Ryan,

The players will be in uniform, which will make it easy to pick out your favorites. I asked Illinois officials if they are going to put Juice Williams at a table and they weren't sure. It's a team and they don't want to single anyone out. Then again, lots of people will want to get photos with the quarterback, so it might make sense to give him his own area.
What I've noticed in the past is that the players really seem to enjoy talking with the fans, especially the kids. Juice and Arrelious are great guys. But there are a bunch of others I'd suggest you have your kids meet. Will Davis, Brit Miller, Vontae Davis, Doug Pilcher, Ryan McDonald, Josh Brent, Martez Wilson, Xavier Fulton, Chris James, Chris Duvalt and Michael Hoomanawanui are just some of the players I'd suggest you try to meet. Actually, all of the players will be nice and they appreciate the interest.
Coach Zook will be at a table, signing autographs and taking pictures.
It's a good opportunity for fans to see what the new luxury suites are going to look like. Of course, don't try to go into the stands.
Have a great time.

Kyle,
I don't think it's clear what Jeff Cumberland's status is yet. So any timetable is premature. It could be two weeks. It could be a month. It could be two days. A lot depends on what type of treatment the staff decides to try. If he has surgery, obviously he will be out for a longer stretch of time.
While the offense works better with Jeff Cumberland in the lineup, the receiver position is the one on the team that can most absorb the blow. This opens up opportunities to the freshmen, who have looked good. And Chris Duvalt, a defensive back last year, is now a starting receiver.

Dave C.,
I kind of chuckle at all of the terms that have been used to describe recruiting. Soft commitment is one of the ones I find the most amusing. A player has either told the coaches he is coming or he hasn't. If he tells more than one school, then he's a multicommitment player and should probably try to figure it out.
Kraig Appleton is on the commitment list at IlliniHQ.com. That's because he told us he is going to sign with Illinois. Of course, he can change his mind, but I don't think he will.
Remember, the commitment doesn't mean a guarantee signing. So, does a soft commitment mean less of a guarantee? Only the player knows what is in his heart and head. In Kraig Appleton's case, I believe that is Illinois. We'll know for sure in early February.

Kevin,
I believe Kraig Appleton has made a commitment to Illinois based on the conversation he had with IlliniHQ.com's Jeremy Werner. Jeremy is going to be providing recruiting information throughout the year and he is off to a great start. He's a sharp guy, an excellent reporter and a talented writer. I think you will like his work.

Chris,
The staff is still trying to check out the different options. I will ask again after tonight's practice. I think it's premature to start ruling him out for games or for a length of time until it's known what will be done to get him healthy.

Tony,

Martez Wilson is like a really big cornerback. Who can hit people. I think he will give opposing receivers, tight ends and running backs all sorts of trouble. And if they do catch a pass, he will try to stuff them into the ground.
Brit Miller seems solid in pass defense, though I'm guessing he won't be asked to do that as much as Wilson. His job is chasing the ball carriers first.
Justin Staples looks like a good athlete and I think he will be solid in pass coverage. His biggest problem is lack of experience. That isn't a problem for outside linebacker Rodney Pittman, who is going into his senior year.

Will Sec. 118
Thanks for the kind words. I probably should have written about Brit Miller after the scrimmage. He was not credited with a tackle, but I don't think he played all that much. And much of the action seemed to happen in the backfield when he was playing.
Because he played middle linebacker in the past, I don't the adjustment has been difficult.
My guess is that Brit makes about 12 tackles in the opener.

Ryan,

While I think making the transition to college football has been difficult for him, I'm going with safety Donsay Hardeman. He is catching on to what the coaches want him to do and he is a very good athlete. So, Hardeman is my pick.

Warren,

I'd have to say receiver. It looks so much different than a year ago, especially considering Arrelious Benn and Chris James were on the sidelines. The tight ends and receivers are vastly improved. Will that translate to the field against Missouri? I think so. Of course, it helps to have a quarterback who knows what he is doing.

Matt,

Miami has a sore shoulder, but from what Coach Zook said, it doesn't appear to be anything major. Obviously, the defense will be a whole lot better with Thomas on the field. He is part of an impressive group at cornerback.

Tom,

Illinois did the smart thing and gave Coach Locksley a huge raise and a contract extension, which he earned.
I think it all depends on what jobs become available. I don't believe he will be interested in a non-BCS situation. And even some BCS jobs won't be appealing. Do you really want to take over at Syracuse? Not unless the money and the commitment are huge.
Ultimately, he's got to do what's right for himself and his family. I think into the near future that likely means staying at Illinois.
Now, if Georgia or LSU calls and offers him a job, he will be gone.

Josh,
I know it's the old joke every summer, but I really believe the tight ends are going to be a bigger part of the offense. Michael Hoomanawanui has been really good. So has Hubie Graham.

Steve,
He is really fast and showed what he can do on returns. I don't know that it's a lock, but it's a good bet. Thanks for reminding me that he will be in the mix next year. The already solid Illinois receiving corps gets a huge lift from the Florida transfer and from Kraig Appleton. Plus, the staff isn't done recruiting.