The Daily Illini: Fall Sports Guide

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FALL SPORTS GUIDE August 25, 2021

My big headline

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Senior Day

BIG 10

Championship Game

Homecoming

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Quarterback Brandon Peters takes some practice throws Aug. 6 at training camp in Memorial Stadium.

MORE INSIDE

Position, coaching and schematic changes aim to improve struggling defensive unit. PAGE 13

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Offense returns with last season’s roster mostly intact

BY WES HOLLENBERG STAFF WRITER

As the Illini begin their transition into the Bret Bielema era, there will undoubtedly be a variety of changes throughout the program. One place to start is the offense, where Bielema has a history of focusing on the power run game in his previous head coaching jobs at Wisconsin and Arkansas.

It’s been almost half a decade since Bielema has helmed a college program, though, and he’s spent that time working in the NFL, so it’s likely Bielema has added new wrinkles to his offensive schemes.

At offensive coordinator, Bielema brought in Tony Petersen in December. He brings decades of experience coaching offense, with a highlight being his time at Minnesota as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and offensive play caller from 1999 to 2006. During that span, he coached quarterback Bryan Cupito to success in breaking the school’s all-time passing record.

To lead the offense, Illinois will likely look similar to last season with returning senior Brandon Peters at quarterback. He’s been a steady starter for the past two years, but

the depth chart behind him may shift a bit.

Redshirt freshman Isaiah Williams, last season’s primary backup, shifted to wide receiver in the offseason, leaving a hole to be filled.

The best potential candidate would be junior transfer Artur Sitkowski, who started two games for Rutgers last season. The only other player with starting experience on the roster is sophomore Matt Robinson, who started one game last season when Peters was out.

The Illini ranked dead last in the Big Ten in passing yards per game last season, so the passing game has a chance to be an area of improvement in 2021.

At wide receiver, the Illini mostly remained steady, aside from the loss of starter Josh Imatorbhebhe. The primary additions were senior transfer Jafar Armstrong, redshirt freshman Marquez Beason switching positions to receiver and Williams also switching to receiver. Armstrong played both receiver and running back for Notre Dame in his three seasons there and will probably be a depth option for the Illini as a split end. Williams is a bit more of an unknown for the Illini but may see time as a slot receiver with few other competitive options for the role on the roster.

Juniors Brian Hightower and Donny Navarro III will likely serve as the primary starters as flank and split end receivers, respectively, after strong showings from both last season.

Hightower caught 11 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns last season, while Navarro III caught eight passes for 88 yards.

The Illini currently have 16 players listed as receivers on the roster, so Bielema may have plenty of surprises up his sleeve if he chooses to go a new direction with his receivers. One such option might be sophomore Casey Washington, who played in all eight games last season and registered 10 catches for 106 yards.

The Illini’s deepest position may be tight end, as they have 11 currently listed on the roster. The presumptive starter would be junior Daniel Barker, who had a stellar 2020 season, ranking second on the team in receiving with 268 yards and two touchdowns.

While there are a lot of options to back up Barker, junior Luke Ford has the second most experience on the roster, as he played in every game last season, including two starts at tight end.

Redshirt sophomore Chase Brown will

look to be the focal point of Illinois’ running attack after a breakout 2020 campaign. Last season, he racked up 540 rushing yards on 104 attempts and three touchdowns, earning himself All-Big Ten Third-Team honors. Behind him, much is uncertain on the depth chart with senior Mike Epstein registering the next most attempts with 69 for 367 yards. Junior transfer Chase Hayden will also be in the mix, as he had relatively successful seasons rushing at Arkansas in 2017 and 2018. With a plethora of strong options at running back, the Illini will look to continue their successes from last season, in which they ranked third in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game.

The greatest weapon for the Illini may be their continuity on the offensive line, as most of last season’s starting unit is back. Senior Vederian Lowe is returning for a final season at left tackle and has been a paragon of steadiness with 34 straight starts. Left guard may be a bit of a question, but players like junior Alex Pihlstrom bring experience after playing in all eight games last season. Blake Jeresaty may contend for the starting job as well after missing all of last season with an injury. He transferred from Wofford last year and was a successful center on their roster.

