At Illini football media day on Sunday, I was struck by the number of really, really top-rate athletes that now populate the roster. And although I realize that somehow has to translate into victories, I’ll say this: I cannot recall EVER seeing so many stud athletes in the Illini football uniform. And it’s an exciting sight, even though a number of them are still quite young.
Juice Williams has gone from 218 pounds to 230. His body fat has gone from 6 percent to 5 percent. He looks solid as a rock and after working as a counselor at Peyton and Eli Manning’s camp in Louisiana this summer, he sounds more confident than ever.
Rejus Benn and Vontae Davis are former Dunbar High School (Washington, D.C.) teammates who practice the same lean-and-mean diet. For the most part they don’t eat red meat, fried foods or unecessary fat. They stick with chicken, fish, turkey, fruits and vegetables. That means no pizza and no fast food. Davis said when he goes to McDonald’s it’s for the Ceasar salad.
Davis has developed muscular arms and he’s actually been told to increase his body fat. He is 6-foot, 205 and his body fat dipped to 2.8 percent last year. The conclusion was that he needed a bit more fat to help avoid cramping. So he has raised it to about 3.5 percent. Still lean and mean.
Martez Wilson looks like a race horse. An absolute thoroughbred. He’s 6-4, 236 and he looks like he could track down a gazelle. Ron Zook said he’ll play weakside linebacker and he expects to have a package in just for Martez. He told me he will concentrate on linebacker and about half-way through the season he’ll be ready for a little offense. He’d like a shot at outside wide receiver and when I asked Juice who can cover him, he said, “God.”
Rashard Mendenhall has gone from 200 pounds to 220 and his arms look huge. He knows he’s the man at tailback this season and is hoping to get the bulk of the carries. He said his speed is still in tact.
Freshman defensive lineman D’Angelo McCray from Floriday is huge. He’s 6-4, 315 pounds and is still dealing with a little bit of swelling in the right knee he had scoped in January. He thinks he and Bloomington freshman Josh Brent can find playing time as freshmen. Brent is not as tall, but he’s huge, too. These are two run-stuffers.
I remember too many times when the newcomers were undersized and from smaller schools. They’d not seen the level of high school competition these guys have seen. We were told they had big hearts.
That’s fine, but it’s nice to see sculpted athletes who are already strong and fast and physically mature.
It’s time for the coaching staff to polish these gems and turn close losses into victories. The athleticism should help wipe out excuses why that can’t happen.
August 6th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
If Zook can really bring the SEC to the Big Ten it will be an interesting experiment. Having gone to an SEC school I can attest to their complete and utter didain for the Big Ten. I’m with you Tupper. Small and heart full is great for Disney movies but football is for lean, mean, big, and bad. No more 245 nose guards! Let’s bring the HAMMER!!!!!
August 6th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Brooks - Exactly my point. Neither Duke or Illinois has a title in that span. So most wins mean nothing if you covet a National Title.
As for Jamar I don’t see how he doesn’t play. Your scenario of sitting out a year is the only other option I see. I can’t believe Weber would leave Jamar hanging in regards to finding another school. Again call me pessimistic but Jamar plays because Weber needs him.
Now if you still think Weber is a great disciplinarian please review McBride. Multiple offenses, and “several more” we didn’t know about according to Tupper. What’s he get 4 games against east southern northwest State? Face it my compadre. Weber is a wrist slapper!
I’ll take your word for the 08 class. But looking on Scout makes it look pretty bleak. Illinois is few and far between on the list of the top 100 guys. Ohio State has a few locked up as well as some real spare colleges. Let’s hope we just have a flare for the late dramatics!
