the fighting illini

THE FIGHTING ILLINI

80 // 2006 ILLINOIS FOOTBALL

UNIVERSITYCOACHES

ILLINIREVIEW

RECORDSTRADITIONS

MEDIA

HISTORY

NO NAME POS HT WT YR ELIG. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL22 Sharriff Abdullah DB 5-8 170 Sr. 1-1 Detroit, Mich./St. Martin DePorres72 Ben Amundsen OL 6-5 310 Jr. 2-2 Moline, Ill./Moline52 Jon Asamoah OL 6-5 265 Fr. 5-4 Park Forest, Ill./Rich East11 Michael Bailen DB 5-10 180 Jr. 3-2 Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park24 Charles Bailey Jr. WR 6-1 195 Jr. 3-2 Ft. Wayne, Ind./Northrop18 Alan Ball DB 6-1 175 Sr. 2-1 Detroit, Mich./St. Martin DePorres31 Travon Bellamy DB 6-0 195 Fr. 5-4 Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt63 Will Bergen OL 6-4 275 r-Fr. 4-4 Tampa, Fla./Middleton19 Paul Blalock QB 6-0 200 r-Fr. 4-4 Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley62 Eric Block OL 6-3 290 So. 4-3 New Orleans, La./Jesuit92 Arthur Boyd III DL 6-2 295 Sr. 2-1 Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights15 Tim Brasic QB 6-2 200 Sr. 1-1 Riverside, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield99 Jerry Brown DL 6-4 262 Fr. 5-4 St. Louis, Mo./Vashon59 Kam Buckner DL 6-2 265 Jr. 2-2 Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park43 Sam Carson III LB 6-1 245 So. 3-3 Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South75 Immanuel Chu DL 6-2 280 r-Fr. 4-4 Woodstock, Ga./Woodstock2 Bryant Creamer WR 6-2 200 So. 3-3 Chicago, Ill./Simeon17 Jeff Cumberland TE 6-5 240 Fr. 5-4 Columbus, Ohio/Brookhaven1 Vontae Davis DB 6-0 185 Fr. 5-4 Washington, D.C./Dunbar81 Will Davis DL 6-3 235 So. 4-3 Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt15 Chris Duvalt DB 5-11 170 Fr. 5-4 Lakeland, Fla./Lake Gibson23 Jack Eastman WR 6-1 185 r-Fr. 4-4 Naperville, Ill./Joliet Catholic20 Garrett Edwards DB 6-2 205 Fr. 5-4 Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North29 Jody Ellis WR 6-0 195 So. 3-3 Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township22 Kieron Frazier WR 6-3 190 Jr. 2-2 Mason, Ohio/Cherry Hill East98 Xavier Fulton DL 6-5 265 Jr. 3-2 Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor12 Billy Garza QB 6-1 225 So. 3-3 Brownsville, Texas/Porter39 Conor Gillen LB 6-2 225 r-Fr. 4-4 Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West27 Antonio Gully DB 6-1 180 Fr. 5-4 St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter26 E.B. Halsey RB 5-10 200 Sr. 2-1 Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth36 Maurice Haney RB 5-9 210 Jr. 3-3 Harvey, Ill./Thornton32 Justin Harrison DB 5-11 215 Jr. 3-2 Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington28 Dere Hicks DB 5-10 175 Fr. 5-4 Roanoke, Va./William Fleming/Valley Forge16 Michael Hoomanawanui TE 6-5 255 Fr. 5-4 Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic21 Kyle Hudson WR 5-11 165 So. 4-3 Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon66 Randall Hunt OL 6-6 295 Fr. 5-4 Hightstown, N.J./Hightstown/Valley Forge42 Justin Ijei RB 5-8 215 Jr. 2-2 Chesterfield, Mo./Lafayette55 Anterio Jackson LB 6-2 240 Fr. 5-4 Chicago, Ill./Fenger90 Antonio James DL 6-5 265 Fr. 5-4 Massillon, Ohio/Washington6 Chris James WR 6-0 177 Fr. 5-4 Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park53 Dustin Jefferson LB 6-0 230 Fr. 5-4 Kankakee, Ill./Kankakee87 Spencer Jensen WR 6-1 185 Jr. 2-2 Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township74 Brandon Jordan DL 6-5 290 Fr. 5-4 Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville13 Will Judson DB 5-8 155 So. 3-3 Riverdale, Ga./Sandy Creek/Florida A&M56 Tyler Keely LS 6-1 185 Jr. 2-2 Oswego, Ill./Oswego49 Kyle Knezetic LS 6-0 205 Jr. 3-2 Channahon, Ill./Minooka68 Jim LaBonte OL 6-7 305 Jr. 2-2 Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic47 J Leman LB 6-2 240 Jr. 2-2 Champaign, Ill./Central82 Frank Lenti Jr. WR 6-2 185 Jr. 2-2 South Holland, Ill./Mt. Carmel43 Nick Levanti RB 6-0 230 So. 3-3 Champaign, Ill./Centennial94 David Lindquist DL 6-3 280 So. 3-3 Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park67 Matt Maddox OL 6-3 310 Sr. 1-1 Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan86 Greg McClendon WR 6-2 225 So. 4-3 Columbus, Ga./Carver60 Ryan McDonald OL 6-5 300 So. 3-3 Holland, Mich./West Ottawa10 Eddie McGee QB 6-4 189 Fr. 5-4 Washington, D.C./H.D. Woodson

1 Vontae Davis . . . . . . .DB

2 Bryant Creamer . . . . .WR

3 Marques Wilkins . . . .WR

4 Derrick McPhearson .WR

5 Rashard Mendenhall .RB

6 Chris James . . . . . . .WR

7 Isiah Williams . . . . . .QB

8 DaJuan Warren . . . . .WR

10 Eddie McGee . . . . . . .QB

11 Michael Bailen . . . . . .DB

12 Billy Garza . . . . . . . . .QB

13 Jason Reda . . . . . . . . .PK

13 Will Judson . . . . . . . .DB

14 Cody Mullen . . . . . . . .QB

15 Tim Brasic . . . . . . . . .QB

15 Chris Duvalt . . . . . . .DB

16 Michael Hoomanawanui TE

16 Mark Venegoni . . . . . .QB

17 Jeff Cumberland . . . . .TE

18 Alan Ball . . . . . . . . . .DB

19 Paul Blalock . . . . . . .QB

19 Quintin Scott . . . . . . .DB

20 Garrett Edwards . . . .DB

21 Kyle Hudson . . . . . . .WR

22 Sharriff Abdullah . . . .DB

22 Kieron Frazier . . . . . .WR

23 Jack Eastman . . . . . .WR

23 Drew McMahon . . . . .DB

24 Charles Bailey Jr. . . .WR

24 Edgar Mourans . . . . .WR

25 Justin Sanders . . . . . .DB

26 E.B. Halsey . . . . . . . .RB

27 Antonio Gully . . . . . . .DB

28 Dere Hicks . . . . . . . . .DB

29 Jody Ellis . . . . . . . . . .WR

30 Pierre Thomas . . . . . .RB

31 Travon Bellamy . . . . .DB

32 Justin Harrison . . . . .DB

33 Sam Porter . . . . . . . . .RB

33 Mike Mucha . . . . . . . .DB

34 Walter Mendenhall . . .RB

36 Maurice Haney . . . . . .RB

37 Kyle Yelton . . . . . . . . . .P

38 Doug Wright . . . . . . . .PK

38 Troy Pryor . . . . . . . . . .LB

39 Conor Gillen . . . . . . . .LB

40 Antonio Steele . . . . . .LB

41 Russ Weil . . . . . . . . . .RB

42 Kevin Mitchell . . . . . .DB

42 Justin Ijei . . . . . . . . . .RB

43 Sam Carson III . . . . . .LB

43 Nick Levanti . . . . . . . .RB

44 Brit Miller . . . . . . . . . .LB

45 Rodney Pittman . . . . .LB

46 Tyler Rouse . . . . . . . .DB

ALPHABETICAL ROSTER

THE FIGHTING ILLINI

2006 FIGHTING ILLINI // 81

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NO NAME POS HT WT YR ELIG. HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL23 Drew McMahon DB 5-10 175 Jr. 2-2 Champaign, Ill./Central4 Derrick McPhearson WR 6-0 195 So. 4-3 Hyattsville, Md./Dematha/Fork Union5 Rashard Mendenhall RB 5-11 210 So. 4-3 Skokie, Ill./Niles West34 Walter Mendenhall RB 6-0 225 So. 3-3 Skokie, Ill./Niles West44 Brit Miller LB 6-1 245 So. 4-3 Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower69 Akim Millington OL 6-6 310 Jr. 2-2 Norman, Okla./Wheaton North/Oklahoma42 Kevin Mitchell DB 6-0 200 Jr. 2-2 Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead84 Joe Morgan WR 6-2 180 Fr. 5-4 Canton, Ohio/McKinley58 Dan Motuliak OL 6-3 300 So. 3-3 Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson24 Edgar Mourans WR 6-1 190 Jr. 2-2 Niles, Ill./Niles West33 Mike Mucha DB 5-11 220 r-Fr. 4-4 Orland Park, Ill./Montini Catholic14 Cody Mullen QB 6-0 215 So. 3-3 Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon76 Charles Myles OL 6-6 320 Sr. 1-1 Chicago, Ill./Harper73 Mike Nabolotny OL 6-5 250 So. 4-3 Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South65 Josh Norris DL 5-11 270 Sr. 1-1 Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart Griffin96 Chris Norwell DL 6-6 290 Jr. 2-2 Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson97 Clay Nurse DL 6-3 235 Fr. 5-4 Beltsville, Md./High Point64 Martin O’Donnell OL 6-5 300 Jr. 2-2 Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South78 Ryan Palmer OL 6-7 315 Fr. 5-4 Canton, Ohio/Glen Oak95 Doug Pilcher DL 6-5 260 r-Fr. 4-4 Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central45 Rodney Pittman LB 6-2 235 So. 4-3 Fort Washington, Md./Friendly33 Sam Porter RB 6-1 240 r-Fr. 4-4 Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park38 Troy Pryor LB 6-0 220 Jr. 2-2 Chicago, Ill./Chicago HS for Ag Sciences 13 Jason Reda PK 6-1 200 Jr. 3-2 Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island46 Tyler Rouse DB 5-10 195 Jr. 2-2 Champaign, Ill./Centennial79 James Ryan OL 6-5 315 Jr. 2-2 Batavia, Ill./Batavia25 Justin Sanders DB 6-1 205 Jr. 3-2 Pearl, Miss./Pearl/NE Mississippi CC19 Quintin Scott DB 5-10 195 r-Fr. 4-4 Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township70 Trevor Scott OL 6-3 280 r-Fr. 4-4 Fort Valley, Ga./Peach County57 JJ Simmons OL 6-5 290 Sr. 1-1 Mishawaka, Ind./Penn54 Rahkeem Smith LB 6-1 220 Fr. 5-4 Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook/Hargrave Prep40 Antonio Steele LB 6-2 210 Jr. 3-2 Cleveland, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel/Long Beach College89 Tom Sullivan TE 6-4 225 r-Fr. 4-4 Tinley Park, Ill./Marist30 Pierre Thomas RB 5-11 210 Sr. 2-1 Lynwood, Ill./Thornton Fractional South51 Anthony Thornhill LB 6-1 220 Jr. 2-2 Detroit, Mich./Detroit Central16 Mark Venegoni QB 6-1 210 So. 3-3 Gurnee, Ill./Carmel91 Derek Walker DL 6-4 270 So. 3-3 Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard East71 Jack Wall OL 6-1 270 r-Fr. 4-4 Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett76 Mike Ware DL 6-3 285 Jr. 2-2 Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley/Wheaton College8 DaJuan Warren WR 6-2 210 Jr. 2-2 Southfield, Mich./Southfield41 Russ Weil RB 6-0 240 Jr. 3-2 Minooka, Ill./Minooka58 Bryson Whalen DL 6-5 245 r-Fr. 4-4 Freeport, Ill./Aquin61 Adam Wilk OL 6-5 275 Sr. 1-1 Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich3 Marques Wilkins WR 6-0 195 Fr. 5-4 Decatur, Ill./MacArthur7 Isiah Williams QB 6-2 220 Fr. 5-4 Chicago, Ill./Chicago Vocational56 Sirod Williams DL 6-0 270 So. 4-3 Garfield Heights, Ohio/Garfield Heights83 Jacob Willis WR 5-11 180 Jr. 2-2 Champaign, Ill./Centennial/Joliet JC48 Remond Willis III DL 6-1 240 So. 3-3 Lilbourn, Mo./New Madrid38 Doug Wright PK 5-7 180 r-Fr. 4-4 Metamora, Ill./Metamora37 Kyle Yelton P 6-0 180 Fr. 5-4 Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton

47 J Leman . . . . . . . . . . .LB

48 Remond Willis III . . . .DL

49 Kyle Knezetic . . . . . . .LS

51 Anthony Thornhill . . . .LB

52 Jon Asamoah . . . . . . .OL

53 Dustin Jefferson . . . . .LB

54 Rahkeem Smith . . . . .LB

55 Anterio Jackson . . . . .LB

56 Sirod Williams . . . . . .DL

56 Tyler Keely . . . . . . . . . .LS

57 JJ Simmons . . . . . . . .OL

58 Dan Motuliak . . . . . . .OL

58 Bryson Whalen . . . . . .DL

59 Kam Buckner . . . . . . .DL

60 Ryan McDonald . . . . .OL

61 Adam Wilk . . . . . . . . .OL

62 Eric Block . . . . . . . . . .OL

63 Will Bergen . . . . . . . . .OL

64 Martin O’Donnell . . . .OL

65 Josh Norris . . . . . . . . .DL

66 Randall Hunt . . . . . . .OL

67 Matt Maddox . . . . . . .OL

68 Jim LaBonte . . . . . . . .OL

69 Akim Millington . . . . .OL

70 Trevor Scott . . . . . . . .OL

71 Jack Wall . . . . . . . . . .OL

72 Ben Amundsen . . . . . .OL

75 Immanuel Chu . . . . . .DL

74 Brandon Jordan . . . . .DL

73 Mike Nabolotny . . . . . .OL

76 Charles Myles . . . . . . .OL

76 Mike Ware . . . . . . . . .DL

78 Ryan Palmer . . . . . . . .OL

79 James Ryan . . . . . . . .OL

81 Will Davis . . . . . . . . . .DL

82 Frank Lenti Jr. . . . . . .WR

83 Jacob Willis . . . . . . . .WR

84 Joe Morgan . . . . . . . .WR

85 David Lindquist . . . . .DL

86 Greg McClendon . . . .WR

87 Spencer Jensen . . . . .WR

89 Tom Sullivan . . . . . . . .TE

90 Antonio James . . . . . .DL

91 Derek Walker . . . . . . .DL

92 Arthur Boyd III . . . . . .DL

95 Doug Pilcher . . . . . . . .DL

96 Chris Norwell . . . . . . .DL

97 Clay Nurse . . . . . . . . .DL

98 Xavier Fulton . . . . . . .DL

99 Jerry Brown . . . . . . . . .DL

ALPHABETICAL ROSTER

THE FIGHTING ILLINI


UNIVERSITYCOACHES

ILLINIREVIEW

RECORDSTRADITIONS

MEDIA

HISTORY

SHARRIFFABDULLAH

DB, 5-8, 170, SR.DETROIT, MICH./ST. MARTIN DEPORRES

2005: Started all 11 games atcornerback … Played in 472defensive snaps and on 107special teams plays … Posted aseason-best six tackles, all solos,and a sack for a loss of nine yardsat Indiana … Also had a tackle-for-loss against Northwestern inthe season finale … Had five solos

at California … Broke up passes at Indiana and Purdue.

2004: Recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his firstcareer score at Michigan State ... Had three tackles in the seasonopener vs. Florida A&M ... Played in all 11 games ... Made fourtackles on the year.

2003: Played in all 12 games, starting four games at cornerback... Totaled 31 tackles, two passes broken up and one tackle-for-loss ... Had a season-high 10 tackles vs. Michigan State ...Registered six tackles and one PBU at Iowa.

2002: Redshirted the 2002 season.

High School: Defensive captain that led his team to the DivisionSeven State Championship ... Led St. Martin DePorres to theCatholic League title as a senior ... Was an All-State, All-Catholic League and All-Detroit selection as a defensive back …High school coach was Greg Carter.

Personal: Full given name is Sharriff Amir Abdullah … Born onMarch 29, 1984 ... Son of Miles and Patricia Neal ... Has twobrothers and one sister … Graduated in May, 2006, with adegree in sports management.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 10 vs. Michigan State, 10/11/03Solos: 6 at Indiana, 10/8/05TFL: 1, three times (last time vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05)QB Sacks: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05PBU: 1, four times (last time at Purdue, 11/12/05)TD: recovered blocked punt vs. Michigan State, 10/9/04

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU 2003 12 19 12 31 1-6 0-0 22004 11 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 02005 11 24 3 27 2-16 0-0 2TOTAL 34 45 17 62 3-22 0-0 4

ABDULLAH GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRRU 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 5 0 5 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 6 0 6 1-9 0-0 1 0-0PSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 1 0-0NW 3 0 3 1-7 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRFAMU 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PUR 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-1@WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MINN 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@NW 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

2003 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRvs. MU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0ISU 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0CAL 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-1WIS 1 0 1 1-6 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 3 7 10 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MICH 4 0 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MINN 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 1 0-0@IOWA 4 2 6 0-0 0-0 1 0-0@IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rBENAMUNDSEN

OL, 6-5, 310, JR.MOLINE, ILL./MOLINE

2005: Played in all 11 games,starting at left guard againstWisconsin … Helped the Illini toits season-best 538 yards of totaloffense in his lone start … Was inon 212 offensive snaps and 43special teams plays

2004: Played four offensive playsin the season opener against

Florida A&M.


High School: Consensus All-State selection at offensive tackleas a senior … First-team Illinois Class 8A All-State as a senior… First-team All-Area, All-Conference and All-Metro pick as asenior … Earned All-Conference and All-Area accolades as ajunior … Averaged seven pancake blocks per game as a junior… First-team Academic All-Western Big Six Conference pick asa senior … Started 29 consecutive games at offensive tackle forMoline ... Also a standout in track and field, qualifying for theIllinois Class AA State Championships in the discus … Earnedeight letters as a prep — three in football, three in track and twoin wrestling, where he helped Moline to a conferencechampionship as a junior … High school coach was Joel Ryser.

Personal: Full given name is Benjamin Jacob Amundsen …Born on Aug. 14, 1984 … Son of Craig and Julie Amundsen …Has one sister … Was the Moline High School Latin Clubpresident … Also involved with the school newspaper andyearbook … Majoring in community health.

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CHARLESBAILEY JR.

WR, 6-1, 195, JR.FT. WAYNE, IND./NORTHROP

2006: Moved to wide receiverduring spring drills.

2005: Started the first four gamesof the season, playing in all 11 …Posted a career-high nine tacklesin the season opener againstRutgers … Recorded eighttackles, including a career-bestseven solos against Michigan

State … Forced a fumble at Iowa and broke up one pass atIndiana … Had at least one tackle in all but two games played… Finished the season with 38 stops, 26 solos.

2004: Totaled 17 tackles, one TFL and one interception in 11games, including one start ... Made his first career interceptionagainst Iowa where he also had two tackles ... Had four stops vs.Northwestern ... Added three tackles, including a TFL atMichigan State ... Had two tackles each vs. Florida A&M, Purdue,Minnesota, Iowa and Indiana.

High School: Named All-State and All-Region as a senior …Finished his career with 113 solo tackles and 42 assists as wellas 14 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks … Forced seven careerfumbles and recovered five, while breaking up 15 passes …Finished his career as the school’s all-time rushing leader andset school record for career rushing touchdowns … Rushed for2,335 yards and 30 scores … Three-time All-Conferenceselection … Earned three letters each in football and track …All-State performer in track … Recipient of the Euell WilsonAward, given to the exceptional football player who also excels inthe classroom and community … Team placed second at statein track as a junior … Set national indoor record in the 55-meterhurdles with a 7.4 mark … Game Night Playmaker of the Yearaward … High school football coach was Matt Stinson.

Personal: Full name is Charles Allen Bailey Jr. … Born Oct. 26,1985 … The son of Charles and Patricia Bailey … Father,Charles Sr., played football at Michigan State from 1966-70 …Enrolled in the general curriculum, but will declare major thisfall … High school honor roll student.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 9 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05Solos: 7 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05TFL: 1 at Michigan State, 10/9/04FF: 1 at Iowa, 10/1/05FR: 1 vs. Purdue, 9/25/04INT: 1 vs. Iowa, 10/30/04PBU: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU 2004 11 12 5 17 1-3 1-0 02005 11 26 12 38 0-0 0-0 1TOTAL 22 38 17 55 1-3 1-0 1

BAILEY GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRRU 6 3 9 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 7 1 8 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 1-0@IND 5 1 6 0-0 0-0 1 0-0PSU 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 1 3 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0


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ALANBALL

DB, 6-1, 175, SR.DETROIT, MICH./ST. MARTIN DEPORRES

2005: Named the team’sOutstanding Defensive Back …Played in all 11 games, startingthe final seven … Finished fourthon the team in total tackles with55 … Posted four tackles-for-loss,one interception and a team-leading five passes broken up …Had a season-best 10 tackles,

including seven solos, against Wisconsin … Also posted twotackles-for-loss that game … Made an acrobatic one-handedinterception at Indiana along with seven tackles … Wrapped upthe season with a nine-tackle performance, including a tackle-for-loss, in the season finale against Northwestern … Broke uptwo passes and had six tackles against Penn State.

2004: Racked up 37 tackles, one PBU and one TFL in 10 starts... Made a season-high eight stops vs. UCLA and WesternMichigan ... Had five tackles, a TFL and a PBU vs. Michigan ...Added four solo stops vs. Iowa ... Had a tackle in every game heplayed.

2003: Totaled 44 tackles, four PBU’s and one forced fumble inseven games, including five starts … Made a career-high 11solo stops at Iowa … Had nine tackles and a forced fumble atPurdue … Added eight tackles vs. Wisconsin and California …Had five tackles and two PBU’s vs. Northwestern.

High School: Intercepted 15 passes in two years at St. MartinDePorres, including six in the postseason of his senior year …PrepStar and SuperPrep All-Region selection … Named to theLansing State Journal “Catch 22” list … Helped lead his teamto the 2001 state championship … Named a Top-50 defensiveback recruit nationally by Rivals.com … Won back-to-back 110-meter hurdles state titles as a junior and senior … Garnered All-State honors in 2002 … Earned two varsity letters in footballand three in track … High school coach was Greg Carter.

