The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

    Jenkins, Scheelhaase lead unproven Illini offense

    A.J. Jenkins stood by a group of media members in 90-degree heat at the Memorial Stadium practice field after one of the first practices of the fall for Illini football.

    Jenkins stood and stared, wanting to know why none of the reporters had requested him for an interview.

    “I made about 100 catches today,” Jenkins said with a frustrated look on his face.

    Eventually, the media obliged and Jenkins got his interviews.

    In truth, Jenkins hasn’t been a stranger to the media since last season’s 3-9 debacle for Illinois football.

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    The junior had a disappointing season under offensive coordinator Mike Schultz and was ready to transfer. Meeting with new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and talking with his family made him change his mind.

    Now, Jenkins is a leading candidate to have a breakout season in a year that unproven talent is in no shortage for the Illini.

    “He’s a guy that really took to this offense … learning his best ways to get open,” quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said. “He really became a student of this game.”

    If anyone knows about being a student of the game, it’s Scheelhaase.

    The redshirt freshman, described by teammates as a “braniac”, won the starting job during the summer over sophomore Jake Charest and freshman Chandler Whitmer.

    “We look up to Nate, we support Nate,” senior Eddie McGee said. “Nate’s very intelligent, he’s a great athlete, he’s going to be fine this year.”

    Charest has since left the team to transfer to a school closer to his family in North Carolina, leaving a void at the backup quarterback position.

    If Scheelhaase is injured, something not so far-fetched for a quarterback who likes to run, Zook still isn’t sure who would fill the position.

    It could be freshmen Chandler Whitmer or Miles Osei, but the coaching staff would be hesitant to burn a redshirt year for either.

    More likely, McGee would have to move back from receiver, where he converted full-time last spring.

    McGee has taken snaps at quarterback and does have designed packages where he plays quarterback and Scheelhaase lines up at receiver, but the senior isn’t exactly keen on switching back to his old position.

    “I am a full-time receiver, but when Jake left, we had conversations about playing quarterback,” McGee said. “I’m going to be taking some snaps.”

    McGee is expected to be a big part of the Illini’s receiving game even though he is still learning the position.

    One thing the Illini do know is that Martez Wilson will be the starting middle linebacker when the team plays Missouri on Sept. 4.

    Wilson has battled high expectations his entire career and hasn’t exactly been able to live up to them. Last season, when it looked as if he may finally break out, he injured his neck in the season opener against Missouri and was forced to sit out the year, taking a medical redshirt.

    Wilson and his coaches, though, say there are no longer any restrictions on the junior.

    “I have no worries,” Wilson said. “I’m excited, and I feel like, right now, no one can take this feeling away from me.”

    The Illini’s biggest “sure thing” this season may be its running game, with Mikel Leshoure returning after a breakout year in 2009, amassing 734 yards on 6.8 yards per carry. But even the junior running back hasn’t shown he can shoulder the load of a starting running back while staying out of trouble after being suspended for one game for violating team rules in 2009.

    More than anyone, it may be the head coach who has to prove himself.

    Ron Zook has disappointed in the two years since the Illini’s Rose Bowl appearance in 2007, going 8-16 with a veteran quarterback, a talented receiving corps, several future NFL draftees and a few high-profile recruiting classes.

    Now, he’ll have to show he’s worth his $1.052 million contract with a freshman under center, 1,100 returning receiving yards and an unproven defense.

    Still, Zook isn’t feeling the heat. At Big Ten Media Days in early August, Zook said he spent a lot of time water-skiing during the offseason and bought appliances for the first time in his life.

    “I don’t feel any more pressure,” Zook said. “I’m excited. Looking forward to getting going.”

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