2016 Illinois Fighting Illini football season

2016 Illinois Fighting Illini
Conference	Big Ten West Division
2016 record	2-10 (1-6 B1G)
Head coach	smokingcricket (3rd year)
Offensive scheme	Trick Plays
Base defense	4-3
Captain	Ezekiel Adams, Thomas Jackson, Reggie Nelson
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 61,760)
Seasons « 2015 2017 »

2016 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East
x- #4 Penn State		7	–	1					12	–	1
#22 Michigan		6	–	1					9	–	3
Michigan State		4	–	3					5	–	7
Maryland		3	–	4					5	–	7
Ohio State		3	–	4					6	–	6
Indiana		1	–	6					1	–	11
Rutgers		0	–	7					1	–	11
West
x- #2 Iowa		8	–	0					13	–	0
#7 Wisconsin		6	–	1					10	–	2
#25 Purdue		5	–	2					8	–	4
Minnesota		3	–	4					4	–	8
Nebraska		2	–	5					5	–	7
Northwestern		1	–	6					3	–	9
Illinois		1	–	6					2	–	10
Big Ten Championship Game: Penn State 35, Iowa 37
† – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from Coaches Poll

Schedule

Regular Season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
1	Sat.Afternoon	Duke*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 14-24
2	Sat.Afternoon	South Carolina*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 7-13
3	Sat.Evening	at Colorado*		Folsom Field • Boulder, CO	W 13-10
4	Sat.Afternoon	Ole Miss*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 13-20
5	Sat.Afternoon	at Wisconsin		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI	L 14-28
7	Sat.Afternoon	Purdue		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 17-38
8	Sat.Afternoon	at Kansas State		Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Manhattan, KS	L 14-23
10	TNF	at Minnesota		TCF Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN	L 14-20
11	Sat.Afternoon	Iowa		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 28-42
12	Sat.Afternoon	Nebraska		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 42-28
13	Sat.Afternoon	at Michigan		Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI	L 10-21
14	TNF	at Northwestern		Ryan Field • Evanston, IL	L 3-24
*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	3rd	3rd
Joe Nelson	Quarterback	2nd	1st
Ezekiel Adams	Running Back	3rd	3rd
Jeffrey McNeill	Wide Receiver	4th	3rd
Eric Harris	Defensive Tackle	3rd	1st
Zion Adakwa	Inside Linebacker	1st	1st
Aaron George	Kicker	1st	1st

