Aug. 4, 2004

Despite a disappointing 2003 season, the Illini football team plans to use the setbacks suffered last year to aid in a rebounding performance this fall. An astounding 17 players missed significant time last year due to injuries, which caused the team to rely on youth and inexperience to fill in those roles. Heading into training camp, the Illini are healthy and return a group of players that gained valuable experience just a year ago. In addition to many first and second-year players on the depth chart, the squad will see the return of two sixth-year athletes in defensive end Mike O'Brien and quarterback Jon Beutjer. Offensively, the Illini have eight starters back to anchor a squad that looks to return to the record-breaking ways for which the Ron Turner offenses are known. Although only six defensive starters return in 2004, position changes have upgraded both the speed and depth on this side of the ball. Quarterbacks
This past spring, the Illini learned that senior quarterback Jon Beutjer had been granted a sixth-year of eligibility, making him the favorite to earn the starting job for the third straight year. He led the Big Ten in passing in 2002 with 228 yards per game but suffered a slipped disc in his back last year forcing him to miss the final five games of the season. Prior to the injury, Beutjer was completing 63 percent of his passes and had thrown 10 touchdown strikes. In two seasons with the Illini he has tossed 31 touchdowns and passed for over 4,000 yards. In Beutjer's absence last year, sophomore Chris Pazan got the nod. He hit nearly 60 percent of his passes for 511 yards and two touchdowns, including 188 yards on 18-for-28 passing against Northwestern in the season finale. Also looking to be in the mix is sophomore Tim Brasic. Brasic saw action in only one game last season, but was limited near the end of the season with an injury. The Riverside, Ill., native put up remarkable high school numbers of 4,639 yards and 58 touchdowns in his senior year alone. The fourth quarterback returning is redshirt-freshman Brad Bower, a highly touted high school quarterback from the Chicago area who accounted for 43 touchdowns his senior year (23 passing and 25 rushing). Rounding out the quarterback roster will be incoming freshmen Kisan Flakes of Lovejoy, Ga., and Billy Garza, a Brownsville, Texas, native. Offensive Line
This season's offensive line returns almost entirely intact from a year ago with the loss of only left tackle Sean Bubin, who was a fifth-round draft pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The group will be led by three seniors, left guard Bryan Koch, center Duke Preston and right tackle Bucky Babcock. Babcock, the veteran of the line, is beginning his fourth year as a starter and has been a part of two record-setting total offenses during his career. With two years under his belt, Preston is ready to take over a leadership role on the line. Koch is in his second year as a starter, but missed the final five games of the 2003 campaign with a neck injury. The fourth returnee is sophomore right guard Matt Maddox, who was named to nearly every Freshman All-America team a year ago.

