RANTOUL - Martez Wilson looks like he could outrun a Corvette.

Josh Brent and D'Angelo McCray look like they could dig in and hold off a bulldozer.

They are freshman stars-in-waiting for the University of Illinois football team, three prized recruits in coach Ron Zook's heralded Class of 2007.

But even though all three look destined to make a contribution this season, there are constant reminders that freshmen must still negotiate a tricky and constant learning curve on the way to that stardom.

Learning, we're reminded in football, is a necessary evil that tends to rob speed from the quickest players and limit fury from the strongest. It's why Zook is cautious in his assessment of just how much even the best freshmen can contribute in their first season.

"One thing I learned a long time ago, particularly early, is not to get too high or too low on a freshman," Zook said. "I was teasing Martez this morning. We all know he's a great athlete, but when they are thinking it slows you down. When you are thinking, you don't look as fast."

Wilson looks fast even when he's standing still. The 6-foot-4, 236-pound linebacker from Chicago Simeon actually looks taller and leaner than his advertised size. He looks almost thin, but when he's running full speed there's no doubt about his rare athleticism.

The trouble is, when he lines up at linebacker and the ball is snapped, there are plays during which he's uncertain what to do. So Wilson takes a half-step to his right, stops, pauses, then backpedals to his left. All of a sudden the play is over and this ultraquick linebacker has never reached half-speed.

Zook's analysis sounds convoluted, but it makes sense.

"He's only going to be as good as the things he can do fast," the coach said. "There is no way of knowing yet what he'll be able to do, but when you are down there in the briar patch, things happen fast.

"But we can do some things with Martez. We can put in a little package for him. Coaching is putting a player in position where he can be successful. Their freshman year, you give them what they can handle. The best coaches I've been around are guys who know that.

"We have to use the things Martez can do and we won't know that for weeks. One thing I do know: If you put him on the edge and tell him to get around the corner and rush the passer, he can do that."

Wilson thinks he's making progress.

"The first day I was kind of lost," he said. "Then I started moving around and running to the ball. By the middle of camp I'll just be out there balling."

Another thing Wilson can do immediately at full speed is run down the field on kickoff coverage, looking for the return man. So in Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage, he lined up for the opening kickoff and quickly hit his stride.

For now, Wilson is concentrating on defense. But he's hoping for a chance on offense, too.

"By the middle of the season I might be playing a little offense," said Wilson, who wants a crack at wide receiver.

As for Brent and McCray, they arrived as massive, bookend defensive tackles who instantly give Illinois a pair of wide-bodied run-stuffers.

Brent, a 6-foot-2, 320-pounder from Bloomington Central Catholic, was already turning heads with his advanced play when he suffered a sprained knee Saturday night. He'll be out for a week or so, but Zook clearly likes Brent's chances to join the defensive line rotation immediately and perhaps be an integral part of the goal-line defense.

"He's been very impressive in one-on-one drills," Zook said. "There's a suddenness to Josh and you can't coach that. It's exciting."

McCray is a 6-4, 315-pounder from Jacksonville, Fla. He's being monitored closely after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee in January. McCray said he is virtually pain-free, although the knee does accumulate some fluid.

What they have in common is a massive lower base, each with tree-trunk thighs that helps them anchor spots in the defensive middle.

"Those two guys have the biggest helmets," Zook said, laughing about his huge freshmen. "Both of them are the kind of guys you like to see with their hand on the ground (in a three-point stance) because they are big guys who can run."

Like Wilson, though, they are learning the playbook and trying to reach a point where they can play more on instinct and quick reaction. When that happens, they'll begin to show real progress.

All three of them arrived as prep All-Americans. But rather than show up acting like know-it-alls, Zook said the freshmen arrived asking questions and turning to upperclassmen for direction and advice.

Senior linebacker J Leman said Wilson has been a perfect student.

"He came to me right away and asked if I'd teach him what to do," Leman said. "I've been impressed by the way they have been willing to learn."

In time, it will be Wilson, Brent and McCray who will do the teaching. For now, however, they're the students, asking questions, learning on the fly and hoping to very soon be playing as fast and as strong as they can.

INJURY UPDATE

Zook sounded more guarded Monday regarding the injury to wide receiver Chris James.

James, who suffered a knee injury in Saturday night's scrimmage, will be out at least a couple of weeks, Zook said after Monday morning's practice. Re-examination will determine whether James will require surgery.

Zook continued to say wide receiver Rejus Benn is "day-to-day" with a sprained shoulder. Benn, also injured Saturday, is regaining full range of motion in his shoulder, Zook said. Benn did not practice Monday.

New to the injury list is interim co-defensive coordinator Curt Mallory, who did not participate in practice Monday with an undisclosed ailment that could be a hernia. In his absence, Dan Disch, the other interim co-defensive coordinator, is running the defense along with Zook.

Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.