The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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132 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Bret Bielema had the formula for winning games in the Big Ten, going 68-24 at Wis- consin from 2006-12. His 73.9 winning per- centage was the program's best since George Little, who led the Badgers from 1925-26. He leaned on a strong ground game, with each of his seven Wisconsin clubs ranking fourth or better in the league for rushing yards per game. After an eight-year stretch away from the Big Ten in which Bielema coached at Arkan- sas and was an assistant in the NFL, he made his return to the conference in 2021. Turns out, college football has changed quite a bit between 2012 and the early 2020s, and Bielema is attempting to figure out a new recipe for success. Illinois went 5-7 last season, behind a rushing attack that racked up more than 2,000 yards, marking just the second time the Illini have eclipsed that landmark since 2011. Bielema's charges stunned then-top-10 Penn State in nine overtimes in Happy Val- ley, and also beat a ranked-at-the-time Min- nesota squad in Minneapolis later in the year. But they also lost seven times and failed to earn the Illini's first bowl berth since 2019. As a result, Bielema decided to make some offseason changes. He hired a new offensive coordinator in Barry Lunney, one of his former assistants at Arkansas who served as UTSA's offen- sive coordinator last year. While Lunney has a history of producing efficient rush- ing attacks, he also can get the passing game going. Last season at UTSA, his unit posted 3,561 passing yards with 31 touch- down tosses. For comparison, Illinois totaled 3,957 yards of offense (114th in the land) and scored just 25 touchdowns (121st). Between Lunney and a newcomer in Syra- cuse transfer quarterback Tommy Devito, the Illini are hoping to have more production through the air. The senior has thrown for 3,866 yards and 28 touchdowns in 26 career games, but lost his starting job after three outings in 2021. He's the favorite to start over junior Artur Sitkowski, who missed the spring with an injury. Illinois' top two pass-catchers are back, led by sophomore Isaiah Williams, who hauled in 47 passes for 525 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. Junior Casey Wash- ington added 21 grabs for 294 yards. The top player on the offense is still junior running back Chase Brown. He rushed 170 times for 1,005 yards and 5 touchdowns a year ago. He racked up 100.5 yards per game, which ranked third in the Big Ten. He headlines a trio of backs, along with sopho- mores Reggie Love III and Josh McCray, that combined for 1,712 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns in 2021. Defense was Illinois' calling card last season, ranking 29th nationally in points allowed per game (21.9). The Illini were 49th with 367 yards given up per outing and allowed opponents to convert on just 35.3 percent of their third-down tries, which slotted 33rd. The Illini have to replace first-team All- Big Ten safety Kerby Joseph, but the second- ary remains one of the team's strengths. Senior safety Sydney Brown, a 2021 All- Big Ten honorable mention pick, led the squad with 81 tackles. Junior cornerback Devon Witherspoon was another honorable mention selection, and he notched 8 tackles for loss with 9 pass breakups. Sophomore Tahveon Nicholson could break out on the other side of the field, after starting two of his eight games and notching 11 tackles and 2 passes defended. Meanwhile, senior nickelback Jartavius Martin earned the sec- ond-best Pro Football Focus tackling grade among Big Ten corners last season (88.8) while adding 3.5 tackles for loss, 7 pass breakups and 1 interception. They're also strong up the middle. Both starting defensive tackles — sophomores Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. — are returning, and they combined for 9.5 tackles for loss last season. Junior middle linebacker Tarique Barnes was second on the team with 80 stops, including 6 for loss. Ju- nior Calvin Hart Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season-opener a year ago, but he's back, having made 59 total tackles in his career (he played at NC State in 2019 and 2020). Notes Illinois' plus-0.42 turnover margin per game ranked 32nd in the country last season … Both specialists — kicker James McCourt and punter Blake Hayes — earned third-team All- Big Ten honors last season but are no longer on the team. Fighting Illini Want To Take Next Step In Rebuild 2022 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2021 Result Aug. 27 WYOMING — Sept. 2 at Indiana — Sept. 10 VIRGINIA L, 42-14 Sept. 22 CHATTANOOGA — Oct. 1 at Wisconsin L, 24-0 Oct. 8 IOWA L, 33-23 Oct. 15 MINNESOTA W, 14-6 Oct. 29 at Nebraska W, 30-22 Nov. 5 MICHIGAN STATE — Nov. 12 PURDUE L, 13-9 Nov. 19 at Michigan — Nov. 26 at Northwestern W, 47-14 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Chase Brown, Jr., RB The 5-11, 205-pounder is the only returning player in the nation with two of the country's top 17 rushing performances from 2021 — 223 yards versus Penn State and 257 against Charlotte. Defense: Devon Weatherspoon, Jr., S The 6-0, 180-pounder's 9 pass breakups in 2021 led the team and ranked ninth in the Big Ten. GAME 11 • ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI • NOV. 19 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 71-23-2 First Meeting: U-M 12, Illinois 5 (Nov. 12, 1898 at Detroit, Mich.) Last Meeting: U-M 42, Illinois 25 (Oct. 12, 2019 at Champaign, Ill.) Head Coach: Bret Bielema, 5-7 (2nd year) at Illinois, 102-65 overall (14th year) 2021 In Review: 5-7, 4-5 Big Ten (5th West) Final 2021 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 10 (4 offense, 6 defense, 0 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2019 (Redbox Bowl vs. California, L 35-20) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Artur Sitkowski (704 yards, 6 TDs) Rushing: Chase Brown (1,005 yards, 5 TDs) Receiving: Isaiah Williams (525 yards, 4 TDs) Tackles: Sydney Brown (81) Sacks: Keith Randolph Jr. (4) Interceptions: Keith Randolph Jr., Tarique Barnes, Jartavius Martin (1) Senior safety Sydney Brown, a 2021 All-Big Ten honorable mention pick, led Illinois last season with 81 tackles. PHOTO COURTESY ILLINOIS ATHLETICS