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Former Illini offensive lineman Jack Cornell has had an incredible year. He graduated from the University of Illinois last fall, helped the Illini to a bowl victory last December, joined the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent last spring, got engaged over the summer, and now he's become a Super Bowl Champion.
Illini in the NFL Weekly Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
A pair of Fighting Illini NFL rookies are in New Orleans this week for Super Bowl XLVII, which takes place this Sunday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 pm CT on CBS. Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins of the San Francisco 49ers and offensive lineman Jack Cornell of the Baltimore Ravens practice squad have been in the "Big Easy" all week going through all the usual Super Bowl week events while also getting ready, and helping their teams get ready, for the big game. It marks the seventh straight year and the 11th time in the last 12 years that at least one Illini has played in the Super Bowl.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weeks. Brandon Lloyd had a touchdown catch to help the Patriots advance to the AFC championship game. In all, four former Illini will play for a trip to Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday after helping their teams wins in the Divisional round, plus Baltimore Ravens practice squad player Jack Cornell is still alive as well. The five total Illini still left on playoff rosters or practice squads is tied for 10th-most among all colleges.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weeks. Three Illini were in action during last weekend's wildcard round, Vontae Davis of the Colts, and Alan Ball and Whitney Mercilus of the Texans, while six will be in action this weekend during the divisional round.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weeks. Vontae Davis had two clutch interceptions to help the Colts to a Week 17 win over the Texans. In all, seven former Illini are headed to the playoffs, which begin this weekend with the Wildcard round.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Mikel Leshoure and Pierre Thomas both scored touchdowns, Corey Liuget tallied a season high two sacks and both Vontae Davis and Kelvin Hayden recorded interceptions.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Brandon Lloyd had a huge 190-yard game for the Patriots, while Jeff Cumberland (Jets) and Mikel Leshoure (Lions) both found the end zone to highlight Week 15 action.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Brandon Lloyd scored two touchdowns for the Patriots, Whitney Mercilus tied the Texans rookie sack record and Vontae Davis had his best game this season for the Colts to highlight Week 14 action.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Whitney Mercilus had a pair of sacks for the Texans, Jeff Cumberland scored the game-winning TD for the Jets and Mikel Leshoure scored his sixth TD in the last five games for the Lions to highlight Week 13 action.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Mikel Leshoure has now produced five touchdowns over the previous four games while Whitney Mercilus enjoyed a career high four tackle day in a thrilling Thanksgiving overtime win against Detroit.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Tavon Wilson made his team-leading fourth interception for the Patriots and Mikel Leshoure ran for another touchdown for the Lions to highlight Week 11 action.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Liuget broke out with a season best in tackles while Brandon Lloyd returned from a bye week to resume his solid season with the Patriots.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Mikel Leshoure had a huge day with a hat trick of touchdowns, Whitney Mercilus had another sack and forced fumble and Pierre Thomas and Martez Wilson helped the Saints get a win on Monday Night Football.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Brandon Lloyd found the endzone twice in the Patriots blowout against the Rams and Tavon Wilson added another interception to his season resume to highlight Week 8 action.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. Whitney Mercilus disrupted the Baltimore offense, while Pierre Thomas scored his 24th career rushing touchdown with the Saints to highlight Week 7 action.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous week. David Diehl returned from injury to anchor the Giants offensive line, while Mikel Leshoure and Brandon Lloyd both had productive days during Week 6.
With the Illini heading to Ann Arbor this Saturday to face Michigan (3:30 pm ET, ABC/ESPN), I thought it would be a good time to look back at some recent memorable games at the Big House. In the last 20 years, the Illini are a respectable 3-4-1 against the Maize and Blue at Michigan Stadium, and half of those games have been instant classics. Whether it was a last-second touchdown, a miracle comeback, a record-breaking performance or the highest-scoring game in Big Ten history, incredible things have happened when the Illini and Wolverines clash in Ann Arbor.
Weekly
Update Archive | Illini in the
NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Rashard Mendenhall returned to action this week and found the end zone, Martez Wilson sealed a victory for the Saints and Jeff Cumberland recorded his first NFL touchdown.
Weekly
Update Archive | Illini in the
NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide
coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the
previous weekend. Tavon Wilson and Brandon Lloyd highlighted Week 4 with standout
plays, while rookie Jeff Allen made his first career NFL start.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Each week the Illini in the NFL update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Brandon Lloyd and Mikel Leshoure highlighted Week 3 with terrific individual performances. Take a look at how all 22 former Illini did during the week.
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website
Weekly Update Archive | Illini in the NFL Website Wednesday Interviews: Coach Beckman | Coach Banks
As the countdown to Saturday's season-opener against Western Michigan continues to dwindle, the Illini worked out on the Memorial Stadium turf once again on Wednesday. After practice wrapped up, workers completed the installation of the bowl banners on the barriers separating the stands from the field, including the Rose Bowl banner.
