Ron Zook gave both practice groups passing grades on day 1. He said he liked the intensity. Things got a little too intense for Zook's liking late in practice #2 as Akim Millington and a few others pushed and shoved a bit after a play was blown dead. Zook says he likes that kind of passion, but he'd like to see the pushing and shoving hold off until the players are in pads.

Dere' Hicks will NOT be making the move from the defensive backfield to wide receiver. Hicks and the coaching staff gave the switch a try during spring practices, but Hicks says he never really got comfortable on the offensive side of the ball. The sophomore will indeed move back to the defensive side of the ball this coming season.

Another player that will try to make the move from defense to offense will be Rahkeem Smith. The sophomore from Lombard spent last season as a linebacker, but Zook announced Friday night that the Smith plans to take his reps this fall as a fullback. Zook says he never forces any player to switch positions, so you have to think Smith is at least partially on-board with a move such as this one. The team is fairly thin at the fullback position, so a big, strong, athletic Rahkeem Smith could work wonders for the Illini offense.

Fans hoping to see incoming Illini freshman Stephen Matas will have to wait awhile. Zook says Matas will not be attending the U of I this fall for "personal reasons." Zook says to his knowledge, the lineman from Mentor, Ohio is NOT enrolled in any other schools, and grades were never an issue. He says he hopes to have Matas back at some point in the future.

Freshman Mike Garrity had his first official Ilinois practice cut short on Friday. Garrity came up lame with a hip flexor, and he was taken out for precautionary reasons. Garrity tried to continue with practice, but Zook said they decided to play it safe with the freshman lineman from Batavia, IL.