Ford shows drive at running back

RANTOUL - Ron Zook's rules prohibit Illinois rookies from talking to the media until they've played their first game.

But Zook can't stop his freshmen from communicating via body language.

Judging by the way running back Jason Ford moved his feet and lowered his shoulders during Monday night's scrimmage at Rantoul High School, he looks like one of the solutions for Illinois' unproven running game.

The Belleville Althoff product showcased spin moves and power moves - sometimes on the same play - to finish with 53 yards and 1 touchdown on 11 carries.

Several of his runs came behind the second-string offensive line against the rugged first-string defense.

"Great player," said junior quarterback Juice Williams. "I saw glimpses of that in summertime with the way he finished plays, even though it was two-hand touch. Just him finishing cuts and making guys miss in the open field."

While junior Dan Dufrene, who rushed 10 times for 60 yards and a score, seems to have a lock on the starting job, Ford appeared ahead of redshirt freshman Troy Pollard and freshman Mikel LeShoure.

The latter impressed the crowd of 2,500 when he turned an Eddie McGee screen pass into a 34-yard gain against the first-team defense, but he also fumbled twice.

Illinois scored 2 touchdowns on its nine "normal" drives during the 90-minute scrimmage.

Sophomore slot receiver Arrelious Benn started the scoring with a 14-yard reception.

He caught a swing pass from Juice Williams, flew between two defenders and smashed through safety (and high school teammates) Nate Bussey at the 1-yard line to get into the end zone.

"You smell the end zone, gotta get there," Benn said with a smile.

Everything wasn't laughs for the Illini.

Senior left tackle Xavier Fulton, perhaps the most irreplaceable player on the roster, appeared to injure his right knee while pass-blocking Antonio James.

Fulton was helped off the field and received treatment, but eventually crossed back to the offense's sideline under his own power.

Fulton sat out the rest of the way.

"He's scared more than anything," Zook said. "If it was a game, he'd come back in. It was really his ankle more than his knee."