However, the center job is locked down by returning senior Doug Kramer, so Pihlstrom will probably make a shift to left or right guard. At right guard, Pihlstrom will have to contend with players such as transfer senior Jack Badovinac, who started 33 games on the offensive line at Colgate.

Finally, at right tackle, senior Alex Palczewski is the presumptive starter, and is tied with Lowe for the most starts on the roster at 40. With so much combined experience among the starters on the offensive line, the unit may be in line for a strong year.

Last season, Illinois had one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten, ranking second to last in points per game. Bielema may have found himself in a perfect situation where the only direction to go is up. However, with a roster returning many of its seniors from last season, continuity may be a focus for Bielema rather than overhauling the offense all at once.

It may take some time to see Bielema’s vision of the Illini offense come to fruition, but the early results are just weeks away as Illinois kicks off its season hosting Nebraska on Aug. 28. @WesHollenberg wih2@dailyillini.com

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Cross country season preview

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO; JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

Illini look to build off past success, return to normal schedule

BY RENATO ARTEAGA STAFF WRITER

Clunk after clunk. Cleat after cleat. Together they sound like a stampede of wildebeests running through a valley. They run through grassy fields and are elbow to elbow during this intense battle of endurance. They’re cross country runners, and this season is just around the corner.

The Illini cross country season having more than two meets this season is a sign that campus life is returning to some level of normalcy. This marks the first time in two years that the Illini will compete in regular season meets.

The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines limited the men’s and women’s cross country seasons to just two postseason meets: the B1G Championship and NCAA Championships.

Even with limited opportunities last year, the Illini showed signs of improvements and even managed to come out victorious with performances that qualified some runners for the NCAA Championships.

The pandemic forced last year’s postseason to start in January, and even this year’s schedule is unique since the Illini are scheduled to have six meets throughout September and

October.

This season’s regular season home meet is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the UI Arboretum.

The EIU Walt Crawford Open will be the first regular season competition of the year and is on Sept. 3 in Charleston, Illinois. The Red Bird Invite takes place two weeks later, on Sept. 17, in Normal, which will have the Illini facing off against Illinois State.

The Illini were victorious the last time they competed at the EIU Walt Crawford Open during the 2018 season. The men’s team finished first overall out of six teams, while the women’s teams finished second out of five teams.

The Illini will compete in four meets during the month of October, including the Big Ten Championships on Oct. 29 in State College, Pennsylvania.

After big playoff performances from quite a few Illini during last season’s shortened season, it will be interesting to watch the Illini’s fight to achieve that same success during this season’s battles.

Sarah Haveman will be entering her fourth season as the men’s and women’s cross country head coach, and she already has an impressive postseason track record.

Both teams have shown signs of development

every year since Haveman took the reins as head coach. The Illini’s overall finishes at the Big Ten Championship have improved every year since Haveman helped the men’s team place 10th and the women’s team place 12th during her coaching postseason debut in 2018.

This season is marking the return of a few upperclassmen runners for the men’s team, like graduate student Jon Davis and redshirt senior Irwin Loud, while also introducing a few new faces to the team, like freshmen Evan Cummins, Nicolas Dovalovsky and William Merrick.

The women’s team has a few key contributors from last season’s shortened playoff run returning for another chance to compete at the NCAA Championships, such as graduate student Rebecca Craddock, and even added eight new underclassmen to the team.

Craddock is returning for a fifth season after having stellar performances at last season’s Big Ten and NCAA Championships meets, where she placed ninth and 68th, respectively.

Graduate student Allison McGrath, along with seniors Ayah Aldadah and Emma Milburn, will also be returning this season, all of which finished in the top 20 overall during

last season’s Big Ten Championship.

Last year, Haveman helped the women’s team rank No. 17 nationally and managed to coach them to postseason success against six other nationally ranked programs within the Big Ten. The men’s team managed to finish sixth overall at last season’s Big Ten Championship postseason meet, where Davis finished second with a time of 24:01.8.

