- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,263,705
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) -- There is plenty of new on both sides of the ball for Illinois football heading into the 2026 season.
Fall camp is underway for the Illini, with Bret Bielema's squad taking the field at Gies Memorial Stadium for their second fall practice on Tuesday, August 4.
The most highly-anticipated newcomer has to be Eastern Carolina quarterback transfer Katin Houser.
Offensive Coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. likes what he's seen through the spring and at the start of the fall from his new starting QB.
"It just proved to me that he knows how to play," Lunney said. "He presents, plays, practices like a guy that's played football and a lot of it." That's what I learned about him, and that's nothing really profound, but it's good to see and good to know because I think we got a guy in here that understands his role."
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
The Illinois defense is adjusting to new DC Bobby Hauck's scheme.
While his system incorporates some new elements to what the Illini ran previously, he said it won't be a night-and-day difference from what they're used to.
Hauck likes what he's seen from two key returners in the secondary, Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey.
"It was fun to watch those guys," Hauck said. "Some of the historically better players on the defense and it showed up yesterday, they looked good."
Part of coaching is getting guys in the right position, so we're trying to get those guys in position to do what they do best." "They're great, they're smart players, they can do a lot of different things, they're talented, they're fun to coach - so we're just going to try to let them do what they do best."
Illinois opens the season on September 3 at home against UAB.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Continue reading...
