George,
Eddie McGee is among the fastest. But the consensus from the players seeems to be receiver Chris Duvalt, who moved over in the spring from defensive back.
All of the DBs are on the speedy side. And so are the receivers.
Where Ron Zook and his staff have made huge strides is with the speed of the bigger guys. The linebackers, defensive linemen and offensive linemen can run much better now than when Ron Zook arrived.

Dyer,
The Big Ten Network debuts on Comcast on Aug. 15. In a not-so-strange coincidence, the Big Ten football studio crew, including Howard Griffith, will be visiting Camp Rantoul that day. There will be a report from Camp Rantoul that night and a 30-minute Illinois preview on the BTN later in the week.
I don't know how many of you have seen the Big Ten Network, but the quality is very good. If you are a fan of the conference, I don't know how you would live without it. And the BTN didn't pay me to say that. The best days for fans are gamedays, when the BTN can dedicate extended time to each preview. You won't get that anywhere.
Of course, I would supplement my Big Ten Network exposure with plenty of IlliniHQ.com. We're going to have a lot of fun during the season.

Tom,
Daniel Dufrene is the leader at tailback. Reggie Mitchell told me Wednesday that Daniel did a great job preparing for Camp Rantoul and is off to a really good start. Coach Mitchell's opinion is really the one that matters most.
Troy Pollard looks like he never was hurt. He is moving well and didn't have much apprehension about getting back on the field. I think he's going to get plenty of playing time.
I think Jason Ford and Mikel Leshoure will contribute this season. It might take a few more weeks to find out how much.
I don't think you will get a chance to tour the stadium before the home opener. But you can come to the field on Aug. 17 for Fan Appreciation Day. That will get you a closeup look. I was up in the boxes last week and they still have work to do. I'm guessing that after the project is done, fans will be able to take tours at some point.

Kyle,
I think the Illinois coaches would argue with you about not having recruited a highly touted player. They really liked Troy Pollard as a high school senior. And they were thrilled to get Jason Ford and Mikel Leshoure too.
I don't think they are sweating the running back situation for next season. They've got four players coming back and they will land at least one running back in the upcoming class.
While I think it's great that people have interest in recruiting rankings, they are quite often wrong. Vontae Davis was a three-star guy who will be among the first five players picked in next year's NFL draft. Jon Asamoah was barely acknowledged as a high school player. It's guesswork. So, a two-star running back might end up being the next Adrian Peterson.

Gary B,
I think it's possible. Antonio Steele didn't get enough credit for his coverage skills last season. He had a critical intercepion against Ohio State because he was in the right place at the right time.
Martez Wilson showed off his coverage skills on Wednesday, stepping in front of a pass intended for Jeff Cumberland and taking it back for a touchdown. Receivers are not going to be happy when they line up across from Wilson.

Chester,

I think the overall size and athleticism of the team has stood out. I knew the team was looking better than in the past, but I didn't realize how fan the team has progressed.
I can give you two players who are going to make an impact and they are all defensive ends: Clay Nurse and Antonio James.

Kevin,
I watched the defensive tackles Wednesday for about 20 minutes. That's a treat. Coach Tom Sims is very funny, but always with a point. At one point, Coach Sims said to Cory Liuget "We didn't bring you all the way up here from Miami to not hit people."
Liuget looks very good. Actually, all of the defensive linemen look capable of playing an important role for the team. There isn't a deeper spot on the team, especially at end.

Chris,
I think the assumption is that you lose experience, but Brit has played in the middle before. He isn't the same type of leader as J Leman, but that doesn't mean he won't lead. J was an emotional player, while Brit is more of a free spirit. He keeps the reporters happy with his funny stories and Decatur accent.
I've said on the radio that I think Brit will be as productive as Ohio State's James Laurinaitis. That might sounds ridiculous, but watch to see how it plays out. Brit will be in position to make a bunch of tackles this season. Though he is a fun guy off the field, he is serious when he is playing.

TK,
That's a great question. One that I haven't really asked either coach. My guess is that they won't discount the idea. If nothing else, they want opposing coaches to have to prepare for both guys.
I think they will be reluctant to take Juice out of a game, especially if the offense is rolling. Eddie McGee will get his time on the field, if not now, then after Juice graduates.
I'm sure Jeff Garcia is thrilled Favre isn't a Buc.

illini39,

I think Daniel Dufrene is in front, but all of the tailbacks will get a chance.
Benn is an effective runner and using him that way really messes with opposing defensive coordinators. I think the number of carries will depend on the defense, but it will happen some.

Dan,

I'm going to put a depth chart online Saturday, hopefully.
The second group would be Ian Thomas behind Pittman, Sam Carson behind Miller and one of the freshmen behind Wilson, probably Justin Staples. That's real guessey.

Dave,
Remember that Eddie redshirted as a freshman while Juice was playing, so Eddie will be here until 2010. Juice is done after 2009.

Phil,
I think all options will be explored. I think the talent is there, but there aren't a ton of backups with big experience. Dan Disch wants the dropoff from first to second team to be minimal.

Nick,
Because the game is at 11 a.m., there won't be a gob of pregame time to hold festivities. The players are going to be introduced during commercial breaks during the game. And I know during the pregame there will be a video continuously running on the scoreboard showing the new facilities.
Who do you think, after Butkus, gets the biggest ovation?

Josh,
Jack Cornell is fighting for playing time. I know that the coaches like his ability, work ethic, attitude, etc. I like that he looks like a 32-year-old. He is definitely in the plans, now and into the future.

ijustkrushalot,
First thing I noticed was how much bigger he was than when I saw him during the 2007 season. He can throw deep and with accuracy. I think he can also run very well. He had good running numbers in high school and I don't think the coaches will have to change much of the offense to fit him. Does he run as well as Juice Williams? No. Few quarterbacks in college football run as well as Williams.