Davis was the only Illini from the men’s team to qualify for the NCAA Championships, and he finish 39th with a time of 30:46.3 during this competition, which was the first AllAmerican honor for a male Illini cross country runner since Dylan Lafond in 2015.

This year, the NCAA Regional will be in Iowa City, Iowa and take place on Nov. 12, while the NCAA Championships will take place in Tallahassee, Florida on Nov. 20.

The Illini have about two weeks left before their regular season competition begins in Charleston. The time has yet to be determined, but Sept. 3 will mark the beginning of the Illini’s long journey toward reclaiming and improving upon all their postseason success from last year. renatoa2@dailyillini.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

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Blessings Collegiate Invitational PHOTO COURTESY OF ILLINOIS ATHLETICS; JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

Schedule of Events Friday, October 29 • Illinois MBB vs. Indiana (PA.) (Time TBA) • Illinois Men’s Hockey vs. Iowa State, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 30 • Pre-game BBQ (4 hours before kickoff) • Illinois vs. Rutgers Football (kickoff time TBA) • No Comment A Cappella Presents: A Tribute to Dad, 7 p.m. doors open • Illinois Men’s Hockey vs. Iowa State, 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 31

www.illinidads.com

• IlliniDads 5K Fun Run, 7:30 a.m. registration/9 a.m. start • Sunday Brunch, 10 a.m. - noon *All times subject to change

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BIG 10 SEMIFINALS BIG 10 FINALS

RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI; JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois soccer looks to maintain momentum in 2021

BY ANGELLE CORTES ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

With a new season coming around, there’s always incoming freshmen, transfers coming in, graduating seniors leaving and transfers going out. For Illinois soccer, there hasn’t been much of a shift in the roster that will change the team and starting lineup.

Goalkeepers

and both are inexperienced with college minutes.

The only incoming freshman keeper is Naomi Jackson from Freeport, Illinois.

Jackson looks to be reeling in a bunch of accolades heading into Illinois. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches High School All-American list and awarded Play of the Year by Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association. Her senior season at Freeport High School saw her concede only two goals (both came from postseason play), win the NIC-10 Conference and made a save like this.

A spot for the starting keeper position is going to be a fight, so hats off to whoever gets the spot. There is a possibility for a late signing or transfer in order to maintain depth in the position. Currently Illinois does not have any goalkeepers committed for the incoming class of 2022.

This is part of the squad that has seen the most change in the offseason. Sami Sample and Elizabeth Cablk graduated, so that means last season’s starting keeper won’t be coming back. Although when talking to head coach Janet Rayfield back when the season ended, Sample was one of the players she named who was considering a fifth year. Sample, according to her Instagram biography, will be attending Lipscomb University to become a physician assistant.

Natalie Phelps is also a goalkeeper not on the roster who was just a freshman last year.

Not much changed here as none of the On June 30, it was announced that Phelps starters graduated, so I would think the had transferred to Saint Louis University same back four that played all season will near her hometown of Wildwood, Missouri. play again, but who knows.

This shortens the keeper roster to only two, Coming in for the defense is Alexa

Defenders

Joshi from Des Plaines, Angie Galo from information of what Ellis is up to in the Wheaton and Ella Karolak, who is listed as coming months, but obviously things can both a defender and midfielder, from Grosse change.

Pointe, Michigan.

Midfielders

It was announced in June that both Hope Breslin and Maggie Hillman were coming back for a fifth year, and it’s a huge boost to the midfield. Having them both back in their usual positions allows them to lead Illinois after their unfortunate loss against Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

Coming into Illinois are only three, Karolak who is doubling as a defender, Maddie Mariani from Wheaton and transfer Sydney Stephens from Waterloo, who played a year at Georgia. Stephens comes in with experience in the Southeastern Conference with playing nine games, starting eight and playing a total of 724 minutes.

