Beckman at the Big Ten Football Media Day; Photo by Reid Compton of US PRESSWIRE

Of all the coaches, it was new Illini coach Tim Beckman who was the most excited to be present at today’s Big Ten Football Media Day in Chicago. Clad in a fantastic orange tie, Beckman’s enthusiasm was contagious as he addressed the media and exclaimed how honored he is to be the head coach of the University of Illinois. He also went ahead and addressed the Penn State situation head on before anyone had a chance to ask.

Overall, the question of pinching players from Penn State was a hot topic, and Tim Beckman made sure that everyone knew that he had not in fact been on the Penn State campus recruiting. Oh, he was in Happy Valley and talked to a couple of players, but he was not on the campus.

On that topic, each coach had a different response. Some said they would in no way shape or form be looking into PSU players (Urban Meyer) while others seemed pretty open to the idea of grabbing some good players that are available (Beckman, Danny Hope). Those players that want to leave are going to go somewhere, so why not to your B1G school? The rules are the rules, so I don’t really see anything wrong with speaking to players who are interested in leaving.

Back to Beckman, he had a lot to say without actually really saying much, and he did it with a ton of energy. He’s excited about the 19 seniors, and having those 19 seniors return for one more year of football. Did I mention there are 19 of them?

In response to a question regarding last season’s epic fail of losing the last six games, Beckman said that he focuses on good old fashioned competition to get morale up and prepare the guys for the upcoming season.

“I think we had 15 outstanding days of Spring,” he said. “Going over competing and playing the first play as if we played the last play and playing at a tempo that we believe is going to be the Illini tempo and being a finisher by competing.”

Four Illini were drafted last year, but obviously that didn’t mean that last year’s team was any good. In addressing the question of how to translate a draft win into actual football wins, Beckman pointed out that four other guys checked on their draft stock, and decided to come back. Michael Buchanan, Graham Pocic, Terry Hawthorne and Akeem Spence all decided to return, though Beckman didn’t exactly say how that’s going to transform into wins.

While all positions are up for grabs, if the season started right now Nathan Scheelhaase will be the starting quarterback. However, this could change. “Quarterback-wise and defensive back-wise, it’s all going to be the same. We’re going to compete and make our determination on who is going to be that starter based on practice,” he said.

Beckman addressed the major concern for everyone: the offensive line. The plan is for a dual offense next year, with two running backs in the game at times, and also two quarterbacks when Miles Osei lines up as a running back. “It’s a commitment that our offensive staff has made to running the football and we’ve got to establish the run first for us to be successful,” he said. “So the challenge will be on the offensive line to provide for [Donovonn] Young and [Josh] Ferguson and hopefully some of the young freshmen to step in and play.”

On the topic of Northwestern, Beckman acknowledged that he is fueling the rivalry, and referred to them as the “Team Upstate.” Later, Pat Fitzgerald said he wasn’t paying attention to Beckman and the “Team in Champaign,” as he is focusing on his own team instead.

Even though Beckman addressed the PSU topic from the start, it still came up again. Rumors were swirling about Illini coaches swarming the Penn State campus this week, and that’s why the questions were flying. Beckman again admitted he was in Happy Valley, but not on campus. He doesn’t feel bad about reaching out, because he’s following the rules. There are players he’s got his eye on, and he informed Penn State as such before even arriving.

With only four teams in the Leaders division eligible to go the Championship game, Beckman certainly wants to get Illinois to that game, but he realizes there are going to be many obstacles along the way.

“We have a challenge, there’s no question about it, because of our away football games, playing in Camp Randall and playing at the Big House and playing in The Shoe, are three big places to play in this conference,” he said. “And being on the road for those three challenges are definitely going to be the challenges on the road. You’ve still got to win your Big Ten football games to give yourself that opportunity to get in that championship on 12-1-12 in Indianapolis.”

Beckman also mentioned that today is his mother Pat’s birthday, and I hope she has a lovely celebration with her son today.

Football season is just a couple months away, which means it’s time to start keeping our eyes on certain players. Four Illini football players were recently named to national award watch lists, announced by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Junior linebacker Jonathan Brown and senior defensive end Michael Buchanan are both candidates for the Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top defensive player, while senior center Graham Pocic and junior defensive tackle Akeem Spence are both up for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior lineman in college football.

Brown was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media in 2011 after he ranked sixth in the nation in tackles for loss per game with 1.63 (19.5 total). He led the Big Ten in TFLs (14.5) in conference games and ranked second in tackles (11.9 per game), pacing the Illini with 108 stops. Brown has already been named to the 2012 Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists and is a preseason All-American by Phil Steele.

Buchanan also had a big 2011 season playing opposite first-team All-American DE Whitney Mercilus. Buchanan was a second-team All-Big Ten selection, recording 64 tackles and ranking fourth in the Big Ten in sacks (7.5) and ninth in TFLs (13.5). Buchanan is also on the Bednarik Award watch list.

Pocic enters 2012 having started 26 consecutive games at center for the Illini. He was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2010 when he helped pave the way for the top rushing offense in the Big Ten and 11th-best in the nation. Pocic is also on the Rimington Trophy watch list, which goes to the nation’s top center.

After being named a freshman All-American in 2010, Spence followed up with an even better year in 2011. He posted 69 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks during his sophomore campaign, while helping anchor the seventh-ranked defense in the country.

