Illinois coach Lovie Smith asked reporters last week if there was a better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than the start of spring football practice.
Two issues with that statement: There are probably dozens. And it’s still winter.
But the question indicated Smith’s eagerness to get rolling again — and to get a jump on spring recruiting — as the Illini kick off their 15 spring practice sessions exceptionally early Tuesday.
There will be no spring game, just one open practice March 4. The weather will be chilly and unpredictable, with practices scheduled for either Memorial Stadium or the Irwin Indoor Practice Center, depending on the weather.
The Illini need to answer many questions, but they’ll only begin to scratch the surface during these practices. Here are some of the issues they will begin to confront:
What will Illinois learn about its quarterbacks?
Not much. Chayce Crouch likely will be sidelined for all of spring practice after undergoing shoulder surgery that caused him to miss the final six games last season.
Smith already has proclaimed, "Chayce is our quarterback," so the Illini will use the spring to try to better prepare backup Jeff George Jr.
George struggled mightily last season in four games, connecting on just 40 percent of his passes and throwing for four touchdowns with five interceptions. But he was thrown into the fire as a redshirt freshman, and these extra reps will only help.
The Illini had hoped to have junior-college transfer Dwayne Lawson signed, but he won’t arrive until summer at the earliest while he works to become academically eligible.
How deep are the Illini?
Right now they’re as deep as a puddle after a sprinkle.
Receiver Mikey Dudek won’t be back at practice as he continues to recover from a second torn ACL that has kept him sidelined since 2014. Backup receiver Desmond Cain left the program, making the Illini even thinner at that position.
With running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn having transferred to Vanderbilt and Dre Brown also recovering from a second straight torn ACL, the Illini don’t have much depth there either.
Who will fill out the coaching staff?
With linebackers coach Tim McGarigle having left for a job with the Packers, Illinois is expecting to add his replacement soon. Smith has said it will be a defensive coach but not necessarily a linebackers coach because of defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson’s ability to oversee that position.
Who is one new name that should emerge out of the practices?
Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips, who transferred from Garden City Community College, could make an immediate impact. The Illini need someone to make up for the loss of middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson (the son of the defensive coordinator), who graduated.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Phillips was the No. 3 junior-college inside linebacker in the 247Sports.com composite rankings. He originally committed to Western Michigan out of high school and committed to Arizona in July but was impressed with his visit to Illinois in December and signed with the Illini.
sryan@chicagotribune.com
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