Rackers' departure opens spot for kicker


by Larry Hawley
Senior writer

Kicking was of the few areas on the Illinois football team in the last three years that was consistent. After all, Neil Rackers was a mainstay at the position, having kicked since 1997.

But with the loss of the graduating Rackers, who turned his hopes to the NFL after he drilled 20-of-26 field goals last season, the Illinois football team seemed at a loss in solving its kicking situation.

Surprisingly, the answer lay within existing Illini special teams personnel.

Junior punter Steve Fitts is an early favorite in the race for the kicking position, and will handle both duties if he wins the job. The two other kicking candidates are sophomore walk-ons J.J. Tubbs and Peter Christofilakos.

Illinois head coach Ron Turner said that the Illini will have to take their time when selecting a kicker.

"We're going to just have to let things work themselves out," Turner said. "Fitts has done well, and J.J. and Peter have performed well so far, so we'll have to wait and see."

Coming in next season will be recruit Patrick King (Fredericksburg, Va./Dematha Catholic).

Punters

The Illini will return one of the country's best punters in Fitts, who is in his third year of punting duty for the Illini.

Last season, Fitts had a 42.3 yards per punt average, fourth in the Big Ten.

Kickoff return

The Illini's weakness on offense last season came on the kick return, where they finished 114th in the country in kickoff return yardage.

Replacing graduating senior Steve Havard will be sophomore flanker Brandon Lloyd, who will be joined by junior tailback Rocky Harvey, who returned kickoffs last season.

Punt return

Last season, sophomore cornerback Eugene Wilson earned retuning duties for the fall. In his first game against Arkansas State, Wilson showed flashes of the future with a 65-yard punt return, and fell a yard short of a second the following week against San Diego State.

This season Wilson will be back again, and will switch on and off with Lloyd at the position.

Coverage teams

Forgotten many times in football are the coverage teams who prevent opposing returners from running for scores.

Last season the Illini allowed only one touchdown on a kick return, a 70-yard punt return by Minnesota's Luke Leverson.

Handling long-snapping duties for a second straight year will be senior Nathan Hodel.



Backing up Hodel will be juniors Patrick Rouse and Mike Malczyk, who both have limited experience at the position.