McGee adds dimension to offense

CHAMPAIGN - For more than two years, the only thing Eddie McGee and former Pittsburgh Steeler Kordell Stewart had in common was their No. 10 jerseys.

Now that McGee made his debut at receiver during Illinois' 27-24 win over Iowa on Saturday, Illinois' backup quarterback has added another dimension to the offense.

McGee, who had been working at slot receiver in practice for about a month, caught 2 passes for 16 yards.

That included a 9-yarder over the middle that served as Illinois' last gain before Matt Eller's game-winning, 46-yard field goal.

"I was fortunate to be with the Pittsburgh Steelers when 'Slash' was there," said Illinois coach Ron Zook. "There's a whole new playbook out there for Eddie."

Zook and offensive coordinator Mike Locksley wanted to get McGee on the field as much for his leadership skills as his playmaking ability.

So when will McGee throw his first end-around pass?

"I don't know," McGee said with a mischievous look on his face.

New lineup: Senior linebacker Sam Carson (Downers Grove South) made his first start since 2005 as Illinois' defense had a different look for Iowa's run-heavy attack.

Carson started for Martez Wilson and racked up a career-high 6 tackles, while cornerback Vontae Davis and defensive end Derek Walker didn't start for the first time this season.

Walker was the odd man out in the team's three-defensive end rotation but played enough to rack up 11/2 of Illinois' season-high 6 sacks.

As for Davis, who's the younger brother of San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis?

"Today I didn't start the game," Davis said, "because Coach Zook wanted to keep me down to earth and let me know I had to stay humble."

Davis wound up clinching the game in the waning seconds with his first interception of the year.

And when the gregarious Davis mentioned the need to stay humble, it's because of statements like this from the future NFL first-round pick:

"Coach Zook is still hollering (at me) because he knows I can do that (make big plays). As a person, as a single player, I've got the ability to win the game and take over the game at any point."

Injury issues: When senior Xavier Fulton re-injured his shoulder midway through the third quarter, Illinois' offense had to run its final five drives with true freshmen at both tackle spots.

Eighteen-year-old freshman Corey Lewis, who made his college debut two weeks ago at right tackle, had to see his first action at left tackle.

Meanwhile, freshman Jeff Allen made his sixth straight start at right tackle. True freshman receiver A.J. Jenkins, who made his first start Saturday, left in the second quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit from safety Brett Greenwood.

Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki (Wheaton Warrenville South), who has been bedeviled by injuries throughout his career, left after taking a helmet-to-helmet shot from Illini safety Donsay Hardeman.

Hardeman drew his first of second personal-foul penalties on that play.

"That game out there today was just as tough as any college game I've ever coached in," said Illinois coach Ron Zook, "in terms of intensity and what we had to do."

No Dufrene: Illinois played without starting running back Dan Dufrene.

The junior stepped away from the team this week to address "personal problems," but he dressed for the game.

"I think you saw Daniel coaching on his teammates," said coach Ron Zook. "He was into the game; he was involved in the game. I think we're working through his personal problems, which I'm not going to discuss, and I expect Daniel to be back out there Monday full go and ready to go."

With Dufrene's team-leading 539 yards on the sidelines, the Illini had their worst rushing day of the Zook era.

They managed just 60 rushing yards on 28 tries.