CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Bret Bielema boarded a plane bound for California, days before Christmas. The Illinois coach needed to see his left tackle.

A federal judge issued a ruling in December that gave junior college transfers more runway to continue their NCAA careers. The injunction applied to players like J.C. Davis, Illinois’ offensive lineman who would have been out of eligibility if not for that court ruling.

Bielema flew to visit Davis at his home in Oakland. He pitched the idea of Davis putting the NFL on hold, returning to Illinois and improving his draft grade. Davis embraced the plan. He’ll protect quarterback Luke Altmyer’s blindside for another year as a 320-pound pillar of what Bielema believes “could be one of the best offensive lines in college football.”

Herein lies the r

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