August 7th, 2007 at 7:42 am
KMIKe, he only needs 2 if he gets Miller and Suggs he had a great class. They are both horses just what we need and probable just the 2 we wanted. I’m not saying he will get either but if he did he would be in pretty good shape for the next 2 or 3 years with the class thats coming in. Just hoping.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Tupp, I agree with you: awesome athletes walking around the Irwin practice facility Sunday. Illinois has come a long way from the Ron Turner area as far as the quality of athlete (thank god he’s gone…was never a fan of R.T.)…as far as basketball, I think you have to understand one thing: Weber’s system DOES NOT call for 5 blue-chip athletes to be effective. You need an outside scorer, an inside scorer, and a dribble penetrator. What you get from the other 2 is usually gravy…and defensively, he wants 5 guys who work together helping each other when one defender gets beat, is text book as far as blocking out for rebounds…BW doesn’t need a “Thad 5″ type class…and give it time, but Bruce will take recruiting nationwide. Would I love to have Chicago kids on this roster? Absolutely…but, if kids don’t want to come here, then he’ll find kids from across the country to fill the spots. There are TOO MANY good players nationwide, some of you fans need to quit worrying about the in-state athlete so much. If they want to come, fine. If they don’t, then the hell with them.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Kentucky Mike, you obviously read the wrong blog….
I can’t wait for football this year…Zook is the master!
August 7th, 2007 at 9:49 am
How many scholarships does Illinos have for 2008? If Jordan does work out should’nt he get one of them. I believe that they only have two Seniors graduating. How many players are on scholarships now? My guess is Weber is more concerned with the 2009 class, which is supposed to be more telented.
I’ts great to hear so many possitive things about Illinois football. On the Gainesville talk shows they are talking about how Zook could build a winner at Illinois, but his his game coaching must improve, especially his second half adjustments. Zook was never given a fair chance in Florida. People exspect 9 wins every year and don’t believe a Florida should be in rebuilding years. Which was the case for Zook. Spurrior recruiting had really had gone down hill the final two years. Zook took over an average team and was expected to win with them. His recruits won the National championship last year and who knows for sure if Zook could’nt won It, if they would have given him the chance to finish what he started.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Reno, if Zook’s boys in their third year top Turner’s (8-4, Micronpc Bowl), I’ll accept your analysis. Football ain’t about how pretty the players are.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:04 am
It sounds like Illini football will be fun to watch this year with these great athletes on the field. Basketball recruiting is always painful to watch until you land some top guys. Weber should be OK, with offers out to some top recruits who seem interested, with some backups available if necessary.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Reno –> “Weber’s system DOES NOT call for 5 blue-chip athletes to be effective. You need an outside scorer, an inside scorer, and a dribble penetrator.”
Com’n that’s way too easy!!! even going by this great theory of yours, Weber has consistently failed to land the required penetrator and outside shooters. We all can have great theories, it’s putting them into practice that weeds out the “can” from the “can’t” crowd
KYM, I think you’re a bit harsh on Jamar; not all felonies are created equal, and if Jamar was not a BB player, or if this was not in CU, I doubt it would’ve been a felony. He made a boneheaded college kid mistake, which most of us, including myself, made more often then we should.
Call me selfish, but because of the desperate need for shooters and because of recruiting considerations (scholarship planning), but mainly because I don’t think what he did was worthy of the punishment some are calling for, I want him to play this year.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:21 am
KY Mike- You are right, having the most wins doesn’t mean as much if you don’t have a championship to go with it. Just like having a top recruiting class means nothing if you don’t win. It’s all hype.
I agree with you on McBride. He should have been gone. Smith should sit a year, but since everything is quiet, I am sure they will announce his brief suspension/return on a day when other things are going on. (To down play the situation) I am guessing the Friday before the Mizzu football game we will hear an announcement. I wonder how much of that is truly Weber’s call? I am sure he gets alot of pressure from boosters, BOT, and Guenther.
I will feel great if we get Miller and Suggs. Seems like those have been the two he has been targeting all along. It’s all a gamble. Much like the drafts in other sports, you never know how players will work out. I want us to get the best athlete/recruit, not just because the kid is from Illinois. You have to be pumped about the football team. I said it a few months ago. This has to be the most athletic team Illinois has ever put on the field. I’d love to see some SEC style football at Illinois. I want to see speed and athleticism. Not just a bunch of 300 pound guys hitting each other. Lets hope all of this translates to some wins. Otherwise, we will always just be a basketball school.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:57 am
I was at the BCS in Phoenix and was blown away by Florida’s athleticism in the rout over Ohio State.
The hardest thing to do in FB recruiting is not to bring in one stud class, but to stack them one after the other. And it seems Zook is on the verge of doing that.
