Darius Millines And Darrius Caldwell No Longer On The Team

Illinois football has two less players on the roster today.

Tim Beckman confirmed on Wednesday that both wide receiver Darius Millines and linebacker Darrius Caldwell were no longer members of the team due to a violation of team policies. Though Beckman would not say what those violations were.

"We gave them both opportunities," Beckman told The News-Gazette.

"I'm disappointed when anybody leaves the program because you've got a great opportunity with education and you've got a great opportunity to play Big Ten football. The players were involved in all this. Our players have known. We have what we call the honor council, and the honor council meets with any issues we're having with the football team. The honor council is selected on by the football team. There's 12 individuals on that honor council and I want them involved in decisions."

The news doesn't come as much of a schock as neither Millines or Caldwell practiced with the team this spring. When the team announced Millines' suspension in March it said they'd re-evaluate his position in May, and well, it's May and his position has certainly been re-evaluated.

Millines would have been a senior this season and in his Illini career he caught 53 passes for 579 yards and 2 touchdowns. While the Illini certainly don't have a lot of depth at receiver, this is a loss they can survive.

As for the Caldwell dismissal, this one hurts a little bit. He was one of the more talented players on the defense and he was expected to compete for the starting LEO position in 2013, but it appears that Houston Bates has the job locked down now. Caldwell played in all 12 games for the Illini last season, finishing with 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 5 tackles for a loss.

It is unknown where either player plans on transferring from here.

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