Personal: Full given name is Alan Sheffield Ball ... Born March29, 1985 in Detroit, Mich. ... The son of Lorenzo and Cheryl Ball... Sister, Tracy, ran track at SMU and holds the state high schoolrecord in the 200 and 400 meters … A four-year high schoolhonor roll student … Lists favorite athlete as Michael Jordan …Biggest thrill in sports was winning a state title in the 110-meter hurdles … Majoring in speech communications.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 11 at Iowa, 11/1/03Solos: 11 at Iowa, 11/1/03INT: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05TFL: 2 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05PBU: 2 vs. Northwestern, 11/22/03 & vs. Penn State, 10/22/05FF: 1 at Purdue, 10/4/03 & vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU 2003 7 36 8 44 0-0 0-0 42004 10 23 14 37 1-2 0-0 12005 11 45 10 55 4-9 1-0 5TOTAL 28 104 32 136 5-11 1-0 10

BALL GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRRU 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 1 0-0SJSU 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 1 0-0@CAL 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 7 0 7 0-0 1-0 0 0-0PSU 4 2 6 0-0 0-0 2 0-0WIS 7 3 10 2-6 0-0 1 0-0OSU 6 0 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 6 0 6 1-1 0-0 0 0-0NW 6 3 9 1-2 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRFAMU 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 5 3 8 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 6 2 8 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PUR 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@WIS 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MSU 0 2 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 2 3 5 1-2 0-0 1 0-0@MINN 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 4 0 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IND 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

2003 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRCAL 6 2 8 0-0 0-0 1 0-0WIS 4 4 8 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 8 1 9 0-0 0-0 0 1-0MINN 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 11 0 11 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 1 0-0NW 4 1 5 0-0 0-0 2 0-0

rWILLBERGEN

OL, 6-4, 275, R-FR.TAMPA, FLA./MIDDLETON


High School: Three-time footballcaptain was named NationalFootball Foundation and Hall ofFame Scholar Athlete in 2004 …SuperPrep All-Region … PrepStarAll-Region … Earned his team’soffensive player of the year awardas a junior … Led his team to a

2004 4-A District Championship … High school coach wasHarry Hubbard … Chose Illinois over South Carolina and IowaState.

Personal: Born on July 17, 1986 … Full given name is WilliamHenry Karl Bergen V … Son of William and Donna Bergen …Four-time National Honor Society and three-time NationalTechnical Honor Society member … Posted a high school GPA of3.8 … Majoring in general engineering … Sister, Briley,attended Southern Illinois on a swimming scholarship and wasa six-time 25K U.S. Open Water National Champion.

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PAULBLALOCK

QB, 6-0, 200, R-FR.AURORA, ILL./WAUBONSIE VALLEY


High School: Passed for 2,130yards and 15 touchdowns duringhis senior season … A three-starprospect by both Rivals.com andScout.com … Ranked as the 26th-best athlete in the state of Illinoisby Rivals … Rated the nation’s30th-best quarterback by

Rivals.com and No. 46 by Scout.com … Also rushed for 550yards and another 13 touchdowns … SuperPrep All-Region …PrepStar All-Region selection … Named to All-State teams byChampaign News-Gazette and Illinois High School CoachesAssociation … A top-25 Illinois recruit by Scout.com … Threetimes named to All-Conference and All-Area teams … As ajunior, passed for 1,350 yards and 21 scores … Holds singlegame school records for completions (26) and passing yards(406) … Also broke school season records for total offense(2,550), pass attempts (248), completions (131), passing yards(2,130) and touchdown passes (15) … Is the school’s careerleader in total offense (5,832), passing yards (4,572) andtouchdown passes (27).

Personal: The son of Chris and Jayne Blalock … Senior ClassPresident and Homecoming King … Also a starter on theWaubonsie Valley basketball team … Enrolled in the generalcurriculum … High school football coach was B.J. Luke.

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ERICBLOCK

OL, 6-3, 290, SO.NEW ORLEANS, LA./JESUIT

2005: Got his first collegiate actionagainst Penn State and played inthree games … Played 51offensive snaps in games againstPSU, Wisconsin and at Purdue.

High School: PrepStar All-Regionselection … Rated among the top-30 players from the state ofLouisiana by Scout.com … Named

first team All-Conference, All-Area and All-State … Picked asone of the top-20 players in the area by the New Orleans TimesPicayune … Team captain as a senior … Earned All-District,All-Region and All-League honors as a junior … As a full timestarter in 2003-2004, led team to a 20-4 record … Team alsoaveraged 234 rushing yards and 32 points per game … Wasalso recruited by Auburn, Ole Miss, Army, Air Force, Navy,Louisiana Lafayette and Vanderbilt … High school coach wasVic Eumont.

Personal: Full given name is Eric David Block … Born on Oct.15, 1986 … Son of Roy and Donna Block … Parents weredisplaced in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina … Majoring in politicalscience.

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ARTHURBOYD III

DL, 6-2, 295, SR.SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO/SHAKER HEIGHTS

2005: Played in eight games,making nine tackles and a halftackle-for-loss … Posted threetackles against San Jose State andtwo tackles each at California andat Indiana … Had a half tackle-for-loss against the Hoosiers …Earned Academic All-Big Tenhonors.

2004: Collected 12 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, one sack, afumble recovery and four QB hurries in nine games ... Had acareer day vs. Florida A&M, notching his first sack, two TFL’s andthree tackles ... Recovered a fumble and had a QBH vs. WesternMichigan ... Had three QBHs vs. Purdue ... Made two tackles vs.Michigan, UCLA and Wisconsin … Earned Academic All-Big Tenhonors.

2003: Saw action in seven games as a true freshman defensivelineman … Made four tackles, including three solo stops atPurdue … Had one tackle vs. Michigan State.

High School: Listed among the Top-50 preps in Ohio byRivals.com as a fullback ... Ranked the No. 1 fullback in Ohio byFuture Stars magazine ... Outstanding defensive lineman whoregistered 33 tackles and three sacks ... Named an All-Conference, All-Area and All-District selection as a senior ...Named the Shaker Heights High School Most Outstandingdefensive lineman ... Participated in the National High SchoolAll-Star Combine ... Was a three-year letterman in football, whilespending two seasons as a starter ... Also an outstanding trackand field athlete competing in the shot put, discus and sprintingevents ... Competed at the district meet in both the shot put anddiscus as a sophomore and junior ... Also competed in the 200meters ... High school coach was Dave Sedmak.

Personal: Full given name is Arthur B. Boyd III ... Born on Feb.24, 1985 in Shaker Heights, Ohio ... Son of Arthur and DelphineBoyd ... Has one sister ... Majoring in molecular and cellularbiology … Father was a defensive end at Florida A&M ...Cousin, Brian Johnson, was a cornerback at Alabama A&M ...Hopes to attend medical school following his football career.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 4 at Purdue, 10/4/03Solos: 3 at Purdue, 10/4/03TFL: 2 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04QB Sacks: 1 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04FR: 1 vs. W. Michigan, 9/18/04QBH: 3 vs. Purdue, 9/25/04

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH 2003 7 3 2 5 0-0 0-0 02004 11 5 7 12 2-13 1-10 42005 8 1 8 9 0.5-1 0-0 0TOTAL 26 9 17 26 2.5-14 1-10 4

BOYD GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 0 3 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 0 2 2 0.5-1 0-0 0 0-0PSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRFAMU 2 1 3 2-13 1-10 0 0-0UCLA 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 1 0-1PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 3 0-0@WIS 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 0 2 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MINN 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@NW 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

2003 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QH FF-FR@UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0CAL 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 3 1 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MINN 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rTIM BRASIC

QB, 6-2, 200, SR.RIVERSIDE, ILL./RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD

2005: Named the team’sOutstanding Offensive Back …Started all 11 games atquarterback … Completed 61.1percent of his passes, hitting 206-of-377 for 1,979 yards … Threw11 touchdown passes and rushedfor another three … Rushed for420 yards, which is the most by an

Illinois quarterback in a season … Fell just 76 yards shy ofsetting the mark for career rushing yards by an Illini QB …Threw for a career-best 277 yards against Wisconsin, connectingfor 20-of-39 and two touchdowns … Also threw a career-long61-yard pass to Jason Davis vs. the Badgers … Rushed for acareer-best and team season-high 116 yards vs. UW … Had acareer-high three touchdown passes in Illinois’ comeback winover Rutgers … Helped lead the Illini from 20 points downagainst the Scarlet Knights, to erase a school-record deficit andwin in overtime … Had multiple-touchdown performances —against Rutgers, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Northwestern… Completed 22-of-39 passes for 220 yards and a touchdownagainst Indiana … Set career-highs in attempts andcompletions at Iowa going 32-for-44 for 233 yards … Collected228 yards on 21-of-37 passing against Cal … Threw for 230yards and a touchdown at Indiana … Ended the season with241 yards on 20-of-35 passing and two touchdowns againstNorthwestern … Led the team in rushing three times during theseason.

2004: Member of UI squad.

2003: Saw action vs. Illinois State and at Iowa ... Attempted onepass vs. Illinois State.


High School: Earned nine varsity letters in basketball, track andfootball at Riverside-Brookfield High School … SuperPrep All-Region … PrepStar All-Region … Set IHSA record for single-game passing yardage when he threw for 589 against JolietCatholic in the state quarterfinals in 2001 … Named theChicago Sun-Times 2001 Player of the Year … Passed for 4,639yards and 58 touchdowns as a senior, also state records …Earned Champaign News-Gazette Player of the Year honors in2001 … In his two years as a starter, he passed for 7,906 yardsand 94 touchdowns … A Chicago Tribune All-State selection …Led his team to a 22-2 record in 2000 and 2001 … Two-timeSuburban Prairie All-Conference pick and the 2001 conference

Most Valuable Player … IHSA All-State selection following hisjunior and senior seasons … Suburban Life Player of the Year …High school coach was Otto Zeman … Also earned All-Conference honors in basketball and track.

Personal: Full given name is Timothy Christian Brasic … BornJuly 30, 1983 … Son of Dan and Caroline Brasic … Majoring inspeech communications … Father played baseball at NorthernIllinois … Two-year honor roll student in high school.

CAREER HIGHSCompletions: 32 at Iowa, 10/1/05Attempts: 44 at Iowa, 10/1/05Yards: 277 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Long Pass: 61 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Passing Touchdowns: 3 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05Carries: 18 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05 & at California, 9/17/05Rushing Yards: 116 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Long Rush: 32 at Iowa, 10/1/05Rushing Touchdowns: 2 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05

PASSING STATISTICSYEAR G ATT COMP PCT YDS TD INT LP2003 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 02005 11 337 206 61.1 1979 11 11 61TOTAL 13 338 206 60.9 1979 11 11 61

RUSHING STATISTICSYEAR G ATT YDS AVG YPG TD LG2005 11 151 420 2.8 38.2 3 32

BRASIC GAME-BY-GAME (PASSING)2005 ATT CMP INT YDS TD LGRU 34 24 2 233 3 28SJSU 22 17 1 199 0 43@CAL 37 21 0 228 0 52MSU 30 16 1 148 2 22@IOWA 44 32 1 233 1 41@IND 39 22 2 230 1 34PSU 16 8 0 49 0 9WIS 39 20 1 277 2 61@OSU 24 18 0 92 0 25@PUR 17 8 2 49 0 11NW 35 20 1 241 2 41

2003 ATT CMP INT YDS TD LGISU 1 0 0 0 0 0@IOWA 0 0 0 0 0 0

BRASIC GAME-BY-GAME (RUSHING)2005 CAR YDS TD LGRU 18 77 0 25SJSU 8 20 2 25@CAL 18 29 1 16MSU 11 56 0 15@IOWA 13 26 0 32@IND 13 34 0 15PSU 11 0 0 6WIS 16 116 0 22@OSU 17 (11) 0 10@PUR 13 20 0 13NW 13 53 0 12

rKAM BUCKNER

DL, 6-2, 265, JR.CHICAGO, ILL./MORGAN PARK




High School: Ranked one of the topdefensive end prospects in thecountry by Rivals.com andPrepStar Magazine ... Made theSun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area

recruit list … Was All-Area, All-Region and All-Conference ...Ranked one of the Top 30 football players regardless of position

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in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com ... Named to the CBS All-Region team as a senior ... Recorded 256 tackles and 26 sacksduring his junior and senior seasons ... Added 37 tackles-for-loss as a senior ... Also recovered two fumbles and forced eightas a senior ... Three-year letterwinner in track ... Led MorganPark to the City Championship each of his final three years ofhigh school ... High school coach was Lexie Spurlock.

Personal: Full given name is Kambium Elijah Buckner ... Son ofRaymond and Yvonne Wynn-Buckner ... Has four sisters ...Cousin is former Pittsburgh Steeler L.C. Greenwood ... Majoringin political science … Hopes to attend law school and work inpolitics following graduation ... Hobbies include poetry andmusic ... Lists Muhammad Ali as his favorite athlete for hisunbelievable talent and unstoppable drive ... Past summer jobsinclude working as an usher at Soldier Field, Wrigley Field,Comiskey Park and the United Center.

rSAM CARSON III

LB, 6-1, 245, SO.WOODRIDGE, ILL./DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH

2005: Played in all 11 games,starting against Iowa and PennState … Posted a career-high fivetackles vs. Wisconsin, while alsorecording a half tackle-for-loss …Had one TFL against MichiganState … Registered two solotackles at Iowa … Had at leastone tackle in nine of 11 games.

2004: Redshirted the 2004 season … Named the team’sDefensive Scout Team Player of the Year.

High School: Two-time All-State selection … Named All-State bythe Champaign News-Gazette … Finished his career with aschool record 366 tackles … Earned All-Conference honors atinside linebacker in both 2002 and 2003 … Registered 127tackles, including 83 solo stops as a senior … Twice named theWest Suburban Gold Defensive Player of the Year … SuperPrepAll-American … PrepStar All-American … Helped lead team toa state championship in 2003 … Recorded 120 tackles and fourinterceptions as a junior … High school football coach was JohnBelskis.

Personal: Full name is Samuel Carson III … Born on March 10,1986 … The son of Sam and Gwen Carson … Father, Sam,played football at Eastern Illinois … Cousin, Roosevelt Brown,played for the Chicago Cubs … Majoring in actuarial science …Lists Ray Lewis as his favorite athlete … Biggest thrill in sportswas winning a state title in football.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 5 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Solos: 2 at Iowa, 10/1/05TFL: 1 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH 2005 11 8 12 20 2-2 0-0 0

CARSON GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 1 1 2 1-1 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 1 4 5 0.5-1 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 0 2 2 0.5-0 0-0 0 0-0

rIMMANUEL CHU

DL, 6-2, 280, R-FR.WOODSTOCK, GA. / WOODSTOCK

2005: Redshirted the 2005season.

High School: Rated by Scout.comas one of the top 50 recruits fromthe state of Georgia … Named aTop 3 defensive tackle in Georgiaby Rivals100 and Scout.com …Recorded 70 tackles, 16 for loss,five sacks and two forced and

recovered fumbles as a senior … PrepStar and SuperPrep All-Region … First player in Woodstock High history to start 40games at the varsity level … Was the county’s Defensive Playerof the Year and member of the County Super 6 team … Four timeAll-County and All-Area selection … Also named to the All-Region and All-Conference teams junior and senior year …Earned four letters for football … Had 250 career tackles and 24career sacks … While earning three letters in track, was theshot put county champion and thrower of the year as a junior …Two time state wrestling qualifier, which he lettered in twice …High school coach was Mike O’Brien … Chose Illinois overPurdue, Southern Miss, Marshall, MTSU and New Mexico State.

Personal: Full given name is Immanuel J. Chu … Born on Jan.9, 1987 … Son of Chong Chu … Enrolled in the College ofLiberal Arts and Sciences.

rBRYANT CREAMER

WR, 6-2, 200, SO.CHICAGO, ILL./SIMEON

2005: Played in five games,logging 18 offensive plays againstboth San jose State and Wisconsin… Was in on nine special teamsplays.


High School: Named a nationalTop-100 recruit by the Chicago Sun-Times … Earned first-teamAll-State honors by the Champaign News-Gazette … Named tothe Chicago Sun-Times First-Team All-State and All-Area team… PrepStar All-American … Named Public League MostValuable Player … Also earned All-Conference honors …Caught 63 passes, 23 for touchdowns … First-team All-City …Averaged 21.2 yards per reception … SuperPrep All-Region …As a junior, he earned Chicago Sun-Times All-Area and First-

Team All-City honors … Football team captain … Basketballteam twice won the city championship, and advanced to theElite Eight in 2004 … High school teammate of Illini basketballplayer Calvin Brock … High school coach was Al Scott.

Personal: Born on April 7, 1986 … Lives with his great-grandfather, Paul Creamer … Majoring in recreation, sport andtourism-recreation management … High school honor rollstudent.

rWILL DAVIS

DL, 6-3, 235, SO.GREENBELT, MD. / ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

2005: Played in eight games asboth a wide receiver and tight end… Did not record any statistics… Was in on 58 special teamssnaps and 23 offensive plays.

High School: A member of theSuperPrep top-25 team ... Startedon both sides of the ball …Earned first-team All-State, All-

Metro, All-League, and All-County honors ... Named to theMaryland Super 44 All-Star team and the P.G. County North All-Star team ... Averaged over 28 yards per reception as a senior …Made 21 receptions for 579 yards and 10 touchdowns as a widereceiver … Also recorded 136 tackles and 24 sacks on defense… Had eight passes broken up, one safety, one blocked puntand four forced fumbles ... SuperPrep All-Region selection …Lettered two years in football and track and one year inbasketball ... High school football coach was Rick Houchens.

Personal: Full name is William Benjamin Davis Jr. ... Born onJune 2, 1986 … Son of William Davis Sr. and Pearine Davis-Parkinson ... Has seven brothers and two sisters ... Mom playedbasketball for the Liberian national team and the University ofLiberia and his uncle, John Davis, played soccer for Liberia ...Majoring in community health … Chose Illinois over UConn,Boston College and Virginia.

rJACK EASTMAN

WR, 6-1, 185, R-FR.NAPERVILLE, ILL. / JOLIET CATHOLIC


High School: Started at JolietCatholic at wide receiver, punt andkick returner … Averaged 24.9yards per reception as a seniorand scored eight touchdowns …Was named All-ESCC Conferenceand All-Area in 2004 … Helped

lead team to two 5A Illinois State Championships in 2003 and2004 … Played for the AA state-runner up team in baseball asa senior … Earned eight varsity letters, three in basketball andfootball and two in baseball ... High school football coach wasDan Sharp.

Personal: Full name is Jack Fitzgerald Eastman ... Born on Nov.14, 1986 … Son of Jon and Kim Eastman ... Has one brother and

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one sister ... Cousin, Daniel Zebold, plays football at ButlerUniversity ... Enrolled in the general curriculum … Greatestthrill in sports was winning two state championships with JolietCatholic in Illinois’ Memorial Stadium.

rJODY ELLIS

WR, 6-0, 195, SO.EVANSTON, ILL./EVANSTON TOWNSHIP

2005: Moved to receiver fromsafety during fall training camp… Played in six games, startingfour, before breaking hiscollarbone in practice … Recorded15 catches for 156 yards,including a career-best sevenreceptions for 76 yards at Indiana… Caught four passes for 52

yards and a career-long 18-yarder vs. Michigan State … Scoredhis first career touchdown in the season opener against Rutgers… Averaged 10.4 yards per catch.


High School: Named to the 2003 IHSA All-State team … EarnedAll-State honors from the Champaign News-Gazette andChicago Sun-Times … Central Suburban South ConferenceDefensive Player of the Year … Recorded 115 career tackles, fiveinterceptions and three fumble recoveries … As a senior, he had85 tackles and three picks … Also caught 67 passes for 870yards and 19 touchdowns … Lettered in football and basketball… High school coach was Tony Johnson.

Personal: Full name is Joseph Leo Ellis … Born on July 19, 1986… Majoring in speech communications … The son of Keith andMona Ellis … Lists Deion Sanders as his favorite athlete.

CAREER HIGHSReceptions: 7 at Indiana, 10/8/05Yards: 76 at Indiana, 10/8/05Long Reception: 18 vs. MSU, 9/24/05Touchdown: 1 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05

RECEIVING STATISTICSYEAR G NO YDS AVG YPG TD LG2005 6 15 156 10.4 26.0 1 18

ELLIS GAME-BY-GAME2005 REC YDS TD LGRU 3 16 1 7SJSU 1 12 0 12@CAL 0 0 0 0MSU 4 52 0 18@IOWA 0 0 0 0@IND 7 76 0 13

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KIERON FRAZIER

WR, 6-3, 190, JR.MASON, OHIO/CHERRY HILL EAST


2004: Played in the season openeragainst Florida A&M, but did notrecord any statistics.


High School: Earned six varsityletters — one in football, three in

basketball and two in track and field … Played for coach EricWood.

Personal: Full given name is Kieron Antonio Frazier … Son ofLeslie and Gale Frazier … Born Jan. 19, 1985 … Majoring inbusiness administration … Father played football for theChicago Bears from 1981-1986 and is currently the defensivecoordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.

rXAVIER FULTON

DL, 6-5, 265, JR.FLOSSMOOR, ILL./HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR

2005: Played and started in thefirst seven games of the seasonbefore suffering a season-endingknee injury … Registered 13 totaltackles, two tackles-for-loss, ahalf sack and three quarterbackhurries for the year … Had acareer game at Indiana, recordingthree solo stops, 1.5 tackles for

loss and blocked an extra point attempt … Recorded threequarterback hurries in season opener against Rutgers … Posteda half sack against San Jose State.

2004: Played in eight games and started three as a truefreshman, collecting six tackles, two QB hurries and one PBU ...Had one solo tackle, two QBH and one PBU vs. Michigan ...Recorded tackles vs. Minnesota, Indiana and at Northwestern.

High School: Named to All-State teams by the Chicago Sun-Times, Champaign News-Gazette and Illinois High SchoolCoaches Association … Recorded 98 tackles, 58 solo stops and7.5 sacks as a senior … Also had 17 quarterback hurries, threeblocked field goals, three fumble recoveries and five PBUs …All-Area performer by Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Southtown andStar Newspapers … Ranked as a Top-25 Illinois recruit byRivals, ESPN and The Insiders … SuperPrep All-Region …Lettered in football and wrestling … High school coach was TomBailey.

Personal: Full name is Xavier Allen Fulton … Born on April 18,1986 … The son of Glen and Alma Fulton … Enrolled in thegeneral curriculum, but will declare a major this fall.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 4 at Iowa, 10/1/05 & at Indiana, 10/8/05Solos: 3 at Indiana, 10/8/05TFL: 1.5 at Indiana, 10/8/05QB Sacks: 0.5 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05QBH: 3 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05PBU: 1 vs. Michigan, 10/16/04 & at California, 9/17/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH 2004 8 3 3 6 0-0 0-0 22005 7 6 7 13 2-6 0.5-2 3TOTAL 15 9 10 19 2-6 0.5-2 5

FULTON GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 0 2 2 0-0 0-0 3 0-0SJSU 0 1 1 0.5-2 0.5-2 0 0-0@CAL 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 1 3 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 3 1 4 1.5-4 0-0 0 0-0PSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRWMU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 2 0-0@ MINN 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IND 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@ NW 0 3 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rBILLY GARZA

QB, 6-1, 225, SO.BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS/PORTER



High School: Passed for 3,185yards and 38 touchdowns andrushed for seven touchdownsduring his senior season … Set aschool record when he threw for428 yards in a single game

against the Mercedes Tigers … Holds the Brownsville SamsMemorial Stadium record with 404 yards passing and seventouchdowns against Harlingen South … Garnered All-Statehonors by the Associated Press and Dave Campbell’s Texas HighSchool Magazine … Named the All-Valley Offensive MostValuable Player by the RGV Newspapers and the Bay Area SportsNewspaper … Named the All-Valley Male Athlete of the Year bythe Valley Morning Star … District 32-4A Most Valuable Player… Was selected to play in the state North vs. South All-Stargame in Houston’s Reliant Stadium … Earned a total of 11letters in football, baseball and basketball … Earned All-District Most Valuable Player Awards in both baseball andbasketball … High school coach was former Illinois runningbacks coach Jim Helms.

