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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 51m

Three-star Pennsylvania QB Owen Herrick (@OwenHerrick12) gave #illini a big early commitment in the Class of 2028. Why? "This is exactly what I wanted," Herrick told @IlliniOn247. Herrick on the offense, the fit & Art Sitkowski ⤵️

247sports.com

Why three-star 2028 QB Owen Herrick was sold on Illini so early: 'This is exactly what I wanted'

The Pittsburgh Central Catholic quarterback chose Illinois over several Big Ten and SEC offers

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 1h

🎙️ Illini Inquirer Podcast Ep. 1237 | What we learned at Illini basketball media day @ktausk13 and I on the buzz coming out of #illini basketball media day on David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, the freshmen, Stef Vaaks, style of play and much more ⬇️

247sports.com

Illini Inquirer Podcast Ep. 1237 | What we learned at Illini basketball media day

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk discuss what they learned from their conversations at Illini basketball media day

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 8h

Illini Inquirer AM: Tuesday, Oct. 6 — ☕️ Your morning jolt of #illini news ⭐️ Bennett Konkey continues dominant season 🏐 Illini VB cracks rankings for first time in 4 years 🔮 Illini MBB picked to win B1G 🏈 Williams goes long, Spoon racks up stops

247sports.com

Illini Inquirer AM: Konkey continues dominant season; Illini VB cracks rankings for first time in four years

Get the latest Illini news explained, including Illinois basketball projected to win the Big Ten

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

🎙️ #Illini Inquirer Podcast Ep. 1236 | J Leman reviews Purdue loss, discusses what needs to change @JLeman47 on a poor offensive performance, defense's debut under Roger Cooper and what must happen for the Illini to improve

247sports.com

Illini Inquirer Podcast Ep. 1236 | J Leman reviews Purdue loss, discusses what needs to change

All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to react to Illinois football's 24-17 loss to Purdue.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: I've been doing this a long time. There isn't going to be anything that I'm going to change that I did in the last five weeks or last 17 years. That's why you coach.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: The run game feeds everything else. Liked some outside runs but inside zone run didn't go well.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Wanted to empower Robby Hauck's voice as safeties coach. Ronnie Bradford is still with us, so he's focused more on special teams now.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Haave thought Cooper could call this defense well. Probably frustrating for him to watch the previous four games from his perspective.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Barry Lunney was as hard on himself as anyone after last week.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Ca'Lil Valentine will have season-ending surgery. Will have him back for the summer. Thoughts and prayers out to him and his family. Javari Barnett will step into bigger role if he practices well.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: We're 2-3 football program that lost two games that we could've won if we executed better. Bottom line, we're not. The thing we can't do is let that make us fall to a lower place.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Roger Cooper: The communication piece was cleaner with me calling plays directly to green dot. It cut the time down on communication. Likes calling from the press box because it removes emotion from decisions. Wears two headsets so he can't hear anything else.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Roger Cooper on Hauck leaving: It was exciting. It was sad. A lot changed in that moment. Still processing but adjusting.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Roger Cooper: We do stunts really well. We do movement well but need to improve technique.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Roger Cooper said the goal is to get the guys to play faster. If you give them too much, it can be paralysis by analysis. Cut DBOs (don't beat ourselves) plays from the 20s to 9. Gave up too many explosive plays though.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini Roger Cooper on last week: "It was a lot. We really just put our head down and worked as a defensive staff and came up with a plan and a blueprint for what we wanted to accomplish."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: "Whenever you affect the game negatively as a play-caller, that's a bad feeling." Felt that way after the first drive.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr. on 3rd-and-3 in red-zone that led to turnover on downs: Thought good about two runs for two downs but we didn't execute on third down. "That's that razor-thin line."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: Michigan State runs a similar scheme to what Purdue does. It's really impressive how they play within their scheme. There'sa. lot of continuity with DC Joe Rossi being a holdover. They're very buttoned-up and have a lot of talent.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr. on WR Jayshon Platt: "When he gets fully cleared, he's going to be integrated pretty quickly. ...When Jayshon's healthy and ready to role, he'll bring a dynamic to us that's very unique to this football team" whether that's this week or next game.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: Javari Barnett is "definitely trending in the right direction. This will be a great opportunity for him to piece it all together." He'll have an opportunity this week at practice.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr. on RB Ca'Lil Valentine out for the season, acknowledges "that's going to be a big loss." Said it creates opportunity for Javari Barnett and Cedric Wyche "to step in and help us." "We're going to need someone else to step up, that's for sure."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr. asked about Brandon Hansen by Joey Wagner said that he played his best against Ohio State and that "we're going to need him, and we're going to need him this week."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: The musical chairs on OL that we've experienced "kind of reared its head on Saturday more than it had in previous games." Matelau and Henderson earned the job in camp and proved they were two best options then. Yet, there was some rust.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: "It was just a sloppy performance. ...We can't let that define us."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: Katin Houser's inaccurate throws came from the lower body, which was impacted by the pressure allowed as Purdue was allowed to tee off. On the flip side, he made some incredible throws. But there was "some meat left on the bone."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: A lot of issues were we didn't run the ball effectively, which allowed predictable passing situations, which allowed them to tee off on us. Our plan and execution in the run game was nowhere near we needed it to be.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: Not very good. We took a step backward from the last couple weeks. We didn't get it done in any shape or form. One of the poorer performances since I've been here overall.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini coach Bret Bielema, OC Barry Lunney Jr. and defensive play-caller Roger Cooper meeting us soon. Video and takeaways coming to @IlliniOn247.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