Monday Interviews: Coach Beckman Press Conference | QB Nathan Scheelhaase | DT Akeem Spence
Tuesday Interviews: Coach Beatty | Coach Gonzales
The Illini continued to prepare for the season-opener against Western Michigan on Tuesday, with another morning practice. Once the team finished working out on Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium, work crews continued to install more signage recognizing Illinois' all-time bowl appearances and an Illinois. Our State. Our Team sign atop the student section in the north end zone seating area.
Training Camp Central
Training Camp Central
Post Practice Interviews: Coach Beckman | QB Nathan Scheelhaase | RB Josh Ferguson
After a day off on Sunday to allow players to move into their campus housing, the Illini returned to action on the grass fields to the east of Memorial Stadium for a practice in shoulder pads and shorts. Illinois continued to install its schemes and began to prepare for its season-opening opponent, Western Michigan.
Training Camp Central
Training Camp Central
Highlights | Photo Gallery | Training Camp Central
Practices 6 & 7: Saturday
Practice 5: Friday MorningInterviews: Coach Beckman | Coach Beatty | Coach Salem
The Fighting Illini were in full pads and did some hitting for the first time at Training Camp on Friday morning in Rantoul. Illinois held a two-and-a-half hour practice in cool, windy conditions at the former Chanute Air Force Base. During the Red Zone portion near the end of practice, the Illini were full contact, doing their first hitting at Camp Rantoul. Follow practice, head coach Tim Beckman joined Jonathan Brown in the cold tubs to help ease the pain of a busy five days in Rantoul.
Practice 4: Thursday Morning
Interviews: Coach Beckman | QB Nathan Scheelhaase
After three days of split practices as the Orange and Blue squads, the Illini returned to working as a single unit on Thursday. That gave the team a better opportunity to work on some special teams units as well as special teams fundamentals, such as how to shed blockers as a kickoff coverage player or what technique to use as a lineman on a field goal.
![photo[1].jpg](http://www.fightingillini.com/blog/assets_c/2012/08/photo%5B1%5D-thumb-250x150-29243.jpg)
Practice 3A: Wednesday Morning
AM Interviews: QB Nathan Scheelhaase | QB Miles Osei
The team awoke Wednesday morning to news of a water main break that led to a boil order in the part of Rantoul around the former Chanute Air Force Base - the exact location where the Illini hold Camp Rantoul. But the team's support staff quickly mobilized, with director of football operations Tim Knox working with the athletic training staff to make sure practice could go on as normal. Assistant athletic trainer Chris Brown drove back to Champaign, filled up as many five-gallon coolers as the team would need for the morning practice and returned to Rantoul in time for the Blue team's session.
Practice 2A: Tuesday Morning
AM Interviews: FB Zach Becker | TE Matt LaCosse
The same group the wrapped up day one of Camp Rantoul started day two, as the Orange team worked out Tuesday morning. They went through a similar routine as on Monday, with individual position drills, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work.
Practice 1A: Monday Morning
Interviews: Coach Beckman | Nathan Scheelhaase | Michael Buchanan
The Illini opened the 2012 version of Camp Rantoul Monday morning, with the first session of a split-squad practice on the grounds of the former Chanute Air Force Base. The morning session was for the "Blue" team, which consisted of first-stringers and fourth-stringers. The "Orange" squad will be the second- and third-string players and they will practice at 4:45 p.m. Monday.
Day 2 Photo Gallery | Day 1 Photos and Video
Day 1 Interviews: Beckman PC | Buchanan | Pocic | Scheelhaase
As I sit in my room at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, I
can't believe it's already here. Big Ten Football Media Days are upon us,
which means the 2012 season is right around the corner. It seems like
just yesterday the Illini were celebrating with the Kraft Fight Hunger
Bowl trophy in San Francisco. Now here we are in the Windy City with
summer already a distant memory (at least that how it feels for an SID).
Two former Illini, offensive lineman David Diehl and punter Steve
Weatherford, helped lead the New York Giants to a 21-17 victory over the
New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday night. Diehl, who was
also part of the 2008 Giants Super Bowl team, won his second career
championship while Weatherford earned his first-ever Super Bowl ring.
Two former Illini, offensive lineman David Diehl and punter Steve
Weatherford, earned a trip to the Super Bowl following the New York
Giants' 20-17 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship. Diehl, who was
part of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Giants team, will make his second
Super Bowl appearance while Weatherford, who held for the game-winning
field goal on Sunday, will make his first-ever appearance in the game.
The Giants will play the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 5:30
p.m. CT on NBC.
