Duvalt changes positions, turns heads

CHAMPAIGN -- Not many of coach Ron Zook's 44 returning lettermen did less to help Illinois get to the Rose Bowl than junior Chris Duvalt.

As the team's fourth-best cornerback, Duvalt rarely saw the field. He returned 4 kicks in the season opener against Missouri, then contributed nothing else all season but 4 assisted tackles.

This year figures to be completely different for Duvalt, which could go a long way toward helping Illinois stay near the top of the Big Ten.

The 5-foot-10, 172-pound Florida native switched to wide receiver prior to spring practices -- and he delivered a valedictory performance Saturday in Illinois' spring game.

Of Duvalt's 4 catches (for 52 yards), 3 required him either to soar high or go parallel to the ground to catch Juice Williams' wind-blown fastballs.

" 'Duvvy,' he's nice," Williams said. "He's got great, soft hands."

On the play that drew the biggest ovation from the 12,531 at Memorial Stadium -- Illinois' largest spring-game attendance in decades -- Duvalt laid out on the sideline to snag a 10-yard pass.

"Chris has taken on a new life," Zook said. "He'll be a guy who'll be a big contributor this fall."

"I feel I can get much better than I was today," said Duvalt, the fastest receiver in Illinois' projected rotation. "They threw me the ball a little more than I thought they would. I'm happy."

Duvalt's contributions stood out in yet another scrimmage in which Illinois' defense carried the day.

Though the spring game's unique scoring system gave the offense a 38-31 victory over the defense, the offense managed just 1 touchdown and 1 field goal in 19 drives.

Eddie McGee, running the second-team offense against the second-team defense, saw slot receiver Brian Gamble get open behind middle linebacker Sam Carson for a 54-yard touchdown pass.

The game's only other touchdown came when McGee and running back Mikel LeShoure botched a handoff that backup defensive end Antonio James picked up for a 44-yard score.

Several of James' linemates added "sacks" to cement their reputation as Illinois' deepest, most talented position.

"The defensive front is the best group right now," Zook said. "Not only the athleticism, (but) the experience, the fact you can keep running them in there one after another."

Backup sophomore end Jerry Brown, benched most of spring for academic reasons, led the way with 3 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. All-Big Ten senior end Will Davis added 2½ sacks, while Derek Walker, the senior on the other end, had 1½ sacks.

• Junior cornerback Vontae Davis played with the second string as part of Zook's continual effort to get his All-America candidate to play to his potential.

"You all know how I feel," Zook said. "Vontae is the most talented defensive back I've ever been around. But right now he's not the best defensive back out there."

• The offense played without three key starters: Center Ryan McDonald (precautionary), receiver Arrelious Benn (shoulder surgery) and tight end Michael Hoomanawanui (hamstring).

• Hoomanawanui earned the squad's most improved offensive player for the spring, while strong-side linebacker Rodney Pittman and backup end Clay Nurse shared defensive honors.

Senior tackle David Lindquist won "best effort on defense," while sophomore Randall Hunt, who all but earned the right to succeed All-American Martin O'Donnell at left guard, won "best effort on offense."

Tight end Tom Sullivan, who caught a 38-yard pass from Juice Williams on the game's first play, and linebacker Conor Gillen (Glenbard West) shared the most improved walk-on award.