Injury Update

Illinois’ hope of a turnaround season was in serious jeopardy when quarterback Juice Williams left the game after he was tackled following a four-yard rush to the outside near the Illini bench.

Head coach Ron Zook explained that the hit caused Williams’ helmet to push into the area above Williams’ eye. Williams did not slide on the play and did not initially get to his feet. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Eddie McGee and did not return for precautionary reasons. After the game Zook said he expects Williams to play next week against Western Illinois.

Highly touted freshman receiver Arrelious Benn experienced cramping in his hamstring after making an athletic catch near the sideline. Benn walked off the field and returned to action.

Zook said that Missouri’s players did not seem to have any issues of cramping and said he may need to examine his team’s routine to prevent future cramps.

Punting battle

The fight for the punting job will continue into week two, as Zook said he has not named a starting punter. Redshirt freshman Anthony Santella punted six times Saturday for an average of 37.7 yards, including two inside the 20-yard line. Kyle Yelton, who Zook said has a quicker release time, had one punt for 39 yards in the third quarter.

Santella transferred from Utah last semester and joined the Illini during spring practice. He described his first action as an Illini as mediocre.

“I know I could have done better, but I have experience now and I feel a lot more comfortable,” he said.

The low point in the game for Illini punters came when Jeremy Maclin returned Yelton’s 39-yard punt in the third quarter 66 yards for a touchdown.

The Illini used four punters last season, including wide receiver DaJuan Warren.

“We all get our reps (in practice) and we all try to help each other out,” Santella said.

Good impression

First-year players played a large role in the Illini offense Saturday. Receivers Benn and Brian Gamble bolstered the Illini offense, combining for 122 receiving yards.

Benn caught one pass for 25 yards on fourth and 10 during the Illini’s desperation fourth-quarter drive.

“It went pretty good,” Benn said. “I’m not satisfied. I thought I could do more. I was a little bit anxious. I calmed down and just played football.”

Gamble was an unexpected bright spot for the Illini receiving corps. He averaged 12 yards per catch. Out of high school Gamble was touted as a premiere defensive back but looked comfortable in his collegiate debut on the opposite side of the ball.

Rashard Mendenhall was expected to carry the majority of the Illinois rushing responsibility this season, but junior college transfer Daniel Dufrene made his presence known in his first game in orange and blue.

Dufrene rushed six times for 58 yards, including a 30-yard scamper, and bolstered the Illini offense in the first half when Mendenhall was struggling to amass positive yardage. Dufrene transferred from the College of the Sequoias after originally attending Vanderbilt for a semester.

Quote of the game

“We’re a young team; we got young receivers, young quarterback, young offensive line. We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.”

-Arrelious Benn, receiver