So the official depth chart is out.  The official official depth chart is on page 7 of this PDF, or you can check out the HQ version here.

How did I do?  On offense, I was 23 for 25 – Tyler Sands edged out Ryan Sedlacek for the backup center spot, and Fred Sykes is listed as AJ Jenkins’ backup (Terry Hawthorne is “giving cornerback a try”).  Why 25?  We list 13 “starting” positions due to the multiple wide receiver sets we use.  Why isn’t it an even number?  We don’t have a backup fullback.  That’s OK though – Greg Fuller is very obviously superhuman and will not get injured.

On defense I missed a couple starters. Nate Bussey edged out Russell Ellington for the starting spot at WILL linebacker, at least for now.  And senior Sirod Williams is listed as the starter over sophomore Corey Liuget at defensive tackle.  Bussey might very well end up taking all of the snaps at outside linebacker, but I can’t see Sirod getting more snaps than Liuget. I think Corey is still being Zookmotivated.

Overall, if I had turned this in as a test, I would have received 43 out of 47.  One point deducted for missing Sykes, one for Sands, one point each for switching DT and WLB.  A-minus, baby!  And yes, it matters to me. I’ve already patted myself on the back twice for seeing something in Joelil Thrash at Camp Rantoul.  And I somewhat want to mock Herb Gould for saying that Supo Sanni is “a lock for a starting job” and Bob Asmussen for saying that Ashante Williams is the 25th most important Illini, but I won’t.  I’m bigger than that.

Other notables from the depth chart:

~ Running back depth chart is as expected.  Dufrene OR Ford OR LeShoure OR Pollard.  The only thing that’s missing from the list is Justin Green.  But he won’t be missing from the field on Saturday. (If you’re on the staff at Missouri and reading this, I’m totally joking.  We don’t have a secret weapon at tailback who won the Kentucky 100-meter state title the last two years.  No sir – nothing at all.  Just Dufrene, Ford, LeShoure, and Pollard.  That’s it.)

I saw this morning that Dufrene is  “questionable” for Saturday’s game with his sprained ankle.  When Zook says “He was running in the whirlpool (Sunday). That’s a start“, I get a very distinct feeling that we might see Daniel in jeans on the sideline.  That hurts, but opens even more of an opportunity for My Man Mikel.

~ They made a point to add offensive-guard-for-six-days Anterio Jackson to the depth chart as the third option at right guard.  I’m not sure if I’m supposed to read anything into that or not – a week ago today he was a defensive tackle.  But if any of you have any “Anterio Jackson is the new Xavier Fulton” theories, hit me up.  I like the taste of that Koolaid.

~ Other third-stringers listed: Jacob Charest at QB, Chris James at WR, London Davis at TE (interesting – I thought Zach Becker would be listed here), Glen Foster at DE, Justin Staples at SLB, Nate Palmer at MLB, Dustin Jefferson at WLB, and Patrick Nixon-Youman at CB.

~ Despite going three-deep at all three linebacker positions, my boy Eric Watts was not listed.  Too bad – looks like it’s a Loushirt for him.  I’ll have to wait a few years for The Next Great Illini Linebacker to emerge (not really) (well, kinda).

~ Michael Buchanan was not listed in the two-deep, but I still think he loses his redshirt.  We’ll need a situational pass rusher, and 28-38 is just the guy to do it.  28-38?  That’s my new nickname for Buchanan.  Waist and inseam.