One midfielder not listed on the roster is Amaya Ellis. According to this list, Ellis has an anticipated graduation date for August 2021, so she still has one more year left of eligibility to finish off her fourth year with graduate school like Meredith JohnsonMonfort. However, there is no known

Forwards

The only forward that Illinois lost was Katie Le who graduated in May; she was loud on the sidelines and a super sub when needed to be. Coming into the team are Maeve Jones and Abby Lynch, who also signed to compete for the track team as well.

Jones, a four-star recruit, looks to be a good signing for Illinois as she comes in as No. 119 on the IMG Academy Girls Top 150 by Top Drawer Soccer and ranked nationally as the No. 37 forward by Top Drawer Soccer.

Regardless of who gets the spot besides Makena Silber, I hope they’re ready to score some goals because that was one of the things that lacked this past season.

With exhibitions matches and nonconference matchups back in the schedule, it will be cool to look at players who weren’t able to get minutes due to the limited games on the slate.

@AngelleCortes acorte37@dailyillini.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

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WELCOME HOME, ILLINI

Photo Courtesy of Illinois Athletics

Photo Courtesy of Illinois Athletics

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

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Volleyball attempts to bounce back from last season Aug

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY WENSTRAND/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS, JONAH OZER, THE DAILY ILLINI

BY ENJI ERDENEKHUYAG STAFF WRITER

Middle blockers, outside hitters

On account of its young roster and the NCAA’s eligibility extension, Illinois will see a familiar cast of faces throughout the season, with the exception of a few new additions who surely will capture their spot in the limelight.

From Fairway, Kansas, 6-foot-3 freshman Sarah Bingham brings versatility as a middle blocker and outside hitter. In 2020, PrepDig. com ranked Bingham as the No. 3 player in Kansas, and she also was featured on Under Armour’s All-America Watch List. The work Bingham put in to earn those accolades speaks for itself, as she led the Kansas Volleyball Association’s Class 6A kills per set at 5.00 and has amassed over 915 career kills.

Redshirt freshman Maddie Whittington will be looking to see some action this year as well. Initially, Whittington was recruited as a middle blocker but has transitioned to play as an opposite hitter.

A healthy Ellie Holzman is expected to make her return to Illinois volleyball as a redshirt

sophomore. Holzman, middle blocker and outside hitter, redshirted in 2019 because of a preseason stress fracture in her leg and then played in 13 sets during the 2020-2021 season before suffering a season-ending ACL tear on Jan. 30. Though her playing time was brief, her impact was impressionable; she tallied 35 kills on a .187 hitting percentage, 18 digs, four blocks and three aces.

Holzman is a four-time Division I Louisiana state champion with Mount Carmel Academy, a three-time Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year and was the 2018-19 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year. Her long-awaited comeback will surely be one to watch.

Illinois also will see plenty of rotations from juniors Kennedy Collins, Rylee Hinton and Kyla Swanson. Collins is the Illini’s go-to middle blocker, as she registered playing time in all 18 matches last season, posting 57 total blocks and 128 kills on a .265 hitting percentage.

Last year, Champaign’s very own Hinton led the team in blocks with 75, and Swanson notched 16. On Jan. 25, Hinton captured her first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for aiding Illinois to consecutive wins against Iowa.

As for outside hitters, Illinois appears to be stacked. Sophomore Raina Terry took on

a significant role as a freshman last year. She started 17 out of the 18 matches she played in and led the team with the most kills, locking in 210. This year, expect much of the same action from the former Big Ten Freshman of the Week, just more developed and expanded.

After opting in for the extended eligibility, Megan Cooney is returning for her fifth season as a graduate student. The outsider and opposite hitter’s retention is a huge win for the Illini. Cooney tailed Terry in most kills at 205 and was honored to the All-Big Ten Second Team last season.

Though Cooney returned, graduate Emily Hollowell decided to continue her volleyball career at Ball State University. As an Illini, Hollowell played in 31 sets in 11 matches and averaged 1.26 kills per set.

With Hollowell’s departure, Illinois welcomed junior Jessica Nunge, a transfer from Florida State. There, Nunge totaled 79 kills on a .177 hitting percentage, on top of 97 digs, 32 blocks and 12 aces. No doubt, she will be an offensive and defensive asset for the Illini.