While this year offers promise, let’s give them a year or two to develop and then look out!
August 7th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Brooks#10 - I’m with you, pal. Illini football is on the verge of being “back”. It would be great to see some SEC-style FB in Champaign, but I keep thinking about the year Turner had Michigan on the ropes and we needed a stop late in the fourth quarter to have a shot at beating them. They just lined up and ran the ball right down our throats for 4-5 minutes to close out the game. We didn’t have the horses to stop them. But I like athletes vs. big-ole, slow 350 lb. farm boys playing defense. And I think Zook has the experience and knowledge to coach these guys. So, bring on the season (and let’s hope that the B10 Network and Comcast can come to an agreement before the season starts).
August 7th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Getting Suggs/Miller in 2008 AND a strong showing and/or improvement in the 2007/08 season (no more excuses) would solidify Weber’s place on top of the BB program for years to come. On the other hand, if we’re to end up with another class of 3* “gems” and/or have yet another disappointing showing on the court, Weber’s seat would red hot.
I’m really, really hoping for the former; I’d like to see Weber succeed, and I would like to see some stability in our program.
Getting Miller and Suggs would be the KEY. It is looking good so far, I only hope Weber and staff close these deals.
On the other hand, our FB progarm WILL be so mach better than it has been for the last 5 years. Write it down; talent wins, we’re not one of the big dogs yet, but I think we finish in the top half in the B10. I haven’t been this excited about FB since the 2002 Suger Bowl.
Go Illini,
Archie
August 7th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Nice to finally see an Illini FB coach who has the smarts to recruit out of state. Ill take 4th team all state in FL over 1st team in state anyday. If Illinois is to become a top 25 program, they will need athletes from hotspots like FL, OH, DC, CA, TX, GA et al that produce quality athletes and not just offensive linemen.
Go get em Zook.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Michael,
You are right about taking a 4th teamer in Fla. over a 1st teamer in Illinois to a point. Only at the speed positions. I will take the first team Illinois lineman over a 4th teamer in Fla. then. We have lacked speed forever–perhaps now we have some. Ron Turner was a good coach but a horrendous recruiter. Too many really slow and samll guys!!
August 7th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Hey LJ. Come to Bradley. I was born and raised in Decatur and graduated from Eisenhower in 2002. I too played for Jeremy Moore. I spent the last four years in Peoria and let me tell you that Bradley’s basketball program (along with SIU) is the premier program in the MVC. Coach Les has expanded Bradley’s recruiting base to a national level due to our sweet sixteen appearance in 2006. The skill level of the players coming in are ridiculous. After this year, Bradley will need a solid point guard with the departure of Daniel Ruffin. You will do well there. Bradley University is great school with a great reputation. You cant go wrong.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
wouldn’t this open up a third schollie for BW to use in 2008? I can see him bring in three players that year.
August 7th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Ok, I must be old fashioned (but I’m not old), but I always get a little uncomfortable when I see us constantly referring to athletic African-Americans as horses. Yes, I know where “studs” come from, and frankly, I see that as a little racist too. Like calling someone “White Trash” (because trash naturally is black, so to differentiate, we say “white”. Nice, huh?)
Race horse, thoroughbred, tracking down gazelles… yeah, it can mean tiger or lioness - all African animals - but can’t we just say, “damn, the guy will be TOUGH” instead of labelling them? After all, aren’t race horses just beasts typically driven by white guys?
To me, words mean things, and I wish we’d refrain from calling these fine young men animals… and then act surprised when one of them acts like one off the field.
Another subject - I wonder if Illinois winters have anything to do with recruiting challenges from southern states? If so, how does Zook recruit past it? Maybe referring to the tough northern NFL programs which practice and play in the snow, and stating how much more of an edge they’ll have by getting used to it in college maybe? Or does he just use his charisma? “snow, SCMOW!” Just a thought.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Archie - I just remember many saying wait until all the evidence comes out. Jamar was REALLY sorry. I think the back pedaling needs to stop. Either we are a program of the highest integrity or we are some of the times or we don’t care. I always got the feeling many on this blog would rather lose a 100 games than have the Universities reputation take a hit. Let alone multiple.
