Here are the candidates for the SBLive/SI Illinois Athlete of the Week as nominated by coaches, fans and readers. 

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday.

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email mikeclarkpreps@gmail.com.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

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The quarterback passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-7 win over Brother Rice.

The running back had 21 carries for 244 yards and two TDs, including a 99-yarder, in a 26-15 win vs. Huntley.

The two-way player had two interceptions, including a pick-six, and added three catches for 90 yards in a 40-6 against Glenbard North.

The quarterback had 180 total yards and four TDs in a 70-12 win against Joliet Central.

The quarterback was 12-of-17 passing for 309 yards and four TDs in a 48-34 win against Wheaton-Warrenville South.

The senior won the Class 3A race at the First to the Finish Invitational in 14:26.

The running back had 18 carries for 235 yards with three total touchdowns in a 54-21 win against Downers Grove South.

The Vanderbilt recruit tied a program record with six touchdown passes and threw for 424 yards in a 56-33 win against Nazareth.

Green had 14 assists and four aces in a 24-26, 25-19, 25-16 win against Downers Grove South in the Andrew Invitational title match. She also had 11 assists in a 25-23, 26-24 semifinal victory vs. Homewood-Flossmoor.

The UCLA commit was 18-of-25 passing for 193 yards and two TDs in a 28-23 win against Maine South.

The Oregon commit had 311 yards and four touchdowns on only 11 carries in a 49-21 win against Belleville East. 

The freshman won the individual title at the Lake Park Harvey Braus Invitational with a time of 16:53.

The senior set a program record with 265 receiving yards and scored two TDs in a 56-33 win against Nazareth.

Playing past halftime for the first time this season, the Minnesota commit was 13-of-16 passing for 154 yards and three TDs in a 42-7 win against Glenbard West.

The quarterback was 21-of-24 passing for 320 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-7 win against Rock Island.

The quarterback had 234 passing yards and five total touchdowns in a 54-21 victory against Downers Grove South.

The linebacker had 14 tackles, a forced fumble, a  fumble recovery, an interception and a touchdown in a 31-13 victory against Wheaton North.

The senior ran 14:31 to win the Lake Park Harvey Braus Invitational.

Teh Northwestern commit was 17-of-20 passing for 284 yards and four TDs in a 65-7 win against Highland Park.

The quarterback was 15-of-22 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 win against Loyola. He also ran 15 times for 87 yards and two scores.

Pollard ran for 219 yards and four touchdowns in a 58-52 win against Morris.

Wanserski shot a 77 and won medalist honors on a tiebreaker at the Jacobs Eagles Cup .

The junior had the fastest time of the day at the First to the Finish Invitational, running 16:50 to win the Class 2A race.

The senior ran 16 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-6 win against Lake Park.

The quarterback passed for 234 yards and a touchdown in a 14-13 loss to Joliet Catholic.

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There is no need to ask Illinois receiver Pat Bryant why he is off to a fast start this season.

He says this has been in the makings since January.

That’s when he started spending more time with quarterback Luke Altmyer. Their developed chemistry is playing a role in the Illini’s 3-0 start.

“It’s just the work that we put in over the summer,” Bryant said. “Like coach [Bret Bieleman] said, going back to January, we’ve been working since then. Once we get on the field, it’s easy.”

Bryant has 15 receptions for 235 yards and four touchdowns this season. He had two scores in Saturday’s victory against Central Michigan.

Bryant also said it’s helped playing alongside receiver Zakhari Franklin, who transferred from Ole Miss during the offseason.

“You’ve got two great receivers on both sides of the field,” Bryant said. “It’s kind of hard to shade one side and leave another side open.”

ILLINI BACK IN THE RANKINGS

There is even more reason for buzz on the Illinois campus this week.

On Sunday, the Fighting Illini appeared at No. 24 in the Top 25. It is their first appearance since 2022. The Illini are 3-0 for the first time since 2011 after defeating Central Michigan. They also have wins over Kansas and Eastern Illinois.

Bielema said the team refuses to get overconfident because there is so much more to accomplish.

“We’ll turn the page very quickly,” Bielema said. “I’m super excited. I know the outside world thinks we’re 3-0 but we’re going to try to go 1-0 every week.”

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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CHICAGO (WLS) — On January 1, 2020, recreational consumption, possession, and sales of cannabis products became legal in the State of Illinois.

In July, a study by the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office found that 60% of all cannabis business licenses went to minority or women-owned businesses.

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When broken down by race, 27% are majority Black owners, 5% are Latino, 3% are Asian and 14% are a mixed coalition.

However, not one dollar of sales was documented going to Black or Brown owners when the study ended in 2023. Instead, white male owners took in 78% of recreational dispensary sales and 91% of grower sales.

Cannabis advocate and license holder Lisbeth Vargas Jaimes says some restrictions need to be loosened.

“Unlike other states like California who allow for customer delivery and sale on consignment, transporter license holders here, like myself, can only transport from business to business,” Vargas Jaimes said. “So, if we want this market to be expandable and diverse and equitable for Black and Brown communities, we need to ensure that the license types that are available allow us to thrive.”

Meanwhile, Jordan Melendez thinks education is another way to get more people of color involved in the cannabis industry. He is the Cannabis Studies Program director coordinator at Wilbur Wright College. The school is licensed to have a cannabis curriculum.

“What these classes offer are on-demand skills by people who are in the industry,” Melendez said.