Juice And Rejus And The Boys Are Ready

It's not often - at least in Illini country - that your favorite squad brings back two legitimate superstars that are leaders, that have experience and that have the talent to absolutely dominate the league. No one in the national media is mentioning it, but both Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn are Heisman capable. Rejus Benn will be a top 10 NFL pick next season and Juice, by the end of this season, will hold every single relevant quarterback record in the history of Illini football.

What. A pair. Of beasts.

But the Illini don't stop there. Zook has given new offensive coordinator, Mike Schultz, a stunning array of depth on offense. At QB, if something were to happen to Juice, Eddie McGee and Jacob Charest are waiting in the wings, Eddie with proven ability and Jacob, by all accounts, a kid with a big-time arm.

At running back, the Illini go at least four deep: Daniel Dufrene (who may be out today against Missou), Troy Pollard, Mikel Leshoure and Jason Ford, will all get carries and all have big game skill. True frosh Justin Green is a pure burner that may be the best of the bunch. No shortage there.

Receiver is an embarrassment of riches. It starts with Benn but #2 guy, Jerred Fayson, the Florida transfer, is another stud who has been waiting patiently for a year to step on the field and make plays. You can't double team Benn because of Fayson and that's going to open up some huge plays. Let's not forget A.J. Jenkins, Jeff Cumberland, Jack Ramsey, Fred Sykes, Chris Duvalt, Cordale Scott and tight-end Michael Hoomanawanui. All are monsters and make up one of the deepest receiving units in the country. Juice just has to decide where to throw and the rest will take care of itself.

The O-Line returns 3 starters and is filled with big guys with experience: Jon Asamoah, Ryan Palmer, Eric Block, Randall Hunt, Jeff Allen, Jack Cornell, Corey Lewis, Craig Wilson and Graham Pocic. All are capable of moving mountains. All are mountains. Juice should have time to throw and room to run all season.

I like the defenese too. The D-Line has some legit, albeit young, talent. Josh Brent and Corey Liuget could be first team all Big Ten. Doug Pilcher and Sirod Williams add upper-class experience. Then you toss in Clay Nurse and Antonio James, and you have a solid core group. A lot is riding on these guys to plug the middle and put pressure on opposing QBs. If Brent and Liuget are as good as I think they are, this unit will surprise people.

Linebacker might be the key to the entire season. If Martez Wilson - taking over the MLB position from Brit Miller - plays like the Simeon Rice-type athlete he is, then all will be good in Illini-land. He has the strength and moves to get to the QB from anywhere on the field and the speed and quickness to track down running backs from sideline to sideline. The rest of the LBs - Ian Thomas, Aaron Gress, Nate Bussey, Russell Ellington, Evan Frierson - are all pretty young and lack extensive playing experience. Their developing maturity and playmaking skill, as I wrote above, may be the key to the defense's success or failure this season.

The secondary loses Vontae but may be improved overall. It's a shame that Miami Thomas went down and is out for a second straight season, but the unit still has talent. Tavon Wilson, Donsay Hardeman and Dere Hicks have playmaking skill. Highly rated frosh Terry Hawthorne, recruited by many as a wideout, has good hands and good speed and may get playing time at DB. Frosh Joelil Thrash also impressed coaches in training camp. One or both of those guys will have to contribute for the DB unit to succeed on the field.

As for today against Missou, I see a few keys to the game for the Illini:

1. Juice must limit his picks. If Juice has two or more TD passes than he does picks, the Illini will win. My guess is he will have 4 TD passes and 1 pick today. I can live with that ratio.

2. Martez has to make some tackles in the backfield. If Martez gets to the Missou running backs a few times behind the line, that should set the tone for the defense the entire season.

3. The DBs need to show they can cover the Missou wideouts. Chase Daniel carved up the Illini last season, and the new QB, Gabbert, also has a big arm. Someone in the Illini defensive backfield has to make a play today.

Overall, I say the Illini win 42 - 24.

Get r dun Juice and Rejus.