I strongly disagree with you that he got rung up because he played hoops. That may be what saved his arse. You are right, not all felonies are created equal. But drunk driving while overdone should be punished much harsher than current limits. His sentence is reflective of the incredibly unbalanced sentencing guidelines associated with this Felony. I think Jamar can be a productive member of society with a college degree. His hoops prowess shouldn’t be what saves his life.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Rivals published a new top150 for 2008, and I couldn’t believe it when I read it. SIU has two commits in the top150 (#29 and #139). Illini’s top150 commits: 0. What’s this world coming to???
August 7th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Mendenhall gaining 20lb of muscle in the off season? Vontae Davis at 3.5% body fat?
Sounds like somebody has found their commitment to excellance and gotten into KYM shape. I look forward to seeing these beasts on the field in 25 days.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Doug - Please refrain from using the word snow. As a white man I find it degrading. I can’t say Horse but I have to say Damn? I want to party with you Cowboy!
Reno - Funniest post in a long while. You don’t need a good shooter just a shooter? When have we had a dribble penetrator? If I didn’t know better I would think you have never watched a game. Either that or Weber has no clue what makes his system work. Ah that was rib tickling good!!!
August 7th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Hey Tuppster: I havn’t been so excited about Illini FB since the Mike White Days!
Zook has the whole state excited and how about those season ticket sales! Were on our way! Go ILLINI!
August 8th, 2007 at 7:45 am
I’m happy to see that you’re giving BW a chance to prove himself this year, Archie, instead of calling for an end to the “Bruce Weber experiment” like you did a couple of weeks ago. Maybe you overreacted to the Dunnigan/Shumpert recruiting thing. I think if everyone takes a “wait & see attitude” towards this upcoming b-ball season, we will all be rewarded with much improvement over last year.
Your comments about comparing athletes to fast animals provides food for thought, Doug(18). I can’t speak for everyone else, but I have used terms like these before & certainly didn’t mean anything derogatory by it. I was merely trying to compare a human athlete to an animal to give a perspective on how fast the human was. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve even seen a clip of a race staged between a human sprinter & a racehorse. Do you think the human would have participated if he thought the race would shed him in a bad light? I know words mean things, but sometimes I think you can read too much into them instead of just taking them at face value. However, to be PC, in the future when I use an analogy to show how fast a human athlete is, I’ll just say he or she is as fast as the wind.
August 8th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Zook a Great recruiter but only a AVG coach at best. He lost 2 -3 games last year because of his coaching!
August 8th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Bill - I know what you’re saying. We use words without thinking and without meaning any harm. I didn’t say words should be banned or people shouldn’t say things or that I found it offensive… just that sometimes I get a little uncomfortable with it. I’ve compared athletes to ‘beasts’ too… it was just food for thought. I’m glad YOU, at least, took it the right way.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:26 am
The only thing bad about being around a college campus is hearing about the liberal/PC bologna. Or should I not say that because it might offend a pork chop somewhere. haha. People today are offended by everything. That is why Chief Illiniwek is gone. What a shame!
#20-John- Relax. It’s early. Most kids don’t sign until closer to November. Let Weber work his magic. Last thing we need is another Gordon situation. I don’t think Illinois winters matter alot for a player with NFL dreams. Seems like the knock on southern players/teams are if they can play as well in the cold. Might as well get that exposure in college. Plus, you play most of your games in the fall and the one January game you want to play in is always in a warm state. It’s not like you are going to play January 3rd at Soldier Field. Zook has the ability to develop players into NFL players. That’s the appeal. And he has alot of connections in the NFL. Lets just hope he is working on his coaching as hard as he does his recruiting. I miss the days of Howard Griffith and Simeon Rice. We need those days back. Go Illini!
August 8th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
The reason Brooks thinks that racial/ethnic sensitivity is a bad thing is that comments are often taken out of context as Doug did.
Tupper’s thesis was that the football team is much more athletic than it was a few years ago. Many posters echoed this; further painting the picture with metaphors related to animals. No one surely meant that they walk on all fours and crap in the woods. Racism was injected into the discussion by a reader not a writer.
