2017 Illinois Fighting Illini football season

2017 Illinois Fighting Illini
Conference	Big Ten West Division
2017 record	2-10 (1-6 B1G)
Head coach	FlutieFlakes (1st year)
Offensive scheme	Ooption
Base defense	4-3
Captain	Ezekiel Adams, Jake Raymond, Reggie Nelson
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 61,760)
Seasons « 2016 2018 »

2017 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East
#10 Michigan State x		6	–	2					11	–	3
#6 Michigan		6	–	1					12	–	2
#21 Penn State		5	–	2					9	–	4
Maryland		4	–	3					8	–	5
Ohio State		2	–	5					6	–	6
Rutgers		1	–	6					3	–	9
Indiana		0	–	7					2	–	10
West
#12 Nebraska x		6	–	2					13	–	3
Wisconsin		5	–	2					8	–	5
#17 Purdue		5	–	2					10	–	3
#14 Minnesota		5	–	2					10	–	3
Iowa		3	–	4					8	–	5
Illinois		1	–	6					2	–	10
Northwestern		1	–	6					3	–	9
Big Ten Championship Game: Michigan State 30, Nebraska 33
† – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from Coaches Poll

Schedule

Regular Season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
2	FNF	Utah*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 14-30
3	Sat.Morning	at #4 Boston College*		Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA	L 13-35
4	TNF	Kansas State*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 24-28
5	FNF	at South Carolina*		Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC	L 14-24
6	Sat.Morning	#22 Wisconsin		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 6-14
8	Sat.Morning	Northwestern		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 24-14
9	Sat.Morning	at #16 Nebraska		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE	L 13-35
10	Sat.Afternoon	#18 Minnesota		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 21-28
11	Sat.Afternoon	Navy*		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 26-21
12	Sat.Morning	Maryland		Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	L 9-21
13	Sat.Afternoon	at Iowa		Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA	L 3-35
14	Sat.Afternoon	at #19 Purdue		Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN	L 7-23
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Personnel

Key Personnel

Name	Position	Season at Illinois	Season in current role
FlutieFlakes	Head Coach	2nd	1st
Joe Nelson	Quarterback	3rd	2nd
Ezekiel Adams	Running Back	4th	4th
Steven Noel	Wide Receiver	2nd	1st
Malik Dawson	Defensive Tackle	1st	1st
Damien Norman	Outside Linebacker	2nd	1st
Lucas Pappas	Punter	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

