2015 Illinois Fighting Illini football season

2015 Illinois Fighting Illini
Bourbon Bowl vs West Virginia, W 30-7
Conference	Big Ten West Division
2015 record	9-4 (4-3 B1G)
Head coach	smokingcricket (2nd year)
Offensive scheme	Smashmouth
Base defense	4-3
Captain	David Love, Wesley Perez, Billy Robinson
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 61,760)
Seasons « 2014 2016 »

2015 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East
x- #1 Penn State		8	–	0					13	–	0
#6 Michigan State		5	–	2					10	–	3
Michigan		4	–	3					8	–	4
#25 Ohio State		3	–	4					6	–	7
Maryland		3	–	4					8	–	4
Rutgers		1	–	6					4	–	8
Indiana		0	–	7					1	–	11
West
x- #18 Iowa		7	–	1					9	–	4
#19 Wisconsin		5	–	2					9	–	3
Illinois		4	–	3					8	–	4
Purdue		4	–	3					7	–	5
#24 Minnesota		3	–	4					7	–	5
Northwestern		3	–	4					7	–	6
Nebraska		0	–	7					2	–	10
Big Ten Championship Game: Penn State 16, Iowa 9
x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from Coaches Poll

Schedule

Regular Season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
1	Sat.Night	Missouri*		The Dome • St. Louis, MO	W 17-14
2	Sat.Morning	at Cincinnati*		Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OH	W 23-21
3	Sat.Afternoon	Washington*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 15-9
4	Sat.Morning	at Purdue	#24	Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN	W 27-14
5	Sat.Night	Maryland	#23	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 14-10
6	Sat.Night	Minnesota	#17	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 3-22
7	Sat.Afternoon	Army*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 35-7
9	Sat.Night	at BYU*	#20	LaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UT	L 6-17
10	TNF	at Nebraska		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE	W 16-13
11	Sat.Afternoon	Wisconsin		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 13-35
12	TNF	at Iowa		Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA	L 13-33
13	Sat.Afternoon	Northwestern		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 34-31
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Post-season

With a record of 8-4, Illinois qualified for a bowl game. They defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Bourbon Bowl.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
Bourbon Bowl	vs. West Virginia*		Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY	W 30-7
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Personnel

Key Personnel

Name	Position	Season at Illinois	Season in current role
smokingcricket	Head Coach	2nd	2nd
Clyde Campbell	Quarterback	3rd	1st
Ezekiel Adams	Running Back	2nd	2nd
David Love	Wide Receiver	4th	1st
Zane Dorsey	Defensive End	4th	1st
Thomas Jackson	Inside Linebacker	3rd	2nd
Billy Robinson	Kicker	4th	2nd