A pair of former Illini on the New York Giants advanced to the NFC
Conference Championship following a victory over the defending Super
Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers during the Divisional Round of the
playoffs. Offensive lineman David Diehl and punter Steve Weatherford
will play the San Francisco 49ers with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 5:30 p.m. CT on
FOX.
All six former Illini who suited up for Wild Card Weekend helped their teams
advance to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. Pierre Thomas put on a
solid performance with over 100 yards of offense and a rushing
touchdown, Neil Rackers nailed a 39-yard field goal and David Diehl
helped pave the way for 172 rushing yards.Take a look at how former Illini fared in the final week of the NFL
season. Eight former Illinois football players have helped lead their
teams to the playoffs and six will suit up for the postseason,
including Pierre Thomas, Neil Rackers, David Diehl, Steve Weatherford, Martez Wilson and Nate Bussey. Rashard Mendenall and Kelvin Hayden will both miss
the playoffs due to injuries. Check out the video links for highlights from NFL.com.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Rashard Mendenhall had a solid outing with a touchdown,
100-plus rushing yards and a career-long catch while both Pierre Thomas
and Arrelious Benn recorded scores to highlight Week 16. Read up on how
the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video
highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Vontae Davis picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick twice and Pierre
Thomas scored his sixth TD of the season to highlight Week 15. Read up
on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for
video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Neil Rackers sealed the Texans' comeback win with an extra point with two seconds remaining to highlight Week 14. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Rashard Mendenhall is up to eight touchdowns on the year after
two more TD runs while a couple Illini wide receivers made nice catches to highlight Week 13. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and
check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Brandon Lloyd scored a TD for the third week in a row,
Vontae Davis nabbed his second interception of the season and Pierre Thomas had a touchdown and over 100 yards of offense to highlight
Week 12. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out
the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Brandon Lloyd found the end zone on a 30-yard TD catch and
Arrelious Benn caught five passes to highlight Week 11. Read up on how
the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video
highlights. 
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Rashard Mendenhall found the end zone twice, Brandon Lloyd
caught his second TD as a Ram and Vontae Davis had his first
interception of the year. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini
played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. A pair of past Illini, Pierre Thomas and Rashard Mendenhall,
scored touchdowns, Kelvin Hayden picked off Curtis Painter and Neil
Rackers was perfect on three field goals. Read up on how the rest of the
past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Five past Illini squared off in the Rams-Saints game, which included touchdowns by Brandon Lloyd and Pierre Thomas. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Pierre Thomas gained over 100 yards in a blowout of the Colts, Brandon Lloyd made his debut for the Rams and Brandon Moore started his 112th consecutive game, the longest active streak for a guard in the league. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Rashard Mendenhall had his best game of the year thus far with a touchdown and over 100 yards rushing, Arrelious Benn turned in a career-long TD catch and Brandon Lloyd was traded to the St. Louis Rams. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Pierre Thomas caught the game-winning TD pass, his first of the season, for the Saints, Brandon Lloyd made a highlight reel catch and a handful Illini were off with the first bye week of the season. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Brandon Lloyd turned in his best receiving game of the year, Rashard Mendenhall scored his second TD of the season and Neil Rackers remained perfect with his 10th field goal to highlight week four. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Neil Rackers was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals, Martez Wilson made his first career start for the Saints, and Alan Ball had four tackles in a Monday Night victory. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Two Illini (Arrelious Benn and Rashard Mendenhall) found the end zone while two others (Kelvin Hayden and Alan Ball) had interceptions in victories for their team. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. In all, 19 Illini made active 53-man rosters for the opening weekend. That does not count rookie Lions' RB Mikel Leshoure, who is on IR for the season with an Achilles injury, or the three former Illini that were named to practice squads (Nate Bussey, J Leman and Eddie McGee).
With former Illini and current New Orleans Saints Pierre Thomas and Martez Wilson opening up the NFL season tonight in Green Bay (7:30 p.m. CDT, NBC), I thought this might be a good time to take a roll call of all former Illini on NFL opening week rosters. In all, 19 Illini made active 53-man rosters for the opening weekend. That does not count rookie Lions' RB Mikel Leshoure, who is on IR for the season with an Achilles injury, or the three former Illini that were named to practice squads (Nate Bussey, J Leman and Eddie McGee).
The Illini had some special guests at Wednesday morning's practice.
University of Illinois president Michael Hogan and new Illinois Director
of Athletics Mike Thomas were both at Memorial Stadium for team's 8:30 am workout. Both
spoke to the team briefly expressing their support heading into
Saturday's season-opener against Arkansas State (2:30 pm CT, Big Ten
Network). The Illini have just one full practice left on Thursday and then a walk-through on Friday before kicking-off the 2011 season. 
