45 days to Camp Rantoul
No. 15: Daniel Dufrene, running back.
Why he's important: Senior started seven games during the 2008 season and led the Illinois running backs with 663 yards. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry, a good number for a Big Ten starter. But he failed to reach the end zone on a run and gained just 9 yards on six carries in the season finale against Northwestern. Illinois sophomores Jason Ford and Mikel Leshoure were impressive during the spring, but Dufrene has a good chance to keep his starting spot. Illinois coaches will want to see consistency from him during Camp Rantoul. Catching the ball out of the backfield is a strength. He had 31 grabs in 2008, scoring twice. Had an 80-yard run against Ohio State in the 2007 Illini upset at Columbus. Dufrene appeared to fumble the ball on the way to the turf, but Ohio State coach Jim Tressel didn't challenge the play.
Getting personal: Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product started his college career at Vanderbilt. After a semester in Nashville, he transferred to College of the Sequoias, where he gained 750 yards in one season. He moved to Illinois with three years of eligibility remaining. Friendly and soft spoken, he picked Illinois over UCLA and Louisville. As a high school senior, he gained 1,472 yards.
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