2017 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. Name Class QB Campbell, ClydeClyde Campbell  4.5 !Sr QB Mixon, JamariJamari Mixon 1.0 !Fr QB Allen, ColeCole Allen 1.0 !Fr QB Nelson, JoeJoe Nelson  2.5 !So QB Clements, EvanEvan Clements 1.0 !Fr QB Williams, RobertRobert Williams 5.0 !Jr QB Maddox, HunterHunter Maddox 3.0 !So QB Lodge, DeeDee Lodge 57.0 !Sr RB Adams, EzekielEzekiel Adams 57.0 !Sr RB Jamison, JamelJamel Jamison  1.5 !Fr RB Gilbert, JonJon Gilbert 3.0 !So RB Velazquez, JoeJoe Velazquez  2.5 !So FB Hester, AliAli Hester 1.0 !Fr FB Molina, GeraldGerald Molina  4.5 !Sr FB Garber, BlakeBlake Garber 1.0 !Fr FB Ladd, ZacharyZachary Ladd 1.0 !Fr FB Huber, MaximilianMaximilian Huber 3.0 !So FB Shelley, LachlanLachlan Shelley 3.0 !So FB Brooks, AhmadAhmad Brooks 57.0 !Sr WR Noel, StevenSteven Noel  1.5 !Fr WR Greene, JoelJoel Greene 1.0 !Fr WR Chung, AntonAnton Chung  2.5 !So WR Combs, MatthewMatthew Combs  3.5 !Jr WR Richardson, PatrickPatrick Richardson 5.0 !Jr WR Hamlin, TyroneTyrone Hamlin 57.0 !Sr TE Stehl, PatrickPatrick Stehl  3.5 !Jr TE Dareus, AlexAlex Dareus  3.5 !Jr TE Perales, SteveSteve Perales  1.5 !Fr TE Miller, PaulPaul Miller 5.0 !Jr TE Powell, ByronByron Powell 5.0 !Jr OT Stanford, GeorgeGeorge Stanford 57.0 !Sr OT Watson, WilliamWilliam Watson  2.5 !So OT Patton, DevinDevin Patton 3.0 !So OT Jennings, KhalilKhalil Jennings 1.0 !Fr OT Ricketts, ChristopherChristopher Ricketts  2.5 !So OT Solis, AbrahamAbraham Solis 3.0 !So OT Guzman, WilliamWilliam Guzman 5.0 !Jr OT Shaw, AdamAdam Shaw 57.0 !Sr OG Walter, KennethKenneth Walter 57.0 !Sr OG Sloan, WilliamWilliam Sloan  2.5 !So OG Sigler, AaronAaron Sigler  3.5 !Jr OG Cunningham, OusmaneOusmane Cunningham 1.0 !Fr OG Braden, WesleyWesley Braden 1.0 !Fr OG Connell, AlanAlan Connell 3.0 !So OG Street, MalikMalik Street 3.0 !So OG Howard, GregoryGregory Howard 5.0 !Jr OG Vu, JohnJohn Vu 57.0 !Sr C Seward, JamesJames Seward 57.0 !Sr C Long, JakeJake Long 57.0 !Sr C Pfeiffer, IbrahimIbrahim Pfeiffer  1.5 !Fr C Varner, BrandonBrandon Varner 1.0 !Fr	Defense Pos. Name Class DE Simpson, AdamAdam Simpson  3.5 !Jr DE Swanson, WesleyWesley Swanson  3.5 !Jr DE Traylor, AntoineAntoine Traylor  1.5 !Fr DE Dawson, DanielDaniel Dawson 3.0 !So DE Rainey, SavionSavion Rainey 1.0 !Fr DE Coleman, JacobJacob Coleman 3.0 !So DT Dawson, MalikMalik Dawson 57.0 !Sr DT Harris, EricEric Harris 57.0 !Sr DT Hendrickson, DavidDavid Hendrickson  1.5 !Fr DT Cormier, JohnJohn Cormier  2.5 !So DT Hills, LukeLuke Hills 3.0 !So DT Layne, DanteDante Layne 3.0 !So DT Dent, ZionZion Dent 1.0 !Fr DT Olivares, MichaelMichael Olivares 57.0 !Sr DT Garcia, RicardoRicardo Garcia 5.0 !Jr DT Ware, AadenAaden Ware 3.0 !So ILB Lawson, WillieWillie Lawson 57.0 !Sr ILB Irvin, IanIan Irvin 1.0 !Fr ILB Faust, AaronAaron Faust  1.5 !Fr ILB Daniels, JulianJulian Daniels 1.0 !Fr ILB Durham, JeremyJeremy Durham 1.0 !Fr ILB Barkley, JordanJordan Barkley 1.0 !Fr ILB Campbell, JoshuaJoshua Campbell  2.5 !So OLB Norman, DamienDamien Norman  1.5 !Fr OLB Floyd, CharlesCharles Floyd  2.5 !So OLB Benedict, TheodoreTheodore Benedict 1.0 !Fr OLB Calhoun, LawrenceLawrence Calhoun 1.0 !Fr OLB Clay, EliEli Clay 3.0 !So OLB Doughty, TywinTywin Doughty 3.0 !So OLB Shaw, JoseJose Shaw 5.0 !Jr OLB Cox, TravisTravis Cox 5.0 !Jr OLB Norris, FredFred Norris 57.0 !Sr CB Salter, JonathanJonathan Salter  1.5 !Fr CB Jenkins, IsaiahIsaiah Jenkins 1.0 !Fr CB Hall, BennyBenny Hall  2.5 !So CB Calloway, JosephJoseph Calloway 3.0 !So CB Lee, JosephJoseph Lee 5.0 !Jr CB Rogers, JeffreyJeffrey Rogers 5.0 !Jr CB Wilson, JoshJosh Wilson 57.0 !Sr FS Patino, TylerTyler Patino 1.0 !Fr FS Haynes, OusmaneOusmane Haynes  1.5 !Fr FS Ellis, LucasLucas Ellis 3.0 !So FS Haines, BradleyBradley Haines 5.0 !Jr SS Raymond, JakeJake Raymond 57.0 !Sr SS Pickett, DariusDarius Pickett 1.0 !Fr SS Cotton, SamuelSamuel Cotton 3.0 !So SS Bowden, DevinDevin Bowden 1.0 !Fr SS Howell, RonaldRonald Howell 5.0 !Jr SS Holmes, LoganLogan Holmes 1.0 !Fr	Special teams Pos. Name Class K George, AaronAaron George 3.0 !So K Hopper, HaydenHayden Hopper 1.0 !Fr K Lunsford, MiloMilo Lunsford 1.0 !Fr K Cervantes, FabianFabian Cervantes 1.0 !Fr P Pappas, LucasLucas Pappas 57.0 !Sr P Nelson, ReggieReggie Nelson  3.5 !Jr P Medeiros, AliAli Medeiros 1.0 !Fr P Duffy, OttoOtto Duffy 3.0 !So	Head coach FlutieFlakes Coordinators/assistant coaches None Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 2/13/2017

