URBANA — Before last season, Bob Ligashesky spent the previous decade-plus working special teams in the NFL. If a guy didn't make a kick or missed a block, the team could hire somebody else.
It doesn't work that way in college football. The second-year Illinois special teams/tight ends coach has access to the players the school recruits. And a helpful bunch of walk-ons.
"Every guy has a role on the team," Ligashesky said. "We have a core unit of guys who play on all four phases — punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return."
The units struggled in Ligasehsky's first year.