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2012 Illinois Football Media Day

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Photo by: Robin Scholz

during UI football media day at Memorial Stadium on sunday, August 12, 2012. Supo Sanni

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• August 20 Illinois Football Chat

CHAMPAIGN — The quarterback position is settled. So is receiver, tight end, the defensive line, linebacker and the secondary.

Want to find a little intrigue in the Illinois two-deep? Up until this week, the answer might have been "kicker" and "punter." But those questions appear to have been answered.

If Illinois lined up for a game today, sophomore Nick Immekus would kick field goals and extra points. And sophomore Justin DuVernois would handle the punting.

During Tuesday's scrimmage, the Illinois kickers didn't miss a field goal. And Immekus, who has never tried a kick in college, continued to impress.

"He has kicked extremely well throughout camp," Illinois coach Tim Beckman said.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Zalewski is the backup kicker.

"Taylor Zalewski has got a heckuva leg, but we've got to be more consistent," Beckman said. "He has kicked a 55-yarder."

All of the kicks are filmed and graded, starting the moment they get on the field.

Beckman isn't the only one making the call on the kickers and punters. He consults with specialists coach Alex Golesh.

It's possible Illinois will use more than one kicker, which Beckman has done at past stops. Let Immekus handle kicks from a certain distance on in and have Zalewski try the longer kicks.

DuVernois, who struggled as a starter during the 2011 season, has been the best punter during training camp.

"He has improved, improved, improved," Beckman said. "He has done some outstanding things."

Receiver Ryan Lankford, who replaced DuVernois late in the 2011 season, is DuVernois' backup. Lankford's rugby-style punt could be trotted out at any time, Beckman said.

Freshman Ryan Frain was expected to compete for one of the starting spots. But, like many freshmen, he has struggled with consistency.

"It's not that he's out of the race," Beckman said.

Zalewski will handle kickoffs. Beckman likes his strong leg in a year when kickoffs move up 5 yards but touchbacks come out to the 25.

"He's been unbelievable," Beckman said.

Kicking in
With Derek Dimke — now kicking for the Detroit Lions — in charge, Illinois ranked second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage in 2011. The top five:
TEAM    FG-FGA    PCT.
Ohio State    16-19    84.2
Illinois    10-12    83.3
Nebraska    19-23    82.6
Indiana    13-16    81.2
Minnesota    12-15    80.0