Gameday Central | Illinois 38, Wyoming 6 (FINAL)

Comply with alongside all afternoon for updates from Memorial Stadium: 

Tweets by Scott Richey

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The road for right this moment’s sport moved to Illinois as a 14-point favourite as kickoff approaches. So apparently sufficient Illini followers (or simply informal gamblers) hammered Illinois to cowl the preliminary 10-point line. The four-point shift ought to stability out a number of the cash. A greenback or two may be tossed Wyoming’s means.

This sport, although, can be an ideal instance of how the switch portal can impression a Group of 5 program. Wyoming with its high quarterback, operating again, broad receiver, finest two cornerbacks and finest two defensive ends would have shrunk Illinois’ perceived benefit. It might need even made sense to guess on the Cowboys — whatever the line. 

Besides none of these seven gamers is on the Wyoming roster. All however former quarterback Levi Williams transferred to Energy 5 applications. Williams went to Utah State the place his girlfriend is on the volleyball group. Robust state of affairs for Craig Bohl … and the rationale Illinois is the favourite to win this afternoon.

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To my (not) shock, I arrived within the Memorial Stadium press field and was not greeted by a depth chart. Not for Illinois. Not for Wyoming. All depth charts have not gone the way in which of the dodo, however I do not assume we’ll see them in Champaign once more throughout the Bret Bielema period. 

So primarily based on issues I’ve seen and heard within the final month or so, this is how I see the depth chart enjoying out. Unofficially, after all, with some guys truthfully the backup for a pair spots. Plus, there can be greater than 11 positions for protection as a result of Ryan Walters makes use of a number of formations:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Tommy DeVito, Artwork Sitkowski

Working again: Chase Brown, Josh McCray

Huge receiver: Isaiah Williams, Kody Case

Huge receiver: Casey Washington, Miles Scott

Huge receiver: Pat Bryant, Brian Hightower

Tight finish: Tip Reiman, Luke Ford

Left sort out: Julian Pearl, Isaiah Adams (or perhaps Josh Gesky/Zach Barlev)

Left guard: Isaiah Adams, Jordyn Slaughter

Heart: Alex Pihlstrom, Josh Kreutz

Proper guard: Zy Crisler, Jordyn Slaughter

Proper sort out: Alex Palczewski, Isaiah Adams (or perhaps Josh Gesky/Zach Barlev)

DEFENSE

Defensive sort out: Keith Randolph, Bryce Barnes

Nostril guard: Calvin Avery, TeRah Edwards

Defensive sort out: Johnny Newton, Jamal Woods

Outdoors linebacker: Seth Coleman, Alec Bryant

Outdoors linebacker: Ezekiel Holmes, Gabe Jacas

Inside linebacker: Tarique Barnes, Isaac Darkangelo

Inside linebacker: Calvin Hart Jr., Isaac Darkangelo

Cornerback: Devon Witherspoon, Terrell Jennings

Cornerback: Taz Nicholson, Tyler Pressure/Tyson Rooks

Sturdy security: Sydney Brown, Matthew Bailey

Free security: Kendall Martin, Quan Martin

Nickel again: Quan Martin, Tailon Leitzsey

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Interested in how Illinois will fare in Bret Bielema’s second season as coach? The solutions will begin coming this afternoon after spring practices, summer season exercises and fall camp did not actually give a lot of a glimpse (aside from what the coaches and gamers needed to say) about what this Illini group will truly seem like.

At the least we all know the beginning quarterback. (Not prefer it was some big shock). Tommy DeVito was all the time going to be the man. There was a quarterback competitors — of kinds — this fall with a wholesome Artwork Sitkowski within the combine, however DeVito had the higher hand. He acquired all the primary group reps in spring ball and apparently nonetheless acquired the majority of them in camp.

There’s some actual duty on DeVito’s shoulders. Chase Brown is Chase Brown. Josh McCray is Josh McCray. The Illinois run sport initiatives to be robust once more. The passing sport must be higher. It isn’t all on DeVito, after all. The Illini broad receivers must, , create separation and get open (not all the time their robust swimsuit final 12 months). 

The duty on DeVito’s shoulders is doubled on first-year offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.’s shoulders. Bielema made the change after one season — firing Tony Petersen and hiring Lunney — as a result of the Illinois offense ranked among the many nation’s backside 15 groups or so in each scoring and whole offense. Not supreme.

So right this moment we’ll discover out what that offense can do and if Ryan Walters’ protection can use final 12 months’s progressive enchancment as a springboard into extra success even after shedding guys like Kerby Joseph and Owen Carney Jr. A lot to regulate this afternoon at Memorial Satdium.