Will third season be charm for Zook?

The third year of the Lou Tepper era produced his best record at Illinois (7-5), wins against Ohio State and Iowa and a shutout victory against East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.

The third year of the Ron Turner era produced his first winning season (8-4), wins against Michigan and Ohio State and a blowout Micronpc.com Bowl victory against Virginia.

Guess who is coming up on his third year as Illinois football coach? That's right: Ron Zook. Can the coach follow recent Illinois history with a turnaround season?

In Zook's first two years, there have been glimpses. Flashes. Signs of life.

There was a comeback win against Rutgers in 2005, Zook's first game as Illinois coach. Afterward, the excitable leader went over to the Illinois student section to celebrate.

In 2006, led by freshman quarterback Juice Williams, Illinois stunned Michigan State at East Lansing. It looked like the start of something big. Instead, it was the team's final win in a 2-10 season.

But two years of Zook's high-level recruiting has people both inside and outside the program talking about a breakthrough 2007 season.

The optimism actually starts with the return of Williams. The last quarterback before him to start as a true freshman at Illinois was Kurt Kittner, who had shaky results in a 3-8 season. The next year, Kittner was the star of Turner's 8-4 turnaround team.

Going into his sophomore season, Williams is expected to improve his completion percentage and touchdown totals while cutting his number of interceptions and overthrows. Kittner made a similar leap as a sophomore. And Kittner didn't have Williams' ability to run, either.

In his second season as a starter, Kittner was joined by freshman receiver Brandon Lloyd, who set rookie records for receiving yards. Lloyd's 511 total could be wiped out this season by freshman Arrelious Benn, considered a strong candidate to be the Big Ten's newcomer of the year. Benn had a strong spring, topped by a "wow" performance in the spring game.

Also returning is linebacker J Leman. He had 152 tackles as a junior, the most at the school since 1990. The raw-egg-drinking graduate student is an All-America candidate. The school is promoting his candidacy with a DVD that will point out his good works on and off the field.

Defensive expert Zook welcomes back nine starters from a group that cut its yardage allowed by 160 a game in 2006 and held No. 1 Ohio State to 17 points. Cornerback Vontae Davis, safety Kevin Mitchell and defensive tackle Chris Norwell are considered All-Big Ten candidates.

Besides Benn, the incoming recruits include linebacker Martez Wilson and defensive lineman D'Angelo McCray, ranked among the top prep players in the country for 2006.

Offensive coordinator Mike Locksley is counting on Benn to take some of the pressure off a receiver group that includes Kyle Hudson, DaJuan Warren, Chris James and Joe Morgan. Three-fifths of the starting offensive line is back, with new position coach Eric Wolford looking for replacements at right guard and right tackle.

If he can stay healthy and hold onto the ball, Rashard Mendenhall has a chance to become Illinois' first 1,000-yard rusher since Antoineo Harris in 2002.

Fans won't have to wait long to find out if the Illini have improved. The team opens Sept. 1 in St. Louis against Missouri, which is coming off a bowl season and should challenge for the Big 12 North title.

The rest of the Illinois nonconference schedule is nondescript, with home games against Western Illinois and Ball State and a trip to flailing Syracuse.

The Illini will play in a partially renovated Memorial Stadium. The north end zone stands are new and work will continue during the season on the west side of the stadium. That's where luxury suites, two club levels and a new press box are being installed.