CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois wrapped up its third week of spring practices on the grass fields outside of the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Performance Center, taking advantage of the clear skies and refreshing temperatures on Saturday.

The Illini competed in their second scrimmage of the spring, which will be their last scrimmage opportunity ahead of the Orange and Blue Spring Game on April 20. Head coach Bret Bielema addressed the media after Saturday's practice, covering topics such as the quarterback room, the NFL Draft, and more.

Here are a few takeaways from Bielema's week three media availability.

Four quarterbacks have taken reps with the ones and twos thus far this spring

After praising the way the quarterbacks have started to pick up schemes and develop chemistry with their personnel, Bielema says four QBs have taken snaps with the first-team and second-team players, including two transfers and two underclassmen returners who joined the Orange and Blue one season ago.

Luke Altmyer, John Paddock, Donovan Leary, and Kirkland Michaux have stuck out to Bielema through three weeks of spring ball, and they have all played with both the ones and twos in a battle for a leg up heading into the QB1 battle in the fall.

"We rotated a number of guys through with the ones and a number of guys through the twos. We're trying to balance it up and even out," Bielema said. "Some guys did some good things. Luke didn't have a good start to the day, but he finished up really strong. Donovan came in, was really pretty steady all the way through. John Paddock started off good, had a little lull, came back on the back end. Michaux was just a steady guy throughout. 

"The good news is that those four guys continue to battle it out, and we'll see where it goes."

The offensive line is coming together, fighting through learning curve

While the unit is losing two All-Big Ten players from one season ago, the Illini are returning three starters from its offensive line that was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award in 2022: Isaiah Adams, Zy Crisler, and Julian Pearl.

Though Crisler is not competing in spring ball after undergoing a surgery in the offseason, Bielema has leaned on Adams, Pearl, and Jordyn Slaughter as leaders in the offensive line room given the relative inexperience of the rest of the unit. 

Bielema mentioned Josh Kreutz, Zachary Barlev, Josh Gesky, and TJ McMillen as guys who have stood out thus far, but the Illini continue to battle it out for spots in the starting lineup for the team's 2023 season opener this fall.

"I think Josh Kreutz has continued to be very impressive every day. His knowledge of the game, his football IQ, his acumen, his ability to communicate, a really tough competitor: He's really jumped out," Bielema said. "Barlev has been a nice addition, and actually TJ McMillen has been a nice surprise as well, to come in as a true freshman and do what he's done. I would say Josh Gesky has been a guy that's really shown up in a big way. I think he could play tackle. He probably has some guard value."

DC Aaron Henry continues to figure out roles in the secondary

Given the departures of multiple All-Big Ten starters from one year ago, the Illinois secondary will feature several new players who will take on a more prominent role in Henry's first year as the team's defensive coordinator.

Tahveon Nicholson boasts the most experience of the group after he started 10 games last season, though the Illini have other options who have stood out this spring. One of those names is Miles Scott, who made the transition from offense to defense after playing in all 13 games at wide receiver last year, while Bielema also noted the strong play of transfer Nicario Harper and Tyler Strain.

Given the unit's inexperience, Bielema and Henry have been giving reps to as many players as they can this spring, which they believe will bring the group more confidence and experience heading into the fall.

"I've been kind of stressing to Aaron, 'Let's just keep rolling guys through. Let's get as many reps, many valuable plays as we can,' which is experience right now," Bielema said. "Even though nothing this next week will be a live-scrimmage situation, the value of calling, communicating, aligning, reacting is really invaluable."

Bielema plans to attend NFL Draft for first time in his coaching career

With the 2023 NFL Draft less than three weeks away, Bielema says his phone has been "blowing up" with teams asking about several Illini prospects, including projected first-rounder Devon Witherspoon, who held his Pro Day on Wednesday.

"Obviously, a lot of it's about Spoon," Bielema said. "But I think he's in the stratosphere now where people are jockeying to try to figure out where he's going to be, and people don't want to tip their hat. I would say I'm getting five or six calls a day or a text asking me to reach out to them. Spoon has ascended a bunch before the combine and after the combine, and I don't think Wednesday did anybody but help them."

Bielema has been asked about Illinois prospects who play on both sides of the ball, and he has embraced the opportunity to celebrate the successes of his former players by attending his first NFL Draft, which will be held in Kansas City this year.

As the first round of the NFL Draft inches closer, Bielema says the draft creates "a lot of buzz for us," both in terms of recruiting and the confidence and momentum within the current squad. With former Illini earning spots on several mock draft boards, Bielema is eager to celebrate his players and the opportunities that await them in the NFL.

"I couldn't be more excited," Bielema said. "I'm gonna go to the draft. I'm gonna hop on a plane, and hopefully go wherever our next guy's getting drafted, see that, and capture the moment. I've had several first-round picks, but I've never gone to draft. It never used to dawn on me. 

"I didn't even think about going to the draft. I remember there were two times when the NFL called me to try to get my players to go to the draft because they wanted those guys to be present, and it never clicked in my head, 'Hey, Coach. Why don't you go to it?' Obviously, Spoon, Quan, Syd, Chase: Those guys potentially could be first, second, third round, all those guys, and it's fun to capture that moment."

Bielema's Spring Ball Media Update