ESPN College Football

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn will announce his plans for the 2010 season Wednesday at a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. ET in Champaign.

Despite a disappointing 2009 season, Benn still projects very well to the NFL and wouldn't surprise many if he decides to forgo his senior season and enter April's draft. The Fighting Illini junior met with new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino earlier this week, and Petrino told Benn he could lead the nation in catches if he returns to school.

Benn's mother recently told The (Champaign) News-Gazette that she hopes her son comes back to Illinois, and Illinois recently offered a scholarship to Benn's older brother, Trulon Henry.

Will it be enough to sway Benn? I wouldn't bank on it, but you never know. After all, Jake Locker returned to Washington.

Benn won Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2007 and recorded 1,055 receiving yards last year. He led the Illini in both receptions (38) and receiving yards (490) this fall.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Benn as the nation's No. 2 junior NFL prospect behind Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant.

Every list of college juniors who could jump to the NFL after this season includes Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn, who still projects well to the next level despite a disappointing 2009 campaign.

Benn hasn't talked much about the NFL, saying he's undecided on his future, yet his departure seems like a foregone conclusion to some. But if it were up to Benn's mother, Denise, her son would be back at Illinois for his senior season.

"I would love to see him stay," Denise Benn told The (Champaign) News-Gazette. "I've not been getting any bothersome calls from anyone, and I appreciate that. It all keeps me grounded to the very real possibility of him staying."

ESPN's Mel Kiper ranks Benn as the No. 2 junior prospect at wide receiver, behind Dez Bryant, even though Benn's numbers have declined this fall. Benn leads Illinois with 36 receptions, but he has only one receiving touchdown.

There are some important factors Benn must consider if he wants to return to Illinois. Quarterback Juice Williams, a four-year starter at quarterback, will be gone, and there will be a competition between Jacob Charest, Nathan Scheelhaase and possibly Eddie McGee for the top job.

Illinois also is expected to make some coaching changes after the season, and if offensive coordinator Mike Schultz goes, Benn will be playing in a new system.

My guess is Benn turns pro, but his mother's comments are interesting.

The big goals are off the table for Arrelious Benn and Illinois, but all is not lost.

Illinois won't be going bowling, as virtually everyone predicted before the season. Benn won't be earning All-America honors or contending for national awards, a virtual certainty entering the fall. Most casual fans have forgotten about the Illini and their star wide receiver, who slipped off the radar following a 1-6 start.

But on Friday afternoon at Nippert Stadium, Illinois will be on the national stage one final time. And while most will tune in (ABC, noon ET) to watch No. 5 Cincinnati, the Illini recognize what's at stake.

"This is where certain players show their true colors, as far as whether they’re going to finish strong or not," Benn said. "You see the real, true people. I look around, I see my teammates here, and they’re still going strong. The coaches still rally up and we're going to band together and finish out this season."

It has been a rough year for everyone at Illinois, Benn included. Things went downhill from the start, as Benn injured his ankle on Illinois' third play from scrimmage in the opener against Missouri.

Benn didn't return, and Illinois was spanked 37-9.

The junior from Washington D.C. is still looking for his first 100-yard receiving performance. He has only one touchdown reception this year and just two games of five or more receptions. Benn still leads Illinois with 33 receptions, more than twice as many as any other player, but the offense lacks the firepower it showed in his first two seasons.

Despite boasting the Big Ten's most experienced quarterback in Juice Williams and a seemingly stacked wide receiving corps, Illinois ranks last in the league in scoring (20.2 ppg) and 10th in passing (179.3 ypg).

For Benn and Williams, close friends who share an awards promotional Web site, the season never got on track. But they still have time to put it all together.

Williams is expected to start Friday after missing Illinois' last game with an ankle injury.

"It’s pretty tough, the circumstances that we’ve had throughout the season, but that type of game is still looked for," Benn said. "It’s still out there. Everything is out there because we’re in control of executing the plays. If we execute the plays right as far as blocking, running our routes, the passing, all that stuff, we’re going to be OK."

Benn hasn't lost focus despite the struggles. Asked what areas of his game can be improved in Illinois' final two contests, he said, "Everything."

NFL scouts will undoubtedly be tracking Benn down the stretch. While Benn is undecided about whether he'll return to Illinois for his senior season, he still projects well for the NFL draft despite the struggles this fall.

ESPN's Mel Kiper ranks Benn as the nation's No. 2 junior wide receiver (ESPN Insider) behind Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant.

Decision time is coming, but Benn remains focused on the next two weeks and helping Illinois generate momentum for 2010.

"We didn't meet the expectations as a whole," he said. "But there are going to be great players next year, so if we come out and showcase what we can do, next year, the other guys are going to pick it up and have that winning mentality."

After falling well short of expectations, Illinois now heads to Cincinnati as a major underdog. But Benn remembers the last time Illinois faced a top 5 opponent in the state of Ohio, back on Nov. 10, 2007.

