Illinois is leaning into its ground game next season, and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. isn’t treating it like a side dish. He wants the run game to be the centerpiece of the offense.
That’s a different level of commitment from just “establishing the run,” especially after last season’s numbers left plenty to be desired. Illinois finished in the bottom six of the Big Ten in rushing yards per game at 138.1 and ranked 100th nationally in yards per carry at 3.8. Still, Lunney said the production didn’t always tell the full story.
“We always want to run the ball well…what that looks like statistically doesn’t really move the needle for me as much as what it looks like functionally,” Lunney said. “Obviously, when you have a good running day, it shows up in the box score, but there’s days we’ve ran the ball well and the statistical part of it has not moved the needle as much as you would want.”
Now, with a nearly brand-new offensive line and fresh faces at running back and tight end, Illinois is using training camp to build the offense around what this group does best. Lunney said the staff isn’t trying to jam players into a fixed system. The offense is being shaped to fit the personnel.
“It’s relatively a whole new crew up front and new coaching staff, new flavor at running back, at tight end. So there’s different vantage points there,” Lunney said.
“We’re always growing what we’re trying to do and tailor our run game to the strength of our backs and to our line and tight ends. I felt good about what we accomplished in the spring.”
At running back, Illinois is counting on experience. Ca’Lil Valentine and Aiden Laughery are the veterans in the room, and both are coming off solid seasons.
Their role goes beyond carries, too. The Illini want them setting the tone for the younger backs.
“We have the experience in our room, that’s something that we’re trying to go out there every day and practice and be those leaders,” Laughery said. “We’ve done it before.
We’ve been in the games. We’ve had the experience.”
Illinois also expects help from Jordan Anderson, who has moved back to running back after spending time at tight end. He gives the Illini a short-yardage option with power.
And then there’s freshman Javari Barnett, a player worth watching as he develops. The former three-star recruit was ranked the #37 RB in his high school class and brings a blend of speed and power that could make him part of the picture sooner rather than later.
In Other News...
Katin Houser Is Already Taking Over Illinois Biggest Camp Storyline
Illinois football got through its second training camp practice at Gies Memorial Stadium with the usual summer mix of goal-line work, special teams periods and positional drills, but the early buzz has centered on the quarterback room. Katin Houser, the ECU transfer, has arrived quickly enough to stand out in a setting where every rep gets watched closely, and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. made clear that the first thing jumping out is Housers command of the group.
Lunney pointed to Housers leadership and maturity as key reasons the staff is already comfortable with how he carries himself, especially for a player who has been in Champaign only a short time. In camp, those traits can matter as much as arm talent, and Housers fast rise has made him one of the most interesting storylines to follow as Illinois continues sorting out its offense. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces One Huge Test As Rebuilt O-Line Takes Shape
Illinois football reached a useful checkpoint in camp with its third practice, the first fully padded session, even if local media were kept from watching the action. What reporters did get beforehand was a clearer picture of where things stand up front: the offensive line is trying to come together after losing four multi-year starters to the NFL, leaving a group that has talent to sort through but plenty of chemistry to build.
The work has not been limited to the field, either. Coaches and players said the line has been leaning on workouts and off-field time to speed up the bonding process, a necessary step with so little practice together before the pads came on. For Illinois, that makes the line one of camps most important storylines, because how quickly it settles in could shape the offense long before the seasons bigger tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Bret Bielema Just Revealed Illinois Thinking Behind Two Key Changes
Illinois has spent the offseason making a few notable tweaks as Bret Bielema continues to shape the roster around what his staff sees as the best fit for the group. One of the more interesting developments has been the addition of local quarterback Dane Eisenmenger, a move Bielema pointed to while explaining how the Illini are sorting out the depth chart and looking for ways to maximize talent across the roster. Along with that, the staff has also brought in Bobby Hauck as defensive coordinator while keeping Barry Lunney Jr. in place on offense.
Will Holmes is among the players affected by that broader reshuffling, as Illinois has been looking at him in a new role on the defensive side. The changes underscore how much of the spring and summer work is still about fit and flexibility for a team trying to make the most of its personnel, and Bielema's comments suggest the staff sees a few pieces in different spots than where they started. The details of exactly how those plans settle in will be one of the more interesting things to watch as the Illini keep building toward the season. [Read more 🡒]