It's finally here...game week is upon us. The Fighting Illini open the season against Arkansas State this Saturday (2:30 pm CT, BTN) at Memorial Stadium. The game marks the first of five straight home games for Illinois, something that is unprecedented in the long history of Memorial Stadium. 
The Fighting Illini returned to the Memorial Stadium practice fields
early Monday morning for practice #19. The team spent the last two weeks about
20 miles north of campus at Camp Rantoul, closing with a scrimmage on Saturday
morning.
The Illini wrapped up Camp Rantoul 2011 with a very competitive
scrimmage on the grounds of the former Chanute Air Force Base. Both
units had a number of highlight plays, with running back Jason Ford
posting a nice day of work and the defensive backfield repeatedly
turning heads with big hits.
The Fighting Illini held a morning workout in helmets and shorts Friday
at Camp Rantoul. After two weeks at the former Chanute Air Force Base, Friday
marked the second-to-last practice in Rantoul before the team returns to
Champaign-Urbana for the fall semester.
Only two practices remain at Camp Rantoul before the Fighting Illini
return to campus, but the Orange and Blue are definitely getting the
most out of the time they have remaining. While the team doesn't often
go "live" often during practice, today was an exception during the final
segment of the 11-on-11 portion of practice. 
Illinois went through its final two-a-day practice on
Wednesday, and after a number of practices in which the offensive unit set the
tone, the Illini defense answered in both practices. The defense stymied the
offense in many of the 7-on-7 and team drills throughout both workouts, drawing
repeated chants of "hoo-ahhh" from the sideline, a salute that has clearly
become the unit's battle cry.
The Fighting Illini held
practice number 13 on Tuesday afternoon at Camp Rantoul. With just four days
left before returning to campus, the intensity level of both the coaches and
the players continues to climb.
With Saturday's annual Rantoul High School scrimmage cut short after just 15 minutes due to thunderstorms, the Illini took to the familiar fields of Camp Rantoul on Sunday afternoon to finish it off. The team was on the field for over two hours simulating full drives, goal line situations, coming out (from deep in own territory), red zone, third downs and two-minute drills. 
The first scrimmage of the fall for the Fighting Illini was cut short after just 15 minutes and two drives due to lightning and heavy rain at Rantoul High School's Bill Walsh Field on Saturday night. The Illini will finish the scrimmage on Sunday at 3 pm at Camp Rantoul. 
In the last regular day of practice of Camp Rantoul's first
week, the Fighting Illini switched the schedule a bit, doing most of their team
scrimmage work in the middle of practice and finishing with two-minute
situations and special teams. The practice had good energy and enthusiasm on
both sides, with the offense and defense each making their share of big plays.
The Illini held practice No. 8 Thursday afternoon at Camp Rantoul. Fans were treated to a spectacular touchdown pass from Nathan Scheelhaase to Anthony Williams in the back corner of the end zone during 7-on-7 drills. Then during the live, short yardage situations Jason Ford had a long touchdown run and freshman running back Donovonn Young had several nice runs, including a first down run where he broke several tackles and carried a defender across the first down line. After he finally did go down, he got up to helmet slaps and high fives from his offensive teammates. 
The Fighting Illini battled through the first two-a-day
practice of Camp Rantoul on Wednesday but were aided by unseasonably cool
temperatures that stayed below 80 degrees. There was a good deal of physical
action during the 9-on-7 and team periods, including the first live tackling of
training camp during the 9-on-7 session.
Tuesday Photo Gallery
The Illini held practice number four on Monday afternoon at Camp Rantoul. After three days of split squad workouts at the Memorial Stadium practice fields, the Illini kicked off their 13th year at Camp Rantoul with their first full squad practice.
It was clear that the
intensity picked up on Monday, and it figures to go even higher on Tuesday as
the Illini will strap on full pads for the first time this fall. Be on the
lookout for the always entertaining Oklahoma Drill video tomorrow night.
After what's seemed like weeks of buildup, the Fighting Illini finally returned the practice field today, beginning preparations for the 2011 season. The team was split into two groups, the orange and blue, so that the young players can get more hands-on instruction. While that certainly helps them learn the ropes faster, it does make for a long day for the coaches and support staff, who are on the field and out in the heat for four-plus hours. By all accounts, day one was a success. It's clear that the team worked hard in the off-season and that they're ready to go this fall.
Day one of the Big Ten Media Days and Kickoff Luncheon started early - 5 a.m. to be exact. I made it to the Varsity Room parking lot a few minutes before 6:30 and just after I pulled the Google Maps directions (no GPS on my phone for me; I'm one of the last people I know who is holding out on the smartphone craze.) out of my laptop case, Tavon Wilson and A.J. Jenkins both walked up to the car.
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