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

2016 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. Name Class QB Campbell, ClydeClyde Campbell  3.5 !Jr QB Nelson, JoeJoe Nelson  1.5 !Fr QB Williams, RobertRobert Williams 3.0 !So QB Maddox, HunterHunter Maddox 1.0 !Fr QB Lodge, DeeDee Lodge 5.0 !Jr RB Adams, EzekielEzekiel Adams 5.0 !Jr RB Jamison, JamelJamel Jamison 1.0 !Fr RB Gilbert, JonJon Gilbert 1.0 !Fr RB Velazquez, JoeJoe Velazquez  1.5 !Fr RB Hodge, LewisLewis Hodge  4.5 !Sr RB Bailey, JohnJohn Bailey 57.0 !Sr RB Cunningham, JackJack Cunningham 57.0 !Sr FB Molina, GeraldGerald Molina  3.5 !Jr FB Huber, MaximilianMaximilian Huber 1.0 !Fr FB Shelley, LachlanLachlan Shelley 1.0 !Fr FB Brooks, AhmadAhmad Brooks 5.0 !Jr FB Carroll, DonnieDonnie Carroll 57.0 !Sr WR McNeill, JeffreyJeffrey McNeill 57.0 !Sr WR Noel, StevenSteven Noel 1.0 !Fr WR Chung, AntonAnton Chung  1.5 !Fr WR Combs, MatthewMatthew Combs  2.5 !So WR Richardson, PatrickPatrick Richardson 3.0 !So WR Hamlin, TyroneTyrone Hamlin 5.0 !Jr WR Diggs, AndrewAndrew Diggs  4.5 !Sr WR Lynn, PhilipPhilip Lynn 57.0 !Sr TE Stehl, PatrickPatrick Stehl  2.5 !So TE Dareus, AlexAlex Dareus  2.5 !So TE Perales, SteveSteve Perales 1.0 !Fr TE Miller, PaulPaul Miller 3.0 !So TE Powell, ByronByron Powell 3.0 !So TE Colson, JerryJerry Colson 57.0 !Sr OT Stanford, GeorgeGeorge Stanford 5.0 !Jr OT Watson, WilliamWilliam Watson  1.5 !Fr OT Patton, DevinDevin Patton 1.0 !Fr OT Baker, TerryTerry Baker  4.5 !Sr OT Ricketts, ChristopherChristopher Ricketts  1.5 !Fr OT Solis, AbrahamAbraham Solis 1.0 !Fr OT Guzman, WilliamWilliam Guzman 3.0 !So OT Shaw, AdamAdam Shaw 5.0 !Jr OG Walter, KennethKenneth Walter  3.5 !Jr OG Sloan, WilliamWilliam Sloan  1.5 !Fr OG Sigler, AaronAaron Sigler  2.5 !So OG King, CedrickCedrick King 57.0 !Sr OG Connell, AlanAlan Connell 1.0 !Fr OG Street, MalikMalik Street 1.0 !Fr OG Howard, GregoryGregory Howard 3.0 !So OG Vu, JohnJohn Vu 5.0 !Jr C Seward, JamesJames Seward 5.0 !Jr C Long, JakeJake Long 5.0 !Jr C Pfeiffer, IbrahimIbrahim Pfeiffer 1.0 !Fr C Marlow, JamesJames Marlow 57.0 !Sr	Defense Pos. Name Class DE Simpson, AdamAdam Simpson  2.5 !So DE Swanson, WesleyWesley Swanson  2.5 !So DE Traylor, AntoineAntoine Traylor 1.0 !Fr DE Dawson, DanielDaniel Dawson 1.0 !Fr DE Jensen, DanielDaniel Jensen 57.0 !Sr DE Coleman, JacobJacob Coleman 1.0 !Fr DE Collins, KeithKeith Collins  4.5 !Sr DT Harris, EricEric Harris 5.0 !Jr DT Hendrickson, DavidDavid Hendrickson 1.0 !Fr DT Cormier, JohnJohn Cormier  1.5 !Fr DT Hills, LukeLuke Hills 1.0 !Fr DT Layne, DanteDante Layne 1.0 !Fr DT Cuevas, JonathonJonathon Cuevas 57.0 !Sr DT Olivares, MichaelMichael Olivares 5.0 !Jr DT Garcia, RicardoRicardo Garcia 3.0 !So DT Ware, AadenAaden Ware 1.0 !Fr ILB Adakwa, ZionZion Adakwa 57.0 !Sr ILB Lawson, WillieWillie Lawson 5.0 !Jr ILB Jackson, ThomasThomas Jackson 57.0 !Sr ILB Faust, AaronAaron Faust 1.0 !Fr ILB Campbell, JoshuaJoshua Campbell  1.5 !Fr OLB McCoy, FrankFrank McCoy 57.0 !Sr OLB Dailey, JohnJohn Dailey 57.0 !Sr OLB Norman, DamienDamien Norman 1.0 !Fr OLB Floyd, CharlesCharles Floyd  1.5 !Fr OLB Clay, EliEli Clay 1.0 !Fr OLB Doughty, TywinTywin Doughty 1.0 !Fr OLB Shaw, JoseJose Shaw 3.0 !So OLB Cox, TravisTravis Cox 3.0 !So OLB Norris, FredFred Norris 5.0 !Jr CB Salter, JonathanJonathan Salter 1.0 !Fr CB Hutchinson, StephenStephen Hutchinson 57.0 !Sr CB Hood, RogerRoger Hood  4.5 !Sr CB Hall, BennyBenny Hall  1.5 !Fr CB Calloway, JosephJoseph Calloway 1.0 !Fr CB Lee, JosephJoseph Lee 3.0 !So CB Rogers, JeffreyJeffrey Rogers 3.0 !So CB Wilson, JoshJosh Wilson 5.0 !Jr FS Haynes, OusmaneOusmane Haynes 1.0 !Fr FS Ellis, LucasLucas Ellis 1.0 !Fr FS Haines, BradleyBradley Haines 3.0 !So SS Raymond, JakeJake Raymond  3.5 !Jr SS Cotton, SamuelSamuel Cotton 1.0 !Fr SS Howell, RonaldRonald Howell 3.0 !So	Special teams Pos. Name Class K George, AaronAaron George 1.0 !Fr P Nelson, ReggieReggie Nelson  2.5 !So P Duffy, OttoOtto Duffy 1.0 !Fr P Dietrich, DarrylDarryl Dietrich 57.0 !Sr	Head coach smokingcricket Coordinators/assistant coaches FlutieFlakes Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 2/13/2017

