Fighting Illini get thrilling update ahead of Week 1 straight from Bret Bielema

Just four days before the Illinois Fighting Illini kicked off their 2025 season, head coach Bret Bielema shared one of the most promising updates yet about one of the team's returning starters.

J.C. Davis, a starting offensive lineman for the Illini, had missed a handful of weeks as he struggled to get past plantar fasciitis this offseason and had been sidelined in a walking boot. On Monday, Bielema shared that the veteran had officially returned to practice.

Davis, who transferred to Illinois after two years with the New Mexico Lobos, started in all 13 games last season and was named the Fighting Illini Male Newcomer of the Year. This year, even more is expected from Illinois's first-string left tackle.

The left tackle was part of a stingy Illinois offensive line last season, and he even allowed a total of zero (yes, 0) pressures on quarterback Luke Altmyer against the then-No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks.

Last year, Davis was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team in the coaches' poll and the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention roster in the media poll.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Davis was the No. 4-graded pass-blocking lineman in the country, the No. 7-pass-blocking grade tackle in the country during the postseason, and the No. 8-graded run-blocking lineman.

This year, Davis enters the season with 37 consecutive starts under his belt and was named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, an award that is given to the best college football interior lineman in the nation.

While Bielema didn't clarify whether or not Davis would play in Illinois's Week 1 matchup, the update on his status was a huge step in the right direction for the Fighting Illini.

Illinois kicks off its regular season with a game against the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Friday, Aug. 29, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be aired on Peacock.