Furthermore all athletes are assumed to be Neanderthals until proven otherwise. Hence the J Leman column had to be written to point out his humanity. It’s a predjudice that all have and it’s unavoidable without having a daily lebotomy.
August 9th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Jake #28 - Please be careful with broad generalizations, i.e. “all athletes are considered neanderthals…” I don’t think under any stretch of the imagination Anna Kournakova, Danika Patrick or Amanda Beard can be considered “neanderthal”, whether proven otherwise or not.
August 9th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Offense Is the Question. If Williams can understand that he does not need to be a significant part of every play then they will prevail. He is young and needs to delegate and understand you don’t always have to throw the ball 15 plus yards down the field and it’s OK to option to Mendenhall. From those of you that don’t know this Mendenhall was the fifth rated running back in the country in high school and has the speed and power to do anything he wants. The only question is will Zook give him the opportunity
August 9th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Pez - I think your right. Williams needs to learn to make at least two kinds of throws. Right now it’s a 98 mile an hour heater two inches after the receiver comes out of his break. Mix it up there big fella. Lead um once in a while. Looked like to many times the receivers were just trying to keep the ball from crushing their adams apple!
Brooks - I’m gonna start calling you Patience Taylor! It would be a real feat to take a kid out of Kentucky that Kentucky really wanted. Their idea of turning traitor is going to Louisville! I figure the kid wasn’t really hot on Tubby and will pull a Gordon once Gillespie gets his ear. If he does come here the UK folks will say they didn’t want him anyway! Probably call him a Prima Donna! Wonder if they would be any more right than us when we do it?
August 10th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Marlin,
What have Patrick, beard, and kornikova done that is so sophisticated? And race car drivers aren’t athletes.
August 10th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Jake 32 - They are ATHLETES. You didn’t give any criteria (such as they HAVE to have won something - you just said ‘they all are neantderthals’). I would say that anyone who can participate at the highest levels in their chosen sport is gifted and have certainly distinguished themselves.
And if you don’t think race car drivers are athletes, try concentrating for 3-4 hours, with a minimum of breaks, and keep your vehicle on the road at 200+ mph in traffic. Are you really that dense? Or do you just like to post some nonsense on this blog, then argue about it?
August 10th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Dear Marlin,
I think possibly you’ve identified a source of the US obesity problem. Driving a car = athletic activity.
Race car driving may require mental endurance and fine motor skills, but it certainly is not an athletic activity.
Maybe you should write a fitness book. Eat right and drive really fast and you too could have the body Greek God. That’d be effective.
Maybe I’ll try out your work out regime. Instead of running 17 miles tomorrow, I’ll race around my neighborhood in my Chevy Malibu. Only then will I be able to judge it fairly. The Chicago marathon should be cake after weeks and weeks of rigorous driving.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
now i will say i am loyal to the illini program just as much as any one, but for everyone to be this excited this soon is a little out of hand. i dont know if u remember, but they only won 2 games last year…thats out of 12..sure we got some great recruits in benn and wilson, and some of the upperclassmen have stepped up in off-season training..but..will that be enough in a loaded B10 to compete for a top spot?..i’m not quite sure it will..
August 11th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Jake #34 - Mighty big talk from a math major. How do you know what my workout routine is? And I will bet that Tony Stewart logs more running miles per day than you so in a week!! Not to mention the arm strength needed to keep a race car on the track.
You know I will say it again, you really need to have a clue before you start writing.
August 11th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
It’s bad enough that SIU has challenged the Illini for the best team in the state, but now they are starting to recruit better players??? Weber better kick it into overdrive soon…
August 11th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Marlin - Why don’t you tell him that neanderthals were quite athletic. You try killing the food they ate with sticks and stones. They were athletes for survival. Unlike college age nancy’s who throw a round leather ball thru a hoop under the protection of a referee so they don’t get hurt! Then drive home in their Grandparents Lexus so they can drink beer to get rid of the pain of taking tests in rigged classes!
All athletes are considered neanderthals. Especially chest thumping marathoners who can’t spell excellence!
Yeah tell him that!
And they say I’m assinine!