Illini defense loses another starter after defeat to Missouri

Illinois' already thin defense lost another player in the wee hours following Saturday's loss to Missouri.

Sophomore Michael Buchanan, who started at the "Bandit" position that's a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker, was arrested on a DUI charge Sunday morning.

According to a Champaign radio station, Buchanan registered a .164 breath-alcohol content at the time of the traffic stop.

Coach Ron Zook suspended Buchanan for violating team rules, though he did not know how many games the Homewood-Flossmoor product would miss in addition to Saturday's home opener against Southern Illinois.

"There's really not anything else I can say about that," Zook said.

Buchanan becomes the fifth starter (or potential starter) to be lopped from the defense since the end of the 2009 season.

Defensive tackle Josh Brent, who made the Dallas Cowboys' active roster, started the trend when he came up short academically and went into the NFL supplemental draft.

Safety Walter Aikens (dismissed after a burglary conviction), safety Supo Sanni (out for the year with a ruptured Achilles' tendon) and cornerback Terry Hawthorne (out for at least two more games with a stress fracture) followed on the list.

Senior defensive end Clay Nurse will take Buchanan's Bandit role. Nurse posted 2 quarterback hurries against Missouri.

Sophomore Whitney Mercilus, Nurse's backup, takes over the rush end spot.

Secondary home: It sounds like starting cornerback Justin Green, backup safety Steve Hull and backup cornerback Jack Ramsey all have the option to return to offense.

The question is, when injured corner Terry Hawthorne returns to the lineup, will any of them want to move back?

Green would have received a handful of carries at best if he had still been Illinois' third-string running back for the Missouri game. Instead, he played all but a few defensive downs and contributed 6 tackles.

Hull entered early when starting safety Trulon Henry got dinged and wound up playing enough to post 7 tackles.

Ramsey would have played more at corner, but he suffered leg cramps.

"I think they came here to play," said Illinois coach Ron Zook. "My big thing is, I've never really asked a guy to move unless he wanted to move. You recruit the right type of guys. You recruit winners. And usually, if they want to play, they'll figure a way to get on the field.

"They're all temporary until they tell me that's where they want to stay. I've told them all they have the ability."

Look for at least Green and Hull to stick with defense. At least Zook received that impression when he caught up with Hull on Sunday.

The redshirt freshman was receiving treatment in the training room when Zook joked with him about not being that sore in a long time.

"He had a big smile on his face," Zook said. "I was very, very proud of the way he played."

In-state rivalry: Saturday's game against Southern Illinois marks the fifth year in a row Illinois has hosted a Football Championship Subdivision school from within the state.

The Illini won the last four games by an average score of 39-14, but the Salukis are in a different class.

SIU ranks No. 2 in the FCS national polls and rolled up 70 points against NAIA Quincy in its opener.

Ron Zook threw out the magic words "Boise State" to describe the Salukis' offensive philosophy.

"This is a football team that's very, very dangerous," Zook said. "They're right up there with Appalachian State. Everyone remembers what Appalachian State did (to Michigan) a couple of years ago."