NEWS: #illini men's basketball is projected to win the Big Ten, according to a conference media poll conducted by The Columbus Dispatch Stefan Vaaks also projected Transfer of the Year, while David Mirkovic & Andrej Stojakovic earn preseason honors ⤵️

247sports.com

Illinois men's basketball projected to win Big Ten in poll of conference media

Illinois returns five rotation players from last season's Final Four team

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#illini football recruiting notebook 🔸 4-star TE Grant Bowen's strong connections to UI 🔸 Top-50 prospect Joseph Frierdich visits again 🔸 OL Kajus Muralis 'always looked up to Illinois' 🔸 WR Avery Thompson: 'Illinois is a very special place to me'

247sports.com

Illini recruiting notebook: Four-star 2028 in-staters break down UI visits; WR Avery Thompson high on Illini

Illinois hosted several Composite four-star in-state prospects for homecoming weekend

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Illini Inquirer AM: Monday, Oct. 5 — ☕️ Your morning jolt of #illini news 🎰 Illini open as road favorite at Michigan State ⏪ Big Ten rewind: Minnesota, Northwestern notch huge wins 🤝 JUCO OL commits to Illini ⛳️ Max Herendeen goes low

247sports.com

Illini Inquirer AM: Illinois opens as road favorite at Michigan State; Herendeen goes low at Notre Dame

Get the latest Illini news explained, including the latest JUCO commitment for Illinois football

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Brady Pettigrew has been to #illini several times, but the Illini still resonate strongly with the Composite five-star prospect during his weekend OV. "You can't really feel more home," Pettigrew said. @ktausk13 on the Illini's Pettigrew pitch ⤵️

247sports.com

Illini's longtime relationship continues to resonate with Brady Pettigrew: 'You can't really feel more home'

The Composite five-star Bolingbrook guard took an official visit to Illinois this weekend

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Lincoln Williams signed with #illini just a few days before summer workouts began. But the late lottery ticket has big upside and is competing for an early role. "I pray he becomes a great story, and I think he's on the right track," Brad Underwood said.

247sports.com

Illini encouraged by early flashes from late-add freshman Lincoln Williams: 'Excited for what he is becoming'

Williams signed with Illinois just a few days before practice, but the long and bouncy wing is competing for an early role and has significant long-term upside

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#illini hosted JUCO OL Harry Maileoi (@HarryMaileoi02) for an official visit this weekend. "I love the family vibes," he said. Maileoi discusses how this official visit came together quickly and his early impressions of Illinois ⤵️

247sports.com

Illini make move for JUCO OL Harry Maileoi during official visit: 'I love the family vibes'

Illinois landed Maika Matelau out of Mt. SAC last year and now is trying to land his former teammate

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

🎙️ #Illini Inquirer Podcast Ep. 1235 | Hits & misses from Illini's 24-17 loss at Purdue Joey Wagner and I react to one of the most disappointing losses of the Bret Bielema, what it means & what's next ⤵️

247sports.com

Illini Inquirer Podcast Ep. 1235 | Hits & misses from Illini's 24-17 loss at Purdue

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's disappointing 24-17 loss to Purdue.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema said "we shrunk our menu" down on defense. Mac Resetich thought they were in a coverage they weren't on the 64-yard pass. "I think we'll continue to make some strides."

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: WR Jayshon Platt practiced a little this week. Hope to get him back this week, if not, out of the bye week.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema: Obviously extremely disappointed. This week was very unique in all my years of doing this. Today's otucome isn't what we want, but I think our guys will learn. It's just been one of those years, man. We're a group that has to learn things the hard way.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#Illini Bret Bielema on radio said RB Ca'Lil Valentine's injury is significant and he won't be returning this season.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema on radio said TE Kaden Feagin was in concussion protocol after hitting his head on routes on air during practice.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema on radio said the DBs all got together in one room and the linebackers all got together in one room. Cooper led the play-calling but more assistants got involved in the game plan.

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Jeremy Werner @jwerner247.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

#illini Bret Bielema on radio: "Very frustrating day, but this is the Big Ten, and no one's going to give you anything."

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