Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, August 10, 2015
Monday marked the first stop on our annual summer football tour across the Big Ten.
[ MORE: Instagram photos/videos | Get all of our football tour coverage ]
Stop No. 1 of 14 had us visiting Rantoul, Illinois, to watch Tim Beckman's fourth Illini team.
Throughout Monday's practice, BTN.com senior editor Tom Dienhart, BTN host Dave Revsine and BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo tweeted their thoughts.
See our team's tweets below:
Just talked to Tim Beckman. First day in full pads. Loves the progress of Jeff George Jr. Says Mikey Dudek healing well. O line is best yet.
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 10, 2015
LEO/ DE spot one to watch. Dawuane Smoot (91) and Carroll Phillips battling.@IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/eT1S02D5x7
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 10, 2015
OT Christian DiLauro is the bellwether up front for @IlliniFootball. The potential weakness on the o-line: LG. pic.twitter.com/2yguDeBNFN
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 10, 2015
Any discussion of @IlliniFootball begins with DE Jihad Ward. He looks already to be in midseason form. pic.twitter.com/d00TOMBtan
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) August 10, 2015
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Word is Chris Boles had a great offseason - has put himself in position to battle for starting spot. Moving well pic.twitter.com/WcFK2qVxXY
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 10, 2015
Liking the looks of Sam Mays - could help Illini at WR w Dudek & Hardee out. Need some answers at this spot pic.twitter.com/HzZtoGxlgw
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 10, 2015
As expected - Chayce Crouch taking 2nd reps at QB, Henry Enyenihi (who @gerrydinardo will undoubtedly refer to simply as "Henry") 2nd at RB
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 10, 2015
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BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI - Very good practice - good positive energy - very possible the summer crises made the staff better and the team closer
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 10, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI Depth def better,the more I c coachs taking over programs like ILL the more I believe it take a minium of 5 yrs 2 build
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 10, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI - Looks like defense has good chance to be better -goal one would be to prevent big plays - runs over 15 passes over 20
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 10, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI - Off looks pretty traditional ? would b with injuries @ WR & lack of depth @ RB -where will explosive plays come from?
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 10, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI - A lot of good work between O Line vs. D Line - great examples of leverage and "low man wins"
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 10, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI Some impressive young guys - Vaughn, Mays, Turner, Milan, Odenigbo,
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 10, 2015
BTN Bus Tour #ILLINI - Tricky schedule Good non-con 3-1, tough crossovers OSU/@PSU - West matches ups Iowa,PU, Minn away instead of home
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) August 10, 2015
