Illinois Fighting Illini Football

Former University of Illinois defensive end Bobby Roundtree has died at the age of 23.

The Illini football program announced the news on Friday:

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman released a statement following Roundtree's death, per The Athletic:

All of us with Illinois Athletics are shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Bobby Roundtree. From his first day on campus, Bobby was a leader. His work ethic, competitive fire, and drive for excellence set him apart. Following his tragic accident, those same qualities allowed him to tackle his new challenges with the same vigor and determination that we had seen on the football field. In so doing, he continued to bring light and inspiration to the lives of those around him -- and, in fact, to so many people who had never had the pleasure of meeting him.

In the face of incredible adversity, he demonstrated he was, and always will remain, a true champion. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We will support them, and our players, coaches, and staff who knew him well, as we struggle to understand this terrible news and, ultimately, look to celebrate the remarkable young leader we have lost.

A diving accident on May 18, 2019, near Largo, Florida, where Roundtree lived, left the lineman paralyzed, per Satchel Price of the Chicago Sun-Times.

In Nov. 2020, Roundtree spoke with Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times about his life and goals, including his primary intention to be independent.

“Just living comfortably,” Roundtree said. “Just being able to wake up and get myself dressed, not need help to use the restroom, to brush my own teeth. I would like to be able to feed myself. To just get out and be working, doing stuff I don’t need no assistance for.”

Condolences from many people, including some of Roundtree's former teammates, poured in on Twitter following the news.

Joey Wagner of Illini Inquirer compiled some reactions from Dele Harding, Jamal Woods, Kendrick Green and James Crawford on their beloved teammate.

Roundtree played for Illinois during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, amassing 116 tackles and 11.5 sacks. He was honored with the Dick Butkus Outstanding Defensive Player award in 2018 in addition to earning an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman announced Saturday that Bret Bielema has been hired as the head football coach for the Fighting Illini.

Bielema, an Illinois native, released a statement after signing a six-year contract with a yearly salary of $4.2 million:

"Illinois and the Big Ten is home for me, and I can't be any more excited about the opportunity in front of me with the Fighting Illini. We want to build a program that makes Illini Nation proud and regain the passion that I've seen when Illinois wins. We want the young men playing football in the state of Illinois from Freeport to Cairo and from Quincy to Danville dreaming of wearing the Orange and Blue and playing at Memorial Stadium. I look forward to re-connecting with the high school coaches around the state making it clear we intend to keep our players home.

"We will build an outstanding staff for both player development and recruiting. The University of Illinois has incredible facilities and is known as one of the world's outstanding academic institutions. We will hold the young men on our team responsible both on and off the field while coaching them to be champions in life. Jen and I, along with our girls, are excited to get to Champaign-Urbana and get started on the journey. Go Illini!"

Bielema arrives at Zuppke Field with 12 years of head coaching experience at the Power Five level.

The 50-year-old former University of Iowa defensive lineman led Wisconsin from 2006 through 2012 before taking over at Arkansas in 2013. He led the SEC's Razorbacks until 2017.

He compiled a 97-58 record (.626 winning percentage)—68-24 with the Badgers and 29-34 with the Hogs—and his teams qualified for nine bowl games, including a pair of Rose Bowl appearances for UW.

Bielema spent the past three years in the NFL, working on the New England Patriots staff in 2018 and 2019 before becoming the New York Giants' outside linebackers coach. He spent 12 years as an assistant at the collegiate level before his first head coaching gig.

Whitman stated that wealth of experience will put the Illini back on a winning track:

"Bret Bielema is a proven winner. With three Big Ten championships to his credit, few coaches can match his familiarity with, and success within, the Big Ten Conference. In our conversations, it became clear to me that he is a life-long learner who is continually looking to grow and improve, and he has enjoyed unrivaled mentorship from some of the game's most distinguished coaches, including Hayden Fry, Kirk Ferentz, Bill Snyder, Barry Alvarez, and Bill Belichick—all of them current or future Hall of Famers.

"Importantly to me, Bret, a native of our great state, grew up an Illini fan and is committed to seeing the football program at our state's flagship grow and prosper. Bret's blue collar work ethic and genuine, authentic manner will allow him to form strong connections to his players and staff and positive relationships in our community and our state. These qualities, combined with his commitment to education and his track record of success, give me great confidence in his leadership of our football program."

Illinois hasn't finished with a winning record since 2011 under Ron Zook and Vic Koenning, which is also the last year it won a bowl game. Former NFL head coach Lovie Smith had led the program since 2016, but the team went 17-39 with just one bowl appearance.

