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CHAMPAIGN - When he played outside linebacker, Illinois' Brit Miller used to look at teammate J Leman and joke, ``It's my job to make all the plays so the great J Leman can be an All-American.''
Miller made sure to say it loud enough for middle linebacker Leman to hear.
Leman, who did become a consensus All-American, would roll his eyes and laugh.
But with Leman gone and hoping for a chance at the NFL, the job of making plays in the middle of the Illini defense now falls to Miller, the senior from Decatur who is being asked to be a major leader when spring practice begins today.
``We're moving Brit to the middle, and I told him he's not coming in to take J's spot,'' coach Ron Zook said Tuesday. ``Two years ago, he started in the middle anyway. He can make the calls and get people lined up.
``He has to assume a new leadership role, and I think he will.''
When Miller was last on the field playing linebacker, he was lining up on the outside in the Rose Bowl. Miller had five solo tackles, three for a loss and one sack against Southern Cal. He did this while playing with a painful dislocated toe, something he said has now healed thanks in part to some recent rest.
``It was something I had to do for the Rose Bowl, but they have given me some time off, and that has allowed it to heal,'' he said. ``I played middle linebacker my freshman year and I've taken a lot of reps in practice. Responsibility-wise, I know what's going on with the defense. (Linebackers coach) Dan Disch does a great job of making sure we're prepared for the game.
``Speed- and strength-wise, when I was a freshman I had a pretty sweet belly and I couldn't bench press much. (Strength and conditioning coach) Lou (Hernandez) has taken care of me. My speed and strength have increased every year. I finally feel like I'm a middle linebacker.''
Zook has kid Miller about his weight, and even Miller admits, ``I was huge in the Rose Bowl.'' Apparently about 260 pounds huge, because Miller said Tuesday he has shed 10 pounds and now checks in at 250.
``I'll be at 245 when the season starts,'' he promised.
After a 9-4 record and Rose Bowl appearance, Miller said he has two great motivations going into his final season.
One, he wants a strong senior finish.
Two, he's acutely aware that Illinois has not posted back-to-back winning seasons since coach John Mackovic's teams of 1989 and 1990.
``It's important for us to know we've come up with big seasons in the past, but we need to back them up and become a perennial power in the Big Ten. We have a great chance of duplicating our success this season. We have a lot of talent here.''
Zook is asking Miller to provide a stepped-up level of vocal leadership as the quarterback of the defense.
``It's about making friendships with teammates, stepping out of your comfort zone and talking with guys you wouldn't have. J Leman was the perfect example. You never knew who he'd be talking to in the locker room or out on the field.''
Miller, who is pursuing a double major in history and speech communications, is eager to play between athletic outside linebackers like Martez Wilson and Rodney Pittman, who Zook projected as possible starters Tuesday.
``Last year, I would categorize us as an experienced defense with decent athletes,'' Miller said. ``Now, I'm one of the least athletic guys on the field.
``Martez Wilson plays gunner on punt coverage and linebacker on defense. It's incredible. Nate Bussey can really play at safety. Will Davis used to be a tight end, and now he's a defensive end who terrorizes people. When people double-team Josh Brent on the defensive line, the running back just seems to find you.
``Our defense will be quick, and we'll be bigger, which is kind of scary.''
Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.
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