Position key

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Pre-Season Roster

2015 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. Name Class QB Campbell, ClydeClyde Campbell  2.5 !So QB Nelson, JoeJoe Nelson 1.0 !Fr QB Williams, RobertRobert Williams 1.0 !Fr QB Alvarez, ThomasThomas Alvarez 57.0 !Sr QB Lodge, DeeDee Lodge 3.0 !So QB Cartwright, MarkMark Cartwright 57.0 !Sr RB Adams, EzekielEzekiel Adams 3.0 !So RB Velazquez, JoeJoe Velazquez 1.0 !Fr RB Hodge, LewisLewis Hodge  3.5 !Jr RB Bailey, JohnJohn Bailey 5.0 !Jr RB Cunningham, JackJack Cunningham 5.0 !Jr FB Molina, GeraldGerald Molina  2.5 !So FB Brooks, AhmadAhmad Brooks 3.0 !So FB Carroll, DonnieDonnie Carroll 5.0 !Jr WR McNeill, JeffreyJeffrey McNeill 5.0 !Jr WR Love, DavidDavid Love 57.0 !Sr WR Chung, AntonAnton Chung 1.0 !Fr WR Combs, MatthewMatthew Combs  1.5 !Fr WR Richardson, PatrickPatrick Richardson 1.0 !Fr WR Hamlin, TyroneTyrone Hamlin 3.0 !So WR Diggs, AndrewAndrew Diggs  3.5 !Jr WR Lynn, PhilipPhilip Lynn 5.0 !Jr WR Richardson, RichardRichard Richardson 57.0 !Sr TE Stehl, PatrickPatrick Stehl  1.5 !Fr TE Dareus, AlexAlex Dareus  1.5 !Fr TE Jones, BernardBernard Jones  4.5 !Sr TE Miller, PaulPaul Miller 1.0 !Fr TE Powell, ByronByron Powell 1.0 !Fr TE Colson, JerryJerry Colson 5.0 !Jr TE Welsh, KennethKenneth Welsh 57.0 !Sr OT Stanford, GeorgeGeorge Stanford 3.0 !So OT Watson, WilliamWilliam Watson 1.0 !Fr OT Acosta, WillieWillie Acosta 57.0 !Sr OT Baker, TerryTerry Baker  3.5 !Jr OT Ricketts, ChristopherChristopher Ricketts 1.0 !Fr OT Powers, DonaldDonald Powers  4.5 !Sr OT Guzman, WilliamWilliam Guzman 1.0 !Fr OT Shaw, AdamAdam Shaw 3.0 !So OG Walter, KennethKenneth Walter  2.5 !So OG Sloan, WilliamWilliam Sloan 1.0 !Fr OG Sigler, AaronAaron Sigler  1.5 !Fr OG King, CedrickCedrick King 5.0 !Jr OG Burkett, CliffordClifford Burkett 57.0 !Sr OG Owens, KennethKenneth Owens 57.0 !Sr OG Howard, GregoryGregory Howard 1.0 !Fr OG Vu, JohnJohn Vu 3.0 !So C Seward, JamesJames Seward 3.0 !So C Long, JakeJake Long 3.0 !So C Marlow, JamesJames Marlow 5.0 !Jr	Defense Pos. Name Class DE Dorsey, ZaneZane Dorsey 57.0 !Sr DE Simpson, AdamAdam Simpson  1.5 !Fr DE Swanson, WesleyWesley Swanson  1.5 !Fr DE Jensen, DanielDaniel Jensen 5.0 !Jr DE Collins, KeithKeith Collins  3.5 !Jr DT Harris, EricEric Harris 3.0 !So DT Kemp, WilliamWilliam Kemp 57.0 !Sr DT Cormier, JohnJohn Cormier 1.0 !Fr DT Cuevas, JonathonJonathon Cuevas 5.0 !Jr DT Olivares, MichaelMichael Olivares 3.0 !So DT Garcia, RicardoRicardo Garcia 1.0 !Fr ILB Wilder, JavierJavier Wilder  4.5 !Sr ILB Lawson, WillieWillie Lawson 3.0 !So ILB Jackson, ThomasThomas Jackson 5.0 !Jr ILB Bailey, WilliamWilliam Bailey 57.0 !Sr ILB Campbell, JoshuaJoshua Campbell 1.0 !Fr OLB McCoy, FrankFrank McCoy 5.0 !Jr OLB Dailey, JohnJohn Dailey 5.0 !Jr OLB Anderson, JeffreyJeffrey Anderson  4.5 !Sr OLB Floyd, CharlesCharles Floyd 1.0 !Fr OLB Washington, RobertRobert Washington 57.0 !Sr OLB Shaw, JoseJose Shaw 1.0 !Fr OLB Cox, TravisTravis Cox 1.0 !Fr OLB Norris, FredFred Norris 3.0 !So CB Perez, WesleyWesley Perez  4.5 !Sr CB Hutchinson, StephenStephen Hutchinson 5.0 !Jr CB Hood, RogerRoger Hood  3.5 !Jr CB Hall, BennyBenny Hall 1.0 !Fr CB Herbert, BenitoBenito Herbert  4.5 !Sr CB Lee, JosephJoseph Lee 1.0 !Fr CB Rogers, JeffreyJeffrey Rogers 1.0 !Fr CB Wilson, JoshJosh Wilson 3.0 !So FS Bowman, MichaelMichael Bowman 57.0 !Sr FS Haines, BradleyBradley Haines 1.0 !Fr SS Raymond, JakeJake Raymond  2.5 !So SS Howell, RonaldRonald Howell 1.0 !Fr	Special teams Pos. Name Class K Robinson, BillyBilly Robinson 57.0 !Sr P Nelson, ReggieReggie Nelson  1.5 !Fr P Dietrich, DarrylDarryl Dietrich 5.0 !Jr	Head coach smokingcricket Coordinators/assistant coaches None Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 2/13/2017

