Eye on Illini: 10 open practice observations
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Eye on Illini: 10 open practice observations
Aug. 22—CHAMPAIGN — Saturday's practice at Gies Memorial Stadium — No. 17 overall for Illinois in training camp — was open to the media. A first this month, providing more insight into the Illini ahead of the 2026 season, which kicks off on Sept. 3 against UAB in Champaign.
Here's my 10 observations:
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Otherwise, James Kreutz might have put some of his teammates in green jerseys the next time out. The senior linebacker made a strong case for the day's MVP. Kreutz was effective as a blitzer up the middle, snuffed out some passing plays across the middle and even had one of Saturday's two interceptions in 11-on-11 action.
Mostly to avoid what happened on one of the initial reps where a player got taken to the ground and some members of the offensive and defensive lines mixed it up to show their displeasure.
There's a reason Bret Bielema discussed a Hank Beatty reunion earlier in the week. Limited to various degrees were Hudson Clement , Brayden Trimble, Kenyon Alston, Jacob Eberhart and Jayshon Platt. That group didn't include Alex Perry , who is likely out for the season. Clement participated in most of the drills, with the green jersey more precautionary following his return from concussion protocol.
The fifth-year wide receiver, who transferred to Illinois from Illinois State for his final season, spent his pre-practice time kicking onside kicks with special teams coordinator Chris Hurd and then throwing to fellow wide receivers Jershaun Newton and Nas Rankin. Kasper also got in work during practice as a punt returner and kick returner.
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It's one of Parker's tried and true coaching methods to keep his cornerbacks from being too hands on. The best way to tamp down on holding and pass interference penalties? Don't let your defensive backs use their hands at all for certain segments of practice.
The fifth-year linebacker, who has played his way into a probable staring role, could clearly be heard halfway up the East stands from his spot in the middle of the field as he directed traffic before the snap. Kante also laid a big thump on an Illinois tight end to break up a pass across the middle during 11-on-11 action.
Kreutz's interception was the first of the day. Sophomore safety Andre Lovett Jr. also got one, stopping a 2-minute drive from the first string offense by picking off Katin Houser .
The Illinois quarterback mostly kept the ball out of trouble when going against a live defense and made more than a few impressive throws. The best came when he hit senior wide receiver Collin Dixon down the seam in traffic with an absolute rocket of a throw.
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Beerman is hard to miss on the field at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, and he was notably active working with the second-string defense.
Special teams is the typical starting point, but multiple first-year players have carved out roles on offense or defense in Bielema's tenure in Champaign. One of the likeliest to be on the field against UAB is freshman wide receiver Nate Cichy. The Mount Prospect native was originally Harvard bound before Illinois flipped him in May. Cichy consistently repped with the second-string receivers Saturday.
