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Josh Brent (official thread)

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After reading the article I can also understand why he ultimately chose to stay closer to home and play for the Illini. With all of the uncertainty surrounding his mother's health issues, how many of us would move the hundreds of miles to Columbus?

Sounds like Brent is a good kid.
 
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Brent, a 6-foot-2, 320-pounder from Bloomington Central Catholic, was already turning heads with his advanced play when he suffered a sprained knee Saturday night. He'll be out for a week or so, but Zook clearly likes Brent's chances to join the defensive line rotation immediately and perhaps be an integral part of the goal-line defense.

"He's been very impressive in one-on-one drills," Zook said. "There's a suddenness to Josh and you can't coach that. It's exciting."
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Herald & Review | Looking for a fresh start, By MARK TUPPER H&R Executive Sports Editor
 
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Illinois notebook: Josh Brent to step into major role
By John Supinie
GateHouse News Service
Mon Aug 18, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
This isn't how Illinois sophomore defensive tackle Josh Brent wanted to earn a starting spot. With roommate Sirod Williams out for the season with anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee, Brent gets a major role after spot duty last fall.

"Now it's my time to step up and be there for the team,'' said Brent, who took over the vacant starting spot in a defensive line that's called the team's strength by coach Ron Zook.

Brent stepped into the starting lineup after Williams' injury last week. While classmates Arrelious Benn was the Big Ten Conference freshman of the year last season and linebacker Martez Wilson made some big plays on special teams, Brent also arrived on campus with lofty recruiting ratings.

Named a prep All-America by two recruiting services, the Bloomington Central Catholic product was rated as the No. 3 prospect in the Midwest by the Detroit Free Press. After turning down offers from Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin, Brent played in 10 games last season -- his first year. An injury opened the door, but Brent's work in the offseason left him ready to answer the challenge.

Following the advice of strength coach Lou Hernandez, Brent dropped roughly 25 pounds this summer. There's still plenty of him left, yet the 6-foot-2, 310-pounder can already feel a difference. Amazingly mobile for a big man, Brent felt his first step is much better this season. He's a more mature, confident player after his transition to college a year ago.

"My reaction time is much quicker than it was my freshman year,'' Brent said. "That goes with losing the weight, having a year under your belt and knowing the pace of the game. You have a little more confidence of the coaches. You have a little bit of swagger. The team is behind you. Now you're just focused on making plays.''

With defensive tackle David Lindquist plus defensive ends Derek Walker and Will Davis returning as starters, Brent takes over a position where Chris Norwell made 46 starts over the past four seasons.

"Josh had a great summer, and obviously he was going to be in the mix,'' co-defensive coordinator Dan Disch said. "He was ready for the opportunity. Let's see how he takes it.''
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Illinois notebook: Josh Brent to step into major role - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard
 
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Brent arrested for DUI

By Mary Schenk

Saturday, February 21, 2009 7:37 PM CDT

E-mail Story Printer-friendly


Illinois defensive lineman Josh Brent was arrested early Saturday by an Illinois State trooper for driving under the influence.
Brent was driving on a suspended license, according to Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz, which makes the offense a felony.
According to an Illinois State Police spokesperson, Brent, 21, of the 1600 block of East Florida Avenue, Urbana, was stopped for speeding in a 1999 Oldsmobile at 1:37 a.m. Saturday at the corner of University and Coler in Urbana. He failed a series of field sobriety tests and was admitted to the Champaign County jail. Brent left late Saturday afternoon after posting bond.
Illinois coach Ron Zook was traveling Saturday night. UI spokesperson Cassie Arner said Zook didn't have a statement at this time.
Brent missed the first two games of the 2008 season for unspecified reasons. He returned to see action in 10 games, recording 34 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. He recovered one fumble.
Brent, a News-Gazette All-Stater from Bloomington Central Catholic, is expected to be a critical part of the defensive line in 2009, when he'll be a junior.
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Brent arrested for DUI - Illinois Fighting Illini Sports Football News - IlliniHQ.com
 
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Brent serving jail time
By Mary Schenk
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

URBANA ? Illinois defensive lineman Josh Brent is spending part of his summer vacation in the Champaign County jail.

Brent, 21, whose last known local address was in the 1600 block of East Florida Avenue, Urbana, pleaded guilty June 2 to misdemeanor driving under the influence, admitting he was driving while drunk on Feb. 21 in Urbana.

