July 28, 2004

Preseason magazines have hit shelves, and many Illini have been selected for prominent honors including preseason All-America and All-Big Ten teams. In all, 11 players on the Fighting Illini football team have earned 30 honors from preseason publications including Street & Smith, Athlon, Lindy's, Phil Steele and Rivals.com.

Illinois' two sixth-year players are two of the preseason poster-boys with returning defensive lineman Mike O'Brien garnering an All-Big Ten honor by Blue Ribbon, honorable mention All-America by Street & Smith, and All-Big Ten third team by Athlon. Jon Beutjer, Illinois' sixth-year quarterback made the Davey O'Brien Award watch list and was named to All-Big Ten second teams by Phil Steele and Rivals.com.

Senior linebacker Matt Sinclair took seven honors including Phil Steele's third team All-America and first team All-Big Ten listings, Street & Smith's honorable mention All-America team and All-Big Ten second teams by Sporting News, Lindy's and Rivals.com.

E.B. Halsey picked up five preseason awards including honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith and second team All-Big Ten by Sporting News and Lindy's.

Junior punter Steve Weatherford was named the No. 7 punter in America by Sporting News, garnered honorable mention All-America status from Street & Smith and Blue Ribbon named him to its All-Big Ten first team.

Three more Illini were named to Street & Smith's honorable mention All-America team: junior defensive back Travis Williams, sophomore offensive lineman Matt Maddox and senior offensive lineman Bucky Babcock. Babcock also grabbed All-Big Ten second team honors from Phil Steele.

Incoming freshmen Brock Bolen and Xavier Fulton were listed as Big Ten Freshmen of Influence by Phil Steele. Rookie linebacker Sam Carson III was named a Big Ten Future Star by Athlon.