When I see an Illinois football player wearing No. 5, I think running back. Mikel Leshoure and Rashard Mendenhall instantly come to mind.
No. 1? Receiver David Williams.
No. 40? Linebacker Dana Howard (welcome back, Hall of Famer).
And No. 97? Defensive end (though listed at linebacker) Simeon Rice.
Third-year coach Lovie Smith knows his Illini history. Which explains why Bobby Roundtree is wearing Rice's old number.
At Largo (Fla.) High School, he was No. 3. But old-school coach Smith prefers old-school numbers. Defensive linemen are supposed to be in the 90s. Makes them look bigger and stronger.