CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Rutgers rushing attack was too much for the Fighting Illini defense in a 35-24 Illinois loss at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Sophomore quarterback Jeff George, Jr. finished the day 20-of-38 passing for a career-high 308 yards to go along with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Freshman wide receiver Ricky Smalling was a bright spot for the Illini on Saturday, totaling 111 yards on five catches (22.2 yards per catch). The Chicago, Illinois, native caught his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter, hauling in a 30-yard pass from George, Jr.
Smalling is just the sixth Illini true freshman in program history to have a 100+ yard receiving game.
Senior defensive end James Crawford led the way for the Illinois defense, stuffing the stat sheet with four tackles, one sack and one pass break up, to go along with a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
TEAM NOTES
• The all-time series between Illinois and Rutgers is tied 2-2.
• Illinois started nine true freshmen (DB Nate Hobbs, DE Bobby Roundtree, S Dawson DeGroot, RB Ra'Von Bonner, WR Ricky Smalling, TE Louis Dorsey, OL Alex Palczewski, OL Larry Boyd, OL Vederian Lowe).
• 2017 Freshman Starters by Game: 3, 7, 10, 8, 8, 9 (program record before this season: 5)
• Illinois' nine true freshmen starters are the second-most in a game in program history. The record of 10 was set at South Florida.
• Freshman S Dawson DeGroot started for the first time, giving Illinois 14 true-freshmen starters this season. It is the most of any team in the nation.
• Illinois' 14 true freshmen starters this season is a program record. The previous high for a season was nine in 1980.
• Illinois' most cumulative true freshmen starts in a season: 44 (2017), 34 (1977), 33 (2006)
• Illinois started six true freshmen on offense, tied for the most in program history (6 at Iowa 10/7/17).
• Illinois started four freshmen on the offensive line (three true freshmen, one redshirt freshman) for the second straight game.
• Illinois started three true freshmen on the offensive line for the second time in program history (T Larry Boyd, G Alex Palczewski, T Vederian Lowe). The first time was last week at Iowa.
• Illinois has played 20 true freshmen this season, tied for the most in the nation with LSU.
• Illinois has used 24 first-time starters in 2017, the most in the nation (added LB Marchese and S DeGroot today).
• Illinois' three fumble recoveries is the most since Illinois recovered four fumbles at Rutgers 10/15/16.
• Eight Illini had a reception, tied for the most in a game this season (8 at Iowa).
• Illinois captains: OL Nick Allegretti, DT Kenyon Jackson, K Chase McLaughlin
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Freshman RB Ra'Von Bonner had a career-high 19 carries and 62 rushing yards. Bonner scored his third rushing touchdown of the season in the second quarter.
• Sophomore QB Jeff George, Jr. had a career-high 308 passing yards. The 300-yard passing game is Illinois' first since Wes Lunt at Northwestern 11/26/16.
• Junior WR Mike Dudek has at least two catches in all 19 games he has played. He had two catches for 14 yards before leaving the game with an injury.
• Senior WR Malik Turner has caught a pass in 26 straight games. His 25-game streak was 18th-best in the nation entering the week.
• Redshirt freshman LB Ayo Shogbonyo forced his first career fumble.
• Senior DL James Crawford recovered two fumbles in the game. Crawford also forced his second fumble of the season and third of his career.
• Sophomore DL Jamal Milan recovered his second fumble of the season and third of his career.
• Freshman WR Ricky Smalling had five receptions for 111 yards. Smalling is the sixth Illini in program history to have a 100-yard receiving game as a true freshman.
• Smalling and freshman TE Louis Dorsey scored their first career touchdowns.
• Sophomore WR Trenard Davis had a career-high 55 receiving yards.
• Freshman WR Dominic Thieman had a career-high 59 receiving yards.
• Freshman DB Nate Hobbs had a career-long 31-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. Hobbs added another 30-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. Both plays are the longest returns of the season for an Illini.
• Sophomore LB Jimmy Marchese started for the first time, becoming Illinois' first non-scholarship starter since Clayton Fejedelem in 2014. Marchese had a career-high nine tackles.
• Freshman RB Mike Epstein, Illinois' leading rusher, missed the game with an injury.
• Sophomore S Patrick Nelson, Illinois' third-leading tackler, missed the game with an injury.
