So far, 17 true freshmen, nine redshirt freshmen, two first-time sophomores and two first-time juniors have played, making it 30 players who have made their Illini debut in the first two games.
Whereas some staffs might have been reluctant to pair true freshmen Larry Boyd of St. Louis (Trinity Catholic High) and Alex Palczewski of Mount Prospect, Ill., on the same side of the offensive line, offensive coordinator Garrick McGee didn’t hesitate.
“No, it wasn’t a factor because you’re just looking into the future and saying we can start developing them now,” he said. “So just put them back there and they’re probably going to be there for the next three or four years anyway.”
Boyd got his first start at tackle, Palczewski his first start next to Boyd at guard.
Senior tackle Christian DiLauro, the old man of the group, said the freshmen are figuring it out as they go. But overall, they did a good job helping another freshman, Mike Epstein, rush for 111 yards in a victory Saturday over Western Kentucky.
“Right now I know their heads are spinning,” DiLauro said. “I told Larry and Alex last week to have fun, play hard and even if you make mistakes, if you go 100 miles an hour and block someone, at least you’re doing something.”
McGee admits some of it is a little frightening.
“(Freshman tight end) Louis Dorsey told me a couple stories,” McGee said. “He was standing next to Larry Boyd and he said, ‘Should I block out or block forward?’ And Larry said, ‘I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do myself.’”
McGee said that’s the challenge for him. Coach, teach and educate quickly. But he seems to relish it.
“On the one side, it’s really fun. You see them growing up and developing and you can see where they are going to be next year or two years from now. On the other side, there could be a mistake any minute. The margin for error is not very big for us.”
Defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson has surrounded himself with true freshmen. He has played nine so far and at one point during Saturday’s game against Western Michigan, three of his four defensive linemen were playing high school football at this time last year (Bobby Roundtree, Jamal Woods, Isaiah Gay).
“We thought about that, but the guys are ready,” Nickerson said. “It’s been really fun coaching those guys up and watching them translate everything onto the field on game day.”
It’s still possible more freshmen could make their Illini debut soon. McGee said offensive lineman Vederian Lowe, from Rockford, Ill. — who is listed at 6 feet 5, 340 pounds — is getting close as he returns from an injury
Whereas some staffs might have been reluctant to pair true freshmen Larry Boyd of St. Louis (Trinity Catholic High) and Alex Palczewski of Mount Prospect, Ill., on the same side of the offensive line, offensive coordinator Garrick McGee didn’t hesitate.
“No, it wasn’t a factor because you’re just looking into the future and saying we can start developing them now,” he said. “So just put them back there and they’re probably going to be there for the next three or four years anyway.”
Boyd got his first start at tackle, Palczewski his first start next to Boyd at guard.
Senior tackle Christian DiLauro, the old man of the group, said the freshmen are figuring it out as they go. But overall, they did a good job helping another freshman, Mike Epstein, rush for 111 yards in a victory Saturday over Western Kentucky.
“Right now I know their heads are spinning,” DiLauro said. “I told Larry and Alex last week to have fun, play hard and even if you make mistakes, if you go 100 miles an hour and block someone, at least you’re doing something.”
McGee admits some of it is a little frightening.
“(Freshman tight end) Louis Dorsey told me a couple stories,” McGee said. “He was standing next to Larry Boyd and he said, ‘Should I block out or block forward?’ And Larry said, ‘I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do myself.’”
McGee said that’s the challenge for him. Coach, teach and educate quickly. But he seems to relish it.
“On the one side, it’s really fun. You see them growing up and developing and you can see where they are going to be next year or two years from now. On the other side, there could be a mistake any minute. The margin for error is not very big for us.”
Defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson has surrounded himself with true freshmen. He has played nine so far and at one point during Saturday’s game against Western Michigan, three of his four defensive linemen were playing high school football at this time last year (Bobby Roundtree, Jamal Woods, Isaiah Gay).
“We thought about that, but the guys are ready,” Nickerson said. “It’s been really fun coaching those guys up and watching them translate everything onto the field on game day.”
It’s still possible more freshmen could make their Illini debut soon. McGee said offensive lineman Vederian Lowe, from Rockford, Ill. — who is listed at 6 feet 5, 340 pounds — is getting close as he returns from an injury