Personal: Full name is William Michael Ball Garza … Goes by“Billy” … Born on Oct. 6, 1985 … The son of William Garza andMarilyn Ball-Garza … Majoring in speech communications.

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CONOR GILLEN

LB, 6-2, 225, R-FR.GLEN ELLYN, ILL./GLENBARD WEST


High School: Three-time All-Conference ... Recorded nearly 300stops in three seasons atlinebacker ... Earned nine prepletters, three in football, four inbasketball and two in track ... Highschool coach was John Carpowicz.

Personal: Full given name is Conor Charles Gillen ... Parents areJohn and Wendy Gillen ... Born on April 28, 1986 ... Father playedfootball for Illinois and later for the St. Louis Cardinals and NewEngland Patriots ... Uncle, Ken Gillen, played at Illinois ...Brother, John, played for Wisconsin ... Has a sister ... Pastsummer job was working construction ... Credits his brother formost influencing his athletic career ... Says his dad was hisFighting Illini hero growing up ... Enrolled in the generalcurriculum.

rE.B. HALSEY

RB, 5-10, 200, SR.ELIZABETH, N.J./ELIZABETH

2005: Played in all 11 games,starting nine … Finished theseason as the team’s leadingreceiver with 38 receptions …Third on the team in rushing with349 yards on 84 carries … Nameda team captain for 2005, as votedby the team … Ranks 21st on theschool’s all-time rushing list with

1,335 career yards … Ranks eighth on the career punt returnyardage and average list … Carried the ball 7 times for 41yards, 5.9 yards per rush, against Northwestern … Had twocarries for a team-high 35 yards at Ohio State ... Rushed 10times for 44 yards against Wisconsin ... Picked up 27 yards onfive carries against and caught two passes for 10 yards againstPSU ... Hauled in a career-high 11 receptions at Iowa, one for a1-yard touchdown ... His 11-reception performance is theseventh best single-game mark in school history ... Returned akick for a career-high 76 yards against MSU ... Rushed for 75yards and one touchdown against San Jose State ... With a four-yard run in the first quarter against Rutgers, Halsey reached1,000 career rushing yards ... Set up the game-winning overtimetouchdown with a 20-yard screen pass in which he cut back tothe opposite sideline and was tackled at the Rutgers two-yardline.

2004: Ranked eighth in the Big Ten in punt return average with8.4 yards per return … Tied for second on the team with fivetouchdowns on the season … Tallied 83 yards on 15 carries vs.Purdue … Had 91 yards rushing vs. Western Michigan with twotouchdowns, including game-winning 4-yard run with 1:02remaining … Set up Illinois’ game-winning drive against WMUwith a 40-yard punt return … Had 97 yards rushing with one TDand 26 yards receiving vs. UCLA … Ran for 79 yards and twoTDs vs. Florida A&M.

2003: Selected as the team’s Rookie of the Year … Chosen the

Male Newcomer of the Year for all sports at Illinois’ annualScholar-Athlete Banquet … Racked up 1,285 all purpose yards,including 525 rushing, 303 receiving and 457 returning kicks …Averaged 142.8 yards per game to rank 19th nationally … Ledthe team in rushing yardage, kickoff returns and all purposeyardage … Became the first Illinois true freshman to top 100yards rushing in his first game by gaining 139 yards on 20carries vs. Missouri, while also catching six passes for 46 yards… Scored the first touchdown of his career on a 10-yardreception vs. California and also hauled in a 29-yarder againstthe Bears … Caught seven passes for 93 yards vs. California …Made seven receptions for 57 yards and one TD vs. Wisconsin …Had the first rushing TD of his career vs. the Badgers …Returned a punt 41 yards for a TD at Purdue … Ran for 75 yardson 19 carries vs. Michigan State and had six receptions for 39yards and one TD … Had a one yard touchdown run vs.Northwestern … Missed three games due to a sprained knee …Started every game he played in except the season opener vs.Missouri.

2002: Joined the Illinois squad as a gray shirt in the spring of2003.

High School: 2001 Gatorade Player of the Year for New Jersey …Won the Junior Heisman Award for the state of New Jersey …Named the Newark Star Ledger’s Offensive Player of the Year,gaining an average of 13.4 yards every time he touched the ball… PrepStar All-American … SuperPrep All-American … No. 1running back out of the East according to PrepStar … Fourth-rated player from the state of New Jersey according to SuperPrep… Named to PrepStar’s Dream Team as the No. 6 running backnationally … Rushed for 1,303 yards and scored 15 touchdownsas a senior … Also recorded 24 catches for 464 yards and fourscores … Returned 14 punts and eight kicks for 908 combinedreturn yards and scored on four returns … Garnered All-Countyand All-Conference accolades as a senior … Helped leadElizabeth High School to state championships in 1999 and 2000… Earned eight varsity letters in football, wrestling, basketballand track … Averaged 9.4 yards per carry and caught 26 passesfor 411 yards and four touchdowns as a junior … Scored on fourkick returns to win state offensive player of the year honors …High school coach was Jerry Moore.

Personal: Full given name is Ibrahim Q. Halsey … Goes by E.B.… Born Oct. 13, 1983 … Graduated in May with a degree insport management … Son of Donna Halsey and Andre Johnson… The nephew of Brett and Phyllis Wyatt … Has six brothersand two sisters … Favorite athlete is former Detroit Lionsrunning back Barry Sanders.

CAREER HIGHSCarries: 24 at UCLA, 9/13/03Yards: 139 vs. Missouri, 8/30/03Long Rush: 32 at Ohio State, 11/5/05Rushing TDs: 2, twice (last time vs. W. Michigan, 9/18/04)Receptions: 11 at Iowa, 10/1/05Receiving Yards: 93 vs. California, 9/20/03Long Reception: 29 vs. California, 9/20/03Receiving TDs: 2 vs. California, 9/20/03Long KO Return: 76 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05

RUSHING STATISTICSYEAR G ATT YDS AVG YPG TD LG2003 9 140 525 3.8 58.3 2 302004 10 111 461 4.2 46.1 5 232005 11 84 349 4.2 31.7 1 32TOTAL 30 335 1335 4.0 44.5 8 32

RECEIVING STATISTICSYEAR G NO YDS AVG YPG TD LG2003 9 37 303 8.2 33.7 4 292004 10 19 109 5.7 10.9 0 122005 11 38 185 4.9 16.8 2 22TOTAL 30 94 597 6.4 19.9 6 29

KICK RETURN STATISTICSYEAR NO YDS AVG TD LG2003 16 378 23.6 0 662004 0 0 0.0 0 02005 7 144 20.6 0 76TOTAL 23 522 22.7 0 76

PUNT RETURN STATISTICSYEAR NO YDS AVG TD LG2003 8 79 9.9 1 412004 27 226 8.4 0 402005 16 73 4.6 0 21TOTAL 51 378 7.4 1 41

HALSEY GAME-BY-GAME2005 CAR-YDS TD LG REC-YDS TD LGRU 16-50 0 15 7-60 1 20SJSU 16-75 1 18 2-22 0 22@CAL 7-6 0 4 6-30 0 10MSU 6-17 0 7 3-6 0 5@IOWA 4-13 0 7 11-40 1 12@IND 4-18 0 16 1-3 0 3PSU 5-27 0 9 2-10 0 7WIS 10-44 0 21 0-0 0 0@OSU 2-35 0 32 2-(2) 0 2@PUR 7-23 0 7 1-3 0 3NW 7-41 0 15 3-13 0 11

2004 CAR-YDS TD LG REC-YDS TD LGFAMU 16-79 2 12 2-6 0 6UCLA 21-97 1 23 4-26 0 11WMU 20-91 2 15 0-0 0 0PUR 15-83 0 23 2-12 0 8@WIS 8-27 0 20 5-22 0 12@MSU 4-10 0 3 2-15 0 12@MINN 8-23 0 6 0-0 0 0IOWA 10-33 0 12 2-14 0 10IND 4-7 0 4 0-0 0 0@NW 5-11 0 5 2-14 0 9

2003 CAR-YDS TD LG REC-YDS TD LGvs. MU 20-139 0 30 6-46 0 11ISU 20-73 0 8 3-5 0 2@UCLA 24-76 0 16 2-15 0 11CAL 19-51 0 11 7-93 2 29WIS 10-43 1 18 7-57 1 17@PUR 5-7 0 3 0-0 0 0MSU 19-75 0 11 6-39 1 15@MICH 8-12 0 3 1-2 0 2NW 15-49 1 10 5-46 0 20

rJUSTIN HARRISON

DB, 5-11, 215, JR.BLOOMINGTON, ILL./BLOOMINGTON

2005: Missed the non-conferenceseason with a hip injury, but in justeight games he still finished thirdon the team in total tackles with63 … Started five games …Averaged 7.9 tackles per game …Twice posted 10-plus tackles with11 against Penn State and 10 vs.Wisconsin … Had seven tackles,

one for loss and a forced fumble and fumble recovery at Indiana… In just his second game back, he got his first interception ofthe season, picking off Iowa’s Drew Tate and returning it 30yards … Broke up his only pass of the season against theNittany Lions … Posted nine tackles at Iowa and eight in theseason finale against Northwestern … Did not participate inspring football in 2005 with the same hip injury … Had three hipsurgeries and a hand surgery between December 2004 andSeptember 2005.

2004: Earned Rivals.com Freshman All-America honors … Alsomade The Sporting News’ Freshman All-Big Ten team … Namedteam’s Rookie of the Year … Ranked 17th in the Big Ten intackles per game with 7.2 … Played in all 11 games and earnedstarts in the final seven ... Finished the season second on theteam in tackles with 79, including 42 solos ... Made a career-

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high 12 stops vs. Michigan and grabbed his first interceptionwhich he returned 72 yards ... Had 11 tackles at Michigan St. ...Totaled 10 tackles against Wisconsin and Northwestern ...Notched seven tackles vs. FAMU, Iowa and Indiana ... Collectedsix tackles at Minnesota, five vs. Purdue and four againstWestern Michigan.

High School: Earned All-State honors from the Chicago Sun-Times, Champaign News-Gazette, Illinois High School CoachesAssociation and the Bloomington Pantagraph … PrepStar All-Region … Made 119 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss and causedfour fumbles as a senior … Also picked off three passes andblocked two punts … As a running back, he recorded 1,077yards, scored 24 touchdowns and averaged 28.3 yards perreception … Named to the Big 12 All-Conference team on bothoffense and defense … Finished his career with 236 tackles,three sacks and three interceptions … Selected to play in theIllinois Shriners All-State game … Earned eight letters infootball, baseball and track … High school coach was RigoSchmelzer.

Personal: Born on Aug. 23, 1986 … Son of Michael and NicolaHarrison … Father, Michael, played football and baseball atMillikin University … Uncle, Eric Wright, played cornerback forthe San Francisco 49ers for 12 years … Illinois football hero isDana Howard … Originally from East St. Louis, his parentsplayed on teams with Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Kellen Winlsow andJerome Heavens … Majoring in sport management.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 12 vs. Michigan, 10/16/04Solos: 7 at Northwestern, 11/20/04 & vs. Penn State, 10/22/05TFL: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05Interceptions: 1 vs. Michigan, 10/16/04 & at Iowa, 10/1/05INT Return: 72 vs. Michigan, 10/16/04Forced Fumble: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05Fumble Recovered: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU 2004 11 42 37 79 0-0 1-72 02005 8 41 22 63 1.5-4 1-30 1TOTAL 19 83 59 142 1.5-4 2-102 1

HARRISON GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU FF-FRMSU 5 0 5 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 6 3 9 0-0 1-30 0 0-0@IND 5 2 7 1-3 0-0 0 1-1PSU 7 4 11 0-0 0-0 1 0-0WIS 5 5 10 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 4 2 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 6 1 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 3 5 8 0.5-1 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU FF-FRFAMU 5 2 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PUR 4 1 5 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@WIS 3 7 10 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MSU 4 7 11 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 6 6 12 0-0 1-72 0 0-0@MINN 3 3 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 3 4 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IND 5 2 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@NW 7 3 10 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

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DERE HICKS

DB, 5-10, 175, FR.ROANOKE, VA./WILLIAM FLEMING/VALLEY FORGE

2006: Joined the team in Januaryof 2006.

Prep School: Attended ValleyForge Military Academy in 2005 …Led team to an undefeated season… Recorded 45 tackles and fiveinterceptions … Returned threeinterceptions for touchdowns …Broke up six passes … Posted a

4.40 in the 40-yard dash … Also played quarterback andreturned kicks … Completed over 65 percent of passes for sixtouchdowns … Ran for six more touchdowns … Prep schoolteammate of fellow Illini Randall Hunt.

High School: All-State … Threw for over 1,800 yards and 18touchdowns … Rushed for over 850 yards and eight touchdownsas a senior … Also won the state championship in hurdles …Earned letters in football, track and basketball … High schoolcoach was Keith Smith … Chose Illinois over Michigan State,Minnesota, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Syracuse and Connecticut.

Personal: Full given name Brandt Vincent Dere Hicks … Born onMarch 16, 1987 … Son of Sharon Hicks and Robert Vineyard …Has one brother and one sister … Enrolled in general curriculum… Plans to pursue a career in broadcasting after school.

rKYLEHUDSON

WR, 5-11, 165, SO.MATTOON, ILL. /MATTOON

2005: Was named the Universityof Illinois’ Newcomer of the Year… Two-sport athlete, who letteredin both football and baseball in2005-06 … Named the team’sRookie of the Year and MostOutstanding Wide Receiver …Was the team’s leading receiverwith 469 yards as a true freshman

… Posted seven catches over 25 yards, including a 43-yarder atCalifornia … Had a career day with 10 catches for 114 yardsand a touchdown against Wisconsin … Also had one rush for 24yards that game … Averaged 15.1 yards per catch in 2005 …Came 42 yards short of breaking the freshman receiving record… Recorded 83 yards on six catches at Iowa … Had 76 yardson a pair of receptions at Cal … Caught four passes for 68 yardsat Indiana … Was the baseball team’s starting centerfielder,leading the team in hitting with a .370 average in all games and.375 in conference play … Was 22-for-54 during the Big Tenseason, while connecting on 45-for-112 for the entire season …Also stole 10 bases in 14 attempts … Started 34-of-35 gamesplayed, while playing only part-time during spring football …Missed 22 games during football.

High School: Played both receiver and defensive back as asenior … Averaged 15.9 yards per reception … Also recorded 25solo tackles and four interceptions, two returned for touchdowns… Three-time All-Area and All-Conference performer … Earnedspecial mention All-State honors as a senior … Earned letters infootball, basketball, track and baseball … As a junior, won thestate high jump title with a jump of 6’10” … In 2003, tied the

state playoff record with three interceptions in one game …Selected to play in Illinois Shriners All-State game … Highschool football coach was Gerald Temples.

Personal: Full name is Kyle Jordan Hudson … Born Jan. 7, 1987… Son of Darryl Hudson and Gayle Patrem … Majoring in sportmanagement … Father played baseball at Lakeland College …Sister, Kelsey, played basketball at Lakeland College …Personal best 40 time was recorded at 4.4 seconds flat.

CAREER HIGHSReceptions: 10 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Receiving Yards: 114 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Long Reception: 43 at California, 9/10/05Touchdowns: 1 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Carries: 1 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05 Rushing Yards: 24 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Long Run: 24 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05All-Purpose Yards: 138 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05


HUDSON GAME-BY-GAME2005 REC YDS TD LGRU 0 0 0 0SJSU 2 76 0 43@CAL 2 16 0 9MSU 0 0 0 0@IOWA 6 83 0 41@IND 4 68 0 34PSU 2 16 0 9WIS 10 114 1 32@OSU 2 47 0 25@PUR 2 41 0 33NW 1 8 0 8

rRANDALLHUNT

OL, 6-6, 295, FR.HIGHTSTOWN, N.J./HIGHTSTOWN/VALLEY FORGE

2006: Joined the team in Januaryof 2006.

Prep School: Named the 27th-bestprep school player by Scout.com… Ranked among the Prep SchoolTop-50 by Rivals.com … AttendedValley Forge Military Academy …Played offensive tackle anddefensive tackle … Helped lead

team to undefeated season … Prep school teammate of fellowIllini, Dere Hicks.

High School: Associated Press second team All-State … StarLedger third team All-State … Trentonian All-Area … TrentonTimes All-Area … First-team All-Colonial Valley Conference …Named to 12th Man Touchdown Club … Ranked No. 1 overalland defensively in the Colonial Valley Conference … Rated athree-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com … Also earnedthree letters in winter and spring track … Participated in theSunshine Classic All-Star Game … Chose Illinois overNorthwestern and Rutgers.

Personal: Full given name is Randall Thomas Hunt … Born onOct. 6, 1987 … Son of Sharon and Edward Hunt … Enrolled inthe general curriculum … Favorite athlete is the late ReggieWhite because of his attitude on and off the field.

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JUSTIN IJEI

RB, 5-8, 215, JR.CHESTERFIELD, MO./LAFAYETTE


2004: Played in the season openeragainst Florida A&M, carrying theball four times for 16 yards.

2003: Joined the team in the 2004spring semester.

High School: Two-time All-Conference selection as a

linebacker … Voted most outstanding linebacker by his team asa junior and a senior … Totaled 156 tackles his junior andsenior seasons … Earned four varsity letters in both baseballand football … Played in the Suburban West conference forcoach Mick Picataggio.

Personal: Full name is Justin Ukadike Ijei … Son of Ukadike andCharlotte Ijei … Born on Oct. 22, 1984 … Nickname is EJ …Majoring in finance … Hobbies include playing basketball andbaseball and weightlifting … Lists Michael Jordan as hisfavorite athlete because he always worked to be the best … Hastwo sisters … Earned Dean’s List honors as a college freshman… Scholar-athlete each year in high school … Parents havemost influenced his athletic career by supporting him.

CAREER HIGHSCarries: 4 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04Yards: 16 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04Long Rush: 5 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04


IJEI’S GAME-BY-GAME2004 NO YDS TD LGFAMU 4 16 0 5

rSPENCER JENSEN

WR, 6-1, 185, JR.HOMER GLEN, ILL./LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP


2004: Saw action in seven games,catching two passes for 15 yards… Had first career catch againstFlorida A&M, but the longest of theseason was a 12-yarder atMinnesota … Also returned twopunts for 24 yards.


High School: Star Publications Co-Player of the Year … ChicagoSun-Times Co-Player of the Year … Owns all major receivingrecords at Lockport Township High School … All-State selection… Had 119 receiving yards and three touchdowns in SouthSuburban All-Star game and was named co-MVP of the contest… Recorded two touchdowns in Shriners All-Star game …Named All-Conference and All-Area … Played for Bret Kooi …Led team to Class 8A state championship in 2002 … Earnedfour varsity letters in track, three in football and two inbasketball.

Personal: Full given name is Spencer Riley Czosnowski Jensen

… Born on Jan. 27, 1985 … Son of Roger and Marianne Jensen… Has one sister … Cousin is former WWE superstar King KongBundy … Majoring in sport management … Enjoys playingbasketball and 16-inch softball … Favorite athlete is MichaelJordan … Biggest sports thrill was winning the statechampionship … Named to the honor roll as a senior.

CAREER HIGHSYards: 12 at Minnesota, 10/23/04Receptions: 1, at Minnesota, 10/23/04 & vs. FAMU, 9/4/04Long Reception: 12 at Minnesota, 10/23/04Punt Returns: 2 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04Punt Return Yds: 24 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04Long Punt Return: 22 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04


PUNT RETURN STATISTICSYEAR G NO YDS AVG YPG TD LG2004 7 2 24 12 3.4 0 22

JENSEN GAME-BY-GAME2004 NO YDS TD LGFAMU 1 3 0 3UCLA 0 0 0 0@MSU 0 0 0 0MICH 0 0 0 0@MINN 1 12 0 12IOWA 0 0 0 0IND 0 0 0 0

rWILL JUDSON

DB, 5-8, 155, SO.FAYETTEVILLE, GA./SANDY CREEK/FLORIDA A&M

2005: Sat out due to NCAAtransfer rule.

Florida A&M (2004): Returned 16punts for a total of 94 yards ...Longest punt return was 24 yards... Returned 35 kicks for 677yards, a 19.3 average.

High School: Earned eight prepletters, four in both football and track ... Had 34 catches for 533yards and five touchdowns as a senior ... Also ran back threekickoffs and punts for touchdowns senior year ... Blocked sixpunts his junior year ... Won regional championship in 100mdash as a junior and senior ... Won regional championship in200m dash as a senior ... 2003 AJC Super 11 ... 2003 All-Statekick returner ... Three-time All-County at receiver ... 2002-03 AJCSpecial Teams Player of the Year ... Rated the No. 89 cornerbackin the nation by Scout.com ... 2003 NSIC All-American in the60m dash ... Dyestat Georgia honor roll for the 100m dash in2002 and 2003 ... 2003 football region champions ... Member ofAAAA state champion 400m relay team ... Placed sixth in thenation at the national scholastic indoor championships in NewYork City in the 60m dash.

Personal: Full given name is William Thadius Judson ... Bornon December 10, 1985 ... Son of William Judson and CassandraWhitfield ... Has one sister ... Enrolled in the general curriculum... Father played 10 seasons with the Miami Dolphins ... Alsocredits his father teaching him all he knows about football ...Favorite athlete is Michael Jordan ... Plans on becoming an NFLscout after finishing school.

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TYLER KEELY

LS, 6-1, 185, JR.OSWEGO, ILL./OSWEGO




High School: Special mention All-Conference as a senior … HelpedOswego reach state quarterfinals… Earned two varsity letters in

football and three in tennis … Team won the Suburban PrairieConference his senior year … High school coach was KarlHoinkes … Won a special team award in 2001 and 2002 …Voted Most Improved Player in 2002 … Named All-Conference fortennis in 2001 and 2002 … Tennis state qualifier in 2002 and2003.

Personal: Full given name is Tyler David Keely … Born April 20,1985 in Aurora, Ill. … Son of David and Linda Keely … Has onebrother and two sisters … Favorite athlete is Joey Goodspeed ofthe Minnesota Vikings … Active in the Big Brothers/Big Sistersprogram … Majoring in community health … Would like tobecome a pediatrician after a football career … Fighting Illinihero was Oswego native Gary Voelker … Member of the academicteam from 2001-03 … Past summer jobs include teaching tennisand working at a fitness center.

rKYLE KNEZETIC

LS, 6-0, 205, JR.CHANNAHON, ILL./MINOOKA

2005: Played in all 11 games,snapping 112 plays … Aidedkicker Jason Reda in his perfect20-for-20 PAT performance in2005 … Also helped punter SteveWeatherford average 42.6 per kick… Recorded six special teamstackles … Was the snapper for 13made field goals.

