INDIANAPOLIS -- Under the bright lights of Lucas Oil Stadium, Illinois took part in Big Ten Football Media Days on Wednesday in downtown Indianapolis. Head coach Bret Bielema made his third appearance at the event since joining the Orange and Blue, while Illini student-athletes Jer'Zhan Newton, Keith Randolph Jr., and Isaiah Williams also served as representatives for the program and university.

After earning a bowl berth last season for the first time since 2019, Illinois enters the 2023 campaign with several key returners on both sides of the ball. Though Bielema brought in several new coaches to the Illini famILLy over the last several months, the team is ready to attack higher expectations head on this year.

Bielema and the three Illini student-athletes addressed several topics during their time in Indianapolis, including the addition of senior football analyst Jim Leonhard, the offensive and defensive lines, steps needed to achieve sustained success, the state of the program, and more.

With training camp set to begin in just over one week, here are a few takeaways from Illinois' time at Big Ten Media Days.

Bielema adds former player, Big Ten rival to Illini coaching staff

The Illini announced the addition of former Wisconsin defensive coordinator and 2022 interim head coach Jim Leonhard on Tuesday, reconnecting Bielema with a former player from his coaching tenure at Wisconsin. 

Leonhard played under Bielema during the 2004 season before ultimately spending 10 years in the NFL with six different teams. The pair has remained connected despite the various respective stops they have each made in their careers, and when Leonhard was named the interim head coach at Wisconsin on Oct. 2, Bielema made sure to reach out and express his well wishes.

"I really learned early he knows the game. Stayed in touch with him during his entire NFL career, and I knew he'd be a good coach," Bielema said. "When he became the head coach, we had just played them the day before, so I shot him a text and wished him the best of luck. Started a conversation with him even back then that I wish him all the best, all the luck."

Once Leonhard announced he would not be returning to his alma mater after the 2022 season, Bielema reached out and offered his support, even inviting him to Champaign to get him comfortable and familiar with the rest of the coaching staff.

"I said, 'Come in and learn from us, and let us learn from you,'" Bielema said. "I'm excited because his defensive mind and mindset is unbelievable."

Bielema says Leonhard will not be on the sidelines on game days, but he will be active with the team from Sunday-Thursday. Involved in all three phases, Leonhard brings winning experience at the college and professional levels and will be a key piece of the Illini staff this year.

Offensive, defensive lines will be strong suits once again for Illinois in 2023

Despite losing three starters to the NFL Draft, the Illini defense brings back several members from its top-ranked unit, including All-Big Ten first-teamer Newton and 2022 all-conference honorees Randolph Jr., Tarique Barnes, Seth Coleman, and Gabe Jacas.

On the other side of the ball, the offensive line also brings back three starters from one year ago in Isaiah Adams, Zy Crisler, and Julian Pearl. Though the Illini lost its other two starters, Bielema is excited about an o-line unit that was a Joe Moore Award semifinalist in 2022.

"I really believe iron sharpens iron," Bielema said. "Johnny, Keith, and our outside linebacker room is as talented as I've ever had. I really believe in building a program from the bottom up. The o-line and d-line play is a big part of it, and I think we should be exceptional on both sides."

Bielema is confident that the Illini will build on last season's success

The Illini have seen several players from last season's roster depart for the NFL, though the team also retains many All-Big Ten members from one year ago. Despite the coaching and roster turnover, Illinois is in a good position to replicate and expand on their 2022 success.

Whether it be the addition of several veteran and experienced coaches, the introduction of talented new faces to the roster, or the return of many key starters, Bielema feels good about where the program is headed this season and for years to come.

"We've got a lot of unfinished business," Bielema said. "I like where we're at. I love the influx of talent. For me as a head coach, this is my 15th year, but I've never felt more engaged with our roster, the way they're being developed, the way they're being coached. The way that they react to our coaches is pretty cool.

"When I received the first phone call from director of athletics Josh Whitman, I realized this was a guy that I want to be a partner with. I wanted to get back into head coaching, but I didn't want to go to a situation where I didn't think it could be sustained. I want this to be my last rodeo."

Season tickets, team GPA demonstrate program's upward trajectory

The Illini took massive strides on the football field in 2022, a season that culminated in an 8-5 record, a second-place finish in the Big Ten West, a trip to a January bowl game, and four NFL Draft picks.

Illinois improved off the field as well, though, including in the stands at Memorial Stadium and in the classroom. After averaging over 40,000 fans per game last season, the Illini have seen a rise in interest in season tickets, with over 9,500 new season-ticket holders added this offseason.

"You get close to 10,000 new season tickets in a year, that's doing some good things," Bielema said.

Illinois student-athletes also got the job done off the field, collectively achieving the highest team scholarship GPA in program history at 3.05. Bielema has made it an emphasis to turn things around both on and off the field, and the increase in season tickets and the best team GPA indicate that the program is taking steps in the right direction.

"Very exciting time in our program right now," Bielema said. "We haven't won a game yet, but I love what I've seen in our new coaches, the development of our players, the faith in our players, and the recruiting cycles.

"To have a season like we just had, the talent we have returning, and to have the highest GPA in school history, it tells me we're doing a lot of good things. It's just a really exciting time to be where we're at."

Photos

Press Conferences - Day 1

00:00 - Illinois Head Coach Bret Bielema Press Conference
13:24 - Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano Press Conference
25:00 - Michigan State Head Coach Mel Tucker Press Conference
36:20 - Northwestern Interim Head Coach David Braun Presser
50:33 - Penn State Head Coach James Franklin Presser
01:04:15 - Iowa Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz Presser
01:16:54 - Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day Presser