Four Suspended From Illini Football Team

In announcing their Spring Practice schedule for the season, the University of Illinois also announced that four players have been suspended for portions of spring drills, while one player has been dismissed from the team. Starting quarterback Tim Brasic and defensive lineman Xavier Fulton were two of the four players suspended, while senior Wide Receiver Lonnie Hurst was dismissed from the team.

The Daily Illini is reporting that four players on the Fighting Illini football team have been suspended and another player has been dismissed from the team due to academics.

When Spring Practice begins on Tuesday March 28, according to the Daily Illini report the Fighting Illini football team will be without two of its starters from last season. The biggest name to be suspended is starting quarterback Tim Brasic. Last season, Brasic started every game for the Fighting Illini after taking control of the starting position in the practices leading up to the season. After the season, Brasic was named Illinois’ Most Outstanding Back and he threw eleven touchdown passes and ran for three others, while finishing just 76 yards shy of breaking the Illinois career record for most rushing yards by a quarterback, while setting the single season rushing record at 420 total yards.

The other starter that will be suspended for at least part of the spring drills is defensive end Xavier Fulton. Fulton played and started in the first seven games of last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury recording thirteen total tackles, two for a loss, and three quarterback hurries.

The other two players who will be suspended for their academics are Sam Porter and Tremayne Walker. Senior wide receiver Lonnie Hurst has been dismissed from the Illinois team. Last year, he played in just one game against San Jose State, and only saw eleven plays of action.

In a press release from the University of Illinois, Ron Zook discussed the suspensions, placing an emphasis on the academic portion of athletics. “The reason our student-athletes are here is to get an education,” Illinois head football coach Ron Zook said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that each player take care of business in the classroom before they can do it on the field.”

A University of Illinois Press Release contributed to this report.