• Illinois leads the nation in blocked kicks (4) under first-year coordinator Robby Discher.
• PFF ranks Illinois’ overall special teams unit at #10 in the natio
• All-American Johnny Newton has two blocked kicks (vs. Penn State, at Purdue), and the Illini have blocked punts by Ashton Hollins (at Purdue) and Ryan Meed (vs. Penn State). No other Big Ten team has more than two blocked kicks/punts.
• Illinois is one of only five teams in the nation with two blocked punts (OU, Pitt, Vandy, SJSU).
• K Caleb Griffin is the first Illini kicker to have two game-winning field goals in a single season. His 43-yard winner at Maryland was the second walk-off field goal on the road in Illinois history, along with Mike Bass’ 46-yard winner as time expired at Wisconsin in 1982.
• Griffin hit a 53-yard field goal to end the first half at Purdue, his career long. It was the 6th-longest in program history and the longest ever by an Illini in a road game.
• P Hugh Robertson’s average is up to 43.05 yards/punt, 3.05 better than last season.
• PFF ranks Illinois’ overall special teams unit at #10 in the natio
• All-American Johnny Newton has two blocked kicks (vs. Penn State, at Purdue), and the Illini have blocked punts by Ashton Hollins (at Purdue) and Ryan Meed (vs. Penn State). No other Big Ten team has more than two blocked kicks/punts.
• Illinois is one of only five teams in the nation with two blocked punts (OU, Pitt, Vandy, SJSU).
• K Caleb Griffin is the first Illini kicker to have two game-winning field goals in a single season. His 43-yard winner at Maryland was the second walk-off field goal on the road in Illinois history, along with Mike Bass’ 46-yard winner as time expired at Wisconsin in 1982.
• Griffin hit a 53-yard field goal to end the first half at Purdue, his career long. It was the 6th-longest in program history and the longest ever by an Illini in a road game.
• P Hugh Robertson’s average is up to 43.05 yards/punt, 3.05 better than last season.