Assistant State's Attorney Chris Kanis said an Illinois State trooper who was southbound on Lincoln Avenue saw Brent pull out of an apartment complex and head south doing 45 mph in a 30 mph zone.

The trooper stopped Brent about 1:30 a.m. that day at the corner of University and Coler avenues in Urbana. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested after a breathalyzer recorded his blood-alcohol level at 0.11 percent. A motorist in Illinois is presumed intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent.

Kanis said Brent told the trooper he had consumed two drinks at a campus bar and didn't have his driver's license on him. His license was suspended at the time, Kanis said, and he was wanted on a warrant out of Livingston County for driving under suspension.

In an agreement worked out between Kanis and Brent's attorney, Tony Novak of Urbana, and endorsed by Judge Chase Leonhard, Brent was sentenced to two years of probation and 60 days in the county jail. He started the sentence June 2 and with credit for good time will be out in 30 days.

Brent was also ordered to perform 200 hours of public service, pay a $1,000 fine, and attend a victim impact panel in which people who have lost loved ones or caused harm by driving drunk tell their stories to those convicted of DUI.
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Brent serving jail time - Illinois Fighting Illini Sports Football News - IlliniHQ.com
 
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Link
Status of Illini's Brent is in limbo
BY STU DURANDO
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH​
07/28/2009

CHICAGO ? Illinois defensive tackle Josh Brent has served time in jail for a DUI case, but coach Ron Zook said he has yet to determine if the potential starter will face further penalties.

Zook said he will meet with athletics director Ron Guenther soon to discuss whether Brent has "paid his price."

"I see a difference in him in a positive way,'' Zook said. "He's very remorseful and understands he made a serious mistake. He paid dearly for it. He's always been a good kid, for the most part good in school and never a character issue.''

Brent was sentenced to 60 days but was released sooner, having received credit for time served.


Although Zook didn't draw a connection to the Brent incident, he said he instituted what he called "character teams'' in March to hold players accountable for their actions among peers.

Cont...
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Illinois' Brent enrolls at CC, will miss spring - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

The up-and-down career of Illinois defensive tackle Josh Brent has hit another bump in the road.

Brent fell into academic trouble at Illinois and has enrolled at Parkland College in Champaign to improve his grades this term. The rising senior will miss spring football but could return for the 2010 season.

"Josh Brent is currently at Parkland College working on improving his academic standing,'' Illinois head coach Ron Zook said in a statement. "He has a great opportunity now to completely concentrate on his school work and hopefully rejoin the team in the fall.''

Brent also missed spring practice last year after being arrested for DUI and driving on a suspended license. He spent one month in jail but returned for the season. He recorded 29 tackles, a team-high three forced fumbles and three sacks.

Illinois hopes to count on Brent and Clay Nurse to lead the defensive line, so Brent's return this fall is vital.
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Illini notebook: Josh Brent return doesn?t look likely
By John Supinie
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jun 01, 2010
CHAMPAIGN ?

Illinois football coach Ron Zook hadn't returned from a nine-day USO trip through three continents and seven countries to visit U.S. troops when he was informed of an update concerning defensive tackle Josh Brent.

Brent, a giant-sized athlete who found himself in the doghouse during his first three seasons, attended Parkland College this spring in an attempt to regain his academic eligibility. While Zook didn't have confirmation early Tuesday afternoon, it doesn't sound good for Brent's return to the Illini.

"I've heard that he did not make it, but I don't know that for a fact,'' Zook said Tuesday. "That's all I've heard from halfway around the world.''

Brent missed spring practice the last two years. He was ineligible during spring drills in March and April while attending Parkland. The previous spring, he was indefinitely suspended and eventually served jail time in Champaign County after his arrest for DUI and driving on a suspended license.

Zook avoided speculation about Brent's future but gave no hints that Brent would return.

"Before I say anything, I have to find out what the whole situation is,'' Zook said.

A Bloomington Central Catholic graduate who turned down offers from Wisconsin and Ohio State, Brent was rated as the third best recruit in his high school class in the Midwest by the Detroit Free Press, but he struggled to live up to the hype. The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder had 29 tackles with three sacks and seven tackles for a loss last season.

Yet Brent would be an experienced and talented element in the defensive line this fall if he could regain his eligibility.
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Illini notebook: Josh Brent return doesn’t look likely - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
 
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