"No one thought we could go into Ohio State and beat them," he said, referring to a 28-21 win against the top-ranked Buckeyes that propelled Illinois to the Rose Bowl. "That’s the type of thing that we look at and we can accomplish in this upcoming game."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

While I weave my way through the Pennsylvania back country, you read this.

D.J. from Richfield, Minn., writes: Hi Adam:I was just wondering what your thoughts were on why Eric Decker doesn't get more national pub? Please don't tell me "because he plays for Minnesota", there has to be more to it than that.

Adam Rittenberg: That's part of it D.J., but not everything. Decker has been more of a possession-type guy at Minnesota and doesn't make the 80-yard touchdown catch that often. He's not as flashy as some of the more hyped wideouts (Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, A.J. Green, even Arrelious Benn). I've always considered Decker one of the nation's most underrated players. But I'll tell you this: the more games Decker has like last Saturday's against Cal, the more he'll get noticed. Obviously, it would help if Minnesota wins more this season and gets into the Top 25, but people know who Decker is after what he did against Cal.

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Eric from Indianapolis writes: How is Iowa's OL suspect? Yes, Bulaga is hurt but Riley Reiff hasn't missed a beat. UA's DE was all Pac 10 last year and had one assist last weekend.Our OL is the least of my concerns Saturday night. My biggest worry is that Stanzi play well the whole game. If he does I see us winning easier than anyone thinks. This Iowa squad has improved each week and we look like a KF team in late October already.Yes, I'm an Iowa fan but I am also pragmatic and really, really like this team.

Adam Rittenberg: Reiff has done a nice job so far, but he hasn't seen a defensive line like Penn State's yet. Arizona boasts a decent defense, but the Wildcats don't really compare to Penn State, which has one of the nation's elite defensive fronts year in and year out because of Larry Johnson. Jack Crawford will test Reiff on the edge. That said, your concerns about Stanzi are justified. He probably can't afford many first-half mistakes on the road and have a chance to rally. Iowa does appear to be hitting its stride earlier than normal, which bodes well for Saturday night.

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Dale from San Marcos, Texas, writes: Seriously,dude, what's the deal with Jamaal Berry (Freshman Running Back, Ohio State). Is the kid still at Ohio State because I haven't seen any indication that he is on the team. Is he in Tressel's Doghouse or what, help me out Rittenberg because it doesn't make sense.

Adam Rittenberg: Berry has been slowed by an ankle injury the first three games and won't be ready for at least another week. He definitely is on the team, but he won't be a factor for a little bit longer. It's a good sign for Berry that the Buckeyes are giving Jordan Hall, another freshman, some carries at running back.

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Jim from Tolland, Conn., writes: I'm a huge Sooner fan and I completely agree with your OSU/OU comparison. In fact I often wish we would meet OSU in a BCS Bowl, just so OU would finally pick-up a win. I do disagree that OU gets a pass. I routinely get grief for their BCS lapses and the "Big Game Bob" title has been removed, excluding Big12 games, for at least 3 years. I wish I lived where you do and OU still gets love, it doesn't happen in my neck of the woods.

Adam Rittenberg: Thanks for the level-headed response, Jim. The backlash thing really depends on where you live. Oklahoma fans are going to think they get it worse in their local market; same with Ohio State fans. But as someone who reads a lot of national media coverage, I would say Ohio State takes at least a little more and possibly a lot more criticism than any other team in college football. The one way to tick off reporters is to struggle in the national championship game, much less two years in a row.

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Dan from New York, writes: Michigan State over Wisconsin??? Really??? Last time I checked the Badgers took down an underrated Fresno State and they didn't spoil their cupcakes like Michigan State did.Sure, Michigan State looked solid and had a few close loses, but I don't think you should count out Wisconsin (AT Camp Randall) just because Michigan State might "want it more". Do remember Bret Bielema needs to start producing in the Big Ten before angry alumni (like myself) start making phone calls..7-6 last season, thats not Wisconsin.

Adam Rittenberg: If it makes you feel better, it was a very tough call on that pick. I just think Michigan State will be a desperate team on Saturday, and the Spartans have been tested a bit more than the Badgers. Still, I think Wisconsin has turned a corner after emphasizing accountability throughout the offseason, and the Badgers are awfully tough at home. Could really go either way, but Michigan State might be finished if it doesn't win Saturday.

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John from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, writes: Please stop blaming Clark QB play last year on a concussion he got two weeks prior. I have had four concussions and never was I still out of it two weeks later (headaches yes). How about start blaming his bad QB play on a great Iowa defense.

Adam Rittenberg: Thanks for the insight, John, but you don't know how he felt that day. You don't know how much the concussion affected his vision and instincts. Sure, Iowa's defense had plenty to do with Daryll Clark's performance, but he didn't look anything like the quarterback who led a dominant Nittany Lions offense for most of the season. His decision-making was very out of character. There was clearly something wrong with him, no matter the opponent.