Depth chart

Defense FS Michael Bowman Bradley Haines WLB MLB SLB Frank McCoy Javier Wilder Jeffrey Anderson Fred Norris Thomas Jackson John Dailey SS Jake Raymond Ronald Howell CB Stephen Hutchinson Benito Herbert DE DT DT DE Daniel Jensen Eric Harris Jonathon Cuevas Zane Dorsey Keith Collins William Kemp Michael Olivares Adam Simpson CB Wesley Perez Roger Hood Offense WR David Love Philip Lynn LT LG C RG RT George Stanford Kenneth Walter James Seward Clifford Burkett Terry Baker Willie Acosta John Vu Jake Long Aaron Sigler William Guzman TE Patrick Stehl Alex Dareus WR Jeffrey McNeill Richard Richardson QB Clyde Campbell Thomas Alvarez RB Ezekiel Adams Lewis Hodge FB Gerald Molina Donnie Carroll Special Teams PK Billy Robinson P Reggie Nelson KR Wesley Perez, David Love PR Wesley Perez, David Love LS James Seward H Reggie Nelson

Recruiting

High School

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Damien Norman OLB	Chicago, IL	Hales Franciscan HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Jonathan Salter CB	White Lake, WI	White Lake HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
David Hendrickson DT	Bartonville, IL	Limestone Community HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	314 lb (142 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Aaron George K	Elizabeth, IL	River Ridge HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	211 lb (96 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Jamel Jamison RB	Chicago, IL	Morgan Park HS	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Steven Noel WR	Parma Heights, OH	Valley Forge HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	173 lb (78 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Steve Perales TE	Georgetown, IL	Georgetown Ridge Farm HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	221 lb (100 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Ibrahim Pfeiffer C	Chicago, IL	John Marshall HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	288 lb (131 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Antoine Traylor DE	Lockport, IL	Lockport Township HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	237 lb (108 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Luke Hills DT	Sugarcreek, OH	Garaway HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	330 lb (150 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Aaron Faust ILB	Cheshire, OH	River Valley HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Ousmane Haynes FS	Milwaukee, WI	Marshall HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	207 lb (94 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Alan Connell OG	Spring Valley, IL	Hall HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	259 lb (117 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Aaden Ware DT	Sylvania, OH	Sylvania Northview HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	291 lb (132 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Samuel Cotton SS	Morristown, MN	Cannon Valley Lutheran HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	181 lb (82 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Otto Duffy P	Alexandria, IN	Alex Monroe HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	158 lb (72 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Hunter Maddox QB	Chicago, IL	Hales Franciscan HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Jon Gilbert RB	Lizton, IN	Tri-West Hendricks HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	233 lb (106 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Devin Patton OT	Hoffman Estates, IL	J.B. Conant HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	330 lb (150 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Daniel Dawson DE	Belle Plaine, MN	Belle Plaine HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	267 lb (121 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Jacob Coleman DE	Mayer, MN	Mayer Lutheran HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	267 lb (121 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Dante Layne DT	Lewistown, OH	Indian Lake HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	287 lb (130 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Eli Clay OLB	Merrillville, IN	Andrean HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Lucas Ellis FS	Royal Oak, IL	G.A. Dondero HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Lachlan Shelley FB	Chicago, IL	Simeon Career Academy	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	209 lb (95 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Tywin Doughty OLB	Bolingbrook, IL	Bolingbrook HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	232 lb (105 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Joseph Calloway CB	Prescott, WI	Prescott HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Maximilian Huber FB	Stevens Point, WI	Pacelli HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	207 lb (94 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Abraham Solis OT	Fort Wayne, IN	Bishop Dwenger HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	310 lb (140 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Malik Street OG	Pewaukee, WI	Pewaukee HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	283 lb (128 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Aaden Little DT	LaGrange, IN	Praire Heights HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	279 lb (127 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Junior College Transfers

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Zion Adakwa ILB	Little Rock, AR	Arkansas Baptist College	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	224 lb (102 kg)	JUCO
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.