Camp Rantoul: Day 4 coverage

IN THE NEWS

REPORTING FOR DUTY

Brian Gamble and Mark Jackson, who missed the first three days of Camp Rantoul, were back with the team Thursday.

Offensive lineman Jackson and safety Gamble won't be allowed into full pads for three more practice days because of NCAA rules.

Gamble, the team's No. 2 returning receiver, has moved back to defense.

Both players are behind their teammates on the depth chart and in preparation for the season, coach Ron Zook said.

"They're light years behind," Zook said. "It's more important that we get them straight with what they have to do, then the football will take care of itself.

"I always tell them, 'How you live your life off the field is how you're going to live it on the field. The better you live off the field, the better you're going to live it on the field."

Zook said he needs to be able to count on the players.

"You've got to know that if you're going to put time and effort into coaching them and getting them ready to go, they're going to be there every Saturday," Zook said. "That they're not going to have to miss because of missing classes and things like that."

Gamble and Jackson arrived shortly before practice, and Zook hadn't talked to them.

SPECIAL HONOR

Illinois linebacker Brit Miller is one of 71 players nominated for the AFCA Good Works Team.

The nominees were selected for showing the "true spirit of teamwork and giving back through selfless contributions and commendable acts of kindness."

Miller's off-the-field efforts include being a regular volunteer at the Danville Medical Center, sponsoring a child and organizing the football team for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Angel Tree Party and being a regular speaker at elementary and middle schools in Decatur, his hometown.

"I think sometimes college football players don't realize the role they can play in the community," Miller said. "I come from a big family, and I know how important it is to give back."

From the list of 71 nominees, two 11-player teams will be selected. The voting panel includes ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit.

SPECIAL GUEST

Former Illini offensive lineman Martin O'Donnell visited with the Illini during Thursday's practice.

Recently married, O'Donnell is finishing his master's this summer.

O'Donnell seemed to enjoy himself during the workout. Of course, it helped knowing that he wouldn't have to stay the rest of the time.

The 2007 All-American will stay involved with football in the fall in a developing role on WDWS. Further details will be announced later.

SPECIAL GUEST II

Former Illini receiver Aaron Moorehead attended Thursday's practice. Moorehead, who had two back surgeries, has ended his NFL career after five seasons with the Colts. He is moving from Indianapolis to Chicago.

"It's good to have those guys back," Zook said. "That's what you want. You want everybody feeling good about their program, their school."

BACK TO (HIGH) SCHOOL

Former Illini defensive coordinator Mike Cassity, who was fired at Louisville after the 2007 season, is spending 2008 as the linebackers coach at Louisville (Ky.) Fern Creek High School. In a story by Courier-Journal columnist Rick Bozich, Cassity explains why he took the job.

"Louisville has been a great place for me," Cassity told the newspaper. "We all talk about giving back to the community. This is a chance for me to give back to a place that I love and mentor kids in a way to have an effect on their lives."

Cassity, who worked on Ron Turner's staff at Illinois, was hoping for a coaching position in college but couldn't make the right connection. Instead, he will coach and teach physical education at Fern Creek.

POSITION WATCH: CORNERBACK

He has settled on his media guide name. From now on, it's Miami Thomas. Next, he wants to settle into a position.

The sophomore from Chicago is competing with Dere Hicks for playing time opposite All-Big Ten junior Vontae Davis. Thomas expects all three players to get plenty of time on the field.

"Me, Dere and Vontae, we battle every day," Thomas said. "Everybody's going to play. To me, we've got three of the best corners in the Big Ten."

Thomas learned a lot about Camp Rantoul last year, lessons that have carried over to this season.

"Coach is going to get on you so much," Thomas said. "Coach Zook, he explains it as tough love. He gets on me more than any DB. He feels I have potential to be a good player. Whenever I'm slacking off, he tries to get in my head and make me play better."

The player-coach relationship is different than what Thomas experienced in high school. He played at Chicago Morgan Park for Lexie Spurlock.

"They're going to coach you and expect you to know it the next time you run it," Thomas said. "There's no learning process. No babying. They're not going to hold your hand through anything. If you don't learn, you're not going to play."

Thomas is happy that he won't be a first-year player in 2008. He played an important role in Illinois' upset win at Ohio State, replacing injured Davis and intercepting a Buckeye pass.

"I'm ahead of a lot of players elsewhere when it comes to learning and being on the field," Thomas said. "I played at Ohio State in front of 100,000 fans. I played in the Rose Bowl as a freshman, and I felt like I held my own. This season, I'm going to have more knowledge."

Thomas is sharing that knowledge with freshmen Patrick Nixon, Ashante Williams and Tavon Wilson. Just like Hicks and Davis shared with him when he came to Illinois.

