CHAMPAIGN – Of the 21 Illini who reported for Rantoul football drills at 280 pounds or more, most had stronger press clippings than Jeff Allen.

A year ago, he reportedly tipped the scales at 350 or so at Chicago King before enrolling early at the UI in January. When offensive line prospects were analyzed last spring, most eyes swung to youthful giants Graham Pocic of Lemont and Jack Cornell of Quincy. Expectations soared for Corey Lewis, who arrived from Pennsylvania this summer.

But that was before Allen got in shape. Now at a robust 310, the freshman will handle the right tackle position Sept. 27 at Penn State because Ryan Palmer, who started the first three games, is sidelined four to six weeks with a fractured foot.

History tells us this is highly unusual. Because of the nature of the offensive line, few Illini freshmen have earned starting berths there. To begin with, except for war years, freshmen were ineligible until 1972, and redshirting has dominated the position like no other. The Jim Jurigas (a newcomer in 1982) of the world are anomalies.

Allen will find himself immediately under the gun at Penn State as line coach Eric Wolford attempts to build around returning starters Ryan McDonald, Xavier Fulton and Jon Asamoah. Senior guard Eric Block has stepped in for departed All- American Martin O'Donnell, and Allen completes the lineup. The teamwork so far has been OK but not where Wolford wants it. If the Illini are going to lead the Big Ten in rushing for the third straight year, it'll be up to the five roothogs to clear the way.

Words of wisdom

"I have liked Jeff Allen since I had him in camp," Wolford said. "There are a lot of recruiting rankings across the country, and we don't always agree with them. If you get to work with a guy in camp, and you see the things he can do, it doesn't matter what the rankings are. I knew he could play. More than that, he wants to be here and it's important to him.

"Jeff has a chance to be exceptional as he matures. He has been rushed into the lineup a little faster than you'd expect, but he came in early and played some guard and tackle in the spring, and he's done well.

"Jeff did pretty good on 22 snaps against Eastern Illinois, and we put him in Saturday after Palmer got hurt on the third series. He'll go through some growing pains but he's got talent, and we expect him to rise up and play like a first-teamer."

Allen gets the nod at right tackle over 311-pound sophomore Randall Hunt, who is returning from injury as the "sixth man."

Said the coach: "Hunt gets reps at several positions and is a swing guy for us."

Wolford, who doubles as run-game coordinator, isn't satisfied as he evaluates his three veteran stars after three games.

"We haven't quite jelled the way I expected," he said. "I'd like to see that process happen faster. We need to be more consistent. One missed assignment or one missed block can be a catastrophe because there's no one else between us and the ball.

"Asamoah is still playing into the form he showed last year. Once in a while he gets too high. If he focuses on pad level and one play at a time, he can be very good.

"McDonald is a little bit banged up (shoulder and knee), but that goes with the position. Linemen play banged up. I played hurt all the time (at Kansas State). He'll be fine.

"Fulton played better last week. He got a tough holding call (when Mikel Leshoure ran 10 yards to the Lafayette 3), and I was disappointed in that. He was being aggressive downfield and it was a borderline call."

Looking ahead

The decision whether the 320-pound Pocic plays has not been finalized.

"I don't know yet. It may depend on injuries," Wolford said. "He is trying to get caught up with the speed of the game. As you think about the future of the program, you try to make good decisions ... can you give him enough reps to make it valuable? We are in a holding pattern on Graham."

Wolford will be in Ohio recruiting this weekend. The Illini reportedly are going to the wire with Ohio State, Michigan and others for two more players from Cleveland Glenville. The UI's successful recruitment of Glenville receiver Cordale Scott set off a Buckeye firestorm last year.

"I'll be seeing games, talking to coaches and checking on players that we have offered," Wolford said.

Then next week, after seeing how Penn State does against Temple (11 a.m. Saturday), full attention will be given to the Nittany Lions.

"We have our game plan in," Wolford said. "They are deep with talent. A lot of people read about the distractions that they may have had, but they've really jelled. Sometimes when you have problems, a team will splinter. I think the Penn State team has come together. They have a rich tradition and they're at a point where, if they lose a starter, they feel like the No. 2 guy is just as talented."

Wolford expects his No. 2 guy at right tackle to meet that standard.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at ltate@news-gazette.com.