2004: Played in every game as a true-freshman ... Was thesnapper for all eight made field goals and for the 26 made extrapoints ... Totaled six tackles for the season, including a pair oftwo-tackle games at Wisconsin and at Northwestern.

High School: Earned All-Conference honors as a senior … Alsomade Joliet and Morris All-Area teams as both a safety and tightend … Recorded 58 tackles, one sack, three interceptions,recovered four fumbles and forced three in 2003 … Playedoutside linebacker as a junior and had 42 tackles, two sacks,three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and twointerceptions … Lettered in both football and basketball …High school coach was Mike Briscoe.

Personal: Full name is Kyle Robert Knezetic … Born on Nov. 5,1985 … Son of Kenneth and Teena Knezetic … Majoring insport management … Favorite Fighting Illini hero was DickButkus … Biggest thrill in sports was beating Providence in the2003 quarterfinals, 14-7.

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CAREER HIGHSTackles: 3 vs. Penn State, 10/22/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH 2004 11 3 3 6 0-0 0-0 02005 11 4 2 6 0-0 0-0 0TOTAL 22 7 5 12 0-0 0-0 0

KNEZETIC GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU FF-FRRU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU FF-FRFAMU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@WIS 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MINN 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@NW 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rJIM LABONTE

OL, 6-7, 305, JR.LOMBARD, ILL./MONTINI CATHOLIC

2005: Played in seven gamesputting in time primarily atoffensive guard with spot action attackle … Was in on 133 offensivesnaps … Missed the first twogames of the season with a backinjury.

2004: Was in on 38 plays atoffensive tackle.


High School: All-State selection by the Chicago Sun-Times andthe Illinois High School Football Coaches Association ... Madethe Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list … Was a two-time All-Conference pick at tackle ... Honorable mention All-Areapick as a junior ... Two-year starter for Montini Catholic ...Earned letters in football, wrestling and track ... High schoolcoach was Chris Andriano.

Personal: Full given name is James Lawrence LaBonte ... Son ofDon and Serena LaBonte ... Born on March 4, 1985 ... Has onebrother and one sister ... Majoring in sociology … Member ofhigh school National Honor Society.

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J LEMAN

LB, 6-2, 240, JR.CHAMPAIGN, ILL./CENTRAL

2005: Named the team’sOutstanding Linebacker …Started all 11 games for the Illiniat linebacker and also played 140plays on special teams …Finished the season second on theteam in total tackles with 67 …Had a season-best day at Purdueas he posted nine tackles,

including a career-high eight solo stops and two tackles for loss… Recorded eight tackles on three occassions — at Indiana, atIowa and against Wisconsin … Forced two fumbles, one each inback-to-back games at Iowa and Indiana … Had one passbroken up against Michigan State and hurried the quarterbackagainst San Jose State … Earned CoSIDA Academic All-Districthonors … Named Academic All-Big Ten.

2004: Named to The Sporting News’ Freshman All-Big Ten team... Sixth on the team in tackles with 56 ... Played in every game,earning starts in the final five contests ... In first career start,had eight tackles vs. Michigan ... Made a career-best 10 tacklesvs. Iowa and also had a TFL and half sack ... Recorded seventackles, one TFL and a forced fumble vs. Indiana ... Had a QBhurry, a PBU and four tackles at Wisconsin ... Collected a TFL, asack and eight tackles, including six solos at Northwestern ...Made seven tackles at Michigan St. ... Had six tackles in theseason-opener vs. FAMU.


High School: All-State selection by the Champaign News-Gazette and the Illinois High School Football CoachesAssociation ... Named the Area Player of the Year by theChampaign News-Gazette ... Named among the Top-100 insidelinebackers in the country by Rivals.com ... Also tabbed an All-Conference and All-Area pick as a junior ... Tallied 356 careertackles including 191 as a senior ... Added 26 tackles-for-loss,nine sacks, three blocked punts, five forced fumbles and aninterception as a senior ... Caught 20 passes for 275 yards as atight end ... Earned eight prep letters, three in both football andbasketball, and two in track ... High school coach was formerIllini Jeff Hasenstab.

Personal: Full given name is Jeremy Leman ... Born March 1,1985 ... Son of Happy and Dianne Leman ... Has three brothersand one sister ... Graduated in August with a degree in speechcommunications in only three years at the University of Illinois… Active in the Vineyard Christian Fellowship ... Worked for afamily-owned lawn service over the summer, mowing 70 lawnsin the Champaign area ... Hopes to become a sports anchorfollowing graduation ... First Champaign Central signee sinceGreg Boysaw in 1985 … Lists Dana Howard as his Fighting Illinihero.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 10 vs. Iowa, 10/30/04Solos: 8 at Purdue, 11/12/05TFL: 2 at Purdue, 11/12/05FF: 1, three times (last time at Indiana, 10/8/05)QB Sack: 1 vs. Northwestern, 11/20/04QBH: 1 at Wisconsin, 10/2/04 & vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05PBU: 1 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH 2004 11 28 28 56 3-11 1.5-10 12005 11 37 30 67 5.5-12 0-0 1TOTAL 22 65 58 123 8.5-23 1.5-10 2

LEMAN GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 3 3 6 1-2 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 1 0-0@CAL 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 2 6 8 0-0 0-0 0 1-0@IND 6 2 8 1.5-5 0-0 0 1-0PSU 2 5 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 3 5 8 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 2 5 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 8 1 9 2-3 0-0 0 0-0NW 5 1 6 1-2 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRFAMU 2 4 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PUR 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@WIS 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 1 0-0@MSU 5 2 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 3 5 8 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MINN 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 5 5 10 1-3 0.5-3 0 0-0IND 3 4 7 1-1 0-0 0 1-0@NW 6 2 8 1-7 1-7 0 0-0

rFRANK LENTI JR.

WR, 6-2, 185, JR.SOUTH HOLLAND, ILL./MT. CARMEL

2005: Played in all 11 games atreceiver … Was the team’s full-time holder for all field goals andextra points … Helped kickerJason Reda kick a perfect 20-for-20 on PATs … Had a career-hightwo catches for 11 yards in theseason finale againstNorthwestern … Recorded 10-

yard catches against Wisconsin and at Purdue … Was in on 191offensive snaps.



High School: Chicago Tribune honorable mention All-Stateselection senior year … All-Conference in football and baseballas a senior … Broke the all-time receiving records for singleseason (18) and career touchdowns (20) and tied the single-game record (three) … Listed fifth on the Chicago Sun-Timesmulti-sport athlete list … Awarded varsity letters in bothfootball and baseball … Played for his father Frank Lenti Sr. atMt. Carmel … Team won the state championship his freshman,sophomore and senior seasons.

Personal: Full given name is Francis Peter Lenti, Jr. … BornJanuary 16, 1985 … Son of Frank and Kim Lenti … Played in abaseball all-star game senior year at U.S. Cellular Field …Majoring in speech communications.

CAREER HIGHSReceptions: 2 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Receiving Yards: 11 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Long Catch: 10 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05 & at Purdue, 11/12/05


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rNICK LEVANTI

RB, 6-0, 230, SO.CHAMPAIGN, ILL./CENTENNIAL



High School: Won a letter in eachof his four years in high school …All-Conference player atChampaign Centennial highschool … All-State honorablemention, as well as All-Area.

Personal: Full given name is Nicholas Gregory LeVanti … Bornon Sept. 5, 1985 … Son of John and Dori LeVanti … Major issport management … Both grandfather and father are formerIllini football players.

rDAVID LINDQUIST

DL, 6-3, 280, SO.HIGHLAND PARK, ILL./HIGHLAND PARK

2005: Played in nine games atdefensive tackle … Recorded ninetackles and one tackle-for-loss …Had a career day at Iowa, postingfour tackles and recovering afumble … Had two tackles,including one for loss againstMichigan State … Recorded onetackle each in games against

Indiana, Penn State and Northwestern.


High School: Won a total of 11 varsity letters, with four in bothhockey and lacrosse, and three in football ... All-Conference infootball in his senior year ... All-State honorable mention infootball as a senior ... All-Conference in hockey and all-state inlacrosse as a junior and senior.

Personal: Full given name is David Earhart Lindquist ... Born onDec. 16, 1985 ... Son of John and Jody Lindquist... Has fourbrothers ... Enrolled in the general curriculum ... Nickname is"Link" ... Past summer jobs include Dairy Queen and a caddy ...Hobbies are sports, movies and music ... Says his father mostinfluenced his athletic career, John was a football player forMichigan State from 1966-1969 ... Was a member of the 2002-03 and 2003-04 Founders Cup champions in hockey ... Played inthe 2004 Illinois state lacrosse All-Star game ... His biggestsports thrill is making a big hit ... Lists Michael Jordan as hisfavorite athlete because he refused to lose.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 4 at Iowa, 10/1/05Solos: 2 at Iowa, 10/1/05TFL: 1 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05FR: 1 at Iowa, 10/1/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH2005 9 3 6 9 1-3 0-0 0

LINDQUIST GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 1 1 2 1-3 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-1@IND 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rMATT MADDOX

OL, 6-3, 310, SR.MANASQUAN, N.J./MANASQUAN

2005: Named the team’sOutstanding Offensive Lineman… Started all 11 games at center… Led the team in total number ofplays with 813, all offensive snaps… Helped the Illini post 538 yardsof total offense against Wisconsin… Led the Illini to a perfect 18-for-18 in the red zone through the

first four games … Blocked for two 200-yard rushing games vs.Rutgers and San Jose State.

2004: Started every game at right guard and played everyoffensive snap ... Recorded 103 pancake blocks ... Allowed justsix pressures on the season ... Part of an offensive line thatpaved the way for the Illini to rush for 1,699 yards and a 5.6 yardper attempt average.

2003: Named to The Sporting News, collegefootballnews.comand Rivals.com 2003 Freshman All-America Teams (the first foran Illinois lineman since Bucky Babcock in 2001) ... Startedevery game at right guard ... Was part of every offensive snapand allowed only one sack ... Totaled 64 knockdowns andallowed 12 pressures … Faced four defensive tackles that weredrafted in 2004.


High School: PrepStar All-American … SuperPrep All-American… Earned first-team All-State honors by the Newark StarLedger, Gannett News Service and the Associated Press …Averaged 10 pancake blocks per game during his junior andsenior seasons … Eastern Recruiting Magazine All-American… Gridiron Greats All-American … Was the first sophomore tostart on the offensive line at Manasquan in 10 years … Didn’tallow a sack in his career … First-team All-Shore Conference,All-Monmouth County and All-Division … Led an offense thataveraged 308 total yards per game … Manasquan was 34-2 inhis four years as a starter … Team won four straight statechampionships … Earned 10 letters in football, basketball,baseball and track … Played in the New Jersey North/South All-Star game and the New Jersey/New York Governor’s Bowl game… Made New Jersey’s Top-100 list … High school coach was VicKubu.

Personal: Full given name is Matthew Aaron Maddox … BornMay 8, 1983, in Point Pleasant, N.J. … Son of William and Mary

Anne Maddox … Majoring in sports management … Interned inthe sports information office in the summer of 2006 …Grandfather played football and lacrosse at Rutgers … Fatherplayed his football career at Syracuse and was a fourth-roundpick for the San Diego Chargers … Brother, Mike, playedfootball at Cincinnati … An honor roll student all four years ofhigh school … Enjoys weight training and fishing.

rGREG MCCLENDON

WR, 6-2, 225, SO.COLUMBUS, GA. /CARVER

2005: Played in four games, 27plays, catching one pass for threeyards against Penn State.

High School: As a running back,ran for over 1,300 yards as asenior … Scored 11 touchdowns… Named first team All-Conference and All-Area …Averaged 5.6 yards per carry as a

junior at Carver, rushing for 1,030 yards on 185 attempts for 10touchdowns … Also caught 20 passes for 395 yards and onescore … Honorable mention All-State as a senior … Was namedhis team’s most outstanding player as a freshman.

Personal: Full given name is Gregory Alan McClendon … Bornon Dec. 25, 1986 … Son of Sandra McClendon … Enrolled inthe general curriculum … High school coach was Wallace Davis… Chose Illinois over South Carolina.

CAREER HIGHSReceptions: 1 vs. Penn State, 10/22/05Receiving Yards: 3 vs. Penn State, 10/22/05Long Reception: 3 vs. Penn State, 10/22/05


MCCLENDON GAME-BY-GAME2005 REC YDS TD LGRU 0 0 0 0SJSU 0 0 0 0PSU 1 3 0 3WIS 0 0 0 0

rRYAN MCDONALD

OL, 6-5, 300, SO.HOLLAND, MICH./WEST OTTAWA

2005: Named to Sporting News’Freshman All-Big Ten team …Earned the team’s Scholar-AthleteAward with a 3.87 GPA inaerospace engineering … Startedall 11 games, 10 at right tackleand the season finale at left tackle… Was in on 716 offensive snapsand 43 special teams plays …

Helped the Illini post 538 yards of total offense againstWisconsin … Led the Illini to a perfect 18-for-18 in the red zonethrough the first four games … Blocked for two 200-yardrushing games vs. Rutgers and San Jose State … Earned

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Academic All-Big Ten honors.


High School: Earned All-Conference honors as a senior …Named to the Holland Sentinel Dream Team in 2003 … Two-timeAll-Area performer … Listed No. 15 on the Detroit Free Press Fab50 team … Team set school records for wins and points scoredin 2002 and 2003 … Also set record for total offense in 2002 …In 2003, the offense led the conference in scoring and averagedover 400 yards and 37 points a game … Had 77 knockdownsand 59 tackles, five for loss, as a senior … Three-year starter onthe offensive and defensive line, leading his team to a 21-10record during that time … Totaled 59 knockdowns and 14tackles as a junior … PrepStar All-Region selection … Teamcaptain … Selected for the Michigan High School FootballCoaches Association All-Star Game … Nominated to play in theU.S. Army All-American Bowl … Earned letters in football andbasketball … Two-year starter for basketball team, includingserving as captain for 2004 conference championship team …High school football coach was Jim Caserta.

Personal: Born Aug. 21, 1985, in Toledo, Ohio … Son of Phil andJan McDonald … Father, Phil, played center for the Illini from1974-76 … Participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes… Majoring in aerospace engineering … Member of theNational Honor Society with a 3.99 GPA … Won his high school’sscholar-athlete award three consecutive years … Lists NFLlineman Tony Boselli as his favorite athlete.

rDREW MCMAHON

DB, 5-10, 175, JR.CHAMPAIGN, ILL./CENTRAL


2004: Saw action in all 11 games,primarily on special teams …Recorded one tackle againstPurdue.


High School: Champaign CentralHigh School’s all-time leading

rusher and single-season touchdowns record holder with 21…Earned four varsity letters in both wrestling and track and threein football … Played in the All-Star East/West shrine game …Member of the central Illinois All-Star team … All-Stateselection senior year … All-Conference three years on defenseand two on offense … Named an All-Area defensive back seniorseason … Achieved All-America status in wrestling in 2001 …Recorded most wrestling victories in Central history … Three-time wrestling state qualifier … Earned 11 letters at Central.

Personal: Full given name is Drew McMahon … Born Jan. 13,1985 in Minneapolis, Minn. … Son of Greg and Linda McMahon… Father, Greg, is the current special teams coach for the NewOrleans Saints and was a former Illinois special team/tight endscoach … Majoring in speech communications … Favoriteathlete is Michael Jordan … Fighting Illini hero is formerwrestler Steve Marianetti.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 1 vs. Purdue, 9/25/04

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G UA AS TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU2004 11 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0

rDERRICK

MCPHEARSONWR, 6-0, 195, SO.HYATTSVILLE,MD./DEMATHA/FORK UNIONACADEMY

2005: Played in nine games,starting four … Missed the firsttwo games of the season with abroken leg, suffered during

summer workouts … Had the fourth-most plays among the widereceivers … Recorded a catch in all but one game … Caught acareer-best three passes at Ohio State and againstNorthwestern … Had a career-high 25 yards receiving againstthe Wildcats, while scoring his first career touchdown on a 27-yard strike from Tim Brasic … Also had five carries on theseason, including two at Purdue for eight yards … Returned onekick for 10 yards against Northwestern.

High School/Prep School: A four-star prospect by Scout.comand Rivals.com … Ranked 11th among Prep School prospectsby Rivals.com … Rated the nation’s eighth-best wide receiverby Scout.com … Attended Fork Union Academy Prep School in2004 … Recorded 38 receptions for 778 yards and eighttouchdowns in 2003 as a senior at DeMatha High School … Alsoreturned two kickoffs for touchdowns, registered 23 tackles andthree interceptions in limited defensive play … Named to theWashington Post’s All-Metro first-team … Helped lead DeMathato a perfect 12-0 record and the Washington Catholic AthleticConference championship … A standout baseball player out ofhigh school was sought by many major league teams … Hit .400as a senior with five home runs … Would like to pursue a careerin criminal justice … Chose Illinois over Florida, Clemson,Maryland, Nebraska and Virginia Tech and had offers from LSUand South Carolina.

Personal: Father, Gerrick, played defensive back at BostonCollege from 1984-87 and went on to play in the NFL with theNew England Patriots … His mother, Kim, was a standout highschool track star … Is one of eight children … Brother, Gerrick,was a cornerback on the University of Maryland squad and wasdrafted in the spring of 2006 by the New York Giants … Enrolledin the general curriculum.

CAREER HIGHSReceptions: 3 at Ohio State, 11/5/05 & vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Receiving Yards: 25 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Long Reception: 27 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Touchdowns: 1 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Carries: 2 at Purdue, 11/12/05Rushing Yards: 8 at Purdue, 11/12/05Kick Return: 1 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Kick Return Yards: 10 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05All-Purpose Yards: 35 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05


MCPHEARSON GAME-BY-GAME2005 REC YDS TD LG@CAL 1 2 0 2MSU 1 8 0 8@IOWA 1 16 0 16@IND 2 18 0 18PSU 1 7 0 7WIS 0 0 0 0@OSU 3 2 0 3@PUR 1 11 0 11NW 3 25 1 27

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RASHARDMENDENHALLRB, 5-11, 210, SO.SKOKIE, ILL./NILES WEST

2005: Played in 10 games atrunning back, rushing for 218yards on 48 carries … Posted acareer-high 64 yards rushing on11 carries in his debut againstSan Jose State … Registered 80

all-purpose yards that game with the addition of 16 yardsreceiving … Had nine carries against Penn State and at Purdue… Also caught 13 passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns …Caught touchdown passes in games against Penn State andMichigan State … Recorded a career-best four catches for 30yards vs. the Nittany Lions … Posted a career-long rush of 18yards and 16-yard catch against PSU … Joined Illinois team inthe spring, graduating early from high school.

High School: Rated the No. 1 recruit in the state of Illinois byScout.com … A five-star prospect by Scout.com … Named toRivals Top-100 team … Rated No. 17 among national recruitsby the Atlanta Journal Constitution … Ranked the nation’s 24th-best recruit by Scout.com … Named to the Student Sports Top-100 list of senior prospects … Averaged 9.1 yards per carry asa senior at Niles West, rushing for 1,453 yards on 160 attemptsand 14 touchdowns … PrepStar All-American and Dream Teamselection … Named the No. 1 recruit in the state of Illinois bythe Chicago Sun Times … Named to SuperPrep’s Elite 50 list …Also a SuperPrep All-American selection, ranked the nation’s No.4 running back by the same publication … The sixth-highestrated running back in the nation by Scout.com … Participatedin the Fifth Annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl … As a junior,rushed for 1,832 yards and 19 touchdowns, while averaging11.6 yards per carry … Recorded 1,300 yards and 21 scores asa sophomore … Verbally committed to Illinois as a junior …Also had over 1,000 career yards receiving and 13 touchdowncatches … Was a three-year All-Central Suburban Conferenceselection for football and two-time pick for track … Named toAll-State teams as a junior in both football and track … An All-Area selection for both sports as a sophomore and during hisjunior year for football … Was the Outstanding Performer at theIllinois Prep Top-Times meet as a junior … Finished seventh inthe state 100-meter dash as a sophomore … Also lettered inbasketball … High school football coach was Mark Egofske.

Personal: Full name is Rashard Jamal Mendenhall … Son ofWalter and Sibyl Mendenhall … Born on June 19, 1987 … Olderbrother, Walter, is also a member of the Illini football team …Enrolled in the general curriculum … Would like to pursue acareer in graphic design.

CAREER HIGHSCarries: 11 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05Rushing Yards: 64 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05Receptions: 4 vs. Penn State, 10/22/05Receiving Yards: 30 vs. Penn State, 10/22/05Touchdown Catches: 1 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05 & vs. Penn State, 10/22/05All-Purpose Yards: 80 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05



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MENDENHALL GAME-BY-GAME2005 CAR-YDS TD LG REC-YDS TD LGSJSU 11-64 0 12 2-16 0 12@CAL 1-1 0 1 0-0 0 0MSU 6-21 0 8 2-17 1 12@IOWA 0-0 0 0 2-7 0 5@IND 2-10 0 7 1-0 0 0PSU 9-34 0 18 4-30 1 16WIS 3-20 0 10 0-0 0 0@OSU 4-12 0 4 2-12 0 9@PUR 9-49 0 12 0-0 0 0NW 3-7 0 4 0-0 0 0

rWALTERMENDENHALL

RB, 6-0, 225, SO.SKOKIE, ILL./NILES WEST

2005: Played in 10 games onspecial teams and five atlinebacker … Had nine tackles forthe season, including a career-best four against Michigan Statewhen he played 16 snaps vs. theSpartans … Forced a fumbleagainst San Jose State … Moved

from tailback to linebacker during 2005 spring practices …Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

2004: Redshirted the 2004 season … Named the team’sOffensive Scout Team Player of the Year.

High School: Averaged 7.7 yards per carry as a senior at NilesWest, rushing for 1,158 yards on 151 attempts for 14touchdowns … PrepStar All-Region selection … SuperPrep All-Region … Also caught 10 passes for 189 yards and recorded 38tackles and two interceptions … Finished his career with over3,600 all-purpose yards … Named a Champaign News-GazetteAll-State special mention … Two-time Pioneer Press All-Areaselection … Scored 15 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,250yards as a junior … Earned Central Suburban League OffensiveMVP as a junior … Learner Press Player of the Year in 2003 …Named to the Prep Football Report All-Area team … Earned 10letters in football, basketball and track … Two-time statequalifier in track … High school football coach was MarkEgofske.

