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IN THE NEWS

MAKING A LIST

Coming off a 3-9 season, you won't find many Illinois players on early watch lists for national awards. No Biletnikoff mention. Or Manning. Or Lombardi.

But one Illini made the cut despite missing most of the 2009 season. For the second consecutive year, MARTEZ WILSON is on the Butkus Award watch. The trophy, named in honor of Illini legend DICK BUTKUS, goes to the nation's best linebacker.

"Just being on it again is an honor," Wilson said. "I wasn't able to achieve the award or even come close due to injury. This year, hopefully, it will be different with my team backing me. They're expecting a lot out of me."

"We've all known he's got a lot of potential," Illinois coach RON ZOOK said. "He's still got to go do it. He's excited and doing well right now."

Wilson is one of seven Big Ten players on the initial list. He joins Wisconsin's CHRIS BORLAND, Northwestern's QUENTIN DAVIE, Ohio State's ROSS HOMAN and BRIAN ROLLE, Michigan State's GREG JONES and Michigan's JONAS MOUTON.

The Butkus is the only national award ever won by an Illini player. DANA HOWARD and KEVIN HARDY took home consecutive trophies in 1994 and 1995.

"I definitely care about it," Wilson said. "One of my goals is to definitely win a Butkus and be one of the outstanding linebackers this year."

BETTER DAYS

The Saturday scrimmage didn't go so well for the Illinois defense. Neither did Monday night's scrimmage, when the offense took advantage of some mistakes to gain the upper hand.

On Tuesday, the defense worked hard to regain the advantage.

"The thing that was great about tonight's practice was the defense came out ready to go and the offense kept that intensity that they had last night," Zook said. "So, we got a lot better as a football team."

The defense didn't have starting linebacker IAN THOMAS during the scrimmage. The junior missed some practice time with a sore foot.

"We all click together when everybody is there," Thomas said. "You need everybody. I'd say a key player who is out could affect the team a little bit."

Thomas said he is feeling better and ready for the final few days of Camp Rantoul.

"I felt 100 percent today," Thomas said. "I was a little bit dinged up. We just started camp. You pull a little thing here or there. But I feel good now. Everything is back."

Zook said Thomas was held out of practices a day or two longer than would have been the case during the season.

"I just didn't want to take a chance," Zook said.

GETTING READY

The freshman receivers and tight end EVAN WILSON continue to impress the coaches during practice.

Zook said no decision has been made on which freshmen will play this season.

"They've just got to keep playing," Zook said. "It's way too early to make any kind of decisions on that kind of stuff. I think that they're contributing and they're doing well."

Zook said there might be more freshmen capable of playing this season than he first thought.

"Not necessarily have to help us but can help us," Zook said.

Like most freshmen, it's more difficult for the linemen to play early.

"They're down there in the briar patch," Zook said. "It's better sometimes if they have a little more time to mature."

LINING UP

Zook wants improvement across the board in special teams. But there are two specific areas he expects major strides.

"I would like to see our return game take off," Zook said. "I really think we've got some guys. We were very, very close last year on a couple of them. I'd like to see it happen.

"And I think we've got to continue to cover our kicks well, too."

TERRY HAWTHORNE, JACK RAMSEY, JUSTIN GREEN and DARIUS MILLINES are among the players competing for return spots.

SCHEDULE STUFF

The final double session of Camp Rantoul is today at 8:05 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. The team has single sessions at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

POSITION WATCH: Cornerback

TAVON WILSON didn't come to Illinois with a lot of fanfare. From the same high school as Illini EDDIE McGEE and EVAN FRIERSON, Wilson had interest from Maryland, Michigan State, Boston College and others. Good options but not football powers.

The ones that missed out on Wilson might now wonder what they were thinking. The returning starter led the team in PBUs last season and was third in tackles.

The Illinois coaches are hoping to let Wilson cover a top receiver on the other team, with little or no help. That will create opportunities for other defenders.

TERRY HAWTHORNE gets more notoriety at the position. And it makes sense. He chased down a Michigan receiver to save a game last season. And he scored on an interception return against Minnesota. The 2008 News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year has lived up to the hype so far in his college career. He's done so well that many are asking when he will be allowed to help as a receiver. Maybe later.

First off the bench at cornerback is PATRICK NIXON-YOUMAN, who will jump from side to side depending on who needs relief.

The Illinois coaches are working WALT AIKENS at cornerback and safety. Of course, before he can play, Aikens needs to clear up disciplinary issues with the school after pleading guilty to a theft charge. No timetable has been announced for a decision.

MIAMI THOMAS is trying to work his way back after missing two seasons with knee injuries. Once considered a candidate to be the next VONTAE DAVIS, his career has been hampered by the injuries. The coaches are hoping he will be able to help in 2010 and beyond.

COACHING CORNER:

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH RON WEST

The last time RON WEST had training camp away from home, his school had one good season. And one great season.

West worked with TOMMY BOWDEN at Tulane in 1997 when the team trained at St. Paul's School in Covington, La. That's about 42 miles from the Tulane campus across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

The first year, Tulane went 7-4 and finished second in Conference USA. The second year after training at St. Paul's, the Green Wave was 12-0, finishing seventh in the national polls and beating BYU in the Liberty Bowl.

"That worked pretty good," West said.

West said Camp Rantoul is a better setup than what Tulane had at St. Paul's.

"We lived in dorms, so this is pretty nice," West said.

So, is West counting on 7-4 and 12-0?

"No, I'm just saying that this was a good experience," West said.

In his first season on the staff, West is working primarily with the Bandit and SAM linebacker positions.

MICHAEL BUCHANAN entered camp first on the depth chart at Bandit, and NATE BUSSEY was No. 1 at SAM. West said both players have been steady.

What West is trying to do now is find more players who are capable of helping.

"We're looking at some young guys who have really stepped up," West said. "BRANDON DENMARK is really starting to show some things (at Bandit)."

At SAM, the coaches are watching ASHANTE WILLIAMS closely.

"He's really starting to look like he can play and help us," West said. "I've been shocked to see how much he's improved from spring to now."

SURVEY SAYS ...

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

TIGHT END EVAN WILSON

Two years in, thumbs up or thumbs down to President Obama? I don't know. A lot can happen in two years.

Complete this sentence, LeBron James is ... richer than me but not a champion ... not better than Kobe.

Better hair: Ron Zook or Rod Blagojevich? Zook

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

Who is the most famous person in your cell phone? Coach Zook

What school should the Big Ten get next? Notre Dame

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

Name the one thing new President Michael Hogan needs to add to campus. Gatorade water fountains

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? Travon Bellamy

Favorite former Illini currently in the NFL? Pierre Thomas

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? Gabrielle Union

Who is the last guy on the team you can picture getting married? Alex Porter

Should they take Reggie Bush's Heisman away? No

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN AUSTIN TEITSMA

Two years in, thumbs up or thumbs down to President Obama? Neither

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

Better hair: Ron Zook or Rod Blagojevich? Ron Zook

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

Who is the most famous person in your cell phone? Andy Studebaker

What school should the Big Ten get next? Texas

What's your all-time favorite kids movie? "Finding Nemo"

Name the one thing new President Michael Hogan needs to add to campus. A lazy river

Have the Blackhawks made you a hockey fan? Yes

Who is your smartest teammate? Martez Wilson

Which of your teammates has a future in Hollywood? Fritz Rock

Favorite former Illini currently in the NFL? Vontae Davis

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? Jennifer Aniston

Who is the last guy on the team you can picture getting married? Andrew Carter

Should they take Reggie Bush's Heisman away? No