NCAA Endzone

If you’re the type of college football fan who scours about websites, magazines and recruiting publications looking for a darkhorse team, an underdog that rises from the scrap heap to a bowl bid - then this column is right up your alley.

I have a team no one is talking about who could make big noise next season after a dismal 2006 campaign.

Have I whetted your appetite? Is your curiosity driving you mad? Don’t worry I’ll end the suspense right now.

The NCAA Endzone pick for surprise team of 2006 is Illinois. Yes, the same Fighting Illini squad that was a horrid 2-10 this season, including a nasty 1-7 Big Ten mark.

Why Illinois? It’s simple - quality, emerging talent.

Let’s start with what they have coming back.

The Illini have offensive firepower in QB Juice Williams, who threw for 1,489 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman, and RB Rashard Mendenhall (640 yards, 5 TDs), a big-play runner who can score from anywhere on the field.

The defense will return 10 starters in 2007 and with linebackers J. Lehman, Antonio Steele and Brit Miller - have one of the best starting units in the nation. Add an above-average defensive line led by DT Chris Norwell and DE Derek Walker and you have the recipe for a solid defense in 2007.

But the real intriguing area for Illinois next season will be its incoming group of recruits. Somehow Ron Zook, despite a 2-10 record, received commitments from a talented group of blue chippers that pushed the Illini class into the top 20 of most recruiting services.

Scout.com rated the Illini class 17th in the nation, while Rivals.com had them at number 20.

Zook wanted to get some weapons for Williams to throw to and he did that by landing WR Arrelious Benn from Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C and Anthony Morris out of Illinois.

Benn (6-2, 205) is one of the top two or three wideouts in the nation and his 4.5 speed and powerful frame will have an immediate impact in the Big Ten. He’s a hard worker in and out of the gym and shocked the nation when he chose Illinois over Florida State, Miami, Maryland, USC and Notre Dame.

On the defensive side, D’Angelo McCray (6-4, 290) is a top five DT from Andrew Jackson High in Jacksonville, Florida. McCray brings quite a bit of versatility to the football field with the strength and size to play as a rush defensive tackle but the athleticism and speed off the edge to play as a strongside defensive end.

In his junior season, McCray had 75 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Zook, the former Florida head coach is thankful he still has connections down in the Sunshine State for snatching McCray from the grasp of the Gators, Hurricanes, Georgia Tech and Louisville.

If the newcomers play to their potential and Williams matures more in his second season, the Fighting Illini could be a very pleasant surprise in the Big Ten in 2007.