The two remaining hitters on the roster are redshirt junior Bruna Vrankovic and redshirt freshman Sophie Gregus. Last season, Vrankovic had a hot hand, posting double-

digit kills in four consecutive matches, and posted a career-high 23 kills April 3. She averaged 127 kills on a .141 hitting percentage.

Gregus, who did not play last season, was the 2021 Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree. During her senior year at Benet Academy, where she led her team to the state championship, Gregus captured 260 kills, 86 digs, 38 blocks, 33 aces and 11 assists. It will be interesting to see how her role shifts this season as Illinois will look to transition the 6-foot-1 hitter into a defensive specialist or libero.

Defensive specialists, liberos

For what Illinois volleyball lacks in numbers with defensive specialists, it holds up its end with its talent. This season, the backcourt of Illinois volleyball will fall into the hands of senior Taylor Kuper and freshmen Caroline Barnes and Becca Sakoda.

With the two new additions, learning and developing will be a major focus this year.

But with a veteran like Kuper, this transition SEE VOLLEYBALL | 14

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Bielema, Walters set to implement schematic shift

BY WES HOLLENBERG STAFF WRITER

After previewing the Illini offense last week, it’s time to take a look at the other side of the ball and preview a defense returning many familiar faces but changing in schematics.

Starting at the top, head coach Bret Bielema has most recently run a 3-4 defense at the end of his time at Arkansas and coached the same scheme while with the New England Patriots. It’s likely that Bielema will opt for a 3-4 this season, which may make a major difference after Illinois ran a largely unsuccessful 4-3 defense under Lovie Smith. The difference between the two schemes is the number of linemen/linebackers utilized, with a 3-4 scheme using three linemen and four linebackers.

At defensive coordinator, Bielema brought in Ryan Walters, who coached a 3-4 scheme at Missouri last season to extensive success.

Last year, Missouri landed 14th in the NCAA and third in the SEC in overall defense, including a top 10 pass defense in the NCAA. If the Illini defense is to improve, it will have to come through Bielema and Walters’ changes, as the defensive roster remained mostly stagnant in the offseason.

At nose tackle, the Illini will probably stick with senior Roderick Perry II, who had an excellent 2020 season, garnering an AllBig Ten honorable mention from media and coaches. Junior Calvin Avery sits behind him after playing a solid backup role last season, including two starts while Perry was injured.

Defensive end, however, may feature some new players due to the schematic shift. Owen Carney Jr. and Isaiah Gay may both shift to outside linebacker, clearing the path for less experienced players like redshirt freshman Keith Randolph Jr. and redshirt junior Deon Pate to see playing time at defensive end.

Jer’Zhan Newton and Jamal Woods will likely continue splitting time at defensive tackle this season. Woods battled injuries last season, while Newton had a successful campaign as a true freshman, including two starts and playing in all eight games.

With strong momentum behind him, Newton could be in position to make another leap this season and play a lion’s share of the snaps as a starter.

Under a 3-4, there will be more pressure on the front three linemen to slow the opposing line, but in return the Illini will have measurably more flexibility with an extra linebacker.

However, the shift leaves the aforementioned Carney and Gay without a home as linemen.

As talented football players, regardless of position, both are listed at outside linebacker heading into the season and both will likely see reps as starters. Carney, who has started dozens of games for the Illini over his career, received All-Big Ten Second-Team honors last season, while Gay was no slouch himself, reg-

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen practices during day 2 of training camp Aug. 6. Coach Bret Bielema hopes to better the defensive unit before the start of the season.

istering 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Jake Hansen will look to feature as a star on the Illinois defense at middle linebacker after an elite 2020 season. Hansen stuffed the stat sheet with 68 tackles, including 10 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions, earning himself an All-Big Ten Second-Team nod from the media and a Third-Team one from coaches.

At the other middle linebacker slot, junior Khalan Tolson and sophomore transfer Calvin Hart Jr. will contend for playing time. Tolson started six games last season and recorded 39 tackles, while Hart recorded 35 tackles for North Carolina State.

