**CHAMPAIGN** — The Illinois football team has managed to maintain good health through their first five games this season, but the No. 24-ranked Illini recently faced a setback with the loss of a key player.
Redshirt sophomore Ashton Hollins will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, as confirmed by head coach Bret Bielema. Hollins dislocated his shoulder during training camp and experienced additional complications recently.
“He had a shoulder subluxation during fall camp and attempted rehab to recover,” Bielema explained. “Unfortunately, he faced issues over the past few weeks, so he will need surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the year.”                                                                                                   Â
Last season, the 6-foot-5 wide receiver recorded nine catches for 119 yards. This season, he participated in just 36 plays through the first four games, tallying two receptions for 40 yards. He ranked sixth in receiver reps on the team, trailing behind Pat Bryant (266), Zakhari Franklin (222), Collin Dixon (125), Malik Elzy (66), and Kenari Wilcher (44).
Having already redshirted in 2022, Bielema indicated that the team would seek a medical redshirt for Hollins to grant him an additional year of eligibility.
“It was a tough conversation for Ashton,” Bielema said. “He’s one of my favorite players, but this opens the door for someone else.”
Regarding other injuries, Bielema noted that starting cornerback Kaleb Patterson, who entered concussion protocol during the Penn State game, was symptom-free on Wednesday and is expected to return to practice on Sunday.
“He should be fully available for next week’s game against Purdue,” Bielema added.
Junior edge rusher Daniel Brown, a JUCO All-American, has yet to play this season due to a back injury. Bielema mentioned that the 6-foot-1, 250-pound linebacker is making progress toward returning.
“He had a lingering back issue and underwent some proactive treatment. We decided to immobilize him around week two, but he began working a bit last week. We hope to have him practice next week,” Bielema said.
The Illini may consider playing Brown in four of their last seven games before deciding on a potential redshirt, as he has three years left to complete his final two seasons of eligibility.
**Reflections on the Penn State Loss**
Bielema took the 21-7 defeat against Penn State hard, recognizing that Illinois had a real opportunity for a win against a top-10 team on the road, but self-inflicted mistakes held them back.
“I couldn’t sleep, eat, or process what happened after the game,” he admitted. “After some reflection, I still believe we squandered our chance for a big win due to our own errors, including penalties and a bad snap near the goal line at the end of the first half.”
“We experienced a setback, but it’s crucial to learn from it and move forward,” Bielema emphasized. “There were positives, but we need to address our mistakes. Against a ranked team in a tough environment, we can’t afford to make the errors we did.”
**Preparing for Purdue’s New Offensive Coordinator**
The Illini planned to start their game preparation for Purdue on Thursday but may adjust their strategy due to changes in the Boilermakers’ coaching staff.
Purdue head coach Ryan Walters, a former Illinois defensive coordinator, recently fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell after 16 games. The Boilermakers (1-3, 0-1 Big Ten) rank 105th nationally in scoring offense, averaging just 21.8 points per game.
Walters has promoted analyst Jason Simmons to offensive coordinator for the remainder of the season. Simmons previously coached at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis before spending this season at Miami (Ohio).
“This change will significantly impact our game plan,” Bielema said.
The silver lining for Illinois is having an extra week to prepare, coupled with the fact that Purdue will play Wisconsin on Saturday, providing Illinois with more film on Simmons’ offensive strategies.
“It’s fortunate that this happened now rather than next week,” Bielema stated. “Simmons is a skilled coach, and while he may not have extensive college experience, he brings valuable knowledge. It’ll be interesting to see how they adapt.”
