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IN THE NEWS

CHANGE IS GOOD

You won't find the old No. 32 at safety anymore. SUPO SANNI has changed his number (he's now 7) and his position on the depth chart (he's now a starter at defensive back).

"It's definitely not to confuse anybody," Sanni said. "I always wanted a single digit. I wanted a new beginning."

The junior capped Thursday's night practice with an interception during the team period. The defense celebrated en masse, forming a giant huddle and going into the air.

Sanni's hoping to set off a lot of celebrations during the 2010 season. Though he has played in 23 games his first two years, he is looking for his first interception.

A year ago, serving mostly as a backup, he had 11 tackles. He made nine stops his freshman season.

If he keeps his job next to TRULON HENRY, those totals figure to climb significantly.

"It's going real good," Sanni said. "I'm enjoying the practice. I'm enjoying the new coaches. Coach VIC (KOENNING) is doing a real good job with us."

Illinois coach RON ZOOK has been impressed with Sanni.

"He's had a great camp," Zook said. "He's had a great offseason. He looks great. I'm really, really happy with the way he's progressing."

MISSING PART

Missouri likely will be without receiver JERRELL JACKSON against Illinois on Sept. 4. The team's leading returning receiver, who had 37 catches last season, suffered a broken wrist during practice. Jackson is expected to miss up to four weeks.

CATCHING ON

They are catching passes, scoring touchdowns and looking like they've been college football players for more than, well, a week.

Freshman receivers SPENCER HARRIS, RYAN LANKFORD, DARIUS MILLINES and ANTHONY WILLIAMS have impressed starting quarterback NATHAN SCHEELHAASE.

"It definitely is a surprise," Scheelhaase said. "None of them have super high ratings. None of them were looked at five stars this and that. What they did was just came in and worked hard, tried to get around us quarterbacks, try to get around the older guys who know the stuff. They've done a great job. Obviously, they're using their natural talents.

"Darius and Ryan Lankford, they both have a ton of speed. Anthony has probably made some of the best catches of camp. He's got some huge hands. Spencer's been a real reliable guy in the middle."

IN THE HUNT

Fifth-year senior guard RANDALL HUNT has plenty riding on his final season. He doesn't want to go out like the last two senior classes, who didn't reach a bowl game and lost their season finales. In fact, the 2008 and 2009 Illini ended with three-game losing streaks.

The Illini offensive line welcomes back three starters, tackle JEFF ALLEN and guard HUGH THORNTON joining Hunt. RYAN PALMER, who is competing at tackle with CRAIG WILSON, also has starting experience.

Hunt said there's been a philosophical change for the unit.

"When we come to practice, we've just got a whole other mentality," Hunt said. "It's totally different. We're all looking out for each other. It's not just about being on the O-line, looking out for the O-line. You've got to look out for receivers, quarterbacks, all that. We understand that now. The more we understand that, the better we'll be."

Hunt said he thinks often about his final college season.

"That just pushes me that much harder," Hunt said. "I want to go out with a bang. I want to go out knowing I did the best I could possibly do."

SCHEDULE STUFF

The team has a single practice at 3:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, Illinois holds its annual scrimmage at Rantoul High School at 6:30 p.m. The players have Sunday off before returning with a double session Monday at 8:05 a.m. and 6:15 p.m.

POSITION WATCH: Running back

The assumption all along is that MIKEL LESHOURE is going to be the go-to guy this season. And that still might be true. The former Centennial star came to Camp Rantoul in great shape.

But he is being pushed, which coach DeANDRE SMITH will tell you is a good thing. The biggest challenge for Leshoure is coming from junior JASON FORD. The team's No. 2 rusher in 2009 with 588 yards, he impressed the coaches in the spring by playing through an injury.

Like Leshoure, Ford had a high per-carry average (6.1 yards) in 2009. Leshoure was at 6.9. Like Leshoure, Ford has the ability to break away from the defense, streaking 79 yards against Michigan. That's the same game when Leshoure had a 70-yard touchdown dash.

The coaches want to be able to count on whoever plays tailback. And that means more than just running hard. It means blocking, catching passes out of the backfield and playing despite a nick or two.

