CHICAGO - He played in a Rose Bowl as a freshman and led the Big Ten in receiving yards per conference game as a sophomore, but people still stop Arrelious Benn on the streets of his hometown of Washington D.C., and wonder if he made the right college choice.

Benn, who picked Illinois over Maryland (the hometown favorite) and Notre Dame (where Jimmy Clausen signed) three years ago, reassures everyone who asks, “it’s the greatest decision I ever made” and “I bleed orange and blue.”

Still, he knows there’s only way to stop the questions for good.

“Win,” Benn said last week at Big Ten media days. “Rose Bowl year calmed it down a little bit, but I think this year is going to show them why I went here.”

VIDEO: ARRELIOUS BENN HIGHLIGHTS

Led by the best receiver in college football, Illinois has high hopes for 2009.

The Illini came from nowhere to stun Ohio State and earn a BCS bid two years ago. Last season, with expectations through the roof, they slumped to 5-7 and missed the postseason all together.

Now, buoyed by the return of 14 starters and the Big Ten’s most dangerous offense, many think Illinois can contend for its first league title since 2001.

“I’m excited to see what we’ve learned,” Illinois coach Ron Zook said. “I think two years ago coming off the Rose Bowl year and the expectations, I had made the comment and I believe it today that we were going to be a better football team. But we didn’t reach those expectations.

“That’s part of the program. It’s part of the process. Part of kind of what it takes. You have to teach them how to win and you have to teach them how to sustain that. So I’m excited to see whether we’ve learned that or not.”

Most of the key players on this year’s Illinois team were starters on the Rose Bowl team two seasons ago.

Benn, who projects as a top-15 pick if he turns pro after this season, caught an Illinois freshman record 54 passes. Doug Pilcher had 5 ½ sacks in nine starts at defensive end. And dynamic quarterback Juice Williams was starting to come into his own after an inconsistent freshman campaign.

Williams proved just as menacing at times last year, but even with the inimitable Benn (1,668 all-purpose yards) at his disposal, left plenty to be desired as a passer. For his career, Williams has completed just 52 percent of his passes with almost as many interceptions (37) as touchdowns (44).

Zook said Williams, who’s also rushed for more than 2,000 career yards, has matured to the point where he no longer feels the need to carry the team on every play. It helps to have weapons like Benn, who’ll return kicks and line up occasionally in the backfield this year, and Florida transfer Jarred Fayson on the outside, too.

“We don’t have to put the team on Juice’s back,” Zook said. “Juice can just be who he is and with the weapons we have, we feel like we have enough.”

Dave Birkett covers the University of Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidbirkett@annarbor.com