Fighting Illini

Fighting Illini

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Darrius Caldwell - DL - Fighting Illini

Illinois head coach Tom Beckman has dismissed redshirt sophomore DE Darrius Caldwell for a violation of unspecified team rules.

Caldwell recorded five tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks, as a redshirt freshman in 2012, a great line for a sub-package player who saw action in 12 games. He also forced a fumble and recovered one. We expect Caldwell's name to surface with another program.
Source: Associated Press
May 20 - 8:54 AM
Darius Millines - WR - Fighting Illini

Illinois has dismissed suspended junior WR Darius Millines after his violation of team policy.

Defensive end Darrius Caldwell has also been dismissed. Millines was second on the team with 319 receiving yards on 32 catches in 2012. Head coach Tim Beckman was the one who made the decision.
Source: Associated Press
May 19 - 5:13 PM
Corey Lewis - T - Fighting Illini

Illinois senior OL Corey Lewis was granted a sixth season of eligibility.

Lewis has torn an ACL three times and underwent a total of five surgeries in the last three years. He missed the entirety of the 2011 and 2010 seasons. Illinois has lost a few prospects to the NFL in recent years, in Hugh Thornton and Jeff Allen, so there is a chance Lewis can contribute.
Source: CollegeFootballTalk on NBC Sports
Apr 30 - 5:07 PM
Michael Buchanan - DL - Fighting Illini

Patriots selected Illinois DE Michael Buchanan with the No. 226 overall pick.

Buchanan (6-foot-5 3/8, 255) was highly touted entering his senior season, but finished 2012 with pedestrian sack (4.5) and tackle-for-loss (7.0) stats. He did demonstrate burst with a 1.59 ten-yard split at the front end of his 4.78 Combine forty time. Buchanan played "space" linebacker in the Illini's 3-3-5 scheme and has long arms (34"). Buchanan will likely compete for a special teams role initially.
Apr 27 - 6:28 PM
Terry Hawthorne - DB - Fighting Illini

Steelers selected Illinois CB Terry Hawthorne with the No. 150 overall pick.

Hawthorne (5-foot-11 3/4, 195) started 26 games for the Illini, registering six interceptions, 12.5 tackles for loss, and two pick-sixes. He was highly regarded before a disappointing senior year, along with the rest of Illinois' defense. Hawthorne ran 4.44 at the Combine with a 35.5-inch vertical and is fluid in the hips, so the tools are there. Hawthorne is also not opposed to getting physical. It's a area of need for the Steelers with Ike Taylor entering his age-33 season and Keenan Lewis in New Orleans.
Apr 27 - 2:55 PM
Akeem Spence - DL - Fighting Illini

Bucs traded up to select Illinois DT Akeem Spence with the No. 100 overall pick, sending Nos. 112 and 181 to the Raiders.

Spence (6-foot 5/8, 307) started every game of his Illini career, racking up 16.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks across 38 starts. Short but quick-footed, Spence generated generous pre-draft comparisons to Bengals All-Pro Geno Atkins. He'll need to start making a lot more plays to reach those heights. Spence did demonstrate short-area burst with a 1.67 ten-yard split at the Combine. He's an undersized, gap-shooting three-technique prospect. It's a worthy flier for a Bucs team that needs girth in the middle after losing Roy Miller in free agency.
Apr 27 - 12:21 PM
Hugh Thornton - G - Fighting Illini

Colts selected Illinois OG Hugh Thornton with the No. 86 overall pick.

Thornton (6-3 320) made 35 starts for the Illini, seeing time at both guard and tackle. He was Illinois' starting left tackle as a senior, although left guard will be Thornton's best NFL fit. He has 34 1/8-inch arms and ran 5.11 in Indy with 27 reps on the bench, so Thornton has athleticism, length, and strength -- and he plays nasty. Thornton's mother and sister were murdered in 2004 while he slept next door, and NFL scouts believe he takes out his internal anger on the field. Thornton could push Mike McGlynn for the right guard job.
Apr 26 - 9:53 PM
Michael Buchanan - DL - Fighting Illini

Teams who run a 3-4 base defense have been showing the most interest in Illinois pass rusher Michael Buchanan.

After noting he currently weighs 252 pounds, Buchanan said "but I think I can get up to whatever a team asks me to do." We really liked Buchanan's 2011 film, but just like the rest of the Illinois defense, he was a let down in 2012. Still, Buchanan has talent as an edge rusher. It didn't just disappear.
Source: Chicago Sun Times
Apr 24 - 2:05 PM
Hugh Thornton - G - Fighting Illini

Illinois OL Hugh Thornton visited the Rams last week.

Thornton lined up and tackle and guard during his college career, and the former high school wrestler wins with balance and leverage. We expect him to be selected in the third- or fourth-round.
Source: Jim Thomas on Twitter
Apr 19 - 11:18 AM
Akeem Spence - DL - Fighting Illini

National Football Post's Russ Lande writes that it would not be a surprise if Illinois DT Akeem Spence was drafted in the second-round.

Lande has previously written that scouts said Spence reminds them of Geno Atkins, which seems to be a reach of a comparison. Spence is talented, as he possesses strong hands and is quick-footed, but he didn't live up to expectations this past season. Still, it appears that his physical tools could lead him to be a Top 60 selection.
Source: National Football Post
Mar 8 - 12:41 PM
Michael Buchanan - DL - Fighting Illini

Russ Lande of National Football Post writes that teams are looking at Illinois DE/LB Michael Buchanan as a 3-4 OLB.

"While he definitely showed some stiffness in his workout, he definitely showed the athleticism to be productive playing from a two point outside linebacker stance in a 34 scheme and a source at the workout told us that in his view that is clearly his best position in the NFL," Lande wrote. Some have had questions about Buchanan but he's more athletic than given credit for. He's done work as a pure space linebacker in Illinois' 3-3-5 packages.
Source: National Football Post
Mar 8 - 12:35 PM
Glenn Foster - DL - Fighting Illini

NFL.com's Gil Brandt says Illinois DL Glenn Foster's pro day workout "has scouts scrambling" back to his tape.

"Foster ran the 40-yard dash in 4.82 and 4.79 seconds, had a 4.45-second short shuttle and a 7.15-second three-cone drill," writes Brandt. "He recorded a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-9 broad jump. He also had 29 lifts of 225 pounds on the bench press."
Source: NFL.com
Mar 8 - 11:40 AM
Darius Millines - WR - Fighting Illini

Illinois junior WR Darius Millines has been suspended for a violation of team policy.

Millines was the team's second leading receiver last season and was already in the process of recovering from shoulder surgery. His practice time would like have been limited this spring, regardless.
Source: ESPN
Mar 5 - 12:43 PM
Terry Hawthorne - DB - Fighting Illini

Illinois CB Terry Hawthorne ran an official 4.44 forty at the NFL Combine.

Hawthorne's 10 yard split checked in at 1.51 seconds. Just like the rest of the Illini defense, Hawthorne under-performed in 2012 despite generating preseason hype. He is a talented corner that should be selected in the early parts of the third day.
Feb 26 - 3:07 PM
Michael Buchanan - DL - Fighting Illini

Illinois DE Michael Buchanan ran an official 4.78 forty at the NFL Combine.

Buchanan also recorded a 1.59 10 yard split. Buchanan was a highly rated player heading into the 2012 season but vanished during many games. He has talent, but Buchanan likely projects as a pass rushing outside linebacker.
Feb 25 - 12:35 PM

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