CHAMPAIGN - The news was exactly as feared: Sophomore Miami Thomas tore the ACL in his right knee Saturday and will be lost for the season.

Coach Ron Zook confirmed the prognosis Sunday and said Thomas will undergo surgery after the swelling in his knee subsides, perhaps in a couple of weeks.

The injury, which occurred on a freakish play during a punt, means there will be some shuffling in Illinois' defensive backfield.

"It is kind of like what happened with Sirod (Williams)," Zook said Sunday, referring to his defensive tackle who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Rantoul. "It's just one of those things that happens. It was non-contact related. He got pushed, he twisted and then got overextended."

Thomas was on the punt return team in the second quarter when his knee buckled and he collapsed to the turf. The ball then hit him in the back, creating a fumble that was recovered by Eastern Illinois.

Thomas had just been promoted to the starting lineup in a move designed to strengthen two positions - cornerback and safety.

Now, with Thomas out, Zook said it's likely Dere Hicks will be moved back to corner. He was the starter in the Missouri game but was shifted to safety against Eastern Illinois.

The secondary is already thin as junior college transfer Donsay Hardeman, projected to be a starter at safety, bounces back from a knee injury. He should return for the Penn State game on Sept. 27, one week after Illinois' bye week.

"We have a guy in Dere who can play both spots," Zook said. "And Travon (Bellamy) can play both spots. I hate to see anybody get hurt, but we have guys who can play."

What Illinois does not have is quite as much depth.

"If no one else gets hurt, we're OK," Zook said. "But we're beginning to get guys nicked up at some positions. We're not real plentiful at any position � but we're a lot better than we were a year ago."

Thomas will get a medical redshirt this season and will still have three years of eligibility remaining.

"He didn't play in the first half of the Missouri game, but he's a guy who is going to be a good football player. He just has to wait until next year now," Zook said.

"He was going to have to get his shoulder fixed anyway, so we'll get that done as well this year. That will give him a chance to get bigger and stronger."

Zook said moving Hicks back to corner might be the answer to replace Thomas, but it doesn't help the safety position.

"We still have to get that position solidified," he said. "Bo Flowers played much better (against Eastern). Nate (Bussey) played better at times. I would have said it would take some time to get things sorted out there. Contrary to what some people thought, we didn't have great safety play the last couple years."

After Saturday's 47-21 victory over Eastern Illinois, Zook said he dropped the Illini from his top 25 ballot in the coaches' poll.

"I don't think right now we're playing the way we're capable of playing," he said. "We're still giving up too many big plays on defense. We're not tackling the way we can tackle. And we're not putting the ball where we need to on kickoff coverage. Those are things we need to get shored up.

"But (the national ranking) is as far from my mind as anything right now. Right now, it means nothing."

Illinois fell just out of the top 25 in the coaches' poll but remains No. 24 in the Associated Press media poll.

Little known on Brent

Zook said he could not shed new light on what's happened with sophomore defensive tackle Josh Brent of Bloomington.

Brent, who was moved into the starting lineup before the season, has not played in either of the first two games and was not in uniform on the sideline Saturday.

"I'd rather you not ask me about Josh," Zook said Sunday. "He has some issues with an illness. I'm not in any position to be able to talk about it. Hopefully things will get worked out. I really can't comment on it."

With Brent out, freshman defensive tackle Corey Liuget is getting some extended playing time. Zook praised his performance against Eastern.

"He had 20 snaps or so and as you can tell, he's going to be a pretty good player. He's an athlete. He can chase the ball. He's explosive and powerful."

Extra points

Zook said he should know by Tuesday whether wide receiver Jeff Cumberland will return to action this week.

Cumberland, who has been recovering from a stress fracture, will have a bone scan to determine his condition.

"He is ready to go, but that will be the doctor's call," Zook said. "He was running on the trampoline thing today."

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983