April 26, 2002

Following a very successful spring football season, Illinois head football coach Ron Turner announced the final depth chart heading into fall drills at Camp Rantoul on August 10.

The key competitions lie at quarterback between two-year back up Champaign-native Dustin Ward and transfer Jon Beutjer, at placekicker between juniors Peter Christofilakos, John Gockman and JJ Tubbs and at punter between sophomore Urbana-native Matt Minnes and redshirt-freshman Steve Weatherford. All three jobs will be determined during Camp Rantoul.

The Illinois offense returns seven starters including three offensive linemen in right tackle and Lombardi Award Candidate Tony Pashos, right guard Bucky Babcock and left tackle Sean Bubin. Among the vacant positions on the line, senior David Diehl looks to move over to the starting left guard spot and junior Duke Preston has taken the step to the starting center role. One of the deepest receiving corp in the nation, the Illini return four receivers that combined for 2,466 yards and 21 touchdowns in junior Brandon Lloyd and seniors Walter Young, Greg Lewis and Aaron Moorehead. Despite leading the team in rushing in 2001, Antoineo Harris will battle redshirt-freshman Morris Virgil for the starting nod at tailback and junior fullback Carey Davis is back for his second year as a starter after putting up over 700 all-purpose yards. Looking to take over the starting tight end job is sophomore Anthony McClellan after averaging 15.3 yards a catch in 2001.

The Illini also had seven starters return on the defensive side of the ball, but the battles still remain. Two spots on the defensive line opened with the departure of seniors, however, junior Derrick Strong looks to fill the role at end and Jeff Ruffin at tackle. Despite starting 10 games in 2001, Mike O'Brien will be pushed by true-sophomore Brian Schaefering at the other end position, while Kautter returns to his tackle spot he held in 2001. Illinois returns all three starting linebackers from last season, including two-year starter and Bronko/Nagurski Award Candidate Jerry Schumacher. Juniors Ty Myers and Joe Bevis return on the outside, but will be challenged by newcomers sophomore Matt Sinclair and junior Winston Taylor.

Illinois returns one of the strongest cornerback units in the country in All-American Eugene Wilson and all-conference selection Christian Morton. However, Morton is being battled by senior Michael Hall for the start at that spot. In a position that was depleted by graduation, the safeties are wide open. Following spring drills, true sophomore Taman Jordan has the upperhand at strong safety, while a battle begins in the fall between junior Marc Jackson and sophomore Sedrick Davenport at free safety.

The Illini rookies will report to Rantoul, Ill., on Mon., Aug. 5 and complete two days of practices on Aug. 6-7 before the veterans return for Camp Rantoul beginning on Thurs., Aug. 8. Media and Fan Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium is scheduled for Fri., Aug. 9 from 6-8 p.m.

OFFENSE
LT
73 - Sean Bubin (6-7, 300, Jr.)
72 - Kyle Schnettgoecke (6-3, 275, r-Fr.)

LG
64 - David Diehl (6-6, 300, Sr.)
71 - Brian Koch (6-3, 290, So.)

C
75 - Duke Preston (6-5, 295, So.)
68 - James Brown (6-3, 290, Sr.)

RG
70 - Patrick Babcock (6-4, 290, So.)
60 - Aaron Hodges (6-3, 290, Jr.)
63 - Dave Hilderbrand (6-3, 285, So.)

RT
79 - Tony Pashos (6-6, 320, Sr.)
68 - James Brown (6-3, 290, Sr.)

QB
11 - Dustin Ward (6-3, 205, Jr.) or
7 - Jon Beutjer (6-5, 205, Jr.)

RB
31 - Antoineo Harris (6-1, 221, Sr.) or
20 - Morris Virgil (5-10, 195, r-Fr.)
29 - Ryan Clifford (5-10, 190, So.)

FB
24 - Carey Davis (6-0, 215, Jr.)
49 - Brad Haywood (6-1, 231, So.)

FL
6 - Brandon Lloyd (6-2, 180, Jr.)
17 - Greg Lewis (6-0, 180, Sr.)
4 - Ade Adeyemo (6-0, 195, So.)

SE
18 - Walter Young (6-5, 220, Sr.)
86 - Aaron Moorehead (6-3, 200, Sr.)
3 - Eric McGoey (6-3, 200, Jr.)

TE
81 Anthony McClellan (6-3, 243, So.)
80 Estus Hood (6-4, 235, So.)
89 Kenny Boyle (6-3, 240, So.)

DEFENSE
DE
98 - Derrick Strong (6-4, 250, Jr.)
48 - Lamont Holden (6-3, 250, So.)

DT
55 - Brett Kautter (6-2, 278, Sr.)
91 - Charles Gilstrap (6-3, 290, Jr.)
74 - Mike Maloney (6-3, 277, So.)

DT
58 - Jeff Ruffin (6-4, 290, Jr.)
92 - Jamie Hanton (6-4, 280, Sr.)

DE
93 - Mike O'Brien (6-6, 245, Jr.) or
66 - Brian Schaefering (6-5, 260, So.)

LB
33 - Joe Bevis (6-0, 225, Jr.)
54 - Winston Taylor (6-0, 240, Jr.)

LB
42 - Jerry Schumacher (6-3, 235, Sr.)
45 - Mike Gawelek (6-2, 235, So.) or
46 - Antonio Mason (6-0, 240, r-Fr.)

LB
27 - Ty Myers (6-4, 235, Jr.)
44 - Matt Sinclair (6-3, 230, So.)

CB
28 - Eugene Wilson (5-11, 183, Jr.)
13 - Nana Agyeman (6-2, 196, So.) or
26 - Abe Jones (5-11, 170, r-Fr.)

FS
30 - Sedrick Davenport (6-0, 185, So.) or
1 - Marc Jackson (6-1, 205, Jr.)
9 - Jamaal Clark (6-2, 190, Jr.)

SS
34 - Taman Jordan (5-11, 195, So.)
35 - Kyle Kleckner (6-0, 190, r-Fr.)

CB
8 - Mike Hall (5-10, 175, Sr.) or
5 - Christian Morton (6-1, 180, Jr.)
25 - James Cooper (5-10, 185, r-Fr.)

SPECIAL TEAMS
K
22 - Peter Christofilakos (5-9, 170, Jr.) or
13 - John Gockman (5-10, 165, Jr.) or
12 - JJ Tubbs (5-9, 165, Jr.)

P
38 - Matt Minnes (6-2, 200, So.) or
37 - Steve Weatherford (6-4, 215, r-Fr.)

H
12 - JJ Tubbs (5-9, 165, Jr.)
19 - Mark Kornfeld (6-1, 195, So.)

PR
28 - Eugene Wilson (5-11, 185, Sr.)
6 - Brandon Lloyd (6-2, 180, Jr.)

KR
6 - Brandon Lloyd (6-2, 180, Jr.)
28 - Eugene Wilson (5-11, 185, Sr.)
29 - Ryan Clifford (5-10, 190, So.)
20 - Morris Virgil (5-10, 190, So.)
5 - Christian Morton (6-1, 180, Jr.)

LS
83 - Mike Gomez (6-5, 230, Jr.)