“It’s Year 3 — it should be going in the right direction,” Bielema said. “I think it is, but we want to try to maximize it the best we can.”
Questions on new QB, replacing Chase Brown, new DC, replacing 3/4 of good secondary.
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Defensive back Matthew Bailey was in a boot during the Illini’s pro day, and suffered an injury during winter workouts that will keep him sidelined until the summer.
Bailey started in the ReliaQuest Bowl in January and got plenty of snaps last season as a true freshman reserve on special teams and as Sydney Brown’s understudy. Bailey had three picks and a fumble recovery while playing in all 13 games last season, and is a favorite to land a starting job in the fall once he returns.
Starting offensive lineman Zy Crisler will also be out for the spring. He started 13 games at right guard last season in his first season as a junior college transfer and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection.
Defensive lineman Bryce Barnes, who has played 44 games as a reserve and on special teams, will also be sidelined.
Ezekiel Holmes is returning from a knee injury that ended his season after starting the first three games in 2022. He won’t be in action during the spring.
Illinois linebacker Shammond Cooper won’t be with the team in the spring and will enter the transfer portal, coach Bret Bielema said on Monday.
Cooper was a four-star recruit out of Trinity Catholic in St. Louis, playing under former Illinois running backs coach Cory Patterson.
Questions on new QB, replacing Chase Brown, new DC, replacing 3/4 of good secondary.
Five things to watch as Illinois football kicks off spring practice
Illinois football got the third year of the Bret Bielema underway with spring practice on Tuesday.
Defensive back Matthew Bailey was in a boot during the Illini’s pro day, and suffered an injury during winter workouts that will keep him sidelined until the summer.
Bailey started in the ReliaQuest Bowl in January and got plenty of snaps last season as a true freshman reserve on special teams and as Sydney Brown’s understudy. Bailey had three picks and a fumble recovery while playing in all 13 games last season, and is a favorite to land a starting job in the fall once he returns.
Starting offensive lineman Zy Crisler will also be out for the spring. He started 13 games at right guard last season in his first season as a junior college transfer and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection.
Defensive lineman Bryce Barnes, who has played 44 games as a reserve and on special teams, will also be sidelined.
Ezekiel Holmes is returning from a knee injury that ended his season after starting the first three games in 2022. He won’t be in action during the spring.
Illinois linebacker Shammond Cooper won’t be with the team in the spring and will enter the transfer portal, coach Bret Bielema said on Monday.
Cooper was a four-star recruit out of Trinity Catholic in St. Louis, playing under former Illinois running backs coach Cory Patterson.