Senior offensive tackle Bucky Babcock

Looking to take the left tackle job is sophomore JJ Simmons. Simmons played in all 12 games, but took offensive snaps in seven. In 2003, the Illini recruited what has been touted as one of the strongest offensive line groups in school history. The five redshirt-freshmen, Martin O'Donnell, Jim LaBonte, Kevin Gage, James Ryan and Ben Amundsen, all have the opportunity to push for playing time this season. Other linemen looking to be in the mix are juniors Kyle Schnettgoecke and Jordan Kruger. Running Backs
The 2004 edition of running backs, while young, may be the strength of the offense. At tailback, the Illini return three sophomores in E.B. Halsey, Pierre Thomas and Marcus Mason. Both Halsey and Thomas missed time last season with injuries. Halsey was on pace to break the Illinois freshman rushing record when a knee injury sidelined him for three games. He rushed for 525 yards and caught 37 passes for 303 yards as well. He also was a key return man with over 500 yards on punts and kickoffs. Halsey ranked fourth in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards, averaging 142.8 a game. Thomas took over the starting job at tailback when Halsey went down and finished up with 233 yards and two touchdowns, both coming at Michigan. Thomas suffered a lower leg injury with three games remaining, which made room for Mason. Mason racked up 214 yards, playing in eight games. At fullback, junior Jason Davis looks to take over the starting job vacated by graduated senior Carey Davis. Jason Davis played in all 12 games, getting starts in the first four. He rushed for 36 yards, but picked up another 114 receiving. He will be pushed by redshirt-freshman Brian Grzelakowski and true-freshman Brock Bolen. Grzelakowski rushed for over 2,500 yards during his prep career at Hinsdale Central, while scoring 27 touchdowns in 2002. Bolen was a Top-100 recruit nationally and put up rushing numbers totaling 6,000 for his career while scoring 108 touchdowns. Wide Receivers
Despite losing Kelvin Hayden to the defensive side of the ball, the wide receiving corps looks to take that next step toward matching the receiving production of past Turner-led offenses. Before the injury that caused him to miss the final three games of the season, sophomore Lonnie Hurst was putting up stellar rookie numbers. He had 27 catches, 315 yards and one touchdown as a true-freshman. The surprise of 2003 was the emergence of Mark Kornfeld, a converted quarterback who recorded 527 yards and 44 catches. He was the team's "go-to guy" on third down, converting first downs on more than 70 percent of his chances. Also returning this season is senior Ade Adeyemo, who made the most of his eight games played with 16 catches and 205 yards. He missed a third of the season with cracked ribs after he hit a corner of the stands at the Rose Bowl. Despite only two career catches, junior Kendrick Jones and sophomore Franklin Payne were two of the most improved players during spring practice. Other receivers looking to vie for playing time are redshirt-freshman DaJuan Warren, who came to Illinois as a quarterback, as well as incoming freshmen Bryant Creamer and Andre Young. Tight Ends
The tight end position is one where a wealth of talent returns in senior Anthony McClellan and sophomore Melvin Bryant. Both players shared time as starters with Bryant getting a majority of the catches toward the end of the season. Bryant had 12 catches for 114 yards, while McClellan added 34 yards. The third tight end in the mix is sophomore Zach Gray, who moved from the defensive line during spring workouts. Defensive Line
The Illinois defensive line will rely on the rotation of many players as it did when the 2001 squad set school records for sacks and tackles-for-loss. The anchor of the line this season will be sixth-year senior Mike O'Brien on the end. When he completes his career, O'Brien will have played in a game in each of his six seasons with the Illini. Last season, he posted his career-best numbers of nine tackles and three sacks against Missouri in the season opener only to tear his ACL one week later. In addition to O'Brien, the Illini also return starters at the other end position in junior Scott Moss and at tackle in junior Ryan Matha. In his first year as a full-time starter, Moss recorded 34 tackles, six for loss and four quarterback sacks. Matha returned from a devastating knee injury in 2002 to start the final eight games and post 25 tackles. Looking to fill the void at the second tackle spot will be senior Mike Maloney. Serving in back-up roles on the line will be three players who contributed last year as well, senior Lee Robinson and sophomores Arthur Boyd and Adam Wilk. Robinson saw the most time with 10 games played and two sacks recorded, but both Wilk and Boyd saw action in seven contests as true-freshmen. Another new name on the depth chart this season is redshirt-freshman James Stevenson, who moved to end from the linebacker position he held last fall. Linebackers
The Illini lost three key players from last year's linebacking corps, but still return four players with starting experience. Senior Matt Sinclair, the team's tackle leader, is making the move from inside to the outside this fall. He totaled 129 tackles and four sacks en route to honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2003. He will be backed up by redshirt-freshman J Leman, a local product out of Champaign Central High School. Leman tallied 191 tackles, 26 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks as a senior. At the other outside position, two veterans in juniors Josh Tischer and Antonio Mason will battle for starting time, along with redshirt-freshman Anthony Thornhill. Tischer came out of spring atop the depth chart after playing 20 games in the last two years. Mason had 90 tackles and three tackles-for-loss last season. Moving into the middle are senior Mike Gawelek and redshirt-freshman Joe Mele. Gawelek has played 31 games during his career, registering 25 tackles, while Mele led his high school to four straight state titles, tallying 139 tackles, 29 for loss and three interceptions as a senior. Defensive Backs
The defensive backfield has gotten the biggest facelift of any position group on the Illini squad. Joining the secondary are seniors Kelvin Hayden and Morris Virgil. Hayden jumped sides to cornerback in the spring after leading the Illini offense in receiving last season. A highly touted running back, Virgil will look to start this year at strong safety. They made strides during spring practice along with free safety Travis Williams and cornerbacks Sharriff Abdullah and Alan Ball.

Junior safety Travis Williams

Williams returns for his third year as a starter at free safety after leading the secondary in tackles with 91. Also a very talented special teams player, Williams has scored off a blocked kick and kickoff return, as well as twice on interceptions. Backing up Williams will be junior Kyle Kleckner, who saw action in all 12 games and recorded 18 tackles. The strong safety position remains open for competition, following the graduation of Marc Jackson. Virgil looks to have the early lead on the job, but will be pushed by junior Brian Brosnan and redshirt-freshman Kevin Mitchell. Brosnan has been a solid special teams player and registered five tackles last season. Only one cornerback position returns a starter after the loss of Christian Morton to the NFL. Sophomores Abdullah and Alan Ball shared time in the starting role at the other position which looks to be the same situation once again this season. Ball, listed number one on the depth chart, had 44 tackles and four passes broken up in his true-freshman season, while Abdullah recorded 31 stops and two PBUs. The other cornerback position is held by a pair of offensive transfers. Hayden will start with former running back James Cooper as his back-up. Specialists
The Illini will miss the booming leg of placekicker John Gockman, who was perfect on extra points last season, marking the fifth straight year an Illini kicker has not missed a point after. Slated to take over those duties is junior punter Steve Weatherford, who worked out as a kicker during spring practices. With a solid punter in senior Matt Minnes, the Illini have the ability to use Weatherford in additional roles. Both saw time as punters last season with Weatherford setting the school record with a 44.0 average in 46 kicks. Not far behind, Minnes averaged 43.1 yards on his 15 punts. Incoming freshman Jason Reda is also a candidate for the placekicking duties. The Rock Island, Ill., native was All-State in football and All-Conference in both soccer and football. With the graduation of NFL snapper Mike Gomez, the Illini look to a trio of young athletes to fill that role. Redshirt-freshmen Tyler Keely and Justin Kovach shared duties during spring ball and will be challenged by true-freshman Kyle Knezetic. Knezetic was an outstanding specialist at Minooka High School, while also playing safety and tight end.