Bielema enhance: No. 24 Illini forward of schedule in yr two

Bret Bielema immediately has No. 24 Illinois wanting like a Big Ten West contender in his second yr since changing Lovie Smith because the Illini’s coach.

They’re ranked for the primary time since 2011. They beat Iowa and Wisconsin in the identical season for the primary time since 1989, and are rolling behind a stingy protection and productive offense.

Bielema is not any stranger to success within the Big Ten. He led Wisconsin to a few consecutive convention titles and Rose Bowls earlier than departing for seemingly greener pastures at Arkansas within the Southeastern Conference.

The 52-year-old Bielema has modified since his days as a hotshot teaching prospect in Madison. He is probably wiser after spending 5 years and going 29-34 with the Razorbacks earlier than being fired in 2017.

“I think I draw on all the time from my experiences,” he stated earlier this week.

Champaign might be seeing the perfect model of Bielema. Early outcomes point out he could also be taking the Illini (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) from Big Ten afterthought to a formidable contender within the extensive open West Division.

“I think our guys are extremely hungry,” Bielema stated. “They’re fun to be around. I don’t know if I’ve enjoyed coaching either before the game, during the game or after the game as much as I have (with) this group.”

He and up-and-coming defensive coordinator Ryan Walters wasted no time turning an occasional leaky protection beneath Smith right into a unit that enables an FBS-best 3.72 yards per play and the fewest factors per recreation (8).

A as soon as listless offense has become a productive unit behind FBS-leading rusher Chase Brown (879 yards) and switch quarterback Tommy DeVito.

When wholesome, DeVito is a high quality decision-maker along with having a gifted and correct arm. An ankle harm he sustained within the 9-6 win over Iowa final week may restrict this staff, however the working recreation might nicely proceed to dominate after Brown put up 146 yards towards a rock-solid Iowa entrance.

“Sometimes you’ve got to win things in ways that you don’t plan,” Bielema stated.

Already, the Illini are a win away from bowl eligibility. That feat is especially spectacular contemplating it took Smith 4 years to succeed in a bowl and that Illinois has solely made six bowls this millennium.

Ron Zook bought the Illini off to a 6-0 begin in 2011, this system’s final seven-win season, earlier than stumbling out of the rankings with six-straight losses and getting fired earlier than a win over UCLA within the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

But this begin feels sustainable.

“When that (No. 24 ranking) came through, I literally just sat there for a moment and kind of digested it and thought about it, thought it was a good thing,” Bielema stated. “I grew up and played for coach (Hayden) Fry (at Iowa). Coach Fry used to always say, ‘Partner, if you’ve done it, you ain’t bragging.’”

The program’s upward mobility within the Big Ten West since Bielema’s arrival — particularly after Smith went 4-26 towards the division — comes as applications like Wisconsin and Iowa idle or regress.

Whether Bielema can now flip on-field enchancment into wins on the recruiting path will even be pivotal.

“Winning affects everything,” Bielema stated. “It affects your program, it affects your recruiting, it affects your retainment of your own roster.”

Smith didn’t depart the cabinet naked, however a lot of the remaining expertise is in its ultimate yr of eligibility or might depart to the NFL this spring.

“That’s why I want to ride this wave as long and as high as we possibly can, because it will definitely help us in the future.”

He credit his gamers, most of them Smith recruits who may have darted after both of the final two seasons. Offensive lineman Alex Palczewski and security Kendall Smith, each sixth-year gamers, are contributors who purchased into his imaginative and prescient as an alternative of leaving.

“Like a year ago, I was worried guys might bail,” Bielema stated. “They had trust and faith in us.”

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