Personal: Born on Jan. 22, 1986 … Son of Walter and SybilMendenhall … Earned academic all-conference honors with a3.2 GPA … Honor roll student …Younger brother, Rashard, is amember of the Fighting Illini team … Lists Ray Lewis as hisfavorite athlete … Would like to pursue a career as a highschool teacher and coach after graduation … Majoring insociology.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 4 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05Solos: 2 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05Forced Fumble: 1 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH 2005 10 6 3 9 4.5-20 1-12 0

MENDENHALL GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 1-0@CAL 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

BRIT MILLER

LB, 6-1, 245, SO.DECATUR, ILL./EISENHOWER

2005: Played in all 11 games,starting the final four atlinebacker … Finished the seasonseventh on the total tackles listwith 46 while recording 4.5 tacklesfor loss … Wrapped up the seasonwith a career-high 12 tacklesagainst Northwestern, including acareer-best eight solo hits and two

tackles for loss … Recorded his first career sack, a 12-yard lossagainst the Wildcats in the season finale … Put up his firstdouble-digit tackle performance at Ohio State, registering 11stops … Averaged 9.5 tackles during his four starts with 3.5tackles for loss … Had eight tackles vs. Wisconsin and seven atPurdue.

High School: Rated the No. 17 recruit in the state of Illinois andNo. 84 among linebackers nationally by Scout.com … Ranked37th among linebackers by Rivals.com … As a senior, led histeam in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks … PrepStar All-Region … Named to All-Conference and All-County teams as aquarterback, running back and linebacker in high school …SuperPrep All-Region … Rushed for 1,249 yards and 19 scoreshis senior year … Ran the option and had 1,106 yards rushingand 15 touchdowns as a junior … Also had 105 tackles and 10sacks from his linebacker position … Is Eisenhower’s all-timeleading rusher … Earned 10 letters in football, basketball andtrack … Recorded 243 tackles between his junior and seniorseason … State track qualifier in the 4x100, 4x200, shot anddiscus … High school football coach was Dennis Sheppard.

Personal: Born on Sept. 15, 1986 … Full name is Brit WilliamMiller … Son of Randy and Teresa Miller … Was a member ofthe National Honor Society … Listed in Who’s Who Among HighSchool Students … Named Academic All-Conference Scholar-Athlete all four years … Earned Academic All-State honorssenior year … Enrolled in the general curriculum … Biggestthrill in sports was beginning his football career on a 1-8 team,then qualifying for the state playoffs senior year.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 12 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Solos: 8 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05TFL: 2 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05QB Sacks: 1 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05PBU: 1 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05


MILLER GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 1 2 3 1-3 0-0 0 0-0WIS 5 3 8 1.5-3 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 7 4 11 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 5 2 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 8 4 12 2-14 1-12 0 0-0

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AKIM MILLINGTON

OL, 6-6, 310, JR.NORMAN, OKLA./WHEATON NORTH/OKLAHOMA

2005: Joined the team in spring of2006 … Sat out a season afterleaving Oklahoma.

Oklahoma (2003-04): Won thestarting job as right tackle beforeleaving the team for personalreasons in 2005 … Backupoffensive tackle who saw action infour games of 13 in 2004 …

Redshirted the 2003 season.

High School: Rated among the top 30 offensive lineman in thenation by three recruiting services ... First team All-State by theChicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and the Illinois CoachesAssociation ... Most Outstanding Lineman in the state by theIllinois Football Coaches Association ... Played in the Army All-American Bowl ... Lettered and started his final two seasons ...Played offensive tackle and defensive end as a senior ... Did notgive up a sack in either of his final two seasons ... Graded at 90percent for the season and recorded 86 pancakes ... Broke hiswrist in the second quarter of a game early in his junior seasonand missed seven contests ... High school coach was MattFoster ... Threw the discus on the track and field team …

Personal: Born Jan. 29, 1985 ... Son of Valarie Peltio ... Majoringin sociology … Born in Trinidad … Enjoys hunting, fishing andcooking.

rKEVIN MITCHELL

DB, 6-0, 200, JR.FT. WAYNE, IND./HOMESTEAD

2005: Full-time starter for theIllini at strong safety … Led theteam in tackles with 78, with 4.5tackles for loss and three passesbroken up … Averaged 7.1 tacklesper game … Had a productivegame against Wisconsin, leadingthe team with 12 tackles, whilealso hurrying the quarterback

twice, posting a tackle for loss and breaking up a pass …Recorded seven tackles and two tackles for loss vs. San JoseState … Also had tackles for loss at Ohio State and againstNorthwestern … Posted a career-high 14 tackles in the seasonfinale against Northwestern … Had a career-best six solotackles on three occasions … Recorded eight tackles at Iowaand seven against both San Jose State and Michigan State.

2004: Played in every game, totaling 16 tackles, one PBU and ablocked punt ... Blocked a punt at Michigan St. that wasrecovered for a touchdown ... Made a career-high six tackles andhad one PBU in season-opener vs. Florida A&M ... Had fivetackles, four solo, at Minnesota.


High School: Was an All-State pick by the Indiana FootballCoaches Association and Bloomington Herald at defensive backafter totaling 12 career interceptions ... Was the IFCA Region 3Most Valuable Player … Earned first-team All-North EastHoosier Conference honors two years in a row … Two-time All-

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State selection … Named to the “Tremendous 26” list amongfootball players in the state of Indiana … Totaled 1,950 careerrushing yards, while scoring 34 touchdowns ... Was a two-timeAll-Conference and All-Area selection as a defensive back …Was the team’s MVP … High school coach was Drew Wood.

Personal: Full given name is Kevin T. Mitchell ... Born April 6,1985 ... Son of Stephen and DeVita Mitchell ... Has two brothersand one sister ... Majoring in speech communications …Brother Phil Hayes played football at Arkansas ... Father playedfootball at Indiana … Uncle Jon Hayes played football at Purdue... Lists NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott as his favorite athlete.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 14 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05Solos: 6, three times (last time vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05)TFL: 2 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05PBU: 1, four times (last time vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05)QBH: 2 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Punt Block: 1 at Michigan St., 10/9/04Punt Return: 1 at Michigan St., 10/9/04Punt Return Yds: 32 at Michigan St., 10/9/04

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS INT-YDS PBU2004 10 9 7 16 0-0 0-0 12005 11 49 29 78 4.5-11 0-0 3TOTAL 21 58 36 94 4.5-11 0-0 4

MITCHELL GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRRU 3 3 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 4 3 7 2-6 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 4 1 5 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 5 2 7 0-0 0-0 1 0-0@IOWA 6 2 8 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 1 0-0PSU 5 1 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 6 6 12 0.5-2 0-0 1 0-0@OSU 4 2 6 1-2 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 4 1 5 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 6 8 14 1-1 0-0 0 0-0


rDAN MOTULIAK

OL, 6-3, 300, SO.LAFAYETTE, IND./JEFFERSON



High School: Made 100 tackles asa senior … PrepStar All-Regionselection … SuperPrep All-Region… Two-time All-Conference andAll-Area performer … Recorded 60tackles, two for loss and a sack as

a junior … Named the team’s 2003 Outstanding DefensiveLineman … Earned three football letters … Played for the Northteam in the annual Indiana North/South All-Star game, in whichthe North scored a major upset over the South … Four-timeletterwinner in wrestling … Wrestling team co-captain …Member of Team Indiana for National Duals … High schoolfootball coach was Fred Kutruff.

Personal: Full name is Daniel Evan Motuliak … Born on May 2,

1986 … Enrolled in the general curriculum … Son of Marc andKim Motuliak … Was the sports editor of the school newspaper… Spent time as a volunteer at The Boys and Girls Club … 2004Academic All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection … Alsoearned academic All-State honors by the Indiana High SchoolWrestling Coaches Association … Won the Principal’s Award forAcademic Excellence … Enjoys hunting, fishing and horseracing.

rEDGAR MOURANS

WR, 6-1, 190, JR.NILES, ILL./NILES WEST



2003: Enrolled at UI, but not amember of the football squad.

High School: Earned two lettersunder Coach Mark Egofske at NilesWest … Was the team’s Mr. Hustlein 2002.

Personal: Born on Dec. 20, 1984 … Son of Ivars and AllaMourans … Was born in Riga, Latvia … Played high school ballwith fellow Illini teammates Walter and Rashard Mendenhall …Enjoys boxing and working on cars and motorcycles … Majoringin finance.

rMIKE MUCHA

DB, 5-11, 220, R-FR.ORLAND PARK, ILL./MONTINI


High School: Earned 12 prepletters, four in football, wrestlingand track … Compiled 3,550career rushing yards ... Recorded185 wins in wrestling, second mostin school history ... Amassed 87pins in wrestling, third most inschool history ... All-State, All-Area

and All-Conference in football junior and senior year ... 2004Chicago Sun-Times Conference 1-4A Player of the Year ...Wrestling state runner-up at 189 lbs junior and senioryear...Four-time state wrestling qualifier ... Two-time All-State intrack ... 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m relay state champion senior year... 2004 4A Football State Champions ... Participated on fourstate champion wrestling teams.

Personal: Full given name is Michael Mucha … Born on July 21,1986, in Blue Island, Ill. … Son of Jerry and Lona Mucha … Hasone brother and sister … Father played football at Weber State… Grandfather, Rudy, played on the 1946 World ChampionshipChicago Bears … Enrolled in the general curriculum ... Creditshis dad as the person who most influenced his athletic career …Fighting Illini hero is Dick Butkus … Plans on becoming eithera doctor or a high school counselor.

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CHARLES MYLES

OL, 6-6, 320, SR.CHICAGO, ILL./HARPER

2005: Began the season on thedefensive line, switching midwaythrough the season … Played twogames at right tackle, starting thefinale against Northwestern …Was in on 117 offensive snaps and15 defensive.

2004: Played in five games andrecorded one tackle, vs. Western

Michigan.

2003: Sat out the season to fulfill academic eligibility rules.

High School: All-State selection at defensive tackle ... Named afirst-team All-Public League pick by the Chicago Sun-Times ...Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list … Alsoearned All-Land of Lincoln Conference honors as a senior ...Totaled over 35 sacks during his prep career in addition to 125total tackles ... Also knocked down two passes ... Earned eightletters in high school, four in football and four in basketball ...High school coach was Terry Lewis.

Personal: Full given name is Charles Ellis Myles ... Born Nov. 24,1984 ... Son of Charles Robinson and the late Ernstine Myles ...Has two brothers and one sister ... Brother Anthony Myles playedbasketball at Xavier ... Hobbies include bowling and fishing ...Lists Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp as his favoriteathlete and Buccaneer defensive end Simeon Rice as his favoriteIllini ... Hopes to go into law enforcement following graduation ...Majoring in speech communications.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 1 vs. Western Michigan, 9/18/04Solos: 1 vs. Western Michigan, 9/18/04


MYLES GAME-BY-GAME2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRFAMU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rMIKE NABOLOTNY

OL, 6-5, 250, SO.GLENVIEW, ILL./GLENBROOK SOUTH

2005: Played in three games attight end.

High School: Senior captainaveraged 16 yards per catch attight end … Earned All-Areahonors from the Chicago Sun-Times in 2004 … Also was namedspecial mention All-State by theChicago Tribune and the Illinois

High School Coaches Association … First-team All-Star byPioneer Press … Started every game at offensive guard as ajunior … Lettered in both football and basketball … High

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school football coach was Mike Noll.

Personal: Full given name is Michael John Nabolotny … BornOct. 4, 1986 … Son of Michael and Diane Nabolotny … Majoringin business … Sister, Danielle, is a sophomore on the Loyolawomen’s basketball team … Cousin, Nicole Rinaldi, playsbasketball at UIC … High school honor roll student … ReceivedCSL Scholar Athlete Award in 2004.

rJOSH NORRIS

DL, 5-11, 270, SR.SPRINGFIELD, ILL./SACRED HEART GRIFFIN

2005: Played in nine games,missing two after a motorcycleaccident … Recorded six tackles,two each in games againstWisconsin and Northwestern …Also had a tackle for a loss of threeyards against the Badgers …Earned Academic All-Big Tenhonors.

2004: Earned a scholarship … Played in all 11 games, recording15 tackles … Also had a tackle for loss at Wisconsin andagainst Iowa … Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

2003: Member of the UI squad.


High School: Two time All-State selection as a junior and senior... Academic All-State selection as a senior ... Three time All-Central State Eight pick ... Won seven letters during his highschool career ... Won three in football and track and one inwrestling ... Conference champion in the discus with a throw of164’10.00” ... High school coach was Ken Leonard.

Personal: Born June 6, 1984 ... Son of James and JacquelineNorris ... Majoring in chemistry.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 3, three times (last time at Michigan St., 10/9/04)Solos: 2 vs. Purdue, 9/25/04TFL: 1, three times (last time vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05)QB Sack: 0.5 vs. Iowa, 10/30/04PBU: 1 vs. W. Michigan, 9/18/04QBH: 1 vs. W. Michigan, 9/18/04

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH2004 11 5 10 15 2-5 0.5-3 12005 9 2 4 6 1-3 0-0 0TOTAL 20 7 14 21 3-8 0.5-3 1

NORRIS GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 1 1 2 1-3 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 0 2 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRFAMU 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 0 2 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 1 0-0PUR 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@WIS 1 0 1 1-2 0-0 0 0-0@MSU 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MINN 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 0 1 1 1-3 0.5-3 0 0-0IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@NW 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

CHRIS NORWELL

DL, 6-6, 290, JR.CINCINNATI, OHIO/ANDERSON

2005: Named the team’s MostImproved Player … Started all 11games at defensive tackle for thesecond consecutive year … Led alldefensive linemen in tackles with46 and led the team with 7.5tackles for loss … Had a careerhigh six solo tackles at Purdue …Finished the year with three

straight games of a season-high six tackles … Registeredmultiple tackles for loss against San Jose State (3, career-high)and at Purdue (2) … Posted his first career sack against SanJose State when he had 1.5 for a loss of six yards … Blocked afield goal against California.

2004: Earned Freshman All-America honors by Rivals.com …Also named to The Sporting News’ Freshman All-Big Ten team ...Started all 11 games, totaling 40 tackles, two TFL’s, three QBH’sand two PBU’s ... Made a career-best eight tackles and had onePBU vs. UCLA ... Made career-high four solo tackles, five total,and had a QBH and PBU vs. Purdue ... Also had five tackles vs.Western Michigan and Michigan ... Recorded two tackles and aTFL vs. Michigan State and four tackles with a TFL and a QBhurry vs. Iowa.


High School: Excellent athlete who received recruiting interest inbasketball as well as football ... Ranked No. 61 among offensivetackles in the country by Rivals.com ... Ranked as one of the topoffensive linemen in the state of Ohio as a senior ... All-Regionselection by SuperPrep ... Twice named second team All-Southwest Ohio ... Earned the honor as a tight end during hissenior season and as an offensive tackle as a junior ... Led allCincinnati preps in tackles for loss as a senior with 33, whileregistering 80 tackles ... As a tight end he caught 10 passes for137 yards ... Selected to play in the Ohio East-West Shrine Game... Excelled in hoops and is Anderson High School’s all-timeleading scorer and rebounder ... Led his conference in scoringand rebounding as a junior ... Earned seven letters at AndersonHigh — four in basketball and three in football … High schoolcoach was Vince Suriano.

Personal: Full given name is Christopher Reinhard Norwell ... Son ofIvar and Julia Norwell ... Born Feb. 12, 1985 … Majoring in speechcommunications … One of seven children (four sisters and twobrothers) … Brother, Adam, played basketball at NorthernKentucky.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 8 vs. UCLA, 9/11/04Solos: 6 at Purdue, 11/12/05TFL: 3 VS. San Jose State, 9/10/05QB Sacks: 1.5 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05QBH: 1, four times (last time vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05)PBU: 1, three times (last time vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05)Blocked Kick: 1 (FG) vs. California, 10/17/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH2004 11 14 26 40 2-2 0-0 32005 11 29 17 46 7.5-31 3-19 1TOTAL 22 43 43 86 9.5-33 3-19 4

NORWELL GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 1 1 2 1-4 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 2 2 4 3-11 1.5-6 1 0-0@CAL 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 1 4 5 1-2 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 5 0 5 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 3 1 4 0.5-3 0.5-3 0 0-0@OSU 4 2 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 6 0 6 2-11 1-10 0 0-0NW 3 3 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0


rMARTIN O’DONNELL

OL, 6-5, 300, JR.DOWNERS GROVE,ILL./DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH

2005: Started 10 games at leftguard … Was in on 625 offensivesnaps and 33 special teams plays… Led the Illini to a perfect 18-for-18 in the red zone through thefirst four games … Blocked fortwo 200-yard rushing games vs.

Rutgers and San Jose State … Earned Academic All-Big Tenhonors.

2004: Earned Freshman All-America honors by Rivals.com …Also named to The Sporting News’ Freshman All-Big Ten team ...Started the final 10 games of the year and played all but fiveoffensive snaps on the year at left guard ... Tallied 70 pancakeblocks while allowing only one sack and seven pressures ... Partof an offensive line that paved the way for the Illini to rush for1,699 yards and a 5.6 yard per attempt average.


High School: Earned Parade All-American honors and wasnamed top offensive lineman in country … Top-100 recruitaccording to Chicago Sun-Times … PrepStar Dream Teammember and All-American … Named Top-100 recruit andsecond-best offensive lineman nationally by Rivals.com …Recorded 55 pancake blocks as a senior … A two-time All-Stateand All-Conference selection … Made the Sun-Times Top-100Chicago Area recruit list … Named a first-team Riddell All-American … Earned West Suburban Gold Conference Player ofthe Year honors … Also garnered conference lineman of the yearaccolades … SuperPrep All-Region selection … Earned threevarsity letters for football and three for the track team … Highschool coach was John Belskis.

Personal: Full given name is Martin Edward O’Donnell … BornDec. 9, 1984 … Son of Michael and Pamela O’Donnell …Majoring in history and speech communications … Biggestthrill in sports was winning the 2001 8A state championship atMemorial Stadium … Lists favorite athlete as PittsburghSteelers running back Jerome Bettis … Was an honor rollstudent every year in high school with a 4.0-plus GPA … Plansto be a high school coach and history teacher upon graduation

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… Was a member of Athletes Committed to Excellence.

DOUG PILCHERDL, 6-5, 260, R-FR.HINSDALE, ILL. / HINSDALECENTRAL


High School: Rated the No. 13recruit in the state of Illinois byScout.com … Also ranked No. 32

among linebackers by Rivals.com and 40th nationally byScout.com … A three-star prospect by both Scout.com andRivals.com … Made 97 tackles, 21 for loss, and 18 sacks as asenior … SuperPrep All-Region … Named to the Chicago Sun-Times Area Top-30 Prospects list … PrepStar All-Region …Earned All-State, All-Area and All-Conference honors his senioryear … Senior captain also caught nine balls for 84 yards andtwo touchdowns … Recorded 26 career sacks for a schoolrecord, breaking his brother Steve’s mark … Earned letters infootball, basketball and baseball … High school football coachwas Tony Lombardi.

Personal: Full given name is Douglas Ryan Pilcher … Born onJuly 18, 1987 … The son of Jim and Debbie Pilcher … Majoringin business … Both parents attended Illinois and his brother iscurrently attending … Four-year honor roll student … Two-timescholar athlete also earned Academic All-Conference honors asa senior.

rRODNEY

PITTMANLB, 6-2, 235, SO.FORT WASHINGTON,MD./FRIENDLY

2005: Played in all 11 games,primarily on special teams, butwas in on 29 defensive snaps atlinebacker … Recorded eighttackles, including four solo stops… Had a career-best five tackles

at Iowa.

High School: Accounted for 132 tackles, eight sacks and twointerceptions in 2004 … Earned All-State honors as a senior …Also earned All-County honors from the Washington Post …Rated the No. 56 prospect in Maryland by Rivals.com … Playedboth linebacker and defensive line as a senior as well as tightend on the offensive side … For his career, he totaled 270tackles, 22 sacks and 36 quarterback hurries … Chose Illinoisover Marshall, Syracuse and Boston College … Runs a 4.6 40 …High school coach was George Early.

Personal: Full given name is Rodney Maurice Pittman … Bornon May 28, 1987 … Son of Ronald and Reka Pittman …Finished high school with a 3.5 GPA … Earned the school’sAcademic Athlete of the Year … Enrolled in the generalcurriculum.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 5 at Iowa, 10/1/05Solos: 4 at Iowa, 10/1/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH

2005 11 4 4 8 0-0 0-0 0

PITTMAN GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 4 1 5 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 0 2 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rSAM PORTER

RB, 6-1, 240, R-FR.CHICAGO, ILL. /MORGAN PARK


High School: A three-star recruitby both Rivals.com and Scout.com… Made 127 tackles, 12 for loss,as a senior … Also had 11 sacks

… Named All-State … SuperPrep All-Region … Three-yearstarter … Ranked the 31st best defensive end by Rivals.com …Named an Illinois top 30 football prospect by the Chicago Sun-Times and Rivals.com.

Personal: Full given name is Samuel Ernest Porter … Born onAug. 12, 1987 … The son of William, Jr., and Rita Porter …Enrolled in the general curriculum … High school football coachwas Lexie Spurlock.

rJASON REDA

PK, 6-1, 200, JR.ROCK ISLAND, ILL./ROCKISLAND

2005: Was a perfect 20-for-20 inextra point attempts and made13-of-20 field goals … Has made20 career field goals, which ranksninth on the Illinois all-time fieldgoal list … His 20-for-20 PATsrank ninth on the school’s single-

season list … Ranked eighth in the Big Ten in kick-scoring,averaging 5.9 points per game … Was the only kicker in theconference to be perfect on extra points … Averaged 1.30 fieldgoals per game, which was the fifth-best in the league … Fieldgoal percentage of 65.0 percent ranked seventh in theconference … Made a career-best four field goals and all four ofhis extra points in Illinois’ win over San Jose State … Connectedfor two field goals in games against Rutgers, at California andat Indiana … Also hit a career-long 52-yarder at Indiana …Scored a career-best 16 points against SJSU … EarnedAcademic All-Big Ten honors.

2004: Named to The Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten team… Ranked fourth in the Big Ten in PAT accuracy, hitting 26-of-27 extra point attempts … Ranked ninth in the conference infield goals made and kick-scoring … Was 7-of-12 on field goalattempts ... Hit a career-long 40-yarder vs. Michigan ... Was 2-

of-2 on field goals vs. Purdue ... Was second on the team withwith 47 points ... Became UI’s first true freshman kicker since1987.

High School: Named to All-State, All-Conference and All-Metroteams in football and was an All-Conference and All-Sectionalperformer in soccer … All-State selection by the ChampaignNews-Gazette … Career-long field goal in high school was 48yards and 65 yards is longest in practice setting … Named tothe Illinois Football Dream Team by the IHSA … PrepStar All-Region … Lettered in football, soccer and track … High schoolfootball coach was Vic Boblett and soccer coach was CoryCrandall.

Personal: Full given name is Jason Gerard Reda … Born on Aug.16, 1985 … Son of Gerard and Kim Reda … Honor roll student… Lists Michael Jordan as his favorite athlete … Majoring inspeech communications.