"Coach Zook recruited some great corners," Thomas said of the newcomers. "When they need help, they always know they can come to me, Dere or Vontae."

Thomas can't wait until the opener against Missouri on Aug. 30. He traveled to St. Louis in 2007 but didn't get in the game against the Tigers.

COACHING CORNER: RUNNING BACKS COACH REGGIE MITCHELL

After four days of practice, Reggie Mitchell isn't going to break down the carry sequence for his running backs. That will be determined during the next three weeks. But Mitchell likes what he sees from the four Illini tailbacks.

"The one thing I do know is we have some guys who can play," Mitchell said. "I'm not worried about replacing Rashard (Mendenhall) because you don't replace him. You just try to get guys who can fill in there."

Mitchell heard the question often during the summer: Who are you going to start at tailback? Soon, he will have an answer.

"Daniel Dufrene is having a great camp," Mitchell said. "Daniel, in some of the big games, he outrushed Rashard. Here's a guy who has played some football. He's an older guy and a more mature guy. He made a commitment over the summer to work on his hands. The first three days, he's looked great."

Troy Pollard, who is returning after sustaining a knee injury in 2007, has improved each day, Mitchell said.

Freshman Mikel Leshoure was with the team during the spring. Jason Ford joined the Illini during the summer.

"I've been impressed with Jason Ford," Mitchell said. "Mikel has gotten better from the spring. He has a better understanding of what we're trying to do. I'm looking forward to when we get the pads on so you can see where they're at and what they can do."

Rumors during the summer had Ford's weight ballooning. He is listed at 220 pounds, and Mitchell would like to see him at 215.

"They were killing him," Mitchell said.

Rahkeem Smith and Zach Becker are the team's two fullbacks. Mitchell said all the players can get on the field in a two-back offense. So, Pollard, Ford or Leshoure could be on the field the same time as Dufrene.

SCHEDULE

The Illini will hold a single practice today starting at 3:30 p.m. The first double session is Saturday, with the team taking the field at 8:05 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. No practice is scheduled for Sunday.

TODAY'S LIST

ESPN.COM'S TOP BIG TEN LINEBACKERS

PLAYER     SCHOOL

1. James Laurinaitis     Ohio State

2. Marcus Freeman     Ohio State

3. Jonathan Casillas     Wisconsin

4. Greg Jones     Michigan State

5. Anthony Heygood     Purdue

6. Martez Wilson     Illinois

7. DeAndre Levy     Wisconsin

8. Brit Miller     Illinois

9. A.J. Edds     Iowa

10. Will Patterson     Indiana

SURVEY SAYS ...

Each day during Camp Rantoul, we will run survey answers from the Illinois football players. Today's guests:

DEFENSIVE END JERRY BROWN

Which Illini legend do you most want to meet on Sept. 6? Simeon Rice.

Who wins the Cubs-White Sox World Series? Cardinals "LOL."

Who on the basketball team can play football? C.J. Jackson.

Fix up the Assembly Hall or new arena? New arena.

Favorite sport in the Olympics? Snowboarding.

Obama or McCain? Obama.

Complete the following: Camp Rantoul is ... hard.

Other than your girlfriend (who is cool and will understand if you answer this question) who is your dream date? The girl from "Transformers" (Megan Fox).

Which player wins "Dancing With the Stars?" Jerry Brown.

Who is your favorite superhero? Hancock.

We've got a Heisman Trophy ballot. Who should we vote for? Juice Williams.

DEFENSIVE END WILL DAVIS

Which Illini legend do you most want to meet on Sept. 6? Dana Howard.

Who wins the Cubs-White Sox World Series? White Sox.

Favorite Ron Zook saying? "I'm no Willie off the pickle boat."

Who on the basketball team can play football? Chester Frazier.

Fix up the Assembly Hall or new arena? New arena.

Favorite sport in the Olympics? Basketball.

Obama or McCain? Obama.

Complete the following: Camp Rantoul is ... tough.

Who is your favorite superhero? Superman.

We've got a Heisman Trophy ballot. Who should we vote for? Juice Williams.

PICK 'EM

Guess Illinois’ record and you could win tickets to a 2009 Illini football game.
Submit your thoughts at www.IlliniHQ.com. Selected responses:

7-5 — A rough early-season schedule with easy-to-see losses against Missouri, Penn State and Michigan will make duplicating last year's success quite difficult. The games against revenge-filled Badger and Buckeye squads figure to comprise the other two losses. Peter Borich, Urbana

8-4 — I'm optimistic the Illini can split with Penn State and Michigan and take care of business against teams like Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa and Northwestern. It sure would be nice to start a string of consecutive seasons where we play in December and January. Chris Patton, Monticello

10-2 — Losing Rashard won't be a huge blow as many people believe. ... Go Illini, as you will be BCS bowl bound two years in a row! Brent Warner, Waterloo

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