CHAMPAIGN — Rod Smith got in some good-natured ribbing on Mike Epstein after Illinois' 34-14 win against Western Illinois. Those 38-yard carries Epstein broke against the Leathernecks last Saturday night? Good, but they could have been better.
"I'd like to see him break the whole thing," Smith said. "I told him, 'Instead of going three-fourths of the way, let's go all the way.' I was just messing with him. It was good to see him break off a couple."
Epstein showed flashes of the same running back against Western Illinois as the one that led Illinois in rushing yards and yards per carry in 2017 despite playing in just five games.