CAREER HIGHSFG Made: 4 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05FG Attempts: 4 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05Long FG: 52 at Indiana, 10/8/05Points: 16 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05PAT Made: 7 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04 PAT Attempts: 7 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04

KICKING STATISTICSYEAR PAT FG -29 30-39 40-49 50+ Lng2004 26-27 7-12 3-5 3-5 1-2 0-0 402005 20-20 13-20 5-6 5-8 2-4 1-2 52TOTAL 46-47 20-22 8-11 8-13 3-6 1-2 52

REDA GAME-BY-GAME2005 FGM-FGA LG BLKD PATRU 2-3 32 0 3-3SJSU 4-4 45 0 4-4@CAL 2-2 36 0 2-2MSU 0-0 -- 0 2-2@IOWA 0-3 -- 2 1-1@IND 2-2 52 0 1-1PSU 1-1 41 0 1-1WIS 1-3 23 0 3-3@PUR 1-1 30 0 0-0NW 0-1 -- 0 3-3

2004 FGM-FGA LG BLKD PATFAMU 1-2 35 0 7-7UCLA 1-2 34 1 2-2WMU 1-1 34 0 3-4PUR 2-2 24 0 3-3@WIS 0-0 -- 0 1-1@MSU 1-2 25 0 2-2MICH 1-1 40 0 2-2@MINN 0-1 0 0 0-0IOWA 0-0 0 0 1-1IND 0-0 0 0 2-2@NW 0-1 0 0 3-3

rTYLER ROUSE

DB, 5-10, 195, JR.CHAMPAIGN, ILL./CENTENNIAL

2005: Played in all 11 games,primarly on special teams,recording two tackles one againstSan Jose State and the other atOhio State.

2004: Played in three gamesbefore suffering a season-endingknee injury against Western

Michigan … Recorded five tackles, primarily on special teams.


High School: All-State and All-Conference selection his seniorseason … Played at Champaign Centennial H.S. for Coach MikeMcDonnell … Played in the ICA All-Star East/West Shrine game

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… Team won the Big 12 Conference championship junior andsenior seasons … Earned four varsity letters in football and onein track … Team reached the state quarterfinals his senior year.

Personal: Full given name is Tyler John Richardson Rouse …Born Oct. 3, 1984 … Son of George and Sarah Rouse …Majoring in speech communications … Brother, Patrick, was along snapper for the Fighting Illini, earning three letters from1999-2001 … Favorite athlete is Brian Urlacher … Named tothe honor roll every semester in high school … Names KevinHardy as his Fighting Illini hero … Plans to coach collegefootball after graduation … Hobbies include golf and bowling… Worked as a bank teller as a past summer job.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 4 vs. FAMU, 9/4/04

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH2004 3 0 5 5 0-0 0-0 02005 11 0 2 2 0-0 0-0 0TOTAL 14 0 7 7 0-0 0-0 0

ROUSE GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRRU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD INT-YD PBU FF-FRFAMU 0 4 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WMU 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rJAMESRYAN

OL, 6-5, 315, JR.BATAVIA, ILL./BATAVIA

2005: Started all 11 games atright guard … Was in on 641offensive snaps and 43 specialteams plays … Helped the Illinipost 538 yards of total offenseagainst Wisconsin … Led the Illinito a perfect 18-for-18 in the redzone through the first four games… Blocked for two 200-yard

rushing games vs. Rutgers and San Jose State.

2004: Member of the UI squad ... Appeared in seven games and25 plays on the offensive line.

2003: Selected as the scout team Offensive Player of the Year ...Redshirted the 2003 season.

High School: Preseason All-America selection on the offensiveline as a senior ... Four-year varsity letterwinner … Rankedamong the top-25 offensive linemen in the country and the No.22 guard in the country by Rivals.com ... Four-year starter atBatavia High School ... Made the Sun-Times Top-100 ChicagoArea recruit list … A two-time captain and the only junior to beelected captain in the last 25 years … Three-time All-Conference and All-Area pick ... Two-way starter as a prep ...Recorded 136 tackles, 32 tackles-for-loss and five forcedfumbles as a defensive lineman ... Also an outstanding wrestler... Was an All-State selection at 275 pounds finishing eighth asa junior ... Earned 12 letters in high school … High school coach

was Mike Gaspari.

Personal: Full given name is James Christopher Ryan ... BornMarch 19, 1985 ... Son of Jim and Robin Ryan ... Majoring insport management … Has one brother ... Grandfather, DonaldRyan, played football at Notre Dame ... Cousin, Katie Ryan,played volleyball at DePaul ... Lists Bruce Smith as his favoriteathlete.

rJUSTIN SANDERS

DB, 6-1, 205, JR.PEARL, MISS. /PEARL/NE MISSISSIPPI CC

2005: Joined the team in January2006.

Junior College/High School:Named to the first-team All-Stateselection by the MississippiAssociation of Community-JuniorColleges ... Also earned MostValuable Defensive Back honors bythe MACJC ... Recorded 35 tackles,

one interception and forced five fumbles ... Garnered All-Regionhonors ... Led his junior college team to a 7-2 record in 2005 ...NE Mississippi CC coach is Andy Greening ... Was an honorablemention NJCAA preseason All-American after a successful 2004season ... Posted 40 tackles, 10 pass deflections, two sacks andtwo interceptions in his first year of junior college ... ChoseIllinois over Kentucky, Ole Miss and Oklahoma State ... AttendedPearl High School where he played for Larry Weems ... Earnedsecond-team 4A All-State honors in 2003 ... Also earned twoletters in basketball and was a member of the 2004 statechampion Pearl HS powerlifting team.

Personal: Full given name is Justin Maurice Sanders … Born onJuly 17, 1986 … Son of Barbara and John Sanders ... Father,John, played six years in the NFL, three for New England andthree with Philadelphia … Majoring in speech communications.

rTREVOR SCOTT

OL, 6-3, 280, R-FR.FORT VALLEY, GA. /PEACH COUNTY


High School: Three-year starter atPeach County High School …Helped lead the 2004 team to a13-2 record, class 4-AAA statesemifinals … As a junior, led teamto state championship game …Aided team in scoring over 60points on three occasions during

senior season … High school coach was Rance Gillespie …Chose Illinois over UConn.

Personal: Full given name is Trevor Watson Scott … Born onMay 21, 1987 … Son of William Scott and Ruby Watson …Enrolled in the general curriculum … Favorite athlete is hisfather, who is also his biggest influence.

rJ.J.

SIMMONSOL, 6-5, 290, SR.MISHAWAKA, IND./PENN HIGHSCHOOL

2005: Played in all 11 games,starting 10 at left tackle … Was inon 681 offensive snaps and 32special teams plays … Helped theIllini post 538 yards of total offense

against Wisconsin … Led the Illini to a perfect 18-for-18 in thered zone through the first four games … Blocked for two 200-yard rushing games vs. Rutgers and San Jose State … EarnedAcademic All-Big Ten honors.

2004: Started all 11 games at left tackle ... Collected 65pancake blocks on an offensive line that paved the way for theIllini to rush for 1,699 yards and a 5.6 yard per attempt average… Was in on 690 offensive plays … Earned Academic All-BigTen honors.

2003: Played in all 12 games, primarily on special teams … Wasin on offensive snaps in seven games, including time spentworking the tight end position.


High School: Garnered first-team All-State honors from theAssociated Press … PrepStar All-Region … Bloomington Heraldfirst-team All-Conference and All-Area … Earned BloomingtonHerald’s Big 33 team honors … Garnered the top offensivelineman award from The Indianapolis Star … Named to theIndiana Football Coaches Association Top-50 team … Alsoearned Indiana Mr. Football accolades … Selected as the Region2 Most Valuable Player as voted by the IFCA … Recorded 58pancake blocks as a senior … Earned three letters in footballand one in basketball at Penn High School … Team won statefootball championship in 2000 … Received invitation to play inthe Indiana North/South football All-Star game … High schoolcoach was Chris Geesman.

Personal: Full given name is John Joseph Simmons … Goes by“J.J.” … Born on Aug. 30, 1984, in Wheeling, Ill. … Son ofRobert and Jacqueline Simmons … Graduated in May with adegree in speech communications … Is enrolled in graduateschool for human resource education … Grandfather, Jack,played football for the Chicago Cardinals and Detroit Lions …Aspires to be a college football coach … Favorite athlete isformer Detroit Lion and Buffalo Bills linebacker Chris Speilman… Volunteers for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

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ANTONIO STEELE

LB, 6-2, 210, JR.

CLEVELAND, OHIO/ST. PETER CHANEL/LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE

2006: Joined the team in January2006.

Junior College/High School: JCGridwire honorable mention All-American ... Rated by Rivals.comamong the top-100 junior collegeprospects ... Two-time first-team

All-Mission Conference American Division selection ... Led LongBeach City College to an 8-3 record and a trip to the All-American Bowl last season ... Led the team in tackles, making85 stops, six tackles for loss and two sacks ... Also recordedthree interceptions, three passes broken up and a blocked kickin 2005 ... In his first season, he was second on the team in totaltackles with 73 ... He stopped five for loss, including one sack ...Also had two interceptions and a fumble recovery ... Played forLong Beach head coach Jerry Jaso ... Chose Illinois over TexasA&M and Ole Miss ... Attended St. Peter Chanel High School ...Honorable-mention All-Ohio by the Associated Press in 2003.

Personal: Full given name is Antonio Maurice Steele … Born onApril 20, 1986 … Son of Linda Steele ... Majoring in speechcommunications … Brother, Markus Steele, also went to LBCCthen went on to play for USC and three years in the NFL with theDenver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys.

rTOM SULLIVAN

TE, 6-4, 225, R-FR.TINLEY PARK, ILL./MARIST


High School: Earned eight prepletters, four in both football andbasketball ... Hauled in 37 catchesfor 470 yards senior year ... 2004All-Conference, All-Area and All-State ... 2005 All-Conference andAll-Area ... All-Conference in

basketball.

Personal: Full given name is Thomas F. Sullivan ... Born on April2, 1987 ... Son of Tom and Lenore Sullivan ... Has one brotherand sister ... Majoring in mathematics ... Biggest thrill in sportsis the crowd after a win in a big game ... Past summer jobsinclude bricklaying and tuckpointing ... Favorite athlete is BrianUrlacher because he plays hard, makes big plays and is fun towatch.

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PIERRE THOMAS

RB, 5-11, 210, SR.LYNWOOD, ILL./THORNTON FRACTIONAL SOUTH

2005: Earned team award for MostValuable Player for the secondstraight year … Also named teamcaptain for the 2005 season asvoted by the team … Led the teamin rushing for the second straightyear … Recorded 664 yardsrushing on 127 carries, scoringfive touchdowns … Also caught

28 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown … Had the team’slongest run from scrimmage on a 35-yard carry at Purdue …Ranked 10th in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards, averaging122.7 per game … Averaged 23.0 yards per kickoff return torank seventh in the league … Finished the season ranked 13thon the all-time Illinois rushing list … Also ranks fourth on theIllinois career all-purpose yard list with 3,394, needing 1,343 totop Robert Holcombe’s top spot … Is third on the school’s all-time kickoff return yardage list, needing only 111 to break therecord … Rushed for 100 yards at Iowa on 15 carries, averaging6.7 yards per rush, while also catching five passes for 28 yards… Nearly reached 100 yards in the season finale as he finishedwith 97 yards and a touchdown … Caught a career-long 52-yard pass at California … Posted the third-longest kickoffreturn of his career with a 48-yarder against San Jose State …Finished the game with over 200 all-purpose yards at Cal with57 yards rushing, 59 yards receiving and 92 yards in kickoffreturns … Had seven games with over 100 all-purpose yards …Scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime of Illinois’season opener against Rutgers.

2004: Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from theconference coaches … Named the team’s Most Valuable Player… Led the conference in all-purpose yards, which ranked 13thin the country (151.4 per contest) … Averaged 27.1 yards perkickoff return, which ranked third in the league and 10th in thenation … Became the 31st player in Illinois history to rush forover 1,000 career yards (1,126) … Ranked fifth in the Big Tenin rushing with 81.2 yards per game … Also had the Big Ten’sfifth-best touchdown scoring average with 5.5 points per game… Ranks second in school history for single-season kickoffreturn yardage with 677 … Tallied a career-high 188 yardsrushing on 21 carries at Michigan State … Had a career-long69-yard run – Illinois’ longest run of the season – and rushedfor two TDs against the Spartans … His 188 yards rushing werethe most by a UI player since Antoineo Harris had 195 yards vs.Purdue during the 2002 season … Ran for 185 yards and onetouchdown on 21 carries vs. Indiana that included a 44-yardscoring run ... Posted his fourth 100-yard game of the seasonwith 131 yards against Northwestern, scoring two touchdowns… Had a career-high seven receptions vs. Michigan ... Caughtone touchdown and rushed for another against the Wolverines ...Returned three kickoffs for a total of 132 yards with onetouchdown vs. Western Michigan … Returned the game'sopening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, which tied the third-longest kickoff return in Memorial Stadium history … Hisaverage of 44.0 yards per kick return vs. WMU was the secondhighest single-game performance in school history, while totalof 132 yards tied the fourth highest single-game kickoff returnyardage in school history … Had three kickoff returns for 121yards vs. Purdue the following week, which included a 72-yardkick return … Is just the second player in school history,following Harold “Red” Grange, to record two career kickoffreturns over 70 yards … Set a UI opening-day record with 143yards rushing vs. Florida A&M … Rushed for two TDs vs. FAMU.

2003: Team’s second leading rusher with 233 yards on 43

carries … Caught three passes for 12 yards and returned sevenkicks for 134 yards … Scored two touchdowns at Michigan …Rushed for 78 yards on nine carries in his collegiate debut vs.Illinois State, including a career-long run of 35 yards … Gained70 yards on 15 carries vs. Minnesota.

High School: Named a national Top-100 recruit by the ChicagoSun-Times … Champaign News-Gazette Player of the Year …Named to the USA Today Old Spice Red Zone Top-50 NationalTeam … Earned Offensive Player of the Year honors from theDaily Southtown … Made the Sun-Times Top-100 Chicago Arearecruit list … Named to SuperPrep All-America team … Two-time All-State selection at running back by the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune ... Totaled over 5,522 rushing yardsfor his career and found the end zone 88 times ... Gained over3,200 yards as a sophomore and junior, before racking up 2,365yards and 38 scores his senior season ... Had a career-high 304rushing yards in a single game in 2002 ... Had 27 100-yardrushing games, including 11 with over 200 yards … Scored fivetouchdowns in back-to-back contests as a junior ... Rated theNo. 1 player in the SICA Orange Conference in 2002 … EarnedAll-Area and All-Conference honors as a sophomore, junior andsenior ... Also earned Player of the Year honors from ThorntonFractional South High School … High School coach was TomPadjen.

Personal: Full given name is Charles Pierre Thomas Jr. ... BornDec. 18, 1984 in Chicago, Ill. ... The son of Charles and Greta JoThomas ... Majoring in sport management … Has one sister ...Enjoys playing video games and collecting sports cards ...Favorite athlete is Barry Sanders.

CAREER HIGHSCarries: 37 at Northwestern, 11/20/04Yards: 188 at Michigan St., 10/9/04Long Rush: 69 at Michigan St., 10/9/04Rush TDs: 2, four times (last time at Northwestern, 11/20/04)Rec. Yards: 59 at California, 9/17/05Receptions: 7 vs. Michigan, 10/16/04Rec. TDs: 1 vs. Michigan, 10/16/04 & vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05Long Reception: 52 at California, 9/17/05Kick Return for TD: 99 yds vs. W. Michigan, 9/18/04All-Purpose Yds: 288 at Michigan St., 10/9/04

RUSHING STATISTICSYEAR G ATT YDS AVG YPG TD LG2003 6 43 233 5.4 38.8 2 352004 11 152 893 5.9 81.2 8 692005 11 127 664 5.2 60.4 5 35TOTAL 28 322 1790 5.6 63.9 15 69

RECEIVING STATISTICSYEAR G NO YDS AVG YPG TD LG2003 6 3 12 4.0 2.0 0 82004 11 14 95 6.8 8.6 1 342005 11 28 225 8.0 20.5 1 52TOTAL 28 45 332 7.4 11.9 2 52

KICK RETURN STATISTICSYEAR G NO YDS AVG YPG TD LG2003 6 7 134 19.1 22.3 0 292004 11 25 677 27.1 61.5 1 992005 11 20 461 23.0 41.9 0 48TOTAL 28 52 1,272 24.5 45.4 1 99

THOMAS GAME-BY-GAME2005 CAR-YDS TD LG REC-YDS TD LGRU 11-63 1 16 2-20 0 11SJSU 14-79 1 16 2-12 0 6@CAL 12-57 1 10 2-59 0 52MSU 9-24 0 8 1-11 1 11@IOWA 15-100 0 20 5-28 0 10@IND 11-46 0 16 1-(7) 0 0PSU 9-45 0 15 1-4 0 4WIS 8-57 1 28 3-30 0 14@OSU 9-28 0 12 4-17 0 8@PUR 11-68 0 35 4-25 0 11NW 18-97 1 26 3-26 0 11

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2004 CAR-YDS TD LG REC-YDS TD LGFAMU 14-143 2 60 0-0 0 0UCLA 9-49 0 9 2-11 0 6WMU 12-78 0 28 0-0 0 0PUR 8-48 0 19 0-0 0 0@WIS 5-(-1) 0 3 0-0 0 0@MSU 21-188 2 69 2-48 0 34MICH 20-68 1 14 7-26 1 13@MINN 5-4 0 4 1-2 0 2IOWA 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0IND 21-185 1 44 0-0 0 0@NW 37-131 2 14 2-8 0 7

2003 CAR-YDS TD LG REC-YDS TD LGISU 9-78 0 35 0-0 0 0CAL 1-2 0 2 0-0 0 0@PUR 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0MSU 8-57 0 20 0-0 0 0@MICH 10-26 2 7 1-8 0 8MINN 15-70 0 20 2-4 0 6

rANTHONY THORNHILL

LB, 6-1, 220, JR.DETROIT, MICH./DETROIT CENTRAL

2005: Played in all 11 games,starting the first six … Finishedthe season with 30 tackles, threefor loss and a half sack … Openedthe season with seven tackles anda half-sack against Rutgers …Posted a season-best eight stops,including a career-high sevensolos at Iowa… Also had tackles

for loss against San Jose State and at Iowa.

2004: Collected 54 tackles in 11 games, earning seven starts ...Had nine tackles, a career-high six solo, and a TFL at MichiganSt. ... Made a career best 10 tackles vs. Michigan ... Made sevenstops, four solo, vs. UCLA and six in the season-opener vs.Florida A&M.


High School: Earned all-state honors as a senior ... Three-timeall-Detroit pick at linebacker ... Four-year starter for DetroitCentral ... Led Central in tackles each of his last three seasons... All-region pick by PrepStar ... Totaled 105 tackles and eightsacks as a junior ... Also an outstanding pass catcher,registering 23 catches for 359 yards, 15.6 yards per catch ...Also a standout in basketball, helping Detroit Central to districtand regional titles in 2001 ... Won 11 high school letters, four infootball, four in track and three in basketball ... Was an all-citytrack selection as a junior … High school coach was MichaelThornhill.

Personal: Full given name is Anthony Wilson Thornhill ... Son ofMichael and Gloria Thornhill ... Born Feb. 27, 1985 ... Majoring inkinesiology … Has one brother and two sisters ... Cousin TadellSands played in the NFL for Green Bay.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 10 vs. Michigan, 10/16/04Solos: 7 at Iowa, 10/1/05TFL: 1, three times (last time at Iowa, 10/1/05)QB Sacks: 0.5 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05

DEFENSIVE STATISTICSYEAR G ST AT TOT TFL-YDS QBS-YDS QBH2004 11 31 23 54 1-1 0-0 02005 11 18 12 30 3-10 0.5-5 0TOTAL 22 49 35 84 4-11 0.5-5 0

THORNHILL GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 3 4 7 0.5-5 0.5-5 0 0-0SJSU 1 0 1 1-3 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 1 4 5 0.5-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 7 1 8 1-2 0-0 0 0-0@IND 3 1 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0


rMARK VENEGONI

QB, 6-1, 210, SO. GURNEE, ILL./CARMEL



High School: Three-yearletterwinner in both basketballand football... Set school record inpassing yards and passingtouchdowns... Member of statechampionship team in 2003...

Champaign News-Gazette All-State selection in 2003... ChicagoTribune All-Stater in 2003 ... All-Conference performer during2002-03 seasons... Two-time All-Area selection by the DailyHerald.

Personal: Full given name is Mark Andrew Venegoni … Born onAug. 23, 1985 … Parents are John and Claudia Venegoni …Majoring in finance … Says his biggest thrill in sports waswinning the state championship … Favorite athlete is MichaelJordan, because he showed how the game should be played andwas a leader ... Father, John, played baseball and football atIllinois … Lists former Illini linebacker Dick Butkus as hisFighting Illini hero … Member of the National Honor Society.

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DEREK WALKER

DL, 6-4, 270, SO.GLENDALE HEIGHTS, ILL./GLENBARD EAST

2005: Earned Freshman All-America honors from The SportingNews … Started all 11 games atdefensive end, finishing the yearwith 26 total tackles and sixtackles for loss, second-most onthe team … Collected a career-best four tackles at Iowa andagainst Penn State … Had a

career-high three solo tackles at California and vs. Penn State… Posted his first career sack in the season finale againstNorthwestern … Had 1.5 tackles for loss in the season openeragainst Rutgers … Recorded tackles for loss in six differentgames … Broke up a pass against Rutgers and threequarterback hurries.


High School: Earned special mention All-State honors by theChampaign News-Gazette … Named the team’s Most ValuablePlayer in football, track and basketball … Was an All-Conference performer as a senior … Named All-Area for footballand basketball by the Arlington Heights Daily Herald …Registered 125 tackles, 11 sacks, 30 hurries, two forced fumblesand two passes defended in 2003 … SuperPrep All-Region …PrepStar All-Region selection … Earned letters in football,basketball and track … Two-time All-Conference selection inthe discus … Named to the All-Conference team in basketball… High school coach was Dennis Lueck.

Personal: Full given name is Derek Raynal Walker … Born onSept. 16, 1986, in Chester, Pa. … Son of Walton and DoreatheaWalker … Majoring in speech communications … Hobbiesinclude drawing and building models.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 4 at Iowa, 10/1/05 & vs. Penn State, 10/22/05Solos: 3 at California, 9/17/05 & vs. Penn State, 10/22/05TFL: 1.5 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05QB Sacks: 1 vs. Northwestern, 11/19/05QB Hurries: 1, three times (last time vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05)PBU: 1 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05


WALKER GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 2 1 3 1.5-3 0-0 1 0-0SJSU 1 2 3 0.5-2 0-0 1 0-0@CAL 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MSU 0 1 1 0.5-2 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 2 2 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 3 1 4 1-9 0-0 0 0-0WIS 0 1 1 0.5-0 0-0 1 0-0@OSU 0 3 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 2 0 2 1-1 0-0 0 0-0NW 1 0 1 1-6 1-6 0 0-0

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JACK WALL

OL, 6-1, 270, R-FR. BARTLETT, ILL./BARTLETT


High School: Earned two prepletters in football … 2003 and2004 Upstate Eight All-Conference… 2004 Courier News All-Area …Daily Herald All-Area … Member of2003 Upstate Eight conferencechampionship squad.