There are three players waiting behind Leshoure and Ford, looking for some of the carries. TROY POLLARD is running better than ever and appears to be part of the rotation. BUD GOLDEN, who redshirted in 2009, is getting carries with the second unit. And JUSTIN GREEN is back to his speedy ways after missing most of the spring with a broken ankle. During the team period, Green was finding holes in the middle of the defense and showing the burst to get through them.

Smith has taken a different approach with his players. Though he corrects the mistakes they make and demands maximum effort, he is mostly positive. He builds them up and praises their good work. The players enjoy working with the former college quarterback.

COACHING CORNER: Inside linebackers coach Dan Disch

Only one coach on the staff can match DAN DISCH for the number of Camp Rantouls: RON ZOOK.

This is No. 6 for Disch, a bunch more than all of the other assistants. Six are taking it in for the first time.

Did Disch offer a guidebook to all things Camp Rantoul?

"I let them find out for themselves," Disch said. "It's not the Rantoul experience if you know what to expect."

Disch enjoys having training camp away from campus. Especially on a night like Thursday, when his family was able to join him after practice.

A longtime successful high school coach in Florida, Disch has tricks for beating the summer heat. He wears a white long- sleeved shirt during practice and drapes a towel around his neck.

"Guys who are from the heat know to keep the sun off of you," Disch said. "You go fishing in the Keys, those guys have long khakis, long shirt. The sun's the devil. You've got to keep it off."

Disch said the linebackers have come to Camp Rantoul in good shape, physically and emotionally.

"They're working their tail off and getting better every day," Disch said.

Middle linebacker MARTEZ WILSON is facing his first live contact since having surgery on a herniated disk last season.

"He's trying to step in and be a leader," Disch said. "I know he's excited to be back. He's doing some good stuff for us."

Disch is working with a pair of freshmen: JONATHAN BROWN and HOUSTON BATES.

Brown is off to a good start.

"He's been pretty impressive," Disch said. "He's got a long way to go. There's kind of a learning curve. Coach Zook says it all the time, 'You don't get too high or too low too early.' But he's had a good couple of days."

The learning curve is greater for Bates, who played defensive end in high school.

SURVEY SAYS ...

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

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN COREY LIUGET

Two years in, thumbs up or thumbs down to President Obama? Thumbs up

Complete this sentence, LeBron James is ... still one of the greats, plus he's in my city, Miami.

Better hair: Ron Zook or Rod Blagojevich? Zook

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

Who is the most famous person in your cell phone? My mom

What school should the Big Ten get next? Missouri

What's your all-time favorite kids movie? "Bebe's Kids"

Have the Blackhawks made you a hockey fan? Yes. I've always been a hockey fan. I love sports.

Who is your smartest teammate? Zach Becker and Nate Scheelhaase

Which of your teammates has a future in Hollywood? Corey Liuget

Favorite former Illini currently in the NFL? Vontae Davis and Arrelious Benn

Best road trip in the Big Ten? Penn State

Other than your girlfriend/wife, who will be cool if you answer this, who is your dream date? Tiger Woods' girls

Who is the last guy on the team you can picture getting married? Mike Buchanan and Ian Thomas

Should they take Reggie Bush's Heisman away? No, that was an off-the-field issue

RECEIVER STEVE HULL

Two years in, thumbs up or thumbs down to President Obama? Up

Complete this sentence, LeBron James is ... conceited.

Better hair: Ron Zook or Rod Blagojevich? Zook

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

Who is the most famous person in your cell phone? Arrelious Benn

What school should the Big Ten get next? Notre Dame

What's your all-time favorite kids movie? "Space Jam" and "A Goofy Movie"

Name the one thing new President Michael Hogan needs to add to campus. No- school Fridays

Have the Blackhawks made you a hockey fan? No

Who is your smartest teammate? Zach Becker

Which of your teammates has a future in Hollywood? A.J. Jenkins

Favorite former Illini currently in the NFL? Pierre Thomas

Best road trip in the Big Ten? Ohio State

Other than your girlfriend/wife, who will be cool if you answer this, who is your dream date? Carrie Underwood

Who is the last guy on the team you can picture getting married? Walt Aikens

Should they take Reggie Bush's Heisman away? No