No distractions allowed for Rose Bowl bound Illini

When Illinois conducted its official Rose Bowl media day festivities on Sunday, virtually every Illini regular and top reserve was available for interviews.

Only senior kicker Jason Reda and Big Ten offensive player of the year Rashard Mendenhall didn't take part in the 90-minute session.

While Reda maintained his season-long media boycott for superstitious reasons, Mendenhall stayed away at the coaches' behest.

Apparently there's a fear the junior running back's projected leap to the lucrative NFL - or the constant questions about it - could affect the team's chemistry as the Illini prepare for Southern California.

Assistant head coach Reggie Mitchell, the team's running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, talked with Mendenhall on Monday about the NFL hoopla.

"He was the best he's been," Mitchell said. "I think he's excited about playing USC. He's excited about, maybe, going to the NFL.

"That's something that every kid who ever played football, that's what they want to do. That's a goal of his. If he plays really well, he'll probably be able to accomplish that goal."

Mitchell punctuated those words with a laugh that suggested there's no question Mendenhall is NFL-worthy.

The 220-pounder with the 4.4 speed and remarkable agility rewrote Illinois' single-season rushing and scoring records with 1,526 yards and 16 scores.

The Skokie native finished the regular season ranked eighth nationally in yards per game (127.2). Of the nation's top 10 rushers, only Houston's Anthony Alridge posted a better yards per carry average than Mendenhall's 6.2.

While Mitchell, head coach Ron Zook and everyone else who draws an Illinois paycheck would like Mendenhall to return next fall, they realize the team will benefit even if he moves along.

"It says we're recruiting guys and we've got guys in our program with the ability to leave early," Mitchell said. "It's a win-win for him and a win-win for us."

Illinois has two other pure tailbacks in the program - junior Dan Dufrene and injured freshman Troy Pollard - and two commitments from high school seniors expected to make it on campus.

Belleville Althoff's Jason Ford, who rushed for a St. Louis area-record 6,415 yards and 75 touchdowns, is in the Mendenhall mold without the five-star hype.

Champaign Centennial's Mikel LeShoure, who checks in at a thickly muscled 6-foot, 220 pounds, is seen as a Pierre Thomas-type runner.

More Rejus: When Arrelious Benn chose Illinois over Florida State and Notre Dame, his rationale included the desire to rebuild a program instead of reload one.

Now that the Illini are headed to the Rose Bowl, Benn was jokingly asked if he might transfer and find another program to rebuild.

The freshman receiver just laughed at the thought. After all, he still hasn't done nearly what he planned in an Illinois uniform.

"I wanted 1,000 yards," Benn said. "I got what I could take, but I'm still in the learning process. Next year is going to be bigger."

Despite suffering multiple shoulder dislocations, Benn finished with a team-high 49 catches for 596 yards and 1 touchdown. He also rushed 32 times for 158 yards and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score against Penn State.

"A lot of people thought this was a great year for me, which undoubtedly it was," Benn said. "But as far as my personal goals, next year is even going to be over the top."

Benn's plans for next year include returning kicks and punts on a full-time basis. He will ease into that role during the Rose Bowl, when he and Vontae Davis should be deep for every kick.

California dreamin': Backup quarterback Eddie McGee probably speaks for the entire squad when he admits he's looking forward to hitting the West Coast.

"I just want to see what the life is out there," McGee said. "That's big-time life out there. See the palm trees, stuff like that. Movie stars. I want to see the lifestyle."

The Illini leave for Pasadena, Calif., on Dec. 25 in the evening.