LOOK: Artwork unveiled for 2016 Illinois Football billboards, schedule posters

Illinois football unveiled their 2016 billboard and poster artwork on Monday morning. The promotional items (pictured below) feature new head coach Lovie Smith, senior quarterback Wes Lunt, senior defensive end Dawuane Smoot, senior defensive tackle Jarrod 'Chunky' Clements, and sophomore running back KeShawn Vaughn.

Grid View

I really like the concept behind these graphics. That overhead shot of Jarrod Clements does look a little bit goofy, but I'm willing to ignore it after seeing the "Hail to the Orange" tagline. So overall I think these posters are another really solid effort by the Illini design team. In fact, that Dawuane Smoot version is already my new laptop background.

Speaking of laptop backgrounds, you can click right here to download four versions (Lovie, Smoot, Lunt, and Vaughn) for just about any device. Fans can obtain physical copies of the posters starting July 1 at the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration building. Online orders will also be available, but they'll be accompanied by a $3.00 shipping charge.

Illinois Football News

- Illini have intriguing mix of talent, experience on offensive line (The Champaign Room)

A tailor-made replacement for [Ted] Karras is redshirt sophomore Nick Allegretti. He was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, and appeared in 11 games last season as a redshirt freshman and sets up to be a three-year starter at guard.

- Three-star RB Tayon Fleet-Davis picks up Illinois offer (The Champaign Room)

Iowa, Maryland, Penn State, West Virginia and others are also involved for the 6-foot, 211-pound prospect. Check out the link for highlights and a brief scouting report.

- Senior DE Dawuane Smoot is Illinois' most exciting player (ESPN)

What makes Smoot exciting as a defensive end is his athleticism. A former star high school hurdler, he has had to work hard to bulk up to 270 pounds. Yet he retains his nimble feet, quick burst and leaping ability.

- Five key dates for Lovie Smith and Illinois Football (The News-Gazette)

Satellite camps, Big Ten media days, and Fall training camp headline the remainder of Lovie Smith's first offseason as Illinois head coach.

- Josh Whitman: hiring Lovie Smith was a transformational opportunity (The Gazette)

"When I realized there was an opportunity to attract someone like Lovie Smith, that moment might not have been there six months from now or a year from now," Whitman told The Gazette in May. "Sometimes opportunities present themselves and if you stand there and hesitate, it will pass you by and you miss out on what could be a transformational opportunity for your program. We had the opportunity to go out and hire one of the best football coaches in America. If we didn't have that opportunity, we might have made a different decision. But we did. We feel really good about it."

Illinois Basketball News

- Incoming freshman Te'Jon Lucas will wear No. 3 (Illinois Athletics)

The newest member of Illinois basketball reports to campus on Thursday, and the program made his uniform number official via their updated 2016-17 roster.

- The history of No. 3 for Illinois Basketball (The News-Gazette)

Speaking of Lucas' uniform number -- which players have worn it before him? Take a walk down memory lane with Khalid Lewis, Ahmad Starks, Brandon Paul, Chester Frazier, and more!