Nov. 12, 2011

Recap |  Final Stats |  Quotes |  Photo Gallery 

ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES
#22/21 Michigan 31, Illinois 14
Nov. 12, 2011 // Memorial Stadium // Champaign, Ill. // Attendance: 60,670 (sellout)

1. Illinois entered the game ranked sixth nationally in TFLs (8.0 per game) and recorded nine more against the Wolverines.

2. Bednarik candidate Whitney Mercilus, who entered today's game leading the nation in sacks, added another to his total in the second quarter. Mercilus now has 12.5 sacks on the season, moving him into sole possession of third place on the Illini single-season list. He also enters the Illini career top 10 sacks list, tied for 10th with 14.5 career sacks.

3. Mercilus also entered today's contest as the national leader in forced fumbles and added another when he forced a fumble on his sack. Mercilus' total of seven forced fumbles increases his school-record single-season total and is tied for the second-highest mark in Big Ten history in a season.

4. Biletnikoff candidate A.J. Jenkins recorded his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season with his 103 yards on a game-high eight catches. That ties the fourth-most 100-yard games by a UI receiver in a season in school history. He also is tied for fourth with eight career 100-yard receiving games.

5. Jenkins' eight catches gives him 76 on the season (now fourth on UI single season list) and 153 for his career (now sixth on the UI all-time list).

6. Jenkins improves his total to 1,133 yards receiving this season, moving him up to third place on the Illini single-season list. Jenkins now stands just 146 yards from breaking David Williams' UI record of 1,278 receiving yards, set in 1984.

7. In addition, Jenkins' 2,289 career receiving yards to improve to fifth on the Illini career list.

8. Jason Ford scored his 26th career rushing touchdown with his 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. That moves him into sole possession of second place on the all-time UI list. Ford trails only school-record holder Howard Griffith (31).

9. Tavon Wilson led the Illini with a game-high 11 tackles, which also equaled his season high against Indiana (Oct. 8).

10. Akeem Spence, meanwhile, equaled his career high in tackles with nine stops against the Wolverines. He first recorded nine tackles vs. Northwestern (Oct. 1).

11. Patrick Nixon-Youman is another Illini who set a career high in tackles today, finishing with six. His previous career best was five tackles against Indiana (Oct. 23, 2010).

12. With nine more tackles today, Jonathan Brown now has averaged 11.8 tackles per game over his last five games (59).