Illinois banking on transfers, experience to erase the memories of a frustrating season

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois’ shot at playing in a bowl game last season evaporated with two-point losses in the final two games.

Coach Bret Bielema is confident of a happier ending this fall.

“There isn’t a more exciting time for me in my life than to be the coach at the University of Illinois in 2024,” he said.

One reason for Bielema’s optimism is the infusion of three four-star transfers: defensive back Terrance Brooks (Texas), offensive lineman J.C. Davis (New Mexico) and wide receiver Zakhari Franklin (UTSA and Ole Miss). It will help ease the sting of a 5-7 season and the departure of four NFL draft picks and several other players.

The Illini are experienced: 17 players, including nine transfers, have at least 10 collegiate starts. Two defensive lineman, Ezekiel Holmes and Florida State transfer Dennis Briggs Jr., are in their seventh seasons of college football. The two have played a combined 77 games in their injury-filled careers.

Quarterback Luke Altmyer begins his second season as the expected starter. The transfer from Ole Miss threw for 1,833 yards and had 13 touchdown passes last season, but he also was picked off 10 times and lost his starting job to John Paddock at the end of the season. With a year of experience running the Illinois offense and more weapons at his disposal, there is cautious optimism in the Illini camp for a breakout season from Altmyer.

Offensive playmakers

Illinois has two running backs on the Doak Walker Award watch list: Kaden Feagin and Josh McCray.

Feagin began his freshman season last year with 74 consecutive carries without a loss and he ran for 405 yards in Big Ten games. McCray played just nine games the last two seasons because of injuries, but he had a breakout freshman season in 2021, when he ran for 549 yards.

Franklin is college football’s active career leader in receptions (266), receiving yards (3,386) and receiving touchdowns (38). He has been reunited with offensive coordinator Barry Lunney, who was the OC at UTSA during Franklin’s first two seasons there. Franklin caught 19 touchdown passes and had 1,721 receiving yards in 23 games during those seasons.

“Zakhari is an accomplished player with a lot ahead of him,” Lunney said.

Franklin joins an Illinois receiving corps that includes red zone threat Pat Bryant, who caught seven touchdown passes last season.

Linebacker lineup

Linebacker should be a strong suit for the defense with Dylan Rosiek and Seth Coleman leading the way.

Rosiek led the Big Ten and tied for third nationally with four forced fumbles last season. He also had a team-leading 82 tackles. Coleman is in his sixth season at Illinois. He had six sacks in Big Ten games last season, second-most in the conference.

Great Scott

Miles Scott had an inconsistent season last year after switching from wide receiver to free safety. He returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns and was second on the team with 64 tackles. He struggled at times, taking bad routes to the ball, but with a season of experience he is expected to be a leader in the Illini secondary, especially with the loss of two-year starting cornerback Taz Nicholson, who transferred to Toledo.

The schedule

A five-week stretch over late September and October will be crucial, starting with a road game at Nebraska. The Illini will face four teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 — No. 3 Oregon and No. 8 Penn State on the road and No. 9 Michigan and No. 22 Kansas at home — and all but the Kansas game are in that five-week span.

The opener is Aug. 29 at home against Eastern Illinois. Memorial Stadium turns 100 this season and the Illini will celebrate the occasion Oct. 19 during a stadium rededication game vs. Michigan. Illinois players will wear 1920’s-themed throwback uniforms and hand-painted helmets that look like the leather helmets worn during that era.

The annual rivalry game against Northwestern is Nov. 30 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

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