Illinois comes in with a bit of a chip on its shoulder despite ending a string of 10 straight losing seasons.
“We’ve got a lot of unfinished business,” Bielema said. “But I like where we’re at. I love the influx of talent. I’ve never felt more engaged with our roster. I like the way the players are being developed and coached and the way the players are reacting to our coaches.”Wide receiver Isaiah Williams said this is the most confident team he has been on in his five years at Illinois.
“I’m way more confident in my abilities as a receiver now than when I first started,” he said. “I’m not just relying on my physical skills to gain separation. I’m better able to do it mentally too.”“We should be exceptional on both sides,” Bielema said.Mississippi quarterback Luke Altmyer warms up on the sideline during a game against Tulsa on Sept. 24, 2022.
Altmyer, who arrived in the spring, played in eight games over two seasons at Ole Miss and threw for 317 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He has three years of eligibility remaining.Defensive lineman Johnny Newton is the first Illini player named to the Walter Camp Award preseason watchlist. He is one of seven defensive players selected to the 45-player list.
Already one of Illinois’ top blockers, Reiman wants to catch more passes. The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree started all 13 games last season and had 19 receptions for 174 yards and one touchdown.About 10,000 new season tickets were sold for the 2023 season. The purchaser of the 10,000th new season ticket was Tim King, who received a surprise FaceTime thank-you call from Bielema and the Illini team.
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