Illini Drop Loss to Indiana in Football

CHAMPAIGN -- Jeff George, Jr. threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns in Illinois' 24-14 loss to Indiana on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Louis Dorsey had a record-setting day, but it was not enough as Indiana threw for 289 yards to hold off the Illini.

LOUIS "CAN'T CATCH ME" DORSEY

On the first offensive snap of the second half, freshman tight end Louis Dorsey hauled in a pass from quarterback Jeff George, Jr. and ran for a 77-yard touchdown. The touchdown was the longest by a true freshman in program history and was the longest passing play on the season for the Illini.

Dorsey finished with three catches for 107 yards, the most receiving yards by a true freshman tight end in Illini history.

TEAM NOTES

• Illinois started six true freshmen (DE Jamal Woods, DB Nate Hobbs, WR Ricky Smalling, TE Louis Dorsey, OL Alex Palczewski, OL Vederian Lowe).

• 2017 Freshman Starters by Game: 3, 7, 10, 8, 8, 9, 8, 7, 7, 6  (program record before this season: 5)

• Illinois' six true freshmen starters are tied for the ninth-most in a game in program history, yet the second-fewest in a game this season. The record of 10 was set at South Florida earlier this season.

• Illinois' most cumulative true freshmen starts in a season: 73 (2017), 34 (1977), 33 (2006)

• 13 of Illinois' 17 offensive touchdowns (76.5 percent) have been scored by true freshmen. Freshman touchdowns have been scored by Ra'Von Bonner (4), Mike Epstein (4), Ricky Smalling (2) and Louis Dorsey (3).

• Illinois has used 29 first-time starters in 2017, the most in the nation (added FS Clayton Jr. today).

• Illinois' 7.0 TFLs tied a season high (7.0 at South Florida).

• Illinois captains: DT Jamal Milan, K Chase McLaughlin, RB Kendrick Foster

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Freshman TE Louis Dorsey's 77-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George Jr. to start the second half was...
     » the longest reception in Illinois history by a true freshman.
     » tied for the ninth-longest passing play in Illinois history.
     » the second longest in Illinois history by a tight end (83 yards, Boso vs. USC, 1985).
     » tied for the longest in Illinois history against Indiana during their 72 meetings (2011 Scheelhaase to Jenkins, 77 yards).
     » the sixth longest by an Illinois player in Memorial Stadium history.
     » the longest passing play of the season for Illinois.

• Freshman TE Louis Dorsey's 107 receiving yards are...
     » the most by a true freshman tight end in Illinois history.
     » the seventh most by a tight end in Illinois history.
     » the sixth most by a true freshman in Illinois history.

• Sophomore QB Jeff George Jr. was 13-of-25 passing for 261 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

• Sophomore WR Caleb Reams scored his first career touchdown on a 14-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Reams had his first two receptions of the season for 18 yards.

• Freshman WR Ricky Smalling has at least one catch of 20+ yards in six straight games. Smalling caught three passes

• Senior RB Kendrick Foster led Illinois with 22 carries for 83 yards.

• Sophomore DT Kenyon Jackson had his first career solo sack.

• Freshman DE Jamal Woods had a career-high 2.5 TFLs.

• Senior DB Jaylen Dunlap had his first career interception in the first quarter.

• Sophomore SS Patrick Nelson led Illinois with 10 tackles.

• Junior OL Nick Allegretti started for the 22nd straight game.

• Senior OL Christian DiLauro started for the 36th time in his career.