Illini open spring football with new look
CHAMPAIGN -- Illinois opens spring football Tuesday and for the first time in a long time Juice Williams won't be on the field.
Williams finished his fourth season at Illinois last year -- a 3-9 campaign that left some Illini fans calling for major changes -- and is waiting to learn whether he has a future in the NFL.
Illinois coach Ron Zook says he'll miss the Chicago quarterback who was his first big-name recruit.
"He's been the face of the program for the last four years," Zook said. "It's going to be different going out there without a No. 7."
Redshirt sophomore Jacob Charest played in three games last fall and, because he's the only contender with playing time, is the leading candidate to start next season.
"I think you've got to say he's a got a little leg up because he's got some playing time," Zook said.
In addition to looking for a new quarterback, Illinois will be breaking in a bunch of new coaches.
Illinois fired four assistants after the season ended, and has six new coaches on the staff. They include offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, who came to Illinois from Arkansas, and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning from Kansas State.
Fans won't notice many major changes from either coordinator, Zook said. Expect more two-back sets and more huddles -- Illinois has seldom huddled in Zook's five seasons in Champaign -- on offense.
On defense, the biggest change might be the return of middle linebacker Martez Wilson. Wilson sat out most of last season with a neck injury and isn't cleared yet for contact, but Zook says Wilson will practice.
"That'll be a big plus," he said. "Here's a guy who was your bell cow... (Last year), I really felt like it was his year to come around."
Zook said that, despite fan grumbling after a second straight losing season that ended with the firing of four assistants, he feels no extra pressure ahead of the 2010 season, and expects positive results.
"This is not just a Band-Aid," he said of the staff changes. "We made some significant changes on both sides of the football.
"The majority of these coaches," he added, "wouldn't have come here if they didn't think (Illinois could win)."
Spring football ends April 24 with the annual Orange and Blue game, and the Illini open against Missouri on Sept. 4 in St. Louis. The Illini have lost five in a row to the Tigers and will end the series of neutral-site games after this season.