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Illinois coach Bret Bielema announces departure of 2 players before Week 1 game
By Nick Schultz
Published:
Two players have officially left the Illinois football program, Illini coach Bret Bielema announced Thursday afternoon.
Tight end Cooper Davis and defensive tackle Quinton McCoy are no longer with the team, but are still on-campus and taking classes, Bielema told reporters. Their departures were first reported earlier this week by Illini Inquirer.
#illini Bret Bielema said Cooper Davis and Quinton McCoy decided themselves to leave football program. Haven't been practicing for two weeks before the season.
Both are on campus and attending classes.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) September 2, 2021
Neither Davis nor McCoy played in Illinois’ Week 0 victory over Nebraska, and Bielema said it was their personal decision to leave the program. He added the duo didn’t practice for two weeks before the season.
Illini Inquirer also reported this week that tight end Brandon Hohenstein was departing, as well, but Bielema didn’t announce that in his press conference Thursday. He is no longer listed on the Illini Football website.
Illinois will take on UTSA on Sept. 4. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on the B1G Network.
Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.