The Nagurski Trophy is named for former Minnesota fullback/defensive tackle Bronko Nagurski, who dominated college football from 1927-29. Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly won the award in 2011, while former Illini defensive end Whitney Mercilus was a Nagurski finalist last season. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists on Nov. 15. The winner will be announced Dec. 3 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn and Kansas at the turn of the century. This year’s winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6 on ESPN. The 2011 Outland winner was Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones.

In all, four Illini have been named to eight different watch lists so far this summer.

Illini 2012 Preseason Honors & Watch Lists (as of 7/12)

• Jonathan Brown, LB – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Bednarik Award (Def. POY), Lott Trophy (Def. POY), Phil Steele All-American (fourth team)
• Michael Buchanan, DE – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY). Bednarik Award (Def. POY)
• Graham Pocic, C – Outland Trophy (Interior line), Rimington Trophy (C)
• Akeem Spence, DT – Outland Trophy (Interior line)

Photo by Richard Paul Kane

Six University of Illinois football players earned recognition on Phil Steele’s Midseason All-America team. Junior DE Whitney Mercilus was named to the first team, while senior WR A.J. Jenkins was on the second team, senior OT Jeff Allen was on the third team, and senior DB Tavon Wilson was given fourth-team honors. Sophomore QB Nathan Scheelhaase and junior C Graham Pocic were honorable mention All-America selection.

To add to the fun, 11 Illini were named to Steele’s Midseason All-Big Ten Teams, including four first team selections. Allen, Jenkins, Mercilus, Wilson and bandit Michael Buchanan earned first-team honors, while linebacker Jonathan Brown, DB Terry Hawthorne, Scheelhaase, DT Akeem Spence and LB Ian Thomas were named to the second team. Center Graham Pocic earned third-team honors.

Illini on Steele’s Midseason All-America Teams:

First Team: DE Whitney Mercilus

Second Team: WR A.J. Jenkins

Third Team: OL Jeff Allen

Fourth Team: DB Tavon Wilson

Honorable Mention: QB Nathan Scheelhaase, C Graham Pocic

Illini on Steele’s Midseason All-Big Ten Teams:

First Team: OL Jeff Allen, BAN Michael Buchanan, WR A.J. Jenkins, DE Whitney Mercilus, DB Tavon Wilson

Second Team: LB Jonathan Brown, DB Terry Hawthorne, QB Nathan Scheelhaase, DT Akeem Spence, LB Ian Thomas

Third Team: C Graham Pocic

The first Illinois football game is less than a week away, and I hope the team is as ready to get started as I am. For the first time since 2006 the Illini will start the season off at home, and they have a pretty solid chance of starting the season off 1-0, another new and exciting venture.

Kickoff is at 2:37 (weird) in the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 3 and the Illini will be facing Arkansas State. The game will be airing on the Big Ten Network.

The Illini have compiled an all-time record of 74-42-5 in season-openers and are 51-27-4 when opening the season at home. The Illini have also won their last five season-openers at Memorial Stadium dating back to 1997, including a 41-3 win over Arkansas State to start the 1999 season.

There are always some nerves as a new season begins, and this year is no different. The Illini have lost leading rusher Mykel Leshoure and my favorite hunka hunka burning linebacker Martez Wilson. DT Corey Leguit has also gone onto greener NFL pastures.

Not to worry, there will be some familiar faces, starting – of course- with QB Nathan Scheelhaase, who we all hope will pick up where he left off with a bowl win against Baylor in 2010.  Last season, Scheelhaase had 13 touchdowns and just one interception over the last seven games. In that Texas Bowl win over Baylor, the redshirt-freshman completed all 13 of his first-half passes for 170 yards and finished the game 18-of-23 for 242 yards, while also rushing for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Illinois is returning six more offensive starters:  OL Jeff Allen, OL Hugh Thornton, OL Jack Cornell (split starts with Thornton), OL Graham Pocic, WR A.J Jenkins, FB Jay Prosch, and TE Evan Wilson.

The defense returns six starters: DE Michael Buchanan, DT Akeem Spence, LB Ian Thomas, LB Trulon Henry, CB Justin Green and CB Tavon Wilson. CB Terry Hawthorne also has started six games in his career – five in 2009 and one in 2010 – but was slowed by injuries much of 2010.

Kicker Derek Dimke and long-snapper Zak Pedersen are also coming back for more fun.

Luther is ready for football!

The Fighting Illini have eight home games on the schedule in 2011 for the first time in the Memorial Stadium era and first time since 1903, when Illinois played nine home games. The Orange and Blue open with five consecutive home games and six of their first seven contests at Memorial Stadium. The Illini take an all-time record of 247-209-14 at Memorial Stadium into the 2011 campaign.

As for who we’re facing? This will be the third meeting between Illinois and Arkansas State, with the  Illini winning  the previous two meetings at Memorial Stadium, 41-3 in the 1999 season-opener and 59-7 in 2002.

The Red Wolves were 4-8 overall in 2010 and finished tied for fourth in the Sun Belt with a 4-4 record. ASU
is under the direction of first-year head coach Hugh Freeze, who was ASU’s offensive coordinator in 2010. He was also the high school coach that was featured in “The Blind Side” movie with Sandra Bullock, a nice little trivia nugget for you.

Basically, this is a cake walk opening game, something the Illini have needed in the past to boost their spirits going into a new season. Thankfully that contract against Missouri in St. Louis expired, so the Illini can be like most other teams and start the season off right with a massive win against a subpar team. If they don’t bring home a W, then we’re going to have serious problems for the rest of the season, because at least if you lose your home opener to Missouri you have an excuse. These easier openers are also a great way for Zook to try out some new people and get a feel for who can do what before entering conference play.

Here we go!