While it will be a small part of Saturday’s game, fans would be wise to watch the matchup of former Illini defensive tackle D’Angelo McCray against the myriad of offensive linemen blocking him.

McCray left the Orange and Blue in July after sitting out his freshman year. He said he was seeking a fresh start, but that there were no hard feelings toward the team, he told the Bloomington Pantagraph.

The former four-star recruit’s career at Illinois was not meant to be, and he transferred to Eastern Illinois.

Coach Zook and others were more or less indifferent to the idea of playing McCray, focusing instead on getting back on the right track after last weekend’s loss in St. Louis.

“Dealing with him is up to the offense; I truthfully don’t know what he’ll bring,” defensive tackle and former linemate David Lindquist said. “We’ll see; he might have gotten a chip on his shoulder. We’ll see if he brings it this week.”

Illinois lineman Jon Asamoah is looking forward to matching up against his former teammate.

“We went against D’Angelo a lot last year, and I’m excited to see him again,” he said.

But even if the junior guard is anticipating the matchup, it will be one that will come as somewhat strange.

“When you get out in the game you don’t even see faces out there,” Asamoah said. “I’m not going to be talking to him. I’m just going to be doing my job. I’m not going to worry about it. I’m going to treat him like I treat everybody else.”

Matchup to watch: D’Angelo McCray vs. Illinois offensive line

Although McCray has only recorded one tackle on the early season, it was a tackle for a loss, in Eastern’s 31-12 loss to Central Michigan on the road.

McCray will likely be the most recognizable Panther on the field this Saturday in Illinois’ Renaissance celebration, other than former Illinois linebacker J Leman’s younger brother, Cory, who also recorded a tackle in the season’s first game.

After sitting out last year with a medical redshirt, McCray left Illinois in what he said was an exit without hard feelings.

Regardless of the terms of his transfer, the 6-foot-4, 333-pound tackle will have a chip on his shoulder against his old team, trying to show how well he can play.

On the flip side, Illinois offensive line is looking forward to playing an old teammate and anyone who doesn’t have a Missouri Tigers jersey on.

McCray will likely be lining up mostly against guards Jon Asamoah and Eric Block and center Ryan McDonald from his interior defensive line position.