Personal: Full given name is Jack William Wall … Born on Sept.17, 1986 … Son of Stan and Chris Wall … Has one brother …Enrolled in general curriculum … Cousin, Jack Wall, playsfootball for Eureka College … Favorite athlete is two-time MET-Rx World's Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudianowski …Worked landscape construction over the summer … Plans to bea strength and conditioning coach after school.

rMIKE WARE

DL, 6-3, 285, JR. NAPERVILLE, ILL./WAUBONSIE VALLEY/WHEATON COLLEGE

2005: Sat out due to NCAA transferrule … Earned Illinois DefensiveScout Team of the Year award.

Wheaton College (2003-04):Played in 10 games as asophomore in 2004 … Registered46 total tackles, 22 solo and 24assisted in 2004 … Tied forsecond on the team with 8.5 TFL in

2004 … Tied for first on the team with 4.0 sacks in 2004 …Also had eight QBH and one PBU in 2004 … Played in six gamesas a true freshman for Wheaton College … Recorded nine soloand three assisted tackles in 2003 … Had six TFL, two QBH andone and a half sacks in 2003.

High School: Earned 2002 PrepStar All-Region honors … 2002Illinois top-30 prospects by Chris Poole Recruiting … 2002School Sports Magazine first-team Defense … 2001 and 2002All-Conference and Daily Herald All-Area … 2002 Upstate 8Defensive Player of the Year runner-up … Three year varsitystarter at middle linebacker … Earned six prep letters, three infootball, two in hockey and one in track … 2003 Suburbs vs. CityAll-Star game participant ... 2003 Shriner All-Star game … Highschool coach was B.J. Luke.

Personal: Born on March 8, 1985 … Son of Tom and ConnieWare … Majoring in speech communications.

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DAJUAN WARREN

WR, 6-2, 210, JR. SOUTHFIELD, MICH./SOUTHFIELD

2005: Played in all 11 games andstarted seven at receiver …Finished the season fourth on theteam with 21 catches … Caught apass in every game and 13straight dating back to the 2004season … Had three catchesapiece in four games: vs. Rutgers,San Jose State, at Iowa and Penn

State … Had a career-best 44 yards receiving and a career-long35-yarder against Wisconsin.

2004: Caught six balls for 52 yards while playing in eight games... Set career bests while leading the team in receptions (4) andyards (36) vs. Northwestern ... Made his first career reception, asix-yarder, vs. Minnesota.


High School: Three-year starter at quarterback for SouthfieldHigh School ... Threw for 4,400 yards and scored 42 TDs in hisprep career ... Threw for 1,400 yards and scored 10 TDs as asenior ... Six of those scores came on the ground ... Also made 30tackles on defense ... Racked up 1,500 yards passing and 16touchdowns during both his sophomore and junior campaigns ...Listed among the Top-30 dual-threat quarterbacks in thecountry by Rivals.com ... Was an All-Conference, All-Area, All-Region and All-State quarterback as a senior ... Outstandingathlete who won letters in basketball and track as well asfootball ... Averaged 16 points, six assists and five boards forSouthfield as a junior ... Also registered a 10.8 100-meter-dashtime on the track ... High school coach was David Reese.

Personal: Full given name is DaJuan Avery Warren ... Born onMarch 9, 1984 ... Son of David and Mary Warren ... Majoring insport management … Has one brother ... Is a member of thePositive Peer Influence Program ... Enjoys cooking and shopping.

CAREER HIGHSReceptions: 4 at Northwestern, 11/20/04Receiving Yards: 44 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05Long Reception: 35 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05

RECEIVING STATISTICSYEAR G NO YDS AVG YPG TD LG2004 9 6 52 8.7 6.5 0 142005 11 21 205 9.8 18.6 0 35TOTAL 20 27 257 9.5 12.9 0 35

WARREN GAME-BY-GAME2005 NO YDS TD LGRU 3 42 0 18SJSU 3 19 0 8@CAL 1 10 0 10MSU 1 7 0 7@IOWA 3 22 0 9@IND 2 13 0 9PSU 3 28 0 15WIS 2 44 0 35@OSU 1 6 0 6@PUR 1 4 0 4NW 1 10 0 10

2004 NO YDS TD LGFAMU 0 0 0 0UCLA 0 0 0 0WMU 0 0 0 0@WIS 0 0 0 0MICH 0 0 0 0@MINN 1 6 0 6IOWA 0 0 0 0IND 1 10 0 10@NW 4 36 0 14

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RUSS WEIL

RB, 6-0, 240, JR.MINOOKA, ILL./MINOOKA

2005: Played in all 11 games atfullback … Had one rush for sixyards against San Jose State …Caught two passes for 22 yards onthe season … Had a 17-yardcatch at Indiana and a five-yardgrab at Ohio State … Collected sixspecial teams tackles, playing 136snaps … Switched to fullback

from linebacker in the spring of 2005.

2004: Started the final two games at linebacker and played in10 games on the season ... Tallied 10 tackles, seven solos,including a TFL ... Made four stops with a TFL at Northwestern ...Recorded three solos tackles at Minnesota.

High School: Three-time All-Conference selection … Earned All-State honors from IHSA, Champaign News-Gazette and ChicagoSun-Times … PrepStar All-Region … Made 24 solo tackles, 36assists and 10 tackles for loss as a senior … SuperPrep All-Region … Morris Daily Herald All-Area Most Valuable Player …As a running back, finished his career with 2,500 yards and 32touchdowns … Earned three letters in football and four inwrestling … Won two Illinois state wrestling titles at 215pounds in 2002 and 2004 … Earned All-Conference and All-State honors … High school football coach was Mike Briscoe.

Personal: Full given name is John Russell Weil … Born on July3, 1985 … Son of John and Stephana Weil … High school honorroll student … Majoring in sport management.

CAREER HIGHSCarries: 1 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/04Rushing Yards: 6 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05Long Run: 6 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05Receptions: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05 & at Ohio State, 11/5/05Long Reception: 17 at Indiana, 10/8/05Tackles: 4 at Northwestern, 11/20/04Solos: 3 at Minnesota, 10/23/04TFL: 1 at Northwestern, 11/20/04




WEIL GAME-BY-GAME (OFFENSE)2005 CAR-YDS TD LG REC-YDS TD LGRU 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0SJSU 1-6 0 6 0-0 0 0@CAL 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0MSU 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0@IOWA 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0@IND 0-0 0 0 1-17 0 17PSU 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0WIS 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0@OSU 0-0 0 0 1-5 0 5@PUR 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0NW 0-0 0 0 0-0 0 0

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WEIL GAME-BY-GAME (DEFENSE)2004 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRFAMU 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0UCLA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PUR 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@WIS 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MSU 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0MICH 0 1 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@MINN 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IOWA 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0IND 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@NW 2 2 4 1-2 0-0 0 0-0

rBRYSON WHALEN

DL, 6-5, 245, R-FR.FREEPORT, ILL./AQUIN


High School: Earned IHSA firstteam All-State honors in footballsenior year … All-Area offensiveand defensive line senior year …First team All-Conference offensiveand defensive line senior year …All-Conference honorable mentionoffensive and defensive line junior

year … Earned seven prep letters, three in football and two inboth basketball and baseball … Played on the Northern UpstateIllini Conference Championship football team sophomore year.

Personal: Full given name is Bryson Thomas Whalen … Born onAugust 1, 1986 … Son of William and Vickie Whalen … Has twobrothers … Enrolled in the general curriculum … Past summerjob was lifeguarding … Favorite athlete is Michael Jordan …Credits his brothers and coaches for most influencing hisathletic career because they set a standard and encouraged him… Graduated second in his class … Received highestacademic honors all four years … Member of the National HonorSociety senior year.

rADAM WILK

OL, 6-5, 275, SR.LAKE ZURICH, ILL./LAKE ZURICH

2005: Played in one game, but didnot record any statistics …Missed the remainder of theseason with a knee injury.

2004: Played in three games as adefensive lineman ... Did notrecord any stats.

2003: Played in seven games as adefensive lineman ... Did not record any stats.

High School: Led Lake Zurich to the semifinals of the stateplayoffs as a senior ... Was an All-State selection by the ChicagoTribune from his defensive line position ... Made the ChicagoSun-Times Top-100 Chicago Area recruit list … All-Area pick bythe Chicago Sun-Times, Arlington Heights Daily Herald and theNorthwest Herald ... Named to the Great Northwest All-Defenseteam by the Pioneer Press ... Was a two-year letterman infootball ... Holds the Lake Zurich High School record with a hangclean of 325 pounds ... High school coach was Mike DiMatteo.

Personal: Full given name is Adam Anthony Wilk ... Born onMarch 11, 1985 ... Son of Mitchell and Barbara Wilk ... Majoringin speech communications … Has one brother and one sister ...Enjoys working on cars ... Past summer jobs included working asa caddy at the Twin Orchard Country Club.

rMARQUES WILKINS

WR, 6-0, 195, FR.DECATUR, ILL./MACARTHUR

2006: Joined Illinois team in thespring after graduating early fromhigh school.

High School: Chicago Tribunespecial mention All-State …Champaign News-Gazette All-State … Unanimous Big 12Offensive Player of the Yearselection … A four-star recruit

according to Rivals.com … PrepStar All-American … Sixth-rated player from the state of Illinois and 29th best receiver inthe country … Caught 23 receptions for 421 yards and threetouchdowns as a senior … Rushed for 780 yards on 100 carriesand 12 touchdowns … Also returned punts and kickoffs,averaging 29.1 yards per kick return and scoring on a puntreturn … Recorded 1,741 all-purpose yards in 2005 … Three-year varsity starter … Nominated to play in the U.S. Army All-Star game … Played in just five games in 2004 due to injury …Totaled 600 yards receiving and 600 yards rushing in juniorseason … 17 total touchdowns in 2004 … Recorded the mostbench press reps at the 2005 Ann Arbor Nike Training Camp …High School coaches were Kordell Ingram and Jed Kennedy.

Personal: Full given name is Marques Anthony Wilkins … Son ofTony and Melverta Wilkins … Born on Oct. 27, 1987 … Enrolledin the general curriculum … Plans on majoring in businessadministration … Name is pronounced “Marcus” … NationalMerit Scholar qualified … Was placed on the MacArthur HighSchool Wall of Fame for both academic and athletic excellence… Honor roll student … Chose Illinois over Michigan State,Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Purdue, Missouri, Kansas State and BallState.

rSIROD WILLIAMS

DL, 6-0, 270, SO.GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OHIO/GARFIELD HEIGHTS

2005: Played in seven games,starting three at defensive end …Collected 15 tackles and onetackle for loss … Posted a career-best five tackles at Ohio State,including three solos … Made hisfirst career start vs. Wisconsin …Averaged 73 plays the final fourgames of the season … Had three

tackles at Iowa … Posted two tackles against Penn State,Wisconsin and at Purdue.

High School: Recorded 70 tackles, including 30 solos as a senior… Had 11 sacks in 2004 … Also registered 14 quarterback

pressures and caused and recovered two fumbles … The 37th-rated recruit in the state of Ohio by Rivals.com and among thetop 40 in the state by Scout.com … Posted 171 career tacklesand set a school record with 15 sacks … Had 18 TFLs and 20pressures in his career … Named his team’s Most ValuablePlayer, leading the squad to a 9-2 record … Earned first-teamAll-Ohio honors … Set school records in the weight room with a300 power clean, 35-inch vertical jump and a 3.85 shuttle run… Also squats 450 and benches 365 pounds

Personal: Son of Doris Williams … High school football coachwas Chuck Reisland … Enrolled in the general curriculum …Tore his ACL in high school and returned to action three monthslater.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 5 at Ohio State, 11/5/05Solos: 3 at Ohio State, 11/5/05TFL: 1 vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05QB Hurries: 1 vs. Penn State, 10/22/05


WILLIAMS GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FR@IOWA 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IND 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0PSU 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 1 0-0WIS 0 2 2 1-2 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 3 2 5 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 2 0 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

rJACOBWILLIS

WR, 5-11, 180, JR.CHAMPAIGN, ILL./JOLIET JC/CENTENNIAL

2005: Member of UI squad

Junior College: Played in the fallof 2004 at Joliet Junior College.

High School: Earned letters inboth football and baseball atCentennial High School … Highschool coach was Mike McDonald… Recorded 558 yards on 22

catches as a senior in 2002 … Was named all-conference andplayed in the East-West All-Star game … Was named theschool’s receiver of the year and Offensive MVP … Earnedhonorable mention all-conference honors in baseball.

Personal: Full given name is Jacob Beau Matthew Rozario Willis… Born on Nov. 8, 1984 … Son of Lenny and Arlette Willis …Father, Lenny, is the Director of Facilities for the Illinois athleticdepartment and played football at Ohio State University …Father also went on to play professionally with the MinnesotaVikings and Buffalo Bills … Brother, Lenny, also lettered for theIllini from 1995-99 … Brother, Justin, was drafted by theAtlanta Braves … Majoring in sociology.

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REMOND WILLIS III

DL, 6-1, 240, SO.LILBOURN, MO./NEW MADRID

2005: Named to The SportingNews’ Freshman All-America andFreshman All-Big Ten teams …Played in 11 games, starting fiveof the first six … Was in on 523plays, the second-most of anylinebacker, including 132 specialteams snaps … Finished theseason fifth on the team in total

tackles with 54 … Ranked third on the team with 6.5 tackles forloss … Posted a career-best eight tackle-performance againstSan Jose State … Also intercepted a pass vs. the Spartans,returning it 27 yards to set up a touchdown … Had a career-best2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack against Indiana, also forcing afumble … Collected seven tackles against Michigan State andWisconsin … Had a quarterback hurry vs. Michigan State andbroke up a pass in the season opener against Rutgers … Postedfive tackles vs. Rutgers, at Indiana and vs. Penn State.


High School: Named to All-Conference and All-Region teams asa running back and quarterback in high school … PrepStar All-Region … Earned All-State honors … SuperPrep All-Region …Recorded 47 solo tackles, 51 assists, 16 tackles-for-loss andfour sacks … On offense, rushed for 2,086 yards and scored 26touchdowns … Lettered in football, basketball and baseball …High school coach was Glen Pixley.

Personal: Born on Aug. 28, 1985 … Son of Remond Willis andDiane Taylor … Name is pronounced “Ramone” … Enrolled inthe general curriculum … Lists Ronde Barber as his favoriteathlete.

CAREER HIGHSTackles: 8 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05Solos: 5 at California, 9/17/05 & vs. Penn State, 10/22/05TFL: 2.5 at Indiana, 10/8/05QB Sacks: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05Forced Fumble: 1 at Indiana, 10/8/05Interception: 1 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05Interception Return Yards: 27 vs. San Jose State, 9/10/05QB Hurries: 1 vs. Michigan State, 9/24/05PBU: 1 vs. Rutgers, 9/3/05


WILLIS GAME-BY-GAME2005 UA AS TOT TFL-YD QBS-YD QBH FF-FRRU 3 2 5 0.5-1 0-0 0 0-0SJSU 4 4 8 1.5-4 0-0 0 0-0@CAL 5 1 6 1-1 0-0 0 0-0MSU 3 4 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@IOWA 2 1 3 0-0 0-0 1 0-0@IND 4 1 5 2.5-13 1-8 0 1-0PSU 5 0 5 1-11 0-0 0 0-0WIS 2 5 7 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@OSU 0 3 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0@PUR 1 2 3 0-0 0-0 0 0-0NW 1 1 2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0

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DOUG WRIGHT

PK, 5-7, 180, R-FR.METAMORA, ILL./METAMORA


High School: Earned five letters infootball and wrestling … Spenttwo years as the kicker for thevarsity team, converting a near-perfect 95-of-96 extra pointattempts and making 12-of-14field goals … Also punted,averaging 40.2 yards per punt with

a long of 42 … Earned all-conference honors in both footballand wresting … Named to the Peoria Journal Star all-area team… High school coach was Pat Ryan … Also played soccer, andteam finished first at the North American Indoor Championship.

Personal: Full given name is Douglas Michael Wright … Born onOct. 27, 1986 … The son of Michael and Reba Wright …Majoring in general engineering … Father played water polo andswam at Western Illinois … Biggest thrill in sports is winningthe Gothis Cup, the World Youth Cup in Sweden … Favoriteathlete is former Iowa head wrestling coach Dan Gable … Highschool honor roll student … Lived with his family in Sao Paulo,Brazil from 1998-2000.

rKYLE YELTON

P, 6-0, 180, FR.CHESTERTON, IND./CHESTERTON

2006: Joined Illinois team in thespring after graduating early fromhigh school

High School: Associated Press All-State … Indianapolis Star Mr.Football Punter Award … PrepStarAll-Midwest Region … IndianaFootball Coaches Association All-State … Northwest Indiana Times

first-team All-Area … Two-time All-Duneland AthleticConference … Two-time All-Area Punter … Ranked the third-best punter in the nation by Scout.com … Rated a three-starrecruit by Scout.com … Kicked a season-long 67-yard punt,against his father's team … Recorded 28 touchbacks …Averaged 42 yards per punt as a senior and was 3-of-5 on fieldgoals … Made 8-of-12 career field goals … Also playeddefensive back, recording three interceptions and 43 tackles …High school coach was John Snyder … Chose Illinois overWestern Michigan.

Personal: Full given name is Kyle Anthony Samuel Yelton …Born on March 31, 1988 … Son of Rhonda and Jeff Yelton …Majoring in kinesiology … Has one sister … Father playedfootball at Ball State and is the head coach at Merrillville (Ind.)High School … Favorite athlete is Eugene Wilson of the NewEngland Patriots who played at Illinois and for his father JeffYelton at Merrillville High School … Father also coached fellowsigning classmate, Brandon Jordan.

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ILLINI BYCLASS

SENIORS (11)Sharriff AbdullahAlan BallArthur Boyd IIITim BrasicE.B. HalseyMatt MaddoxCharles MylesJosh NorrisJJ SimmonsPierre ThomasAdam Wilk

JUNIORS (32)Ben AmundsenMichael BailenCharles Bailey Jr.Kam Buckner

Kieron FrazierXavier FultonMaurice HaneyJustin HarrisonJustin IjeiSpencer JensenTyler KeelyKyle KnezeticJim LaBonteJ LemanFrank Lenti JrDrew McMahonAkim MillingtonKevin MitchellEdgar MouransChris NorwellMartin O’DonnellTroy PryorJason RedaTyler RouseJames RyanJustin Sanders

Antonio SteeleAnthony ThornhillMike WareDaJuan WarrenRuss WeilJacob Willis

SOPHOMORES (24)Eric BlockSam Carson IIIBryant CreamerWill DavisJody EllisBilly GarzaKyle HudsonWill JudsonNick LevantiDavid LindquistGreg McClendonRyan McDonaldDerrick McPhearsonRashard Mendenhall

Walter MendenhallBrit MillerDan MotuliakCody MullenMike NabolotnyRodney PittmanMark VenegoniDerek WalkerSirod WilliamsRemond Willis III

REDSHIRT FRESHMEN (14)Will BergenPaul BlalockImmanuel ChuJack EastmanConor GillenMike MuchaDoug PilcherSam PorterQuintin Scott

Trevor ScottTom SullivanJack WallBryson WhalenDoug Wright

FRESHMEN (24)Jon AsamoahTravon BellamyJerry BrownJeff CumberlandVontae DavisChris DuvaltGarrett EdwardsAntonio GullyDere HicksMichaelHoomanawanuiRandall HuntAnterio JacksonAntonio JamesChris James

Dustin JeffersonBrandon JordanEddie McGeeJoe MorganClay NurseRyan PalmerRahkeem SmithMarques WilkinsIsiah WilliamsKyle Yelton

FLORIDA (2)Will BergenChris Duvalt

GEORGIA (4)Immanuel ChuWill JudsonGreg McClendonTrevor Scott

ILLINOIS (61)Ben AmundsenJon AsamoahMichael BailenPaul BlalockTim BrasicKam BucknerSam Carson IIIBryant CreamerJack EastmanGarrett EdwardsJody EllisXavier FultonConor GillenMaurice HaneyJustin HarrisonMichael HoomanawanuiKyle HudsonAnterio JacksonChris JamesDustin JeffersonSpencer JensenTyler KeelyKyle Knezetic

Jim LaBonteJ LemanFrank Lenti Jr.Nick LevantiDavid LindquistDrew McMahonRashard MendenhallWalter MendenhallBrit MillerEdgar MouransMike MuchaCody MullenCharles MylesMike NabolotnyJosh NorrisMartin O’DonnellDoug PilcherSam PorterTroy PryorJason RedaTyler RouseJames RyanQuintin ScottRahkeem SmithTom SullivanPierre ThomasMark VenegoniDerek WalkerJack WallMike WareRuss WeilBryson WhalenAdam WilkMarques Wilkins

Isiah WilliamsJacob WillisRemond Willis IIIDoug Wright

INDIANA (6)Charles Bailey Jr.Brandon JordanKevin MitchellDan MotuliakJJ SimmonsKyle Yelton

LOUISIANA (1)Eric Block

MARYLAND (5)Travon BellamyWill DavisDerrick McPhearsonClay NurseRodney Pittman

MICHIGAN (5)Sharriff AbdullahAlan BallRyan McDonaldAnthony ThornhillDaJuan Warren

MISSISSIPPI (1)Justin Sanders

MISSOURI (3)Jerry BrownAntonio GullyJustin Ijei

NEW JERSEY (3)E.B. HalseyRandall HuntMatt Maddox

OHIO (9)Arthur Boyd IIIJeff CumberlandKieron FrazierAntonio JamesJoe MorganChris NorwellRyan PalmerAntonio SteeleSirod Williams

OKLAHOMA (1)Akim Millington

TEXAS (1)Billy Garza

VIRGINIA (1)Dere Hicks

WASHINGTON DC (2)Vontae DavisEddie McGee

ILLINI BY GEOGRAPHYQUARTERBACKS (7)Paul BlalockTim BrasicBilly GarzaEddie McGeeCody MullenMark VenegoniIsiah Williams

RUNNING BACKS (9)E.B. HalseyMaurice HaneyJustin IjeiNick LevantiRashard MendenhallWalter MendenhallSam PorterPierre ThomasRuss Weil

WIDE RECEIVERS (16)Charles Bailey Jr.Bryant CreamerJack EastmanJody EllisKieron FrazierKyle HudsonChris JamesSpencer JensenFrank Lenti Jr.Greg McClendonDerrick McPhearsonJoe MorganEdgar MouransDaJuan WarrenMarques WilkinsJacob Willis

TIGHT ENDS (3)Jeff CumberlandMichael HoomanawanuiTom Sullivan

OFFENSIVE LINE (19)Ben AmundsenJon AsamoahWill BergenEric BlockRandall HuntJim LaBonteMatt MaddoxRyan McDonaldAkim MillingtonDan MotuliakCharles MylesMike NabolotnyMartin O’Donnell

Ryan PalmerJames RyanTrevor ScottJJ SimmonsJack WallAdam Wilk

DEFENSIVE LINE (18)Arthur Boyd IIIJerry BrownKam BucknerImmanuel ChuWill DavisXavier FultonAntonio JamesBrandon JordanDavid LindquistJosh NorrisChris NorwellClay NurseDoug PilcherDerek WalkerMike WareBryson WhalenSirod WilliamsRemond Willis III

LINEBACKERS (11)Sam Carson IIIConor GillenAnterio JacksonDustin JeffersonJ LemanBrit MillerRodney PittmanTroy PryorRahkeem SmithAntonio SteeleAnthony Thornhill

DEFENSIVE BACKS (17)Sharriff AbdullahMichael BailenAlan BallTravon BellamyVontae DavisChris DuvaltGarrett EdwardsAntonio GullyDere HicksJustin HarrisonWill JudsonDrew McMahonKevin MitchellMike MuchaTyler RouseJustin Sanders

Quintin Scott

PUNTERS (1)Kyle Yelton

PLACEKICKERS (2)Jason RedaDoug Wright

LONG SNAPPERS (2)Tyler KeelyKyle Knezetic

ILLINI BY POSITION

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JON ASAMOAH

OL, 6-5, 265, FR.PARK FOREST, ILL./RICH EAST

High School: PrepStar All-Midwest Region … Chicago Tribunespecial mention All-State … Chicago Sun-Times All-State …Chicago Sun-Times All-Area … Two-time The Star All-Area …Daily Southtown All-Area … Northwest Indiana Times All-Area… Two-time first-team All-Conference SICA Green … Two-timeAcademic All-State … Offense gained over 3,100 rushing yards… Also earned three letters in basketball … High school coachwas Alan Greenberg … Chose Illinois over Northern Illinois,Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Ball State.

