Notes: Capka-Jones another passing game option

CHAMPAIGN — Alexander Capka-Jones committed to Illinois in late June last summer not long after receiving his scholarship offer.

His lead time into training camp, to get established with the Illini, was minimal.

Not that he gave himself any breaks as he adjusted to the Big Ten after spending two seasons at the junior-college level.

“Last year, I put so much pressure on myself trying to learn the offense, trying to understand everything and trying to get it all down in a matter of time,” Capka-Jones said. “The first year, I struggled with the offense. I wasn’t really getting on the field because they couldn’t trust I wouldn’t go out there and mess it up. I totally understand that.”

Capka-Jones is more comfortable now.

More confident, too.

It took the better part of a year, but by the end of this year’s spring practices the 6-foot-4, 190-pound wide receiver had tangible proof he could hang at the Big Ten level.

“After the first two to three weeks of spring, I was like, ‘Man, I feel really good. I feel really confident and comfortable,’” Capka-Jones said. “Spring game, I went out and had a really good game. After that, I was like, ‘I know I can do this. I know I can play at a high level. I’m blessed to be here and I have all the resources to do it.’

“I’ve been playing the best football I’ve ever played. I feel like I’m having 10 times more fun than I was last year.”

Capka-Jones isn’t the only one to think he’s better suited to contribute this season than last. Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. sees it, too.

“He’s a tall, long guy that runs good routes and catches the ball really well,” Lunney said. “He’s a really good deep-ball threat. I really like where Alex is at right now. I think he’s really starting to come into his own. I really do.”

★ ★ ★

How Capka-Jones fits into Illinois’ plans at wide receiver this fall is still to be determined. Mostly because the Illini intend to use as many options in the passing game they feel comfortable can produce.

That’s what Illinois coach Bret Bielema saw in Wednesday’s scrimmage. Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin, of course, made several big plays. That’s expected. But a deep ball to redshirt freshman Collin Dixon caught Bielema’s eye. So did some plays tight end Tanner Arkin made.

“Then our running backs caught the ball extremely well,” Bielema said. “I think the big thing for us is to distribute it. Not just going to go-to guys — people that traditionally get looked at and defended. I think it’s now a little bit more broad-based approach. I’m really excited about that wide receiver room.”

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Arkin becoming a target in the passing game is more a priority now than it was when camp started. A season-ending knee injury to Cole Rusk shifted all the plans Illinois had at tight end.

The top-two options in the room now are Arkin and Henry Boyer, who just cleared concussion protocol. They have 17 combined catches in their careers. Saint Anselm transfer Carson Goda has more of a reputation as a pass catcher, but he’s making the jump from Division II to the Big Ten.

“The guys that are going to be healthy for us and able to play, they have a different skill set than Cole and each other,” Lunney said. “I’m very confident in what we have available. ... We’re going to miss (Rusk). We’re also going to have to figure out how to compensate for him, and we’re on the right track with that.”

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Illinois’ depth chart at quarterback is fairly clear less than two weeks out from the Aug. 29 season opener against Eastern Illinois. Luke Altmyer is the unquestionable No. 1, Donovan Leary is his backup and walk-on Kirkland Michaux is third ahead of Trey Petty and Cal Swanson.

Petty, who enrolled early and went through spring practices, has gotten the bulk of the developmental reps during his first training camp with the Illini.

Swanson, a redshirt freshman, has received some, too.

“Their knowledge base has grown because of their time being here,” Lunney said. “That’s a work in progress like it is at all positions. They’ve got to take advantage of every rep, every meeting, every walkthrough, and when it’s their time to go, they have to be able to apply the offense. I’ve seen signs of that.”

★ ★ ★

It’s been a significant week for Illinois linebacker Dylan Rosiek. The 6-1, 235-pound redshirt junior out of East Lake, Fla., was named to the Butkus Award watch list Tuesday and then as a team captain on Wednesday.

“Dylan is just a workhorse,” Illini defensive coordinator Aaron Henry said. “What he does is not always pretty. He just gets the job done. He’s one of those blue collar, hardworking young men. Whatever job it is you ask him to do, he’s going to get it done.

“He’s a catalyst of our defense. He’s a leader of our defense. He’s, obviously, the centerpiece of it. Obviously, if Dylan plays well, we play well collectively as a unit.”

★ ★ ★

Illinois didn’t have to worry about having a playmaker on its defensive line the last two seasons. Johnny Newton took care of that, causing enough havoc to wind up Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American last fall.

Now, Newton is in the NFL. Who causes mayhem up front is one of the biggest question marks for the Illinois defense heading into the 2024 season.

Henry, though, apparently isn’t worried.

“We’ve got some dudes up front, man,” he said. “ I think that we’ve got four or five guys up front I think are pretty special in terms of rushing the passer and getting off the ball. I think it’s going to be pretty cool to see those guys take on their own element.

“From our standpoint as coaches, we just want to put them in position to have success. Overall, what we’ve done collectively throughout the course of fall camp, I can’t tell you how excited I am as a play-caller from the standpoint of having special guys up front to rush the passer.”

Scott Richey