It has been an eventful stretch for Chase Brown.
The Illinois star grew to become the season’s first 1,000-yard rusher within the Soccer Bowl Subdivision on Oct. 15 and solely the third participant in program historical past to achieve the milestone in back-to-back years.
He was named an Related Press midseason All-American on Tuesday and the following day the Illini unveiled a “Chasing Historical past” webpage to advertise his candidacy for postseason honors.
The fifth-year working again is the undisputed headliner of a resurgent Illinois workforce that, at No. 17, has its highest rating since 2011 and is first within the Massive Ten West.
“I wished this season to be one thing to recollect,” Brown stated. “Proper now we’re simply over midway, and I am not simply proud of the wins. Personally, I believe we will push this manner additional than the place it’s proper now. I am so excited to see the place it could find yourself.”
Individuals are additionally studying…
Brown managed to hurry for 1,005 yards final season regardless of lacking two video games due to damage, and he has prioritized caring for his physique with the Illini (6-1, 3-1) counting on him extra this 12 months.
He is carrying the ball a median of 10 occasions extra per sport, and he set a nationwide single-game excessive with 41 makes an attempt for 180 yards in a 26-14 win over Minnesota on Oct. 15. He additionally caught a 40-yard landing go from Tommy DeVito in that sport.
Illinois visits Nebraska this week, and backup working again Josh McCray, injured within the season opener, could possibly be out there to take a number of the load off Brown.
Brown’s 1,059 yards dashing and his per-game averages of 27.4 carries and 29.6 scrimmage touches lead the nation.
“He is a workhorse man,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck stated. “Their scheme matches what he does rather well, particularly their counter sport and their energy sport. He’s a particular again. He is acquired velocity, twitch, quickness, energy. He’s acquired all of it.”
Brown has meshed properly with new offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. Second-year coach Bret Bielema employed Lunney away from UTSA, the place his play-calling helped Honest McCormick put collectively two straight 1,400-yard dashing seasons.
Lunney places an emphasis on steadiness, mixing within the energy working sport that has lengthy been Bielema’s identification with a willingness to take pictures within the passing sport.
“I used to be really accustomed to his complete system and I used to be excited to get to work with him,” Brown stated. “He is an important offensive thoughts. What he brings to the desk is tempo and velocity and a play-calling confidence we wanted right here.”
Brown and his twin brother, Sydney, grew up in London, Ontario. They moved collectively to Bradenton, Florida, in highschool to play at St. Stephen’s Episcopal.
Former Illinois coach Lovie Smith signed Sydney, and that is his third 12 months beginning within the secondary. Chase spent two years at Western Michigan earlier than transferring to Illinois in 2019.
“Once I suppose again to center faculty, attempting to check taking part in at a Division I faculty, it was simply unattainable to check,” Chase stated. “The actual fact we’re at this college and taking part in at a excessive stage, it is one thing that we may have solely dreamed of.”
Chase Brown, averaging 151.3 yards per sport, is on a school-record streak of eight straight 100-yard dashing performances and is not any worse for the wear and tear due to his dedication to relaxation and restoration.
“Sooner or later I’d really feel like I used to be in a automotive wreck,” he stated, “however the subsequent day, I’m all proper and I’m able to go.”
Bielema stated Brown is a job mannequin for his teammates due to the way in which he goes about his enterprise on and off the sector.
“He has one other 12 months of eligibility, and that may grow to be a subject after the season,” Bielema stated, “however for proper now, simply letting him chase historical past.”
Bielema permitted the media marketing campaign for Brown. The coach stated Brown’s work by seven video games deserves the eye.
Bielema is aware of the Heisman Trophy is an extended shot for Brown, who on Sunday was listed with the eighth-lowest odds by FanDuel Sportsbook. Illinois has by no means had a participant larger than third in Heisman voting.
The extra lifelike honor could be the Doak Walker Award.
“Clearly, to be acknowledged as the most effective working again in school soccer could be fairly particular,” Bielema stated. “I believe he’s within the within the hunt for that due to what he’s finished.”
Brown stated he appreciates the Illinois media relations workers getting his identify on the market, however his larger concern is holding up his finish.
“The media workforce’s crushing it … the entire web site and getting nationwide media members to begin paying consideration,” he stated. “The actual fact of the matter is I used to be under-recognized coming into the season, and I doubt anyone anticipated any of this taking place proper now.”