View photos from Wednesday morning's practice here. Ask Asmussen about Illini football here.

In the News

VERY IMPORTANT PERSON

During the summer, Illinois receiver JARRED FAYSON went into RON ZOOK's office for a meeting about expectations. The great expectations the Illinois coaches had for the senior.

"He just told me the things I needed to work on to go out and be the type of player they know I can be," Fayson said. "That's what you want."

The transfer from Florida said he is having the best camp of his college career.

"I'm coming out and I'm just putting in a great amount of effort every day," Fayson said. "I'm catching a lot of balls, and I've had very few drops. It's definitely a plus. I've consistently made strides every day."

Zook agrees.

"He's having a great camp," Zook said. "He's got the most catches on the team (during practice)."

Fayson likes having his position coach, PAUL PETRINO, as the offensive coordinator.

"That's one of the greatest things you could have because he knows all your capabilities," Fayson said. "He knows what you can do. We do the things that we're good at. If you're good at running slants and hitch routes, that's where he's going to throw you."

Fayson said the veteran receivers have been helping the first-year players to learn Petrino's system.

"We're pushing each other as a unit," Fayson said. "Me, A.J. (JENKINS) and EDDIE (McGEE) as the leaders, we try to come out and set an example each day. Those guys are doing a great job of following. And they encourage us, too. It's kind of like a brother-brother thing."

Fayson said converted quarterback McGee is now thinking like a receiver.

"He's a fast learner," Fayson said. "He can help us in so many ways. Eddie's big time for us."

PLAY OF THE DAY

Illinois receiver JACK RAMSEY saved the best for last, catching CHANDLER WHITMER's deep pass late in Wednesday's evening session.

Ramsey wasn't about to call it the best catch of Camp Rantoul. That honor, he said, belongs to teammate McGee.

"To make a play like that was good, but I don't think it was the best," Ramsey said. "Eddie's catch is better than that."

"It was a lovely catch," Fayson said. "He saved the day."

Shouldn't Ramsey have saved the grab for the regular season? The receiver said no.

"Our coach (Petrino) is big on 'Show what's on your resume,' " Ramsey said. "I think that's on my resume, so he's going to be able to trust me throwing it deep down the field."

Whitmer is playing well, Ramsey said.

"Chandler's got good confidence, and he trusts us on the field," Ramsey said. "We work on that every day. He gives me the ball when there's time to make the play."

SPECIAL GUESTS

Former Illini offensive guard MARTIN O'DONNELL, a 2007 All-American, attended Wednesday's evening session. O'Donnell now works as a fundraiser at Illinois and is also a postgame football analyst on WDWS.

You might not recognize O'Donnell as an offensive lineman. He played in the 300s and is down to about 250. More of a tight end or Bandit than an offensive guard.

Also attending Wednesday's late practice was a youth football team from Mahomet. The Illinois players and coaches signed autographs for the team.

SCHEDULE STUFF

The team has a single session at 3:30 p.m. today. Friday's single session is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. but could be moved to late morning. The time for Saturday's scrimmage still is undecided.

POSITION WATCH: Kickers/punters/long snappers

RON ZOOK had seen enough. In a good way.

Wanting to keep his kickers and punters fresh, Zook told them to not kick during Wednesday's morning practice.

"Their legs get a little bit tired," Zook said. "Two-a-days, I don't think you need to kick twice. Those guys are in pretty good shape. They've proven they can do it."

ANTHONY Santella enters his fourth year as a starter after his transfer from Utah. The Wauconda product has improved his average almost 2 yards each season.

"He's having a real good camp," Zook said. "The thing we talked to him about really having to work on, his getoff, he's been excellent."

DEREK DIMKE returns as the starting kicker after taking over late in the 2009 season.

"Derek is hitting the ball extremely well," Zook said. "He's confident. His kickoffs are good."

Dimke is challenged in practice by MATT ELLER, the former starter.

"Derek knows there's another guy ready to kick," Zook said. "Competition is what we all want and we all need. All of us need that fear for our job."

ZAK PEDERSEN takes over as the long snapper. Santella said he there has been no dropoff from departed TAD KEELY.

"We just have Long Snapper U., I guess," Santella said. "He's snapping amazing, just as good as Tad was. He's going to be ready to go."

COACHING CORNER: DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR VIC KOENNING

You usually can tell where the first-year defensive coordinator is on the field. VIC KOENNING is the one firing his hat into the ground or using a funny phrase to get his point across.

After Saturday's scrimmage, when his defense didn't perform up to his expectations, Koenning was the one sitting on the bench with a sour expression.

Two long touchdown passes spoiled the night for the Illini defense. On the first play, a defensive back fell down. On the second, cornerback Terry Hawthorne took a chance and missed.

"Terry was trying to sneak somewhere he didn't need to be sniffing and got burned," Koenning said. "That's a good lesson."

His mood has gotten better during the week. Koenning's defense came back after a rough time and performed well.

"We have a lot of energy out here in practice," Koenning said. "The head coach sets the pace for everybody. Coach (RON ZOOK) has had a lot of energy, and it seems like he's said the right thing to them at every turn. I think the players are appreciating that and they're growing from that."

The defense didn't have all of its parts available during the scrimmage. Linebacker Ian Thomas was out with a sore foot. He has returned to practice.

"We got Ian back and it helped a lot," Koenning said. "He is an experienced, strong player. Our other WILLs were improving. We've got to keep Ian fresh. We need to get all three of those guys ready to play."

Away from the field, Koenning said the players are paying attention and working hard.

"They're doing a better job of understanding," Koenning said. "We're trying to get them to understand why we're doing things so that it isn't memorization. They're tired."

Koenning still has some beefs with his guys.

"We're just trying to continue to improve our fundamentals, which are there good one practice and are gone the next practice," Koenning said.

SURVEY SAYS ...

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

RUNNING BACK JASON FORD

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

Complete this sentence, LeBron James is ... a beast.

Better hair: Ron Zook or Rod Blagojevich? Ron Zook

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

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

What school should the Big Ten get next? Notre Dame

What's your all-time favorite kids movie? "The Lion King" or "Cars"

Name the one thing new President Michael Hogan needs to add to campus. Movie theater

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? Rejus 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? Kim Kardashian

Who is the last guy on the team you can picture getting married? Evan Frierson

Should they take Reggie Bush's Heisman away? No

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN RYAN PALMER

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

Complete this sentence, LeBron James is ... the King.

Better hair: Ron Zook or Rod Blagojevich? Neither

Twitter or Facebook? Both

Who is the most famous person in your cell phone? Akim Millington

What school should the Big Ten get next? Boston College

What's your all-time favorite kids movie? "The Sandlot"

Name the one thing new President Michael Hogan needs to add to campus. Wendy's on Green Street

Have the Blackhawks made you a hockey fan? Yes

Who is your smartest teammate? Randall Hunt

Which of your teammates has a future in Hollywood? Martez Wilson

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? Jessica Simpson and Kim Kardashian

Who is the last guy on the team you can picture getting married? Randall Hunt

Should they take Reggie Bush's Heisman away? No