Some Illini hopes on replacing Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy were riding on prized recruit Eric Jefferson from Shreveport, La.. But don’t expect an early contribution.
When Jefferson and 20 other recruits arrived to be put through their first paces of practice, coach Lou Tepper promptly declared them out of shape.
“He thought he was in great shape,” Tepper said of Jefferson. “He’s in terrible shape–just like the rest of them.”
Jefferson pulled a hamstring in the first days of practice and didn’t play a snap in the Illini’s first scrimmage Saturday.
Don’t look back: Also sitting out the scrimmage was 1,000-yard rusher Robert Holcombe, with a sprained ankle. His absence allowed Ty Douthard to rack up some impressive yardage. Douthard, moved from fullback to tailback at his request, carried 10 times for 70 yards.