Personal: Full given name is Jonathan Yao-Lante Asamoah …Born on July 21, 1988 … Son of Geraldine Terstegge and SamuelAsamoah … Favorite athlete is Shaquille O'Neal … Wendy'sHigh School Heisman Nominee for outstanding achievement inathletics, academics and the community … Earned the CookCounty Circuit Court - Black History Award for academics andcommunity service.

rTRAVON BELLAMY

DB, 6-0, 195, FR.GREENBELT, MD./ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

High School: Star/Gazette All-State … The Washington Postsecond-team All-Metro … PrepStar All-Atlantic Region …Earned first-team All-Conference honors by The Washington Post… Pigskin Club All-Metro team … MDvarsity.com consensusfirst-team Big School All-State … Rated a three-star recruit byRivals.com and Scout.com … Ranked the 20th best player inMaryland and rated the No. 54 defensive back in the country byRivals.com … Posted 63 tackles, three fumble recoveries, 11interceptions and three defensive touchdowns as a senior …Also rushed for 187 yards on 16 carries, caught 18 passes for394 yards … Also returned kickoffs and punts, recording 423yards on kicks and 437 on punt returns … Three-year startingdefensive back … Set a school record with a 101-yardinterception return for a touchdown return in 2005, one of twotouchdown returns on the season … Recorded threeinterceptions in the same game he set the school record return… Had 33 career interceptions … Made 72 tackles and eightinterceptions as a junior, despite missing five games with a kneeinjury … Returned one kickoff for a TD in 2004 … Led PrinceGeorge County with 14 interceptions as a sophomore … Reportsa 4.40 second 40-yard dash … High school coach was RickHouchens … Chose Illinois over Oregon State, Kansas State,North Carolina and Virginia.

Personal: Full given name is Travon Garrett Bellamy … Born onJan. 11, 1988 … Son of Kelice and Luther Bellamy.

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JERRY BROWN

DL, 6-4, 262, FR.ST. LOUIS, MO./VASHON

High School: Missouri Sportswriters and SportscastersAssociation Class 5 first-team All-State … PrepStar All-American … St. Louis Post-Dispatch first-team All-Metro …First-team All-Public High League Conference … Two-timePublic High League defensive MVP … Rated a three-star recruitby Rivals.com and Scout.com … The 11th-ranked recruit fromMissouri and 53rd ranked defensive end in the nation accordingto Rivals.com … Made 97 tackles, 13 sacks and oneinterception in 2005 … Caught three passes for 30 yards and atouchdown at tight end … Recorded 362 career tackles, 37career sacks and one interception while lettering four times …High school coach was Reginald Ferguson … Also won threeletters in track … Chose Illinois over Missouri, Oklahoma andNebraska.

Personal: Full given name is Jerry Jerome Brown, Jr. … Born onOct. 20, 1987 … Son of Dwjaun and Stacey Jackson … Has onebrother … Favorite athlete is Jevon Kearse … Started playingfootball at age six.

rJEFFCUMBERLAND

TE, 6-5, 240, FR.COLUMBUS, OHIO/BROOKHAVEN

High School: Ohio News Network/Ohio High Magazine All-Ohioteam … PrepStar All-American … Listed as the No. 66 recruitin the nation by ESPN.com … Rated a four-star recruit byRivals.com and Scout.com … Ranked the 11th best prospectfrom Ohio and 19th-rated athlete in the country by Rivals.com… Ranked in the Rivals 250 by Rivals.com … Made 25 catchesfor 801 yards, recording 32 yards per catch … Scored 13touchdowns during the regular season in 2005 … Selected forthe Ohio North/South Classic game … Recorded the best 40-yard dash and vertical leap among tight ends at the Los AngelesNIKE Training Camp … High school coach was Tom Blake …Rantrack and qualified for the state meet in the 100 meters, 4x100relay and 4x200 relay … Ran a 10.6 in the 100 meters … ChoseIllinois over Ohio State, Minnesota, West Virginia and Marshall.

Personal: Full given name is Jeffrey Llionell Cumberland …Bornon May 2, 1987 … Raised by grandmother, Rosline Cumberland.

rVONTAE DAVIS

DB, 6-0, 184, FR.WASHINGTON, D.C./DUNBAR

High School: Washington Post first-team All-Metro … PrepStarAll-American … D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year … DCIAA Westfirst-team All-Conference …Named the No. 1 recruit in the DCarea by Rivals.com … Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.comand Scout.com … Recorded eight interceptions and 38 solotackles as a senior … Also had 25 receptions for 612 yards …Recorded over 1,000 all-purpose yards in 2005 … Led DunbarHS to a 9-2 record and defeated Coolidge in the Turkey Bowl, theDCIAA city championship game … Third-fastest DB at the State

College NIKE camp … Recorded 4.40 second 40-yard dash and33-inch vertical jump … High school coach is Craig Jefferies …Chose Illinois over Maryland, Michigan State and Virginia.

Personal: Full given name is Vontae O. Davis … Born on May 5,1988 … Raised by his grandmother, Adeline Davis … Brother,Vernon, played tight end at Maryland and was the sixth overallpick in the 2006 NFL Draft, selected by the San Francisco 49ers.

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CHRIS DUVALT

DB, 5-11, 159, FR. LAKELAND, FLA./LAKE GIBSON

High School: Florida Sports Writers Association Class 5A first-team All-State … PrepStar All-American … Florida AthleticCoaches Association Player of the Year … Rated a four-starrecruit by Rivals.com … Ranked the 25th best cornerback in thenation and 49th-best player in the state of Florida by Rivals.com… Recorded 50 tackles, five interceptions and eight pass breakups in 2005 … Also made 17 catches for 385 yards and scoredthree touchdowns … Recorded a 4.38 second 40-yard dash atthe Tallahassee NIKE Training Camp … Selected for the FloridaNorth-South All-Star Game … Registered 52 tackles, seveninterceptions and 11 pass break ups as a junior … High schoolcoach was Keith DeMyer … Played point guard for high schoolbasketball team … Chose Illinois over West Virginia and SouthCarolina.

Personal: Full given name is Darian Christopher Duvalt … Bornon Dec. 12, 1987 … Son of Shonnie Shaw.

rGARRETTEDWARDS

DB, 6-2, 205, FR.DOWNERS GROVE, ILL./DOWNERS GROVE NORTH

High School: 2005 Chicago Tribune first-team All-State …Chicago Sun-Times All-State … Chicago Sun-Times All-Area …Champaign News-Gazette All-State … PrepStar All-MidwestRegion … West Suburban Silver Conference Player of the Year… 2004 Chicago Tribune second-team All-State … Rated athree-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com … Ranked the13th best recruit in Illinois by Rivals.com … Three-year varsitystarter … Played running back, wide receiver, free safety andquarterback in high school … Part of 2004 8A StateChampionship team … Tallied 3,208 career rushing yards and1,700 career passing yards … Returned three punts and threekickoffs for touchdowns in career … Six career interceptions …In 2004, rushed for 1,700 yards and 25 touchdowns … Passedfor 900 yards and 11 touchdowns … All-Conference basketballselection … High school coach was John Wander … ChoseIllinois over Purdue and Iowa State.

Personal: Full given name is Garrett James Edwards … Born onDec. 18, 1987 … Son of Kim and Tom Edwards … Has twobrothers and one sister … Two uncles played college football,Ron Leoni (Illinois) and Dave Edwards (Indiana) … Biggestsports thrill was winning the state championship … Favoriteathlete is Shaun Alexander … Born in Orange County, Calif.

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ANTONIO GULLY

DB, 6-1, 180, FR.ST. LOUIS, MO./CARDINAL RITTER

High School: Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Class 2first-team All-State defensive back … PrepStar All-SouthwestRegion … St. Louis Post-Dispatch first-team All-Metro … All-AAA Conference … St. Louis American All-American … Rankedas the No. 14 player in the state of Missouri by Rivals.com …Totaled nine interceptions each in 2004 and 2005 … Made 60tackles in 2005 … Also played wide receiver, making 26receptions for 561 yards his senior season … Scored threetouchdowns … Helped record first playoff win in school historyin 2005 … Recorded a 37-inch vertical jump … Ran crosscountry and track in high school … High school coach was RonVillars … Chose Illinois over Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Personal: Full given name is Antonio Jeremiah Gully … Born onSept. 27, 1986 … Son of Donna Simms and Lawerance Gully …Has three brothers and two sisters … Earned Honor Rollrecognition.

rMICHAELHOOMANAWANUI

TE, 6-5, 255, FR.BLOOMINGTON, ILL./CENTRAL CATHOLIC

High School: Chicago Tribune first-team All-State … ChicagoSun-Times first-team All-State … PrepStar All-Midwest Region… Champaign News-Gazette All-State … BloomingtonPantagraph All-State… First Team All-Cornbelt Conference …WJBC-AM Ron Smith Player of the Year … Three-star recruit,ranked as the No. 40 tight end in the country by Rivals.com …Made 50 receptions for 843 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior… Also, led team with 139 tackles and eight sacks on defense… Lettered in basketball during freshman, sophomore andjunior years … High school coach was Bobby Moews … ChoseIllinois over Purdue, Northern Illinois and Oregon State.

Personal: Full given name is Michael Patrick Hoomanawanui …Born on July 4, 1988 … Son of Anne and Isy Hoomanawanui …Has one sister … Father played football for Illinois StateUniversity.

rANTERIO JACKSON

LB, 6-2, 240, FR.CHICAGO, ILL./FENGER

High School: Chicago Tribune special mention All-State …Champaign News-Gazette special mention All-State … ChicagoSun-Times Top 100 All-Area … PrepStar All-Midwest Region …All-City … Chicago Public League All-Illini Land of LincolnConference … Two time Male Athlete of the Year at Fenger HighSchool … Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com andScout.com … Ranked as the 44th best inside linebacker in thecountry by Rivals.com … Made 174 tackles and six sacks as asenior … Recorded three interceptions and forced five fumblesin 2005 … Three-year varsity starter … Played center onoffense and long snapper on special teams … Competed in theshot put, discus, 200m and 400m for high school track and field

team … Also earned two letters on the bowling team … Highschool coaches were Michael Holmes and William Douglas …Chose Illinois over Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin andNorthwestern.

Personal: Full given name Anterio Jarius Jackson … Born onJan. 15, 1988 … Has been raised since seventh grade by EmmaAllen … Has one brother and three sisters … Earned academicHonor Roll distinction … High school coach, Michael Holmes,played running back at Illinois (1979-80) … William Douglas,assistant coach, played in the NFL.

rANTONIO JAMES

DL, 6-5, 265, FR.MASSILLON, OHIO/WASHINGTON

High School: Associated Press first-team Division I All-Ohio …First-team All-District … PrepStar All-Midwest Region … First-team All-County … Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com andScout.com … Ranked as the 54th-best strongside defensive endin the country by Rivals.com … Helped lead Washington to a 13-2 final record, making the Ohio state championship game …Finished the season with 45 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 13sacks and 10 passes batted down … Also had 23 quarterbackhurries and 10 forced fumbles as a senior … Selected for theOhio/Pennsylvania Big 33 All-Star Game … Selected for theOhio North/South Classic game … High school coach was TomStacy … Also earned three letters in track and one in basketball… Chose Illinois over Michigan State, Maryland, Virginia,Kentucky and Louisville.

Personal: Full given name is Antonio Dioun James … Born onMarch 17, 1988 … Son of Julie Pettis and Antonio James … Hasfour brothers and one sister … Favorite athlete is Richard Dent,former Chicago Bears defensive lineman … Honor Roll student.

rCHRIS JAMES

WR, 6-0, 177, FR.CHICAGO, ILL./MORGAN PARK

High School: Chicago Tribune second-team All-State …Champaign News-Gazette All-State … Chicago Sun-Times Top100 All-Area … Rated the No. 127 recruit in the nation byESPN.com … PrepStar All-Midwest Region … All-City …Chicago Public League All-Illini Prairie State Conference … Afour-star recruit by Rivals.com … Ranked the 26th-best receiverin the country and fourth-best recruit in the state of Illinois …Had 51 receptions for 977 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior… Led high school to 2005 Prep Bowl win while filling in atquarterback for the injured regular starter … Rushed for 115yards and one touchdown while throwing for 50 yards and onetouchdown in the championship game … In 2004, made 30receptions for 550 yards and seven touchdowns … High schoolcoach is Lexie Spurlock.

Personal: Born on Jan. 7, 1988 … Son of Kyle Greer and the lateCharles James … Resides with his grandmother, GwendolynParker … Nickname is “CJ” … Has three brothers and threesisters … Began playing football in eighth grade … ChoseIllinois over Michigan State, Minnesota, Kansas and NorthernIllinois.

DUSTINJEFFERSON

LB, 6-0, 230, FR.KANKAKEE, ILL./KANKAKEE

High School: Illinois High School Coaches Association first-teamAll-State … Chicago Tribune special mention All-State …Champaign News-Gazette special-mention All-State … ChicagoSun-Times Top 100 All-Area … First-team All-SICA GreenConference … Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com andScout.com … PrepStar All-Midwest Region … Ranked as theNo. 16 player in the state of Illinois and 64th-best outsidelinebacker in the country by Rivals.com … Four-year varsitystarter … Played in nine games, posting 101 tackles, 55 solotackles, 14 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumblerecoveries during his senior year … Recorded 113 tackles andfive sacks as a junior … Recorded the fourth fastest 40-yarddash time among LBs at the Ann Arbor NIKE Training Camp …Selected to play in the Illinois Shriners All-State game … Alsoran track … Was a state qualifier in the 4x200 and discus injunior year … Coached by his dad, Ira Jefferson, in high school… Chose Illinois over Iowa, Northern Illinois and Ball State.

Personal: Full given name is Dustin Thomas Jefferson … Bornon Jan. 18, 1988 … Son of Karla and Ira Jefferson … Fatherplayed football at Eastern Illinois and is the head coach atChampaign Central High School … Wants to be a high schoolhistory teacher after college.

rBRANDON JORDAN

DL, 6-5, 290, FR.MERRILLVILLE, IND./MERRILLVILLE

High School: Associated Press Class 5A first team All-State …Herald Tribune Top 33 All-State … Indiana Football CoachesAssociation Top 50 All-State … PrepStar All-Midwest Region …Northwest Indiana Times First-Team All-Area … Post-Tribunefirst-team All-Area … First-team All-Duneland AthleticConference … Rated the No. 14 player in the state of Indiana …Recorded 43 pancake blocks as a senior and 27 as a junior …Graded out at 91 percent in senior season … 2005 MostValuable Offensive Lineman and Co-Captain for his team …Played in three games on defense as a senior … Recorded eightsolo tackles, three assists and six quarterback pressures …Chose Illinois over Nebraska, Northern Illinois and Ball State …High school coach was Jeff Yelton, the father of fellow Illiniteammate, Kyle Yelton.

Personal: Full name is Brandon Alexander Jordan … Born onSept. 17, 1988 in Houston, Texas … Son of Oscar Stallworth andHazel Jordan-Turley … Cousin, Michael Neal, signed with Purduein 2005.

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EDDIE MCGEE

QB, 6-4, 189, FR. WASHINGTON, DC/H.D. WOODSON

High School: Pigskin All-Metro … Honorable-mention All-Metroby The Washington Post … PrepStar All-Atlantic Region …First-team DCIAA East All-League … Finished the season with2,890 yards passing and 22 touchdowns … Also ran for 770yards and five touchdowns … Had two 300-plus yard passingperformances and completed a career-best five touchdownpasses in a single game … Rated as the second-best playerfrom the District of Columbia … High school coach was GregFuller … Chose Illinois over Rutgers and Temple.

Personal: Full given name is Edward Francis McGee … Born onJanuary 23, 1988 … Son of Ivy Johnson and Edward McGee …Has two brothers … From the same high school as currentJacksonville Jaguar, Byron Leftwich … Favorite athlete is BrettFavre because of his leadership and toughness.

rJOE MORGAN

WR, 6-2, 180, FR.CANTON, OHIO/MCKINLEY

High School: Associated Press first-team All-Ohio … Ohio NewsNetwork/Ohio High Magazine All-Ohio team … SuperPrep All-Midwest Region … Caught 39 passes for 1,018 yards and 13touchdowns as a senior … Averaged 26.1 yards per catch …Set school records for receiving yardage and touchdowns in aseason … Scored nine touchdowns of 45 yards or longer …Helped lead his McKinley team to a 12-1 record in 2005 …Recorded a 4.4 40-yard dash time … Selected for theOhio/Pennsylvania Big 33 All-Star Game … Played in the OhioNorth/South Classic game … Hails from the home of the ProFootball Hall of Fame … Also ran track, finishing third in thestate in the long jump as a junior … Won the Ohio state title inthe long jump in 2006 with a mark 24-6, which was also thethird-best jump in meet history … Ran a 10.7 100 meters as asenior … Chose Illinois over West Virginia, Michigan State,Akron, Bowling Green and Toledo.

Personal: Full given name is Joseph Christopher Morgan …Born on March 28, 1988 … Son of Marian Morgan.

rCLAY NURSE

DL, 6-3, 235, FR.BELTSVILLE, MD./HIGH POINT

High School: Honorable-mention All-Metro … All-Prince GeorgeCounty … All-Prince George 4A League … Selected for theRivals.com Dream Team Defense Second Team … Played outsidelinebacker for high school and led team in tackles and sacks …High school coach was Greg Hill … Also won letters inbasketball and track … Chose Illinois over Maryland, Rutgers,Syracuse, Connecticut, Akron and Kent State.

Personal: Full given name Clay Kriston Eversley Nurse … Bornon Aug. 1, 1988 … Son of Marcia Leitch and Charles Nurse …Has one brother and one sister … Played only two years of high

school football after immigrating from Georgetown, Guyana; atthe age of 15 … Played cricket, soccer and basketball whileattending Queen's College High School in Guyana … Plans to bea physical therapist after a professional career in football.

rRYAN PALMER

OL, 6-7, 315, FR.CANTON, OHIO/GLEN OAK

High School: Graded out at over 90 percent and was namedfirst-team All-State by the Associated Press … PrepStar All-Midwest Region … Earned first-team Division I All-Ohio …First-team All-Stark County … First-team All-Region … First-team Federal League All-Conference … Ranked among the Top-50 in the state of Ohio by Rivals.com … Played in 10 games in2005 and racked up 85 pancake blocks … Selected for andplayed left tackle in the Big 33-Ohio All-Star Game … Highschool coach was Jack Rose … Also lettered in basketball …Chose Illinois over Minnesota, Wisconsin, West Virginia andKentucky.

Personal: Full given name is Ryan Nicholas Palmer … Born onOct. 22, 1987 … Son of Lisa and Kim Palmer … Has one brother… Earned honor roll recognition 2002-2006 … Plans to majorin business.

rRAHKEEM SMITH

LB, 6-1, 220, FR.LOMBARD, ILL./WILLOWBROOK/HARGRAVE PREP

Prep School: Rated a four star recruit by Rivals.com andScout.com … Named the ninth-best prep school player byScout.com … Named the 10th-best prep school player byRivals.com … Recorded 52 tackles and two interceptions atHargrave Prep.

High School: A Scout.com top-25 Illinois recruit … Ranked the19th-best prospect in the state of Illinois and the 52nd-bestoutside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com … A three-starprospect by both Scout.com and Rivals.com … Recorded 82tackles and seven sacks as a senior with seven tackles-for-loss,three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles … Led the teamin rushing with 783 yards on 146 carries as a running back,scoring nine touchdowns… Twice earned West Suburban GoldAll-Conference honors … Was an All-Area selection by theArlington Heights Daily Herald in 2004 … After lacerated kidneyinjury as a sophomore, came back with 67 tackles, 11 for loss,and 12 sacks in 2003 … SuperPrep All-Region … Three-yearvarsity member … High school coach was Mark Olson.

Personal: Full given name is Rahkeem Jamaal Smith … Born onOctober 10, 1987 … The son of Tamilla and James Smith … Isone of eight children … Brother, Tramell, is an All-Americanmiddle-distance runner on the Illinois track team.

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ISIAH WILLIAMS

QB, 6-2, 220, FR.CHICAGO, ILL./CHICAGO VOCATIONAL

High School: PrepStar Dream Team … PrepStar All-American …Midwest Quarterback of the Year … PrepStar Top-100 recruit …Rivals.com Top-100 recruit … Chicago Tribune special mentionAll-State … Champaign News-Gazette All-State … ChicagoSun-Times Top 100 All-Area … Three-time All-Chicago PublicLeague … Three-time All-City … Four-time All-Illini Red BirdConference … Ranked No. 5 among senior quarterbacks in thenation by SI.com … Rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com andScout.com … Second-rated prospect from the state of Illinoisand No. 3 pro-style quarterback in the nation according toRivals.com … Ranked the No. 7 quarterback prospect in theMidwest by the Detroit Free Press … Threw for 1,841 yards and22 touchdowns as a senior … Also rushed for 1,441 yards and17 touchdowns … Averaged 21.8 yards per carry… Made one65-yard touchdown reception … Won Best Feet and Most Likelyto Play First Awards at the 2005 EA Sports Elite 11 Quarterbackcamp … Runner-up in Strongest Arm and Most ImprovedCamper at Elite 11 … Selected for the Chicago Public LeagueAll-Star game … Served as a reserve for the Army All-AmericanBowl … High school coach was Charles Chambers … ChoseIllinois over North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee and OhioState.

Personal: Full given name is Isiah John Williams … Goes by“Juice” … Born on Nov. 19, 1987 … Son of Anita and StanleyWilliams … Has two brothers and four sisters … Attended samehigh school as former Illini and NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus,who is also his Illini hero … Honor roll student … High schoolStudent of the Month … Neighborhood Citizen of the Month …Nearly died at birth due to the excessive weight of 13 poundsand eight ounces.

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the fighting illini

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