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Fit, trim Illinois handles Murray State

CHAMPAIGN — Broccoli and blueberries.

Those are two of the foot items Illinois running back Kendrick Foster has consumed more than he has in the past. Dropping weight and shedding some body fat was a key message Lovie Smith told his players once he assumed the Illinois job in March.

“We did ask our guys to lose (some weight),” Smith said. “We were a heavy football team.”

Message received by, among others, Foster.

“We all lost weight and we all got stronger, too,” Foster said. “You would think with losing weight you wouldn’t be getting stronger, but we lost body fat and we were just as strong.