|
Upcoming sophomore WR Arrelious Benn will be in the chat room on Signing Day, Wednesday, February 6, starting at 2 p.m. CT, to answer your questions. It will be a good chance for you to check his responses concerning his recruiting process to Illinois that culminated in his arrival on campus a year ago. Or get his reflections on his freshman season with the Fighting Illini. Send in your questions today.
|
 |
| Moderator: Hi everyone! Arrelious will be here in less than 10 minutes. Thanks to all those who sent in questions early, but it's not too late, keep sending things for Rejus! |
|
| Winston Smith (Joliet): AB, I'm sure everyone wants to know how your shoulder is doing? Are you going to be able to participate in spring practice? Good luck, and nice work getting all those DC recruits this year! |
 |
|
Arrelious Benn: I had surgery on it on Jan. 8 and rehab is coming along great. I'm working hard to try and get back for spring ball, but the final decision will be up to our doctors and trainers. |
|
|
| Todd (DeKalb): What are your personal goals for your upcoming sophomore season and what are the teams goals for the upcoming season. |
 |
|
Arrelious Benn: My personal goals are work hard to understand the game better, make more plays and improve a little bit in all areas of my game. For the team I just want to do whatever I can to get us a Big Ten Championship and a BCS bowl game. |
|
|
| Bob Pollitt (Oxford, Ohio): What was the one factor that made you choose Illinois |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: I wanted to go somewhere where I could go in and help a program that's on the rise. I didn't want to be pressured into going to certain schools, I just chose where I felt the most comfortable. |
|
|
| Adam (Dayton): I hear you really watch what you eat. Let's say you are going to feast it up one night. What would you be having? |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: I'd have some lean meat, double vegetables and gatorade. I really like to take care of my body and I think it makes a big difference out on the field. |
|
|
| Chris Rondeau (Aurora): How excited are you with the receivers that are coming in with this class. Did you get a chance to get to know any of them yet? |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: I'm excited about all of the new guys coming in and especially the receivers. I think they'll be able to take some of the pressure off me and help open up things for everyone. Our passing game will be clicking next year. |
|
|
| Bryan (Chicago): Since there are many new receivers getting set to start their careers at Illinois, how much of a role will you play in helping them get used to playing at a Big Ten level? |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: I'll be able to help them not make the mistakes I made and will be able to help them prepare for Big Ten football. There's so much to get acclimated to when you come to college, mostly off the field, that I'll be able to help them with. |
|
|
| Steve (Des Plaines): If you run a slant across the middle and Vontae was there would you run him over or would he light you up? |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: Nine times out of 10 I'll run through him! Knowing Vontae he'll go for my knees so I'd run over him and then talk trash to him. |
|
|
| Chris (Gaeta, NJ): When the quarterback lets the ball go and you know its coming to you, can you take me through the steps of what goes through your mind? |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: I just try and keep my eyes on the ball and concentrate on it no matter what is going on around me. You can't worry about getting hit or staying in bounds or anything. I just make sure I catch the ball first and then react after that. |
|
|
| Joe (Lisle): Do you plan on returning kicks and punts if you're healthy next year? |
|
|
|
| Chuck McCaffery (Aruba): Out here for med school at age 42 Arrelious!
What do you sell recruits on when they visit Illinois? |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: The chance to come play with me! No, seriously, the chance to come and make an immediate impact on a program like I did. You can come play for great coaches that will look out for you off the field and will make you a better player on the field. |
|
|
| Brian Power: What part of your game can we expect to change with your shoulder back at 100%? |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: I'll be better all around. I was limited in a lot of ways last year because my should was weak. Next year I'll be 100% so you'll see a different player. |
|
|
| Meghan (Champaign): What's your favorite individual play from this season? The Penn State catch and score was pretty sweet!! |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: The Penn State TD was a great play, but my favorite was when I helped open up Rashard's 79-yard TD in the Rose Bowl with a big block. |
|
|
| Johnny (Chicago): Who has the best and worst sense of fashion on the squad? I heard Juice taking some heat for his sweater vest on bowl bid night. Ha. |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: All the D.C./East coast guys are the trend setters here. Juice's vest looked ok, but the Chicago and Ohio guys don't know style. Even though I'm wearing a t-shirt and jeans right now, I make it look good! |
|
|
| Lombard: Do you see your role in the offense expanding next year to include more plays with you in the backfield? |
|
|
Arrelious Benn: Yeah, I think I could see more plays in the backfield. The coaches see me as an athlete rather than only a wide receiver. Once you get the ball in your hands you're like a running back, so it doesn't really matter where I line up. |
|
| Moderator: Thanks, everybody, for all the questions, but Arrelious has to head out. Be sure to check out Coach Zook's signing day press conference at 3:30! |
|
|