Depth chart

Defense FS Ousmane Haynes Bradley Haines WLB MLB SLB Damien Norman Joshua Campbell Charles Floyd Jose Shaw Lawrence Calhoun Travis Cox SS Jake Raymond Ronald Howell CB Jonathan Salter Joseph Lee DE DT DT DE Wesley Swanson Eric Harris Malik Dawson Adam Simpson Antoine Traylor John Cormier Michael Olivares Daniel Dawson CB Benny Hall Jeffery Rogers Offense WR Anton Chung Matthew Combs LT LG C RG RT George Stanford Kenneth Walter James Seward William Sloan William Watson Adam Shaw John Vu Jake Long Aaron Sigler William Guzman TE Patrick Stehl Alex Dareus WR Steven Noel Tyrone Hamlin QB Joe Nelson Clyde Campbell RB Ezekiel Adams Joe Velazquez FB Ali Hester Gerald Molina Special Teams PK Lucas Pappas P Lucas Pappas KR Steven Noel, Jeffery Rogers PR Steven Noel, Jeffery Rogers LS James Seward H Reggie Nelson

Recruiting

High School

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Jacob Darby TE	Johnstown, OH	Northridge HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	223 lb (101 kg)	Jul 25, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Marcus Terrell DE	Incline Village, NV	Incline HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	Jul 25, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Derek Robison OG	Somerset, KY	Pulaski Southwestern HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	317 lb (144 kg)	Jul 11, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Charles Linsley FB	Monroe, MI	Monroe HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	228 lb (103 kg)	Jul 25, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Hiroshi Nagatomo WR	Elizabeth, IL	River Ridge HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Jul 25, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Ronan Thurston P	Lahainaluna, HI	Lahainaluna HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	172 lb (78 kg)	Aug 1, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Jadon Watson SS	Greentown, IN	Eastern HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	212 lb (96 kg)	Aug 1, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Aldo Ramirez DE	Pickerington, OH	Pickerington HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	261 lb (118 kg)	Aug 1, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Frank Arndt SS	Belle Plaine, MN	Belle Plaine HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	187 lb (85 kg)	Aug 1, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Khalil Lindsey DT	Joliet, IL	Joliet Catholic HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	319 lb (145 kg)	Aug 1, 2015
	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
Rory Horton FB	Normal, IL	Heartland Community College	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	228 lb (103 kg)	Aug 29, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Jamal Harley ILB	Godfrey, IL	Lewis&Clark Community College	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	222 lb (101 kg)	Aug 29, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Zachary Trotter SS	Grand Rapids, MN	Itasca Community College	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	174 lb (79 kg)	Aug 29, 2015
	Skill:   Potential:
Quinn Ledbetter C	Lynx, IL	Lincoln College	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	Aug 29, 2015
	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.