“When Bucky Babcock and I came in (and redshirted as freshmen in 2000), there were six offensive linemen,” Illinois senior center Duke Preston said. “Now, with Bryan Koch being hurt at the beginning of the season, we’re down to two–just Bucky and me. We call each other `the offensive line survivors’ and joke about who will be the last one standing.”
Babcock will make his 47th career start when he and Preston conclude their careers Nov. 20 at Northwestern. The only game he missed was the 2002 Sugar Bowl, due to a broken left wrist suffered in a car accident. The Illinois record for career starts is 48, set by offensive lineman Tim Simpson in 1988-91. . . .
Defensive end Mike O’Brien will end his sixth season, thanks to an extra year to complete his eligibility granted by the NCAA. In 2000, he was a medical redshirt because of a stress fracture that limited him to two games, and last year he missed all but the opener because of a torn ACL.