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100 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f name a No. 1 exiting the spring, most think it will be Oklahoma State transfer Wes Lunt, a 6-foot-5, 215-pounder with a big arm. Senior Reilly O'Toole, who has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards in his career, is an option, as is athletic soph- omore Aaron Bailey, a former four-star recruit. But Lunt is the frontrunner. "I think they just want kids to come into camp and compete," Buschon said. "But I think anyone who watched them in the spring, it was pretty clear that Wes Lunt is the guy." Lunt has some help in what should be a stout running game, led by junior running back Josh Ferguson (779 yards in 2013) and an offensive line that returns four starters, including third-year starting right guard Ted Karras. Receiving options are in question. But among a trio of junior college trans- fers, Geronimo Allison, from Iowa Western C.C., might be the best; he and Pierce C.C. transfer Tyrin Stone-Davis could give the Illini a couple deep threats. "I think you're going to see more vertical passes," Buschon said. "Wes Lunt has a bigger arm and they have some bigger receivers who can make plays with their length." While the Illini offense offers some hope, their defense remains a major question mark. A year ago, Illinois ranked near or at the bottom of the Big Ten in relevant defensive categories, giving up 35.4 points and 482 yards per game. A reason was its inability to create pressure on the quarterback, nor gen- erate turnovers. But the Illini hope that sophomore defensive end Dawuane Smoot can develop into the pass-rusher the Illini covet. "The front four is going to be a lot better," Buschon said. "They look the part. Last year, walking off the field, they didn't look like a Big Ten team defensively." The Illini should be solid at linebacker, with Mason Monheim and Earnest Thomas, and cornerback, but the safety position is thin and unsettled. It may take some shuffling in training camp to get the position fixed. "It's really a concern," Buschon said. Illinois' non-conference schedule could help it get off to a good start, and the Big Ten home slate — Purdue, Minnesota, Iowa and Penn State — is favorable. Still, six victories might be on the end high of expectations. "I don't think there's a magic number," Buschon said. "Mike Thomas, the AD, says that he wants to win championships and you would think that a bowl in Season 3 is the goal." — Kyle Charters (4-8 overall, 1-7 Big Ten, 5th Leaders) Date Opponent . . . . . . . . . Results 8/31 SO. ILLINOIS . . . . . . . W, 42-34 9/7 CINCINNATI . . . . . . . . W, 45-17 9/14 WASHINGTON . . . . . . L, 24-34 9/28 MIAMI (OH) . . . . . . . . W, 50-14 10/5 at Nebraska . . . . . . . . L, 19-39 10/19 WISCONSIN . . . . . . . . L, 32-56 10/26 MICHIGAN STATE. . . . . L, 3-42 11/2 at Penn State . . . L, 17-24 (OT) 11/9 at Indiana . . . . . . . . . . L, 35-52 11/16 OHIO STATE . . . . . . . . L, 35-60 11/23 at Purdue . . . . . . . . . . W, 20-16 11/30 NORTHWESTERN. . . . L, 34-37 Who's in Charge? COACH TIM BECKMAN Record at Illinois: 6-18 (two seasons) Record vs. Purdue: 1-1 Date Opponent 8/30 YOUNGSTOWN ST. 9/6 W. KENTUCKY 9/13 at Washington 9/20 TEXAS STATE 9/27 at Nebraska 10/4 PURDUE 10/11 at Wisconsin 10/25 MINNESOTA 11/1 at Ohio State 11/15 IOWA 11/22 PENN STATE 11/29 at Northwestern 2013 RESULTS 2014 SCHEDULE EARLY LINE: ILLINOIS -9 OF NOTE: Neither Purdue nor Illinois had won a Big Ten game enter- ing their contest last November for the first time since 1987, excluding league-opening games. Home Away From Home Purdue has won three games in Champaign since 2004, tying with Indiana for the most games won by Purdue at an opponent's stadium during the stretch. "Bill Cubit came aboard last year as a coordi- nator and did a great job as the new OC. If Wes Lunt is as good as I think he is at quarterback, the offense is going to be every bit as good if not better than it was in 2013. But, again, the defense was awful last year. So if Illinois is going to break through on Year 3 under Tim Beckman, it is probably going to have to out- score opponents." — Tom Dienhart, Big Ten Network TOM'S TAKE 7 schools tied with 1 W W W W W W W W