Six Players Ruled Out for Illinois

Bloomington – Indiana will already be missing six players due to injury this weekend, and Coach Bill Lynch is hoping two key players won’t add their names to that list.

Starting tailback Darius Willis and No. 1 right guard Pete Saxon continue to be listed as questionable on the Hoosiers’ final injury report, released Friday morning. Willis has been nursing an ankle and rib injuries and missed the Virginia game. Saxon suffered his own ankle injury and his availability is also in doubt. Both have been limited in practice this week, so a decision on their playing status might come as late as Saturday night during pre-game warm-ups.

While Indiana is hopeful that they’ll both be able to go, six players have been ruled out – defensive ends Darius Johnson (shoulder) and Fred Jones (foot); defensive tackle Jarrod Smith (back); running back Zach Davis-Walker (foot); linebacker Leon Beckum (ankle); and defensive back Chris Adkins (elbow).

The most significant of those injuries is probably Adkins, a sophomore who started a year ago at cornerback and is now working into the rotation at safety. Adkins has 14 tackles, one tackle for loss and one interception on the season.