Devon Witherspoon will provide some

continuity at cornerback after starting seven games last year, but the departure of Nate Hobbs has opened up the other starting role.

Senior Tony Adams may get the nod, as he was initially a corner during his freshman and sophomore years before switching to safety and defensive back.

Illinois will boast continuity at safety with the return of junior Sydney Brown, who started six games last season and ten in 2019. He’ll most likely slot in as the strong safety, while Jartavius Martin may be the go-to free safety.

Last season was a rough one for the Illini defensively, with the team ranking dead last in the Big Ten in rush defense and eighth in pass defense. Illinois didn’t lose much roster-

wise in the offseason, with the most notable departure likely being that of Hobbs, which may serve as cause for concern about an already weak pass defense. However, almost everything else remained in place, so continuity, combined with new leadership and schemes, will need to be the Illini’s formula for success at reviving a struggling defense.

Bielema will only get one chance at a first impression when the Illini open their season on Aug. 28 against Nebraska, but with weak results last season, the only direction for the Illinois defense to go is up. @WesHollenberg wih2@dailyillini.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

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VOLLEYBALL

Kuikahi Volleyball Club and earned plenty of honors there, one of which was placing third at FROM 10 the Triple Crown Invitational in 18’s Elite. Like should soundly take shape.

Kuper, she has an offensive edge, as she led Kuper adopted the role as the team’s primary the Interscholastic League of Honolulu in aces libero over the course of last year’s shortened in 2019. season after Morgan O’Brien’s transfer to Texas left Illinois short-staffed with defensive specialists. Luckily, Kuper ended up being just Illinois has a trio of setters this season: what the Illini needed in a new libero. graduate student Kylie Bruder, redshirt junior In her standout season, Kuper averaged a Diana Brown and freshman Brooke Mosher. career-high 4.41 digs per set and earned a spot Following last year’s shortened season, on the All-Big Ten First-Team, becoming the Bruder decided to opt in to the NCAA’s eligibility first defensive specialist or libero in program extension and play for a fifth year. Considering history to do so. Like an ace of all trades, Kuper her performance throughout the seasons, also shined on the offensive end. She was the Bruder’s return is a strong suit for the Illini. The leading server in the conference, averaging 0.56 Florida native saw action in all 18 matches and service aces per set.

71 sets last year and ranked second on the team The only other defensive specialist on the for most assists, logging in 134. roster from last season, Alyssa Eske, transferred Brown, a former member of the Big Ten to Coastal Carolina this year, so Barnes and All-Freshman team, led the team in assists Sakoda will bring Illinois necessary support on with 542 and was behind senior libero Taylor defense.

Kuper in digs with 190. She also hit 10 doubleBarnes comes from a long line of athletes, as doubles last season, five of which were earned four of her siblings play sports collegiately. The consecutively.

5-foot-11 Illinois native helped take her Sports Though Mosher is a newcomer, she has a lot Performance club team to back-to-back AAU of experience under her belt. Mosher played Volleyball Premier National Championships as for FC Elite Volleyball Club and Waterloo High a freshman and then again as a sophomore. She School, where she was a three-time team capalso competed with Adversity Volleyball Club tain and MVP. She currently holds the school as a junior and senior. record for kills and aces.

Sakoda, who hails from Honolulu, Hawaii, Former Illini setter Mica Allison graduated guided her high school volleyball team to win early last year, trading the Midwest for the a state championship in 2018. She played with Atlantic Coast to play beach volleyball at Flor-

Setters

ELIANA CHANDRA THE DAILY ILLINI

The Illinois volleyball team celebrates during the game against Indiana on March 27. Illinois has returned several veterans and welcomed multiple new players to finally play in a normal season.

ida Atlantic University while pursuing a master’s degree. Allison played in six matches and totaled 16 kills, eight blocks, six digs and one assist.

Illinois will showcase these talents later this

week as the Illini are making their debut Aug. 27 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, against University of California, Santa Barbara.

