Resetich riding around in style while the rest of us are sleeping
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Resetich riding around in style while the rest of us are sleeping
Sep. 10—CHAMPAIGN — If you see a guy with curly red hair riding a moped near Gies Memorial Stadium at the crack of dawn, give him plenty of space. Mac Resetich is on his way to the Illinois football complex.
The talented defensive back/punt returner met with the media Wednesday at the Smith Center.
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Resetich had a stellar opening night last Thursday against UAB. He returned a punt 65 yards to set up Illinois' first score in a 42-23 victory. The team's starting free safety also had four tackles.
He enjoyed it.
"It was a lot of fun," the Spring Valley native said. "We waited a long time for that first game, just coming out and flying around, doing stuff we love to do."
Resetich could be the next Hank Beatty — just on the defensive side of the ball. In 2025, the Rochester product Beatty led Illinois in catches and was one of nation's top punt returners.
"It's hard to compare to Hank Beatty, but I try," Resetich said.
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Returning punts wasn't new for Resetich. In 2024, he handled four for 43 yards. The 65-yarder was, by far, the longest return of his Illinois career.
"Catching the ball is the most important part," he said.
Given the choice of a long punt return or a big hit on defense, Resetich would take the latter.
"Get my guys on the defense that I'm closest with, get them up and get the energy high on the defensive side of the ball," he said.
The combination of defense and punt return work well together, Resetich said.
"It would be a great feeling to get a third-down stop, then obviously, you get to turn around and give the ball back to the offense," he said. "That's a good feeling."
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His confidence has grown both on defense and special teams.
Makes it easier for the coaches to have Resetich manning two vital spots.
"Safeties in our defense have the biggest role," he said. "We talk the most. We have the most communication, making sure everybody's on the same page along with the corners and linebackers and sometimes the D-linemen."
Early bird
Sure, we talked some more about tackling and returning. Until the conversation shifted to Resetich's morning routine.
"Some stuff you can do before the day gets started and after the day gets started just to get better at the small things," Resetich said.
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What motivates him?
"A couple years here, I've been through a lot," Resetich said. "And some of the feelings that you get of not playing the best or not doing the best, that feeling really drives you just to play better and get better."
Resetich gets up about 4:40 a.m. each day, fills his water jug, takes his vitamins and then jumps on his moped for the five-minute ride to the Smith Center building. His goal: be the first one there. Or close.
"The lights turn on at 5," he said. "I always try to beat the lights."
His version of sleeping in: "5:15."
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Why the moped? Good question.
"I always had a scooter and the scooters kept on getting stolen," Resetich said. "I even had a bike-rack key, and they cut the key and stole it. One of my friends back at home was selling the moped and it was like $800, so easy deal."
He didn't have to ride the moped the 119 miles from Spring Valley. His dad brought it in a trailer.
On his side
Illinois coach Bret Bielema has made it clear he is a Resetich fan. So is new secondary coach Ronnie Bradford.
"That's all you could ask for, the confidence coaches have in you," Resetich said. "Coach B.'s had confidence in me since I was a no-star recruit high school baseball player. It means the world to me."
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One word sums up Bradford's feelings on Resetich's special teams contributions.
"Proud," the first-year Illinois assistant said. "I cut my teeth on special teams. That's kind of what it is.
"It's exciting to see him perform well on special teams."
Bradford said Resetich played well on defense against the Blazers.
"He had a good game," Bradford said. "He's a solid kid. He understands, communicates well. And if things don't line up the way he is anticipating, we make sure we have a conversation, so everything is clear."
