Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Teams
Five Fighting Illini football players were named to the Athlon Sports 2018 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams – TE
Louis Dorsey, OL
Nick Allegretti, LB
Del'Shawn Phillips, S
Bennett Williams and WR/PR
Mike Dudek.
TE Louis Dorsey | Third Team Offense
Dorsey had 22 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns during his true-freshman season in 2017. His 18.0 yards per catch would have led all FBS true-freshmen, but his 1.83 receptions per game fall just short of the NCAA minimum (2.0). Dorsey's 77-yard TD reception against Indiana is the longest reception by a true-freshman in Illinois history and his 107 yard game against the Hoosiers were the most by a true-freshman tight end in program history.
OL Nick Allegretti | Fourth Team Offense
Allegretti was a mainstay on the Illini offensive line in 2017, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors after playing all but two snaps the entire season and starting multiple games at both guard and center. He was voted a team captain and helped mentor a young offensive line that included himself alongside four freshmen for much of the season.
LB Del'Shawn Phillips | Fourth Team Defense
Phillips led the Illini in tackles in 2017, making 85 stops including 46 solos. His 7.7 tackles per game ranked eighth in the Big Ten. The Highland Park, Mich., native also added 4.0 TFLs, one sack and two pass breakups in his first season at Illinois after transferring from Garden City Community College in Kansas.
S Bennett Williams | Fourth Team Defense
Williams was named a true-freshman All-American in 2017 by ESPN.com. He made 64 tackles during his first season in orange and blue, fifth-most on the team and the second most in the Big Ten by a freshman. Williams also picked off a team-high three passes, broke up two more passes, and had 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble on the season.
PR Mike Dudek | Fourth Team Specialists
Dudek made a big impact both on offense and on special teams in 2017 after missing the previous two seasons with injuries. He averaged 10.8 yards per punt return in 2017, including a 52-yard return to set up the game-winning score late in the season-opening win over Ball State. It was the longest punt return by an Illini since 2013.
The Fighting Illini open the 2018 season on Sept. 1 when Kent State comes to Memorial Stadium. Season tickets starting at $99 as well as Mini-Plans are on sale now at FightingIllini.com.