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Wednesday, August 25, 2021

‘#famILLy’ reinvigorates football program

BY JACKSON JANES SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM ANDERSON/FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS

Vederian Lowe, Owen Carney, Doug Kramer and Bret Bielema pose for a photo at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis. The idea of family has become a recruiting tactic for Bielema and his staff, with all three players choosing to return after hearing their pitch.

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thing that will significantly help the Illini if they can all stay healthy.

Kramer calls the offensive line group a “brotherhood” that spends a lot of time together, both on and off the field.

“The offensive line is predicated around the brotherhood,” Kramer said. “It’s five people whose sole job is to protect for other people on the field. And if one person has a bad game, then all five of you are gonna have a bad game. So you’re really relying, you’re trusting on the guys next to you to be able to execute, you know, what the coaches want you to do.

“That brings you closer together. You end up spending a lot of time around each other because you want to be able to trust them.

And that’s a massive part of the offensive line.”

Defensive end-turned-outside linebacker Owen Carney initially entered the transfer portal when Lovie Smith was let go, and Bielema admitted it took a lot of work to convince the Miami native to stay in Champaign.

“We continued to have conversations and to kind of re-recruit him, and there’s probably not a player in our program that had more individual time, contact meetings with, to get to where we are today,” Bielema said.

Carney now feels at home under Bielema and his new staff, as the coaches have invited players over to their houses several times this summer, something Carney feels contributes to Bielema’s belief in creating a football family.

“I feel like we’ve been building that with just the whole brotherhood and camaraderie of the locker room,” Carney said. “And not just that, but with the coaches as well.

They invited us over to their house. We’ve met the kids and their wives.”

Family has become such an integral part of Bielema’s philosophy that he uses it as a key recruiting tactic. Players and coaches have all adopted the “#famILLy” identity, which has helped turn a program around that struggled with in-state recruitment.

With eight of the Illini’s 15 Class of 2022 verbal commits hailing from the state of Illinois, Bielema is creating a culture that revolves around family, togetherness and unity.

Despite entering the transfer portal, Carney couldn’t be more excited about the things Bielema has done to transform the team.

“We’re really building a bond here,” Carney said. “And I’m loving it.”

Illinois. Penn State. A cold, wet game in State College with no fans. A Big Ten divisional crossover game that meant little to either team when looking solely at conference standings.

It seemed like a game destined for disaster.

The Illini limped into Happy Valley with little optimism or hope after head coach Lovie Smith was shown the exit following a disappointing 18-point loss to the Big Ten West champion Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston one week earlier.

The team struggled all year with staying healthy — starting quarterback Brandon Peters missed three games after testing positive for COVID-19, an issue that sidelined several other key players early in the season — and consistency.

With offensive coordinator Rod Smith taking over head coaching duties for the game, a familiar face lurked on the sidelines, someone the Illini had hired hours earlier. Though he had never donned the colors of orange and blue, he was born and raised in Illinois and had previous success in the Big Ten. That man was Bret Bielema.

Despite watching Illinois get embarrassed

by Penn State 56-21, finish 2-6 and sit dead last in the Big Ten West, Bielema knew what he was taking on. During his first team meeting, Bielema acknowledged his new task and the challenges ahead, but he ensured that he wasn’t just going to be the team’s new head coach; he would be the newest member of their family.

“I wanted them to know that I was the newest family member in that room, and from this point forward we’re going to walk this walk together,” Bielema said.

That idea of family immediately resonated with the entire team, leading 22 seniors to take advantage of the free year of eligibility granted to all student-athletes and return for one more season.

For offensive lineman Vederian Lowe, family means everything. Already married and the father of two children, Lowe immediately bought in to the message and was one of the first players to announce their return for a fifth season.

“Family means everything to me,” Lowe said. “I have a wife, I have two beautiful sons and I also have guardianship of my brother.

Family is everything; it’s really all I’m about.

And then with Coach B, you know, that’s all he preaches.”

The offensive line will be one of the most experienced in the Big Ten this season, as @JacksonJanes3 Lowe, Doug Kramer and Alex Palczewski janes6@dailyillini.com have made 117 starts between the trio, some-

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

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