Coach Ron Zook chatted Thursday night with Rashard Mendenhall and came away with the impression that it was one of the last times he’d talk with the tailback as an Illinois football player.
“If I were guessing, I’d say he’s coming out,” Zook said Friday.
The Big Ten player of the year seems certain to pass up his senior season. His mother, Sibyl, said a news conference was planned for Thursday at Niles West High School, his alma mater. News conferences generally aren’t called to announce a player is staying in school.
Mendenhall rushed for 155 yards and added 59 receiving in Illinois’ 49-17 loss to Southern California in the Rose Bowl. Mendenhall’s performance against a team stocked with pro prospects probably made his decision easier, if it had not been made already.
Zook, an NFL assistant coach for six years, is helping Mendenhall decide. The family also is gathering information from the NFL to supplement Zook’s input. The league will provide only general assessments and no promises. For example, Mendenhall might be told he could go “as high as” a given round.
“We all know he’s a first-round talent,” Zook said.
That doesn’t mean he will go in the first round, especially if several other juniors enter the draft.
Staying in school would give Mendenhall a chance to improve his draft status. But he is mindful of the risk of injury or the possibility of a less productive senior season.
At the Rose Bowl, Mendenhall said he didn’t have much left to accomplish in college and wouldn’t return just to pile up stats or be a Heisman Trophy candidate.
“I’m not too big on accolades and awards,” he said.
Zook said Mendenhall needed time after the Rose Bowl to get away from it all. A meeting Monday involving Zook and the family is scheduled.
“There are a lot of things I have to assess,” Mendenhall said after the Rose Bowl.
“It’s nice to have the season over and get some time to think about it.”
Mendenhall has until Jan. 15 to enter the draft, then until Jan. 19 to change his mind.
“This is a major decision for him,” Zook said. “It affects the rest of his life monetarily in a big, big way.”
Mendenhall’s departure won’t help Illinois’ chances of going to a Bowl Championship Series game next season, but it could have a positive effect on recruiting by showing prospects that the path to the NFL can run through Champaign. Just two years ago, no Illinois players were drafted.
“We’re going to get the program to where we have this issue,” Zook said. “We have other [prospects] on this team in the next few years.”
Cornerback Vontae Davis, who just finished his sophomore season, is a candidate to leave after his junior season. His brother Vernon, a tight end, left Maryland after his junior season and was the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
Receiver Arrelious Benn, the Big Ten’s freshman of the year after a 49-catch season, will likely have a resume attractive enough that he’ll consider leaving two years from now.
The last Illinois player to leave school early was wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who went in the fourth round to San Francisco in 2003. Lloyd is still in the league, on injured reserve with Washington.
Illinois hasn’t had a player drafted in the first round since 1996, when linebacker Kevin Hardy went No. 2 overall to Jacksonville. Arizona followed by picking defensive end Simeon Rice at No. 3.
Extra points
Zook will coach in the Hula Bowl on Jan. 12 in Honolulu, and offensive tackle Akim Millington will play in the game. Linebacker J Leman will play in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 19 in Houston. … Illinois opens next season with the annual Missouri game Aug. 30 in St. Louis. The Illini are still looking for a non-conference opponent for Sept. 20.
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tabannon@tribune.com
