2008 Illinois Illini

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Scout.com: Beathard's Receivers More Talented than Ever

By Jack Lyman
Insideillini.com staff
Posted Aug 17, 2008

The wide receiver positions were barren of top-level talent when Coach Ron Zook became Illinois' head coach. His spread offense requires an abundance of receivers to make it work properly, so he has recruited to upgrade the position. Kurt Beathard is starting to reap the benefits of that improvement as outside receivers coach.

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Illinois notebook: Josh Brent to step into major role
By John Supinie
GateHouse News Service
Mon Aug 18, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
This isn't how Illinois sophomore defensive tackle Josh Brent wanted to earn a starting spot. With roommate Sirod Williams out for the season with anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee, Brent gets a major role after spot duty last fall.

"Now it's my time to step up and be there for the team,'' said Brent, who took over the vacant starting spot in a defensive line that's called the team's strength by coach Ron Zook.

Brent stepped into the starting lineup after Williams' injury last week. While classmates Arrelious Benn was the Big Ten Conference freshman of the year last season and linebacker Martez Wilson made some big plays on special teams, Brent also arrived on campus with lofty recruiting ratings.

Named a prep All-America by two recruiting services, the Bloomington Central Catholic product was rated as the No. 3 prospect in the Midwest by the Detroit Free Press. After turning down offers from Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin, Brent played in 10 games last season -- his first year. An injury opened the door, but Brent's work in the offseason left him ready to answer the challenge.

Following the advice of strength coach Lou Hernandez, Brent dropped roughly 25 pounds this summer. There's still plenty of him left, yet the 6-foot-2, 310-pounder can already feel a difference. Amazingly mobile for a big man, Brent felt his first step is much better this season. He's a more mature, confident player after his transition to college a year ago.

"My reaction time is much quicker than it was my freshman year,'' Brent said. "That goes with losing the weight, having a year under your belt and knowing the pace of the game. You have a little more confidence of the coaches. You have a little bit of swagger. The team is behind you. Now you're just focused on making plays.''

With defensive tackle David Lindquist plus defensive ends Derek Walker and Will Davis returning as starters, Brent takes over a position where Chris Norwell made 46 starts over the past four seasons.

"Josh had a great summer, and obviously he was going to be in the mix,'' co-defensive coordinator Dan Disch said. "He was ready for the opportunity. Let's see how he takes it.''

Illinois notebook: Josh Brent to step into major role - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

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Scout.com: RB Coach Mitchell Has a Host of Backs Ready

By Jack Lyman
Insideillini.com staff
Posted Aug 25, 2008

Illini football fans are naturally concerned about who will replace All-American Rashard Mendenhall at running back this year. But assistant coach Reggie Mitchell seems confident he has some ball carriers who can help keep Illinois among the Big Ten's rushing leaders in 2008.

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IlliniHQ.com: Tate: In Zook I Trust

By Loren Tate

Monday, August 25, 2008 7:14 PM CDT

CHAMPAIGN – No football coach is perfect. All of them have strengths and weaknesses.

But it would be difficult to name anyone in the profession who was more of a perfect Illini fit than Ron Zook.

What Illinois needed after the dismal 2003-04 seasons was a restocked roster, a new look ... in short, a speedy, athletic SEC look. You can take all the systems, all the scheming, all the preparation and, if you don't have the talent, it won't much matter.

Zook's first accomplishment was lining up a quality staff. Illinois needed coaches with strong recruiting backgrounds. Zook, a renowned bulldog in the world of recruiting, pulled a coup in attracting an established recruiting coordinator, Reggie Mitchell, from John L. Smith's staff at Michigan State. And in bringing Mike Locksley with him from Florida, Zook had a respected insider in the lush Washington, D.C., area.

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Canton

Massillon's Gamble off Illinois football team
Thursday, August 28, 2008
BY TODD PORTER
TODD.PORTER@CANTONREP.COM

Former Massillon Washington High School star Brian Gamble has been removed from the University of Illinois football team along with offensive linemen Mark Jackson, Head Coach Ron Zook confirmed Wednesday.

"Brian Gamble and Mark Jackson have had issues with the university," Zook said. "They had some things from last year that they had to get corrected that they didn't get done. Now, it's an institutional issue. They're not in the program right now.

"We had a pretty good idea that was going to happen. We moved on a long time ago."

Gamble played wide receiver last season for Illinois. He caught a touchdown pass at Ohio Stadium against Ohio State in a game the Buckeyes lost.