Benn departing Illinois for NFL
As expected, Illinois junior receiver Arrelious Benn announced at a news conference Wednesday afternoon his plans to enter the NFL draft early.
"With the support of Coach (Ron) Zook and my mom, I am ready to pursue my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL," Benn said. "I also plan to finish college and earn my degree from the University of Illinois.
"I know the hard work is just beginning, and I as I begin this new adventure, I will always be proud to represent the Fighting Illini."
Going into the 2009 season, Benn was considered a likely first-round draft choice. He wasn't able to reach previous reception totals because of a combination of injuries and inconsistent quarterbacking.
He led the team with 38 catches in 2009.
Here is what columnist Loren Tate has to say:
"I think he was an extraordinary talent. Because of injury, he didn't meet expectations in 2009. He should test well in the upcoming NFL combine and I expect him to perform well as an NFL player. I think he can get back into a first-round situation."
"I'm shocked he would leave a program that utilized his talent so well!?!?!"
FWIW in over 100 years of Illinois football, there have been *6* seasons in which a receiver had a 1,000 yard season. David Williams (2), Brandon Lloyd (2), Mike Martin and Benn. Plus, he got to play in a Rose Bowl.
Agree with JL too. Bob, why didn't you report on this as an obvious insider? Is it because you are not objective and really clubby with the DIA: "For all practical purposes, Schultz was gone by midseason. Zook wasn't satisfied with the way he ran meetings and disagreed with the decision to bench Juice Williams. When Guenther grudgingly went public at the Purdue game, insiders knew the mention of "other changes" referred to Schultz. It didn't matter what happened after that".
If this is true, then I believe Benn is mistaking a mistake now that he has Petrino as OC.
In the NFL, the only money that matters is the kind that's guaranteed. The difference in guaranteed money between a top 10 overall pick and a lower first-round pick is huge — well over $10 million.
Here is the guaranteed money that last year's first-round wide receivers signed for:
No. 7 overall: Darrius Hayward-Bey, Oakland, $23.5 million guaranteed
No. 10 overall: Michael Crabtree, San Francisco, $17 million guaranteed
No. 19 overall: Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia, $9.5 million guaranteed
No. 22 overall: Percy Harvin, Minnesota, $8.42 million guaranteed
No. 29 overall: Hakeem Nicks, NY Giants, $6.5 million guaranteed
No. 30 overall: Kenny Britt, Tennessee, $6 million guaranteed
Everything about the draft is a gamble. If Benn and his advisers really believe he will be chosen near the top 10, then he should enter the draft. If not, then he should come back and work for a breakout season that would make him a hot commodity in 2011. A great senior season could earn him an extra $10 million or more in guaranteed money. He now has a coach who could make that happen.
Anyway, good luck to him.
PE, JL and TotalIlliniFan,
Do you guys understand what the role of a news organization is? Are you mad that ESPN is also reporting it? Shouldn't Bob have it just like ESPN? You're mad when Bob does his job and reports the news and mad when he doesn't report the news. You people need to get over yourselves.
I am upset that it got out, I wish the guy would have his moment. I understand the role of a news organization. Sensationalize coverage, through crap against the wall and hope it sticks, and whine about access to practice when you don't pay attention anyways.
So yeah, I have an idea of what their job is.
UIfansarehomers,
Bob can cover it at the news conference in a few hours just like every other news reporter.
Leaking the decision instead of allowing Benn the spotlight is selfish and is only done so that Bob can say he got the story first.
Benn has given Illinois 3 years and he deserves his moment at the press conference.
STUPID, GREEDY NEWS-GAZETTE
Let Arrelious Benn make his own announcement!!!!!!
Rejus would have been better served to play a year under Petrino, lead the nation in catches & yards. Then he would have been a top 5-10 pick, guaranteed more money and made more money. Whomever is advising him is steering him wrong and Loren is way out of line and out of touch . .
Loren, Rejus will never make up enough ground solely on combine testing to climb into top 10. With a good year under his belt under Petrino he would. Yes, always a RISK HE COULD GET HURT, but without high guaranteed money, same risk in Pros.
If Rejus is gone, Eddie McGee, Jarred Fayson, Terry Hawthorne, Jack Ramsey, Jenkins, Sykes, Hull, etc. are ready and waiting for their chance.
Apparently, it is OK for the News-Gazette to break "Benn to the NFL," but apparently not OK for it to report that Mike Schultz was "Dead Man Walking" after the Indiana game. The beef I have with the News-Gazette is its decision to sit on a story in one case and not in the other. Hypocrisy and irresponsible journalism.
Guentherlover - obviously not - but IMO he had 2 out of 3 pretty good years (other than Td's) - leaves Illinois IIRC tied for 4th in total career catches (10 behind #2), 4th or 5th in total receiving yards as well. Lead the team in receptions and yardage all 3 years. So, I'd say he had a pretty good career, just not a great one though.
This is much ado about something that was most likely going to happen regardless of the coaching situation. AB was pegged to go to the NFL after this season regardless. He will do fine.
I am looking at the 2010 receiving group with some enthusiasm. Especially if they are willing to put Hawthorne in the mix. He is the type of athlete that can do alot of things for the Illini on both sides of the line. It'll be interesting to see if he works out as a WR when Spring Practice roles around.
BTW - as for our RB's --LeShoure & Ford combined for 1,322 yards in 2009 and both averaged over 6 yrds per carry. Between Juice and the other RB's who combined for over 1,000 the Illini rushed for 2,405 and ended up second in the Big 10 in Rushing Offense (Only Wisconsin had 75 more). If the air attack improves at all I believe we could see much different results in 2010.
I wonder how much a possible uncapped year in the NFL affects this decision? (I'm not sure exactly how that works out)
Injuries and team suckitude will always leave us wondering what could have been...good luck, Benn
(maybe this is just to setup the miraculous story of a last minute change of heart, leading him to coming back for his senior year and another bowl berth...a boy can dream)
JL, RPeterE,
Why are you mad at Bob for reporting it when ESPN was reporting it at the same time. If Bob didn't get it you would have been blasting him for not doing his job.
And who knew Schultz was dead man walking? It's all rumors until someone confirms it. Bob can't report that.
C'mon, guys.
Regis:
It has been great having you here. Dude, you scored a touchdown in the Rose Bowl and a lot of wonderful players cannot say that. I will always remember you flipping the ball after the TD into USC's band. That was so cool !!! Good luck and we'll catch you on Sundays instead of Saturdays!!
Peter Borich
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