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Illini Kickoff Spring Football Practice
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Turner and crew began the 2003 spring football season with first practice session at Memorial Stadium.
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March 17, 2003
The University of Illinois football team kicked off the spring football season with its first session in the warm 70-degree temperatures at Memorial Stadium, Monday afternoon. Seventh-year head coach Ron Turner's first practice with the 2003 squad was a two-hour workout which got back to the basics with the players in shorts. The Illini will work out twice more this week with practices at 3:30 p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday before a week off for the University's Spring Break. The annual spring game is scheduled for April 19th at 2 p.m.
The spring depth chart was released today, which highlights competition at many positions. The Illini return 13 starters for the 2003 season - six on the offensive side of the ball and seven on defense. The returners on offense are: OL Sean Bubin, OL Bucky Babcock, OL Duke Preston, QB Jon Beutjer, FB Carey Davis and TE Anthony McClellan. The defensive returning starters are: DE Derrick Strong, DE Mike O'Brien, DT Jeff Ruffin, LB Joe Bevis, LB Matt Sinclair, S Marc Jackson and S Travis Williams. The Illini also return both punters who split time a years ago, Steve Weatherford and Matt Minnes, long snapper Mike Gomez and kickoff and long-field goal specialist John Gockman on special teams. Here is a look at the spring two-deep:
OFFENSE
Left Tackle
73 Sean Bubin (6-7, 300, Sr.)
57 JJ Simmons (6-6, 275, r-Fr.)
Left Guard
71 Bryan Koch (6-3, 285, Jr.)
78 Mike Zande (6-5, 300, r-Fr.)
Center
75 Duke Preston (6-5, 305, Jr.)
63 Dave Hilderbrand (6-3, 290, Jr.)
61 Jordan Kruger (6-4, 275, So.)
Right Guard
67 Matt Maddox (6-4, 290, r-Fr.) OR
72 Kyle Schnettgoecke (6-3, 275, So.)
Right Tackle
70 Bucky Babcock (6-4, 285, Jr.)
76 Clark Collins (6-3, 290, Jr.)
Quarterback
7 Jon Beutjer (6-5, 211, Sr.)
11 Dustin Ward (6-3, 205, Sr.)
16 Chris Pazan (6-2, 210, r-Fr.)
Running Back
20 Morris Virgil (5-10, 195, Jr.) OR
25 James Cooper (5-11, 200, So.) OR
29 Franklin Payne (6-0, 185, r-Fr.) OR
23 Ibrahim Halsey (5-11, 185, Fr.)
Fullback
24 Carey Davis (6-0, 225, Sr.)
49 Brad Haywood (6-1, 225, Jr.) or
34 Jason Davis (5-11, 220, So.)
Wide Receiver
84 Kendrick Jones (6-1, 180, So.)
9 Jamaal Clark (6-2, 196, Sr.)
88 Melvin Bryant (6-5, 220, r-Fr.)
Wide Receiver
4 Ade Adeyemo (6-0, 195, Jr.)
19 Mark Kornfeld (6-1, 200, Jr.)
43 Cornelius Dillard (5-9, 160, Fr.)
Tight End
81 Anthony McClellan (6-3, 243, Jr.)
80 Estus Hood (6-4, 230, Jr.)
88 Melvin Bryant (6-5, 220, r-Fr.)
DEFENSE
Defensive End
98 Derrick Strong (6-4, 245, Sr.)
90 Scott Moss (6-3, 260, So.)
Defensive Tackle
60 Aaron Hodges (6-3, 285, Sr.)
91 Charles Gilstrap (6-3, 290, Sr.)
97 Ryan Matha (6-1, 275, So.)
Defensive Tackle
58 Jeff Ruffin (6-4, 295, Sr.)
74 Mike Maloney (6-3, 280, Jr.)
Defensive End
93 Mike O'Brien (6-6, 225, Sr.)
66 Brian Schaefering (6-5, 260, Jr.)
Linebacker
33 Joe Bevis (6-0, 220, Sr.) OR
46 Antonio Mason (6-0, 245, So.)
36 Josh Tischer (6-1, 215, So.)
Linebacker
45 Mike Gawelek (6-2, 230, Jr.) OR
44 Matt Sinclair (6-3, 230, Jr.)
Linebacker
27 Ty Myers (6-4, 235, Sr.) OR
54 Winston Taylor (6-0, 240, Sr.) OR
52 Cyrus Garrett (6-3, 230, r-Fr.)
Cornerback
22 Sharriff Gillon (5-8, 165, r-Fr.) OR
2 Darnell Ray (6-1, 160, r-Fr.)
47 Steve Harris (6-0, 185, r-Fr.)
Free Safety
28 Travis Williams (6-1, 185, So.) OR
1 Marc Jackson (6-1, 205, Sr.)
21 Taman Jordan (5-11, 195, Jr.)
Strong Safety
1 Marc Jackson (6-1, 205, Sr.) OR
3 Eric McGoey (6-3, 210, Sr.)
Cornerback
5 Christian Morton (6-1, 180, Sr.)
40 Anthony Longe (5-11, 160, So.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker
13 John Gockman (5-10, 170, Sr.) or
12 JJ Tubbs (5-9, 160, Sr.)
Punter
37 Steve Weatherford (6-4, 205, So.) or
38 Matt Minnes (6-2, 195, Jr.)
Long Snapper
83 Mike Gomez (6-5, 220, Sr.)
62 Matt Fletcher (5-11, 245, So.)
