Aug. 22, 2008

What a difference a year makes, right? The interest in Illinois football in Champaign and surrounding regions is at an all-time high thanks to the impressive turnaround coach Ron Zook and his program has endured. Forgotten is the 4-19 overall record 1-15 conference mark from the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Still in the minds of many is the 9-4 campaign of yesteryear, which included tying for second in the Big Ten and spending New Year's Day playing in the Granddaddy of Them All, the Rose Bowl.

But gone is Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Conference honoree Rashard Mendenhall. As it turned out, the sophomore's 17 carries for 155 yards against USC last January would be his last wearing the Orange and Blue. After rushing for 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns, as well as recording 34 receptions for 318 yards, Mendenhall was the 23rd overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, going in the first round to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Another void for Illinois to fill will be at linebacker. J Leman, the Illini's inspirational leader and consensus All-American, has graduated and new leaders will now emerge. Good thing for the Illini that they have been taught to live in the present and not dwell on the past.

OFFENSE: Illinois returns with one of the country's most exciting quarterbacks in junior Isiah "Juice" Williams. The dual-threat QB has completed 57.3 percent of his 267 passes for 1,743 yards and 13 touchdowns and returns as the team's top rusher with 165 carries for 755 yards and seven scores. The Illini led the Big Ten in rushing the past two seasons and ranked fifth nationally in 2007 with an average of 256.8 rushing yards per game. Forced to step up in the backfield this year will be junior Daniel Dufrene, who played in all 13 games last season and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Before suffering a season-ending injury last year, Troy Pollard also saw time in the backfield and managed 6.4 yards per carry. Expect Pollard to be back and fighting for a starting role. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Arrelious Benn returns to his wide receiver position after chalking up 54 catches for 676 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season. The Illini have lost three players at wide receiver to graduation, so look for juniors Jeff Cumberland and tight end Michael Hoomanawanui to start up front as well. Seniors Ryan McDonald (C) and Xavier Fulton (LT) return to anchor the line, which has been so strong for the Illini over the past two years. Junior Jon Asamoah retains his starting role at right guard and will help mentor newcomers Randall Hunt (LG) and Ryan Palmer (RT) to the line.

BIG TEN TONIGHT in Rantoul Chatting with Zook (4:27) | 7-on-7 Drills (8:27) | Schedule Breakdown (4:03)

DEFENSE: The Illini welcome back three of four starters from a defensive line that held five offenses under 100 yards rushing last year. Leading the way will be senior defensive end Will Davis, who recorded 12.5 tackles for loss in 2007. Joining Davis will be returning starters David Lindquist (DT) and Derek Walker (DE). The defensive line accounted for 46 tackles for loss and led the defense to a school record 40 sacks last year. At linebacker, lone 2007 starter Brit Miller will be making sure sophomore Martez Wilson and senior Rodney Pittman live up the school's storied linebacking tradition. That pair replaces Leman and Antonio Steele, who combined for over 220 tackles last season. The secondary boasts three players returning at cornerback, who have combined for seven interceptions. Junior Vontae Davis and his 76 tackles and four interceptions lead the group, while junior Dere Hicks gets the start at other DB spot and backed up by sophomore Miami Thomas. Look for sophomores Nate Bussey (FS) and Travon Bellamy (SS) to make up the Illini's last line of defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Illinois will turn to either junior Mike Cklamovski or sophomore Matt Brandabur for kicking duties this year. Cklamovski spent the entire 2007 season as the Illini's kickoff man, but both will look to fill the void left by Jason Reda, the four-year kicker who graduated as the team's all-time scorer. Illinois used a trio of punters last year and all three return. Expect sophomore Anthony Santella, who started every game and averaged 37.7 yards per kick last year, to continue his primary role. Arrelious Benn will once again handle return duties for both punts and kickoffs.

MISCELLANEOUS: Illinois will play two neutral site games during the regular season, beginning with the 2008 opener in St. Louis for the State Farm Arch Rivalry game against Missouri at the Edward Jones Dome. The team then travels to Detroit on Nov. 8 to face Western Michigan. * Illinois' bye week is Sept. 20, one week before two straight road games to Penn State and Michigan to open the conference slate. * The team also travels to Wisconsin on Oct. 25, but hosts Ohio State on Nov. 15 in a rematch of last year's upset over the top-ranked Buckeyes in Columbus.