Bielema's work must begin immediately because the Illini ranked last in the Big Ten in recruiting for 2021 following the early signing period, per 247Sports.

The program is seeking its first conference title since 2001.

The University of Illinois is parting ways with head football coach Lovie Smith after five seasons, Brett McMurphy of Stadium reported Sunday.

Smith's dismissal was later confirmed by the University of Illinois:

Smith never delivered a winning record during his tenure with the Fighting Illini, and they were only able to muster a 2-5 mark during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 Big Ten season.

Overall, Smith went 17-39 at Illinois and led the Illini to one bowl game.

The 62-year-old Smith is perhaps best known for his time in the NFL as head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2004 to 2012 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014 and '15.

Smith, who was named the 2005 NFL Coach of the Year, went 81-63 in nine seasons as head coach of the Bears. He led them to the playoffs three times and took them to the Super Bowl during the 2006 campaign.

His two seasons in Tampa were far less successful, as he went 8-24 with no trips to the playoffs.

When Smith took the reins at Illinois in 2016, there were high hopes for a turnaround, as the Illini had posted a losing record in each of the previous four seasons.

That never happened, though, with the program in the midst of a streak of nine losing seasons, making it an afterthought in the Big Ten.

Smith's last stand at Illinois came Saturday when the Illini lost 28-10 to a Northwestern team that is set to face Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports provided a list of potential candidates to replace Smith:

Included on that list is a pair of Illinois natives in Army head coach Jeff Monken and New York Giants outside linebackers coach Bret Bielema, who previously coached at Wisconsin and Arkansas.

Monken may be the best candidate given what he has accomplished at Army during his seven-year stint as head coach.

When Monken took over at Army, it had posted a losing record in 16 of the previous 17 seasons. Under Monken, the Black Knights have finished with a winning record in four of the past five years, including an 8-2 mark this season.

Illinois will be without starting quarterback Brandon Peters and tight end Griffin Moore for three weeks after both players tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement from Illinois Football on Twitter, Peters and Moore tested positive Thursday and will be eligible to return for the team's game against Nebraska on Nov. 21.

Moore is a redshirt freshman who has yet to play in a game for the Fighting Illini. He committed to the school in March 2018 and was rated as a 3-star prospect coming out of Bloomington High School by 247Sports.

Peters began his college career at Michigan, where he started three games as a freshman in 2017. The 23-year-old announced in June 2019 that he was transferring to Illinois. He was immediately eligible to play as a graduate transfer.

After winning Illinois' starting job last season, Peters threw for 1,884 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 11 games. He opened this season going 8-of-19 for 87 yards through the air and 75 rushing yards on seven carries in a 45-7 loss against Wisconsin in Week 8.

Peters and Moore will miss the Fighting Illini's games against Purdue (Saturday), Minnesota (Nov. 7) and Rutgers (Nov. 14) before they can return.

Regardless of what happens with the University of Illinois football team this season, its biggest loss won't come on the field. 

It already happened in the home Lovie Smith when the Illini head coach shaved off his beard. 

Here's what Smith's beard looked like:

Here's what he looks like now: 

It's truly an incalculable loss for the program. 

In the world of college football, where tensions run high and consensus comes along as often as a postseason without Alabama, Smith's beard was one of the few things football fans could agree upon. 

It was luscious, full of life and mystifying. Now it's gone and college football won't feel the same again. 

On the other hand, Illinois hasn't finished with a winning record since the Ron Zook era. After going 6-7 in 2019 with a loss in the Redbox Bowl, Smith has the program ready to take a step forward in 2020. 

If he's able to produce to season above .500, he may never be allowed to grow facial hair again. If the program goes backward, he may have to bring it back immediately. 

Illinois junior defensive end Bobby Roundtree underwent surgery Sunday after suffering a "severe spinal injury" in a swimming accident Saturday, according to the school.

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith said in a statement:

"Bobby Roundtree is exactly what you want in a student-athlete. He is a hard worker, dependable, a dedicated student and a leader. This is devastating to his teammates, the entire Fighting Illini family and his family and friends. We will give Bobby all the support possible as he battles through his recovery. Please keep Bobby and his family in your thoughts and prayers."

Several of Roundtree's teammates tweeted their support after learning of the news:

Roundtree started 20 games for Illinois the past two seasons and was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten player this past campaign after registering 66 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. He led the Illini in the latter two categories.

He posted four sacks in his freshman season.

According to Illinois' press release, "Smith, several Illini coaches, along with many family members and friends, gathered at the hospital over the weekend in support of Roundtree."