Depth chart

Defense FS Bradley Haines Lucas Ellis WLB MLB SLB Frank McCoy Zion Adakwa John Dailey Charles Floys Thomas Jackson Tywin Doughty SS Jake Raymond Ronald Howell CB Stephen Hutchinson Joseph Lee DE DT DT DE Wesley Swanson Eric Harris Michael Olivares Adam Simpson Daniel Jensen John Cormier Ricardo Garcia Keith Collins CB Benny Hall Roger Hood Offense WR Anton Chung Philip Lynn LT LG C RG RT George Stanford Kenneth Walter James Seward William Sloan Terry Baker Adam Shaw Alan Connell Jake Long Aaron Sigler William Guzman TE Patrick Stehl Alex Dareus WR Jeffrey McNeill Tyrone Hamlin QB Joe Nelson Clyde Campbell RB Ezekiel Adams Lewis Hodge FB Gerald Molina Lachlan Shelley Special Teams PK Aaron George P Reggie Nelson KR Jeffrey McNeill, Joseph Lee PR Jeffrey McNeill, Joseph Lee LS James Seward H Reggie Nelson

Recruiting

High School

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Tyler Patino FS	Chicago, IL	P.L. Julian HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	212 lb (96 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Ali Hester FB	Blair, WI	Blair-Taylor HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	243 lb (110 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Logan Holmes ATH	Cleveland, OH	East HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	201 lb (91 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Jamari Mixon QB	Polo, IL	Polo Community HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	219 lb (99 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Cole Allen QB	Saginaw, MI	Arthur Hill HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Joel Greene WR	Bellevue, MI	Bellevue HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	233 lb (106 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Ousmane Cunningham OG	Salem, IN	Salem HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	311 lb (141 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Ian Irvin ILB	Indianapolis, IN	Arsenal Tech HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	239 lb (108 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Theodore Benedict OLB	Chatfield, MN	Chatfield HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	233 lb (106 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Isaiah Jenkins CB	Bolingbrook, IL	Bolingbrook HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	199 lb (90 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Darius Pickett SS	Flint, MI	Northwestern HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	177 lb (80 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Lawrence Calhoun OLB	London, OH	Madison Plains HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Evan Clements QB	Pewaukee, WI	Pewaukee HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	223 lb (101 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Zachary Ladd FB	Trafalgar, IN	Indian Creek HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	252 lb (114 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Blake Garber FB	Wooster, OH	Triway HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	206 lb (93 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Khalil Jennings OT	Muskegon, MI	Muskegon HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	303 lb (137 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Savion Rainey DE	Roxana, IL	Roxana HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	269 lb (122 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Zion Dent DT	Columbus, OH	Mifflin HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	306 lb (139 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Devin Bowden SS	Dugger, IN	Union HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	201 lb (91 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Hayden Hopper K	La Grange, OH	Keystone HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	173 lb (78 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Julian Daniels ILB	Cleveland, OH	East HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	229 lb (104 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Jeremy Durham ILB	Flushing, MI	Flushing HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	222 lb (101 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Fabian Cervantes K	Winchester, IN	Winchester HS	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)	203 lb (92 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Milo Lunsford K	Lockport, IL	Lockport Township HS	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)	159 lb (72 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Wesley Braden OG	Stewartville, MN	Stewartville HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	275 lb (125 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Brandon Varner C	Blissfield, MI	Blissfield HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	263 lb (119 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Jordan Barkley ILB	Eagan, MN	Eagan HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	228 lb (103 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Ali Medeiros P	Columbus, OH	Brookhaven HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	201 lb (91 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
Malik Dawson DT	New York, NY	ASA College	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	281 lb (127 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Lucas Pappas P	Joliet, IL	Joliet Junior College	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)	162 lb (73 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.