CHAMPAIGN – If recruiting is the lifeline to successful college football, it doesn't appear Ron Zook's Illini will be getting the needed transfusion from the home state.

This is not new. The UI has always faced fierce competition in Chicagoland. The metropolitan area is just as accessible for multiple Big Ten schools and Notre Dame ... and there isn't enough talent to go around, particularly with the city's preps placing such emphasis on basketball. So while trying their best in the home state, both the previous and the current Zook staffs are obliged to bolster the UI squad by looking elsewhere.

Scanning the decades, Illini football always has been a topsy-turvy panorama of memorable surprises, meaningful triumphs and frustrating inconsistencies.

No era exemplified these tendencies more than the 18-year Ray Eliot era, which was highlighted by shocking upsets that seemed to stem from his electric personality. The period was so noteworthy for inspired upsets that when Pete Elliott took over in 1960 he made a thinly veiled reference to a need for greater consistency (as opposed to occasional uprisings).

A look at how former Illini fared during the third week of the preseason:

Hawthorne's injury means more work, and a possible starting role against Missouri, for converted tailback Justin Green. He moved to cornerback at the start of the week and will get extensive time in the opener.

The Illini have also moved Jack Ramsey from receiver to cornerback. He is working with the second team.

Hawthorne out 4-6 weeks.

"When it rains it pours," coach Ron Zook said.

In Sunday's News-Gazette, we will unveil the best and brightest in Illinois football history

We assembled a panel of 20 experts connected by their deep knowledge of UI football. We asked them to rank their top 10 in 15 categories — from best quarterback to worst moments. In each category, a first-place vote was worth 10 points, nine for second, etc.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri running back Derrick Washington was accused of sexual assault by a former tutor in June and still could face criminal charges related to the incident that may be behind his indefinite suspension.
Boone County court records show the woman, a Missouri graduate, obtained a protection order against Washington on June 22. She accused the senior captain and starting tailback of entering her off-campus apartment three days earlier in the middle of the night and sexually assaulting her.

CHAMPAIGN – There are two new faces in the Illinois secondary. One by necessity and one by design.

Starting safety Supo Sanni suffered a torn Achilles' tendon during Wednesday's practice and will miss the 2010 season. Sanni had surgery Thursday afternoon.