. He's eventually going to supplant Hansen, IMO. He's an athletic LB, but seems to be picking things up at a slower pace than you would like.
* Lovie Smith was coaching the linebackers today.
Secondary
* Keynodo Hudson was a great hire as the cornerbacks coach. He's a high-energy guy, very knowledgeable on coverage technique, and a good teacher. The CB's seem a bit shell-shocked by his coaching style....constant movement, no standing around.
* Starting safeties are FS Tony Adams and SS Sydney Brown. Corners are Nate Hobbs and Jartavius Martin. Stanley Green also took some first-team reps at SS.
* Hobbs had the best day in coverage, particularly during 7-on-7. He's a very aggressive CB who has the confidence and physicality to play press coverage.
We will try to put together a two-deep for you after the Saturday practice. They are back on the field tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.
Your questions?
It was a typical practice script for the spring, with walk-thrus, warmups, position drills, 7v7, some running game work, then team.
Here are a few notes by position:
Quarterback
* All three of the scholarship quarterbacks got equal reps, and walk-on Cam Miller got a few reps. Rod Smith said it's an open competition, and that will continue into fall camp when Isaiah Williams gets here.
* MJ Rivers was sharp considering it's just the 3rd practice of the spring. His pocket presence has improved a lot, he had a good command of the offense, and was decisive in the passing game. He had a couple of errant throws on deep balls, but was accurate overall and very good on the quick hitters and intermediate routes.
* Matt Robinson and Coran Taylor were both inconsistent throwing the ball, especially Taylor who is still struggling with his accuracy. Robinson has improved his arm strength, though, and he's been pretty good this spring so far. He had the best throw of the day, a strike over the shoulder of Donny Novarro on a corner route.
Running back
* They are taking it easy with Reggie Corbin this spring. He's the MVP of the offense and there's really no reason for him to take a bunch of hits in spring ball.
* Ra'Von Bonner continues the trend of improving his body and explosiveness. He was faster last year than he was as a freshman, and he has taken another step forward. He was decisive and showed an extra gear that we haven't always seen from him.
* Dre Brown had a long TD run. Dre isn't as elusive as he once was before knee injuries, but he still has good straight-line speed.
* Redshirt freshman Jakari Norwood saw some time as a slot receiver during 7-on-7. He has jets, but is still pretty skinny.
Wide receiver / tight end
* No wide receiver really jumped out and had a big day. Novarro had the best catch on the throw from Robinson. He's an interesting guy to watch.
* Trenard Davis had the most catches, but they were all on quick-hitters that really didn't go anywhere.
* TE Luke Ford is the real deal. A future pro. He's the speediest tight end that Illinois has had since Matt LaCosse, and he has a bigger frame and better hands than LaCosse. Rivers hit Ford on a deep route down the seam that was one of the highlights of the practice.
* Edwin Carter is walking around without a brace on his knee.
Offensive line
* Starters are as expected: Tackles Lowe and Palczewski, center Kramer, and guards Petitbon and Green.
* Bob McClain has a different coaching style than Luke Butkus, but he's not soft by any means. He makes a lot of on-the-spot corrections.
* Richie Petitbon is a solid replacement for Allegretti at right guard, but he's not going to be the star that Allegretti was. He's strong and fundamentally sound, but not a great athlete. He's a little rusty on the footwork on the zone plays. It's a power running game at Alabama.
* Kendrick Green looks like he could be a break-out player this year. He just needs to be more consistent, but he's playing with more confidence this spring and has a full grasp of the scheme now.
* Julian Pearl is an offensive tackle now. He's a couple of years away from competing for playing time. Bigger but still not nearly big enough.
* Jordan Slaughter and Keivan Myers can be pretty good backups at guard. Slaughter looked really good physically. Myers still needs to cut weight, but is a strong kid. Both are still learning and got a lot of instruction from McClain on their footwork.
Defensive line
* The only starter up front that's really locked in is Bobby Roundtree. He's always been an impressive physical specimen, but he's now matured mentally and is become a leader of this group. Really good football player. He was in the offensive backfield a lot today.
* On the inside, they rotated Jamal Milan, Tymir Oliver, Calvin Avery, and Verdis Brown, Avery is ready to take a sophomore leap, but still needs better conditioning. Milan took limited reps. He's always fighting some kind of leg issue. Verdis is a huge body and athletic, but very raw from a technique standpoint. He needs reps. He has the rest of the spring and fall camp to improve, but has a ways to go.
* Lere Oladipo is backing up Roundtree at strong-side defensive end after playing inside last year. He's a better fit out on the edge, and should be a solid player this year. He's disruptive because of his length.
* Isiah Gay is out with an injury, so Ayo Shogbonyo is running with the 1's at WDE. He's quick, but undersized and got pushed around quite a bit today.
Linebackers
* Starters right now are MLB Dele Harding, WILL Jake Hansen, and SAM Delano Ware. Hansen wore a green jersey, which means limited contact.
* Khalan Tolson took quite a few first team reps. He looks much improved and is a potential break-out performer. He's much bigger in the upper body and is moving well.
* They are bringing Milo Eifler along slowly. He's running with the 2's at the WILL. He's eventually going to supplant Hansen, IMO. He's an athletic LB, but seems to be picking things up at a slower pace than you would like.
* Lovie Smith was coaching the linebackers today.
Secondary
* Keynodo Hudson was a great hire as the cornerbacks coach. He's a high-energy guy, very knowledgeable on coverage technique, and a good teacher. The CB's seem a bit shell-shocked by his coaching style....constant movement, no standing around.
* Starting safeties are FS Tony Adams and SS Sydney Brown. Corners are Nate Hobbs and Jartavius Martin. Stanley Green also took some first-team reps at SS.
* Hobbs had the best day in coverage, particularly during 7-on-7. He's a very aggressive CB who has the confidence and physicality to play press coverage.
We will try to put together a two-deep for you after the Saturday practice. They are back on the field tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.
Your questions?
Last edited:
