It will be an unforgettable time Saturday for the Illini football freshmen who make the trip to St. Louis to play their first college game against Missouri.

“For young kids, there’s so much going through their heads in their first game,” head coach Ron Zook said. “I remember Rejus (Arrelious Benn) during his first game, he was hyperventilating before the game. That’s just kind of a normal thing for a freshman.”

Zook listed receiver/cornerback Terry Hawthorne, running back Justin Green and defensive end Michael Buchanan as freshmen who could see field on Saturday.

After spending all of camp as a receiver, Hawthorne has worn the white defensive jersey in practice and could see time at cornerback with sophomore Miami Thomas sidelined for the season with a torn ACL.

“He’s a very good athlete,” senior cornerback Dere Hicks said of Hawthorne. “He’s a guy who could play on the offensive or the defensive side of the ball to help this team out. Wherever we need him, he’s going to be able to plug in and play.”

Junior defensive end Clay Nurse remembers his first game very well and has some advice for the youngsters.

“Breathe in, breathe out,” he said. “Just let it go. Go out there, forget about the coaches yelling at you, just go out there and play.”

Dufrene questionable

Senior Daniel Dufrene, last season’s opening game starter at running back, was kept out of Monday’s practice but did participate Tuesday. He has a sprained ankle and has been fitted for a brace, which Zook called an “expensive way of taping ankles.”

While Zook hasn’t named a starter for Saturday’s game, sophomore Jason Ford had a strong camp and could get the nod, especially if Dufrene sits out. Last season against Missouri, Ford only accumulated one yard on two rushes. But he’s expecting more this time around against a team that heavily recruited him.

“Last year, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Ford said. “I was really struggling with the offense, coming through camp, so this year I know what to expect, and I think I’ll be ready.”

Brent will play

Josh Brent will be in uniform on Saturday after receiving a DUI and being suspended indefinitely from the team last spring.

“Josh is scheduled to play,” Zook said. “There’s been a lot of thought and conversation put into it, and Josh would be the first to tell you he made a very, very serious mistake. But he did the punishment, and he’s been nothing but a first-class, model citizen.”

Brent served a month in jail over the summer and was allowed to practice during camp. Although Zook had been unsure throughout the preseason if Brent would be playing in the team’s opener, Tuesday’s press conference left little doubt.

“He’s shown us in every regard that he’s nothing but a great person,” he said. “If you make a mistake, you want to get better from it, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s gotten better from it.”