Defensive end Oluwole Betiku Jr. announced Thursday he's decided to join the Illinois Fighting Illini as a graduate transfer for the 2019 college football season.

Betiku, who sat out the entire 2018 campaign with the USC Trojans following hip surgery, confirmed his selection of the Illini on Twitter:

The Junipero Serra High School (California) standout never lived up to expectations at USC.

Betiku arrived at the program as a 5-star prospect and the No. 15 overall player in the 2016 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He was also listed as the top weak-side defensive end and one of the top-500 recruits in the outlet's all-time rankings.

He leaves USC with just two tackles and no sacks across three years. He played 14 total games between 2016 and 2017 before sitting out the entirety of 2018.

Betiku told Jonah Puls of Rivals he watched Illinois' practices during an official visit over the weekend to determine whether it'd be a good match.

"I've just been trying to watch practice and see how I fit in the defensive scheme," he said. "I want to see what my role and responsibilities would be. I also want to learn more about the position I will play and what their expectations would be for that."

The most important factor for Betiku is playing time. He rarely saw the field at USC and was then forced to miss an entire season while recovering from his injury. Choosing the Illini should give him an opportunity to fight for a starting job right away.

Illinois finished 128th of 130 Division I teams in yards allowed per game (508) last season and ranked 102nd in sacks (21). So it represents an opportunity for the edge rusher to finally showcase the potential that earned him offers from many of the nation's top programs coming out of high school.

The Illinois Fighting Illini are just 5-19 in their first two seasons under Lovie Smith, but their future just got brighter.

On Friday, 5-star quarterback prospect Isaiah Williams committed to Illinois:

The top player in Missouri, according to 247 Sports, also received offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon and more.

Choosing Illinois over powerhouses such as Alabama or Ohio State may leave some fans scratching their heads, but it may be the best fit for the star recruit. He will get the opportunity to play quarterback in a system that he feels will put his skill set on full display, per the Illini Inquirer (h/t Joel Boyd of the Chicago Tribune):

“I love that offense. That’s how I’ve been playing my whole life, from little league up until high school. I’ve been playing fast. I love that challenge of getting to the next play quick.”

Not to mention that Champaign, Illinois, is just over a two-hour drive from Trinity Catholic High School (St. Louis, Missouri).

The Fighting Illini have not played in a bowl game since the 2014 season and have not finished with a winning record since 2011. With one of the top recruits in the country making his way to campus next year, Smith could have the program on the rise before too long.

Per 247 Sports, Williams' commitment gives Illinois the 24th-best recruiting class for 2019.

Defensive tackle Calvin Avery has committed to play college football at the University of Illinois starting in 2018. 

Jeremy Werner of Scout reported Avery's decision to play for the Fighting Illini.

Coming out of Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, Avery is a monster in the middle of the defensive line. He's listed at 6'2" and 310 pounds already, per Scout, so he looks like most NFL defensive tackles already.

Avery is a 4-star prospect who is the No. 3 defensive tackle recruit from Texas, No. 17 defensive tackle overall and 190th-ranked player in the 2018 class, per Scout.  

Greg Powers' scouting report for Scout noted Avery has a combination of speed and quickness that will help him transition quickly to the college game:

"Avery is very strong at the point of attack and dominates the private school offensive linemen that he is matched up against. He is not only much stronger than those who line up across from him, he is also much quicker than them and that creates a combination that is tough to manage, and he quite often ends up in the backfield making a play.

According to Werner, the defensive tackle is the most highly touted recruit—the first Scout 300 prospect—landed by head coach Lovie Smith, who went 3-9 during his first season with the Illini. It's a sign of progress as the former NFL coach attempts to turn the program around.

Avery possesses all the tools to become a dominant force on the interior. It wouldn't be a surprise if he makes a strong push to make an immediate impact as a freshman next fall.

Mike Evans, the trainer for 10-year-old football and track star Bunchie Young, told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg on Thursday that his client received a scholarship offer from the Illinois Fighting Illini. 

The confirmation comes a day after Evans relayed word of the offer on Twitter: 

According to Rittenberg, Illinois cannot comment on the offer since Young is still an unsigned recruit. 

Evans also said Young already possesses physical skills that should make him a standout presence on the gridiron. 

"Young has the ability to score every time he touches the ball," he told Lynden Ostrander of MaxPreps. "He's simply gifted with speed and unreal footwork. The kid has an unbelievable work ethic and the sky is the limit for him."

Young, who plays running back, wide receiver and defensive back for his youth team, is on track to be a class of 2025 recruit.