RB E.B. Halsey

2005 Statistics

Coach: Ron Zook
2-9, 1 year
2005 Record: 2-9
RUTGERS WON 33-30 (OT)
SAN JOSE STATE WON 40-19
at California LOST 20-35
MICHIGAN STATE LOST 14-61
at Iowa LOST 7-35
at Indiana LOST 13-36
PENN STATE LOST 10-63
WISCONSIN LOST 24-41
at Ohio State LOST 2-40
at Purdue LOST 3-37
NORTHWESTERN LOST 21-38

2005 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR

Projectded Record: 4-8
OL Matt Maddox
ILLINOIS
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 3 DL - 2
RB - 4.5 LB - 2.5
WR - 2.5 DB - 3.5
OL - 3.5 ..
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Tim Brasic, 337-206-11, 1979 yds., 11 TD

Rushing: Pierre Thomas, 127 att., 664 yds., 5 TD

Receiving: E.B. Halsey, 38 rec., 185 yds., 2 TD

Scoring: Jason Reda, 13-20 FG, 20-20 PAT, 59 pts.

Punting: none

Kicking: Jason Reda, 13-20 FG, 20-20 PAT, 59 pts.

Tackles: Kevin Mitchell, 78 tot., 49 solo

Sacks: Chris Norwell, 3 sacks

Interceptions: Remond Willis, Justin Harrison, Alan Ball - 1 each

Kickoff returns: Pierre Thomas, 20 ret., 23.0 avg., 0 TD

Punt returns: E.B. Halsey, 16 ret., 4.6 avg., 0 TD

 

  ILLINOIS
OFFENSE - 10
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 10
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Jason Davis-FB, Kendrick Jones-WR, Melvin Bryant-TE
DEFENSE: Ryan Matha-DT, James Cooper-CB, Morris Virgil-FS, Steve Weatherford-P
2006 OFFENSE

BEST PLAYER: RB Pierre Thomas

TOP NEWCOMER: RB Walter Mendenhall

STRENGTH: RBs Halsey and Thomas are slowly moving up the school record charts, combined with new power back Mendenhall, this may be the deepest in the Big 10; With the addition of Oklahoma transfer Akim Millington at OT, the OL seems better prepared to handle Big 10 defenses, finally some 300-pounders can be found on the field.

CONCERN: QB Tim Brasic has to show improvement with quicker decisions and reading defenses; WR inexperience hurt the Big 10's worst passing offense a year ago, mental errors seem to haunt this unit; Freshmen will have to fill the opening at TE, coaches will need to utilize formations to disguise the lack of experience here.

 

RB Pierre Thomas

 

ILLINOIS 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
OFFENSE
QB Tim Brasic-Sr (6-2, 200) Isiah Williams-Fr (6-2, 207)
RB Pierre Thomas-Sr (5-11, 210) E.B. Halsey-Sr (5-10, 200)
Walter Mendenhall-So (6-0, 225)
WR Kyle Hudson-So (5-11, 165) Frank Lenti-Jr (6-2, 180)
WR Jody Ellis-So (6-0, 195) DaJuan Warren-Jr (6-2, 205)
WR Derrick McPhearson-So (6-0, 195) Spencer Jensen-Jr (6-0, 180)
TE Jeff Cumberland-Fr (6-5, 240) Jay Ramshaw-So (6-4, 245)
Michael Hoomanawanui-Fr (6-5, 230)
OT Akim Millington-Jr (6-6, 310) J.J. Simmons-Jr (6-5, 290)
OG Martin O'Donnell-Jr (6-5, 300) Ben Amundsen-Jr (6-5, 310)
C Ryan McDonald-So (6-5, 300) Eric Block-So (6-3, 290)
OG Matt Maddox-Sr (6-3, 310) James Ryan-Jr (6-5, 315)
OT Charles Myles-Sr (6-6, 320) Jim LaBonte-Jr (6-7, 305)
K Jason Reda-Jr (6-1, 200) ..

 

2006 DEFENSE

BEST PLAYER: DT Chris Norwell

TOP NEWCOMER: SAFETY Justin Sanders

STRENGTH: If senior CB Alan Ball can return from a broken arm suffered in the spring, the secondary should easily be the bright spot on this side of the ball, all four starters have logged serious game time.

CONCERN: The DL was/is a major problem and lacks the size to stand up with the big boys; Only 12 team sacks from 2005, that number has to improve dramatically; The glory days of big LBs has long been over, recruiting has hampered the unit as an upgrade in speed and athleticism has not occurred.

 

DT Chris Norwell

 

ILLINOIS 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
DEFENSE
DE Xavier Fulton-Jr (6-5, 265) Doug Pilcher-Fr (6-5, 260)
DT Josh Norris-Sr (5-11, 270) David Lindquist-So (6-3, 280)
DT Chris Norwell-Jr (6-6, 290) Sirod Williams-So (6-0, 270)
DE Derek Walker-So (6-4, 270) Will Davis-So (6-3, 235)
Remond Willis-So (6-1, 240)
SLB Brit Miller-So (6-1, 245) Rodney Pittman-Fr (6-2, 235)
MLB J Leman-Jr (6-2, 240) Sam Carson-So (6-1, 245)
WLB Anthony Thornhill-Jr (6-1, 220) Antonio Steele-Jr (6-0, 210)
CB Sharriff Abdullah-Sr (5-8, 170) Vontae Davis-Fr (6-0, 184)
CB Alan Ball-Jr (6-1, 175) Dere Hicks-Fr (5-10, 175)
SS Kevin Mitchell-Jr (6-0, 200) Justin Sanders-Jr (6-1, 205)
FS Justin Sanders-Jr (6-1, 205) Justin Harrison-Jr (5-11, 220)
P Kyle Yelton-Fr (6-0, 180) ..

 

 

2006 SPECIAL TEAMS

KICKER
Starter Jason Reda has had his low points thus far, but seems to be progressing with each season and some better coaching tips. In his third year as a starter, expect a much-improved performance.

PUNTER
Four-year starter Steve Weatherford is no more. Incoming freshman Kyle Yelton enrolled in the spring, which will benefit his inexperience. He did not perform so well in his debut (32.8 on 10 punts in the spring game). Afterward, Zook said he planned to bring in a few walk-ons to compete.