Illinois kicked off the spring with a practice on Friday from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 7:45 p.m. No pads Friday or Saturday.
The practice was scripted like most college practices: Pre-practice walk thrus, warm-ups / stretching, position drills / one-on-ones, 7 on 7, and team.
One noticeable difference was the tempo. This group does everything fast. It's a lot like practices when Ron Zoon was at Illinois, with assistance really pushing guys.
Players who dressed but were limited included Tyler White, Teko Powell, Sean Adesanya, Zach Heath and Rob Bain.
Illinois had Marion Catholic dual-threat QB Cam Thomas in for a visit. He's really thin, but I'm told he's a god athlete who can throw on the move.
Offense
Garrick McGee has about 25% of the offensive playbook inserted right now, which is pretty good considering it was day 1. Basic set is a single back offense with 3 wideouts and a tight end. They will huddle, and that's something the guys are adjusting to.
The starting offense line was what we expected: Tackles Christian DiLauro and Austin Schmidt, guards Gabe Megginson and Nick Allegretti, and center Joe Spencer. In this offense, there will a weak side and strong side rather than left and right, so linemen flip-flop with the tight end.
Megginson is a stud and future draft pick. He's noticeably more cut, is as strong as any of the upperclassmen, and moves really well.
The running game is a lot of quick-hitter stuff off tackle. I didn't see a lot of the zone stretch plays. Both Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Dre Brown showed a nice burst. Brown looks good coming back from an ACL. Kendrick Foster is back and he got quite a few reps. Reggie Corbin was used mostly as a receiver out of the backfield.
QB Wes Lunt was sharp, especially on the deep ball. Backup QB is a different story. Chayce Crouch was innaccurate and seemed to struggle with the new playbook. Jimmy Fitzgerald is the most mobile and throws okay on the move.
Mike Dudek is at about 90%, but so is everyone else as they get their football legs. Mikey has the quick twitch back and got separation easily. He looked very good and has been 100% physically for a couple of months.
Standouts on offense were Lunt, Dudek, Megginson, Vaughn, Brown, and Hardee.
Defense
Hardy Nickerson's defense it a 4-3 basic set with a lot of moving around and disguising coverages. They have a lot of the coverage package in already. No blitzing. Nickerson puts a big emphasis on take-aways - guys were constantly clubbing, punching, and ripping at the football ball and trying to turn it over.
Up front, the rotation was DT's Tito Odenigbo, Chunky Clements, and Jamal Milan getting equal reps. SDE DJ Smoot, WDE Carroll Phillips. This group is the strength of the defense, obviously.
I wouldn't consider anyone in the back 7 as a starter yet except for strong safety Taylor Barton. Caleb Day and Trenard Davis played the other safety. The CB rotation included Jaylen Dunlap, Cameron Watkins, Darius Mosely and Ahmari Hayes. Hayes is long, but I don't think he has the feet to be starter in the Big Ten.
Mike Sventina and Tre Watson shared reps at the Mike. James Crawford played the WILL and Justice Williams the SAM. This is a thin group, and true freshmen will play a big role this fall. They will need Dere Harding to be good and be ready.
Standouts on defense included Clements, Smoot, Milan, Barton, and Trenard Davis.
Trenard Davis is going to be a player. He has a second gear and good instincts. Patrick Nelson is fully healthy after his ACL last spring and looks good. He will likely backup Barton but should play quite a bit.
You're questions?
The practice was scripted like most college practices: Pre-practice walk thrus, warm-ups / stretching, position drills / one-on-ones, 7 on 7, and team.
One noticeable difference was the tempo. This group does everything fast. It's a lot like practices when Ron Zoon was at Illinois, with assistance really pushing guys.
Players who dressed but were limited included Tyler White, Teko Powell, Sean Adesanya, Zach Heath and Rob Bain.
Illinois had Marion Catholic dual-threat QB Cam Thomas in for a visit. He's really thin, but I'm told he's a god athlete who can throw on the move.
Offense
Garrick McGee has about 25% of the offensive playbook inserted right now, which is pretty good considering it was day 1. Basic set is a single back offense with 3 wideouts and a tight end. They will huddle, and that's something the guys are adjusting to.
The starting offense line was what we expected: Tackles Christian DiLauro and Austin Schmidt, guards Gabe Megginson and Nick Allegretti, and center Joe Spencer. In this offense, there will a weak side and strong side rather than left and right, so linemen flip-flop with the tight end.
Megginson is a stud and future draft pick. He's noticeably more cut, is as strong as any of the upperclassmen, and moves really well.
The running game is a lot of quick-hitter stuff off tackle. I didn't see a lot of the zone stretch plays. Both Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Dre Brown showed a nice burst. Brown looks good coming back from an ACL. Kendrick Foster is back and he got quite a few reps. Reggie Corbin was used mostly as a receiver out of the backfield.
QB Wes Lunt was sharp, especially on the deep ball. Backup QB is a different story. Chayce Crouch was innaccurate and seemed to struggle with the new playbook. Jimmy Fitzgerald is the most mobile and throws okay on the move.
Mike Dudek is at about 90%, but so is everyone else as they get their football legs. Mikey has the quick twitch back and got separation easily. He looked very good and has been 100% physically for a couple of months.
Standouts on offense were Lunt, Dudek, Megginson, Vaughn, Brown, and Hardee.
Defense
Hardy Nickerson's defense it a 4-3 basic set with a lot of moving around and disguising coverages. They have a lot of the coverage package in already. No blitzing. Nickerson puts a big emphasis on take-aways - guys were constantly clubbing, punching, and ripping at the football ball and trying to turn it over.
Up front, the rotation was DT's Tito Odenigbo, Chunky Clements, and Jamal Milan getting equal reps. SDE DJ Smoot, WDE Carroll Phillips. This group is the strength of the defense, obviously.
I wouldn't consider anyone in the back 7 as a starter yet except for strong safety Taylor Barton. Caleb Day and Trenard Davis played the other safety. The CB rotation included Jaylen Dunlap, Cameron Watkins, Darius Mosely and Ahmari Hayes. Hayes is long, but I don't think he has the feet to be starter in the Big Ten.
Mike Sventina and Tre Watson shared reps at the Mike. James Crawford played the WILL and Justice Williams the SAM. This is a thin group, and true freshmen will play a big role this fall. They will need Dere Harding to be good and be ready.
Standouts on defense included Clements, Smoot, Milan, Barton, and Trenard Davis.
Trenard Davis is going to be a player. He has a second gear and good instincts. Patrick Nelson is fully healthy after his ACL last spring and looks good. He will likely backup Barton but should play quite a bit.
You're questions?
