Chambana Sun

The 2024 season starts today.

Monday marked the first of 25 practices during the Fighting Illini's fall training camp ahead of their season opener on Aug. 29 against Eastern Illinois at Memorial Stadium. Head coach Bret Bielema, offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., and defensive coordinator Aaron Henry met with the media ahead of the team's first practice, which is set to take place on Monday night.

"It's time," Lunney said. "I'm excited for everybody involved: coaches, players, and fans. It's an exciting time of year for football, and our guys are in a good position. We're ready to go get some work done."

With Illinois ready to get back to work ahead of a historic 2024 season, here are a few takeaways from the first media availability of fall training camp.

Illinois will take full advantage of all practices, scrimmages given earlier season opener

The Illini begin their 2024 slate on a Thursday, two days earlier than a majority of other college football programs, though Bielema has no concerns about missing out on any time this fall. With every practice and scrimmage planned out leading up to the season opener, he feels good about the way things sit right now.

"Every team in college football has 25 practices to get ready for your first game. We have all 25 mapped out," Bielema said. "How we'll use those practices will depend on how well we escalate and how well we stay healthy."

The 8 p.m. kickoff on Aug. 29 will mark the third-earliest season opener in program history, though the only two earlier contests came under Bielema (Aug. 27, 2022 vs. Wyoming; Aug. 28, 2021 vs. Nebraska). The Illini are now accustomed to the earlier season openers, and they are eager to get back to business this fall.

Aiming to win their first game of the season for the fourth year in a row, the Orange and Blue are ready for the opportunities ahead in 2024.

"I'm excited for today, not only for the coaches but for the players; everybody from A to Z," Bielema said. "Football can be a little bit of a grind at this time of year. You have to have guys who love it. They have to understand it. They have to appreciate it. As coaches, we have to speak it. They have to be able to understand it."

New faces on defense bring depth, experience to Henry's unit in 2024

Now entering his second fall camp since taking over defensive coordinator duties, Henry has built a defensive unit that features collegiate starting experience intentionally acquired through transfer portal targets who will contribute immediately.

From the defensive line to the secondary, Henry and his staff have crafted a roster that has won dozens of college football games at Illinois and other programs.

"I feel like we have a plethora of guys now who have seen a lot of football," Henry said. "There are so many different positions and guys on the back end who have had winning game reps under their belt."

Using fall camp as an opportunity for his players to fight for playing time and demonstrate their understanding of Illinois' defensive scheme, Henry is optimistic about his roster heading into the season.

"We have a bunch of new faces," Henry said."You want to see how guys run around and handle our install...if we can show improvement from coverage standpoint...I think I'll be able see progression in some new faces."

Lunney is ready not skip beat on first day fall camp

Lunney heads into his third season as offensive coordinator after making strides in each his first two years at Illinois with mix returning production new faces bolstering group's depth via transfer portal wide receiver offensive line

"We've done some things offseason help us enhance what we've been doing," Lunney said."Day one picking up where left off getting new guys acclimated goal hit ground running"

Looking develop offense's consistency this fall confident unit team's first kickoff month away

"There's belief system building because lot guys pulling same rope biggest challenge consistent dependable unit offensively doesn't mean score certain amount points each week just means each week show up proven what do can work if call right way implement right way play right way positive results doesn't mean every play series part gleaned last year's success down stretch older players understand looks like"

###