CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team returns home to Memorial Stadium this weekend to host Charlotte in its final nonconference game of the season. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Illinois (1-4, 1-2) is looking to end a four-game losing streak after falling at Purdue, 13-9, last week. Three of the Illini's losses have come when either tied or trailing by fewer than one score with the ball in the final minute.
On offense, true freshman running back Josh McCray emerged as Illinois' featured back at Purdue and ran for a career-best 156 yards on 24 carries. It was the fifth-most rushing yards by a true freshman in program history, and the most by a true freshman running back since Ke'Shawn Vaughn recorded 180 yards at Purdue in 2015.
Defensively, Illinois is 12th in the nation and tied for the Big Ten lead in takeaways with nine. Tony Adams and Kerby Joseph both had second-half interceptions at Purdue last week despite the defense playing without starting CB Devon Witherspoon, who is eighth in the nation in passes defended per game (1.8), and captain and starting linebacker Jake Hansen.
Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Stanley Jackson (analyst), and Krystle Rich (sideline) have the call of Illinois vs. Charlotte on Big Ten Network. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network will have the radio call featuring Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Martin O'Donnell (analyst), and Michael Martin (sideline).
Tickets can be purchased at FightingIllini.com/tickets.
GAME PROGRAM
MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE
ILLINOIS STATS AND NOTES
McCRAY BREAKS OUT
- Josh McCray ran for a career-best 156 yards on 24 carries against Purdue. It was the fifth-most rushing yards by a true freshman in program history, and the most by a true freshman running back since Ke'Shawn Vaughn recorded 180 yards at Purdue (11/7/2015).
- McCray had 150 yards after contact at Purdue according to PFF, the most yards after contact in all of college football last week and the sixth-most yards after contact in a game this season. McCray's PFF offensive grade of 86.1 was the fifth-best of any running back in FBS last week. His 88.3 season grade is the sixth-best of any running back in the nation (min. 20 attempts).
- McCray's 156 rushing yards are the second most by a true freshman this season (Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson, 277 vs. Tulsa).
- McCray's 156 rushing yards are the most by a true freshman in a road game this year and the second most by any freshman in a road game (Memphis' Brandon Thomas, 191 at Arkansas State).
- McCray became the first true freshman to start at running back for the Illini since Ra'Von Bonner at Minnesota (10/21/2017). Bonner and Mike Epstein each started three games as true freshmen during the 2017 season.
- True freshman WR Pat Bryant also earned the first of his Illini career on Saturday at Purdue. The combination of Bryant and McCray marks the first time that the Illini offense has started two true freshman since QB M.J. Rivers and WR Carlos Sandy started against Penn State 9/21/2018.
QUARTERBACKS TURNED WIDE RECEIVERS
- Isaiah Williams and Deuce Spann have both transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver in 2021 and have become Illinois' top two leading receivers.
- Isaiah Williams leads the team in receptions (25) and receiving yards (251).
- Isaiah Williams is ninth in the Big Ten in receptions per game (5.0).
- Deuce Spann is second on the team in receiving yards (117), tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (2), and leads the team in yards per catch (29.25).
- Deuce Spann is the No. 4 graded receiver in the nation according to PFF (89.6) with a minimum of one target per game. He has five targets and four receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES
- Julian Pearl is the No. 5 graded guard in the nation according to PFF (80.3) (min. 175 snaps). Pearl has the No. 2 run blocking grade in the nation among all linemen and the top run blocking grade in the nation among guards (90.6).
- Doug Kramer is the No. 10 graded center in the nation according to PFF (75.7) (min. 175 snaps). Kramer has the No. 3 run blocking grade in the nation among centers (77.7).
- Alex Palczewski is the No. 47 graded tackle in the nation according to PFF (73.1) (min. 175 snaps).
- Illinois has the No. 10 team run-blocking grade in the nation according to PFF (76.8).
DEFENSIVEÂ NOTES
- Illinois is 12th in the nation and tied for the Big Ten lead in takeaways (9).
- Illinois is 20th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+1.0).
- Devon Witherspoon is eighth in the nation in passes defended per game (1.8).
KRAMER AMONG NATION'S BEST
- Allowed just one sack over his last 29 games played (1,938 total snaps and 955 pass block snaps)
- No. 10 graded center in the country by PFF (77.7) this season
- Kramer has the No. 3 run blocking grade in the nation among centers (77.7).
ALL-TIME SERIES
ILLINOIS vs. CHARLOTTE
NEXT UP
