Game week notebook: Illini open 2017 season on Saturday

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The Fighting Illini open the 2017 season on Saturday at home vs. Ball State. Kick of is set for 11am CT and the game it televised on BTN. Illinois is seeking its first bowl appearance since 2014.

Illinois is coming off of 3-9 record in Lovie Smith's first season in Champaign. The Ball State Cardinal finished the 2016 campaign with a 4-8 record under first year coach Mike Neu.

Orange and Blue News kicks off game week each Monday of the season with a notebook of things to know and some select quotes from Lovie Smith. Monday is media day in Champaign including a Lovie Smith press conference at 1pm, along with availability of coordinators and select players.

* Cornerback Jaylen Dunlap hasn't practiced yet and is out for Saturday's game against Ball State. Dunlap is a key defender for the Illini. He had 11 PBU's last season, tied for 10th most in UI history. Lovie Smith said other DB's will have to step up, including Cameron Watson, and freshmen Tony Adams and Nate Hobbs.

* Also out is No. 2 running back Reggie Corbin, who has been limited throughout training camp. Corbin rushed for 550 yards in 2016 and led the team with 6.1 yards per carry. He's also a threat in the passing game. True freshmen Mike Epstein and Ra'Von Bonner will fill the void.

* According to Lovie Smith, the offensive line is fully healthy and ready to go. Freshman Larry Boyd was banged up in camp, but he is back in the starting lineup. Another freshman, Alex Palczewski, suffered and ankle injury and missed a couple of days. He is good to go and will get some snaps on Saturday.

* Lovie Smith showed a high level of confidence in junior quarterback Chayce Crouch. He says that opposing defensive coordinators would rather game-plan against a pocket passer. Having Crouch under center is "totally different animal" and another offensive player they have to account for.

* Lovie said Illinois will play a lot of young guys. Expect several true freshmen to see the field on Saturday. Besides the aforementioned newcomers, those most likely to get significant playing time include defensive linemen Bobby Roundtree and Kendrick Green, safety Bennett Williams, tight end Louis Dorsey, wide receivers Ricky Smalling and Carmoni Green, and punter Blake Hayes.

* Illinois returns 10 starters this season, five on both offense and defense. The two top rushers, Kendrick Foster and Reggie Corbin, and top receiver Malik Turner are all back. Corbin has been limited in practice and likely isn't available for Saturday's game. Defensively, four of the top five tacklers return, including middle linebacker Tre Watson.

* Foster was one of only four players in the nation with at least 700 rushing yards and 500 kick return yards. He is also a big play threat for Illinois. Foster accounted for three touchdowns of 50+ yards.

* WLB Jake Hansen suffered a knee injury in camp that will require surgery, and is lost for the season. Hansen won the starting spot with a strong spring and he played well during training camp. Julian Jones steps into the starting lineup at the SAM and sophomore Dele' Harding will also get plenty of snaps at one of the LB positions. Former JUCO transfer Del'Shawn Phillips moves over the WILL.

* Illinois gets dynamic wide receiver Mike Dudek back from injury. A freshman All-American in 2014, Dudek missed the last two seasons with knee injuries. As a true freshman, Dudek broke Illinois' school record for receiving yards by a freshman. He appears to be fully recovered. Dudek ran the fastest 40-yard dash time on the team during the off season.

* The non-conference schedule is daunting for a rebuilding Illinois squad. After Ball State, Illinois hosts Western Kentucky before a trip to Tampa to take on South Florida. Those two programs were a combined 22-5 last season. WKU lost some key pieces and head coach Jeff Brohm left to take the Purdue job, but the system produces points. Some expect USF to run the table in the American Athletic Conference.

* The Cardinals 2016 record is deceiving. Ball State won three of its first four games before dropping seven of its last eight contests, including the final five games. But four of those losses were by a touchdown or less.

* All-MAC running back James Gilbert is the top player to watch on Saturday. The 5-foot-8 194-pound junior rushed for 1,332 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago. The Cardinals will once again hang its hat on the running game after rushing for 220 yards per game in 2016, good for No. 30 in the nation.

* The Illinois defense focuses on takeaways and turnovers were the Achilles heel for Ball State last season. Its turnover margin of -.83 ranked No. 120 in the nation out of 128 DI programs, and next to last in the MAC.

* The Illini should be able to move the ball against a Ball State defense that ranked last in the MAC a year ago and returns just three starters. The Cardinals yielded a whopping 470 total yards per content and 6.38 yards per play. A lot of the damage done was through the air, so Illini quarterback Chayce Crouch will have an opportunity to start the season out well and gain some confidence.

* A match-up to watch is Illinois offensive tackle Gabe Megginson vs. Ball State defensive end Anthony Winbush. At 6-foot-1, 225-pounds, Winbush is a smallish but athletic outside pass rusher, which is exactly the kind of match-up that Megginson struggled with in training camp. Winbush posted 8.5 sacks last season.

* In the 'Behind Enemy Lines' feature on Wednesday, Ball State beat writer Ryan O'Gara from the Star Press breaks down the Cardinals.