Zook hopes talented squad uses last season's disappointments to excel

Everyone knows Arrelious Benn, a.k.a. Rejus.

He's the preseason All-America wide receiver from Washington who's expected to be an early first-round pick in the next NFL draft.

Everyone knows Isiah Williams, a.k.a. Juice.

He's the four-year starting quarterback from Chicago who needs just 426 yards to break Illinois' total-offense record owned by Kurt Kittner.

If Williams produces 4,238 total yards this fall - just 346 more than he delivered last season - he'll supplant Drew Brees as the Big Ten's all-time leader in total offense.

Illinois has devoted a Web site (7-to-9.com) to the duo's exploits and honors, while opponents have devoted endless hours to holding them back.

But when it comes time to forecasting Illinois' hopes for 2009, it's important to note Benn and Williams and 11 other returning starters couldn't lead the Illini to a bowl just 12 months after smelling Roses.

Fans wonder whether Ron Zook, entering his fifth year, has built the program to be a perennial success or a perpetual frustration.

"We want to go out there and defend Coach Zook and let everyone know that wasn't a fluke when we went to the Rose Bowl," Williams said. "I'm very excited about this year. Hopefully we can avoid those Saturdays when we had mishaps and come out and take care of business."

Some new blood might be necessary to help Illinois live up to its preseason rankings (No. 27 in the Associated Press poll, No. 35 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll) and earn another glamorous bowl trip.

Introducing junior wide receiver Jarred Fayson, a.k.a. part-time Terrelle Pryor.

The five-star recruit, who started his career at Florida, sat out the 2008 season as a transfer and spent much of his time terrorizing Illinois' starting defense as a member of the scout-team offense. That was especially the case during Ohio State week, when the coaches decided the elusive 6-foot, 215-pound Fayson boasted Pryor's skill set and made him the scout-team QB.

"I broke up the field 50 yards on a couple option runs," Fayson said. "But I think the most memorable play to me, I ran a little draw and (linebackers) Brit Miller and Sam Carson were right there in the middle of the field.

"I did these certain moves: I went side-to-side, then I went forward and I jumped back and I made them run into each other."

At which time Illinois' practice field apparently turned into an "AND 1" gym where everyone who witnesses a great play goes nuts.

"I think I just ran off and threw the ball in the air because you know you did something that was pretty cool," Fayson recalled calmly.

But Illinois didn't recruit Fayson to run the ball, even though he'll return punts as well as line up in the backfield occasionally and run sweeps like Benn does.

Fayson's forte is splitting out wide and keeping opposing defenses from overloading on Benn in the slot.

Furthermore, Fayson's presence offers Illinois a delicious dilemma: Whether to align these blue-chippers on the same side of the ball (forcing at least one of them into single coverage) or putting them on opposite sides to stretch the defense.

"We've taken the thought of putting them together on the same side of the ball," said wide receivers coach Jim Pry. "And we're doing a lot of motion with 'Rejus' away from Fayson, then all of a sudden he's on the same side as Fayson.

"Jarred's a pretty good route-runner and he's a big, strong guy. One of the things we had trouble with before was blocking out there on the flank. Now we've got some meat out there."

When Fayson and everyone else are asked to run-block, they could be doing it for a different runner each snap.

Depending on the opponent, the down, the distance and the game situation, Illinois will choose between senior Daniel Dufrene, sophomores Jason Ford, Mikel Leshoure and Troy Pollard and even true freshman Justin Green.

"I don't know why everybody feels like you have to have (one) guy," Zook said. "We've got four guys that can win for us. And they're all a little bit different. It's up to us as a coaching staff to make sure we have the right guy in there at the right time."

If that happens and if the inexperienced defense plays decently, the Illini figure to be in the thick of the Big Ten chase. If, if, if.

"That's maybe the biggest thing to see this season," Zook said. "OK, two years ago we were fortunate enough to go to the Rose Bowl. Maybe overachieved a little bit. Then, last year, we probably underachieved a little bit.

"Have we learned from those type of experiences? First of all, you have to learn how to win. Then you have to learn how to sustain that."