2021 CFP SEASON PREVIEW AUTUMN 11

ILLINOIS
#7 B1G WEST: CONF 2-6, HOME 0-3, AWAY 2-3
Head Coach: Bret Bielema (1) OC: Tony Petersen (1) DC: Ryan Walters (1)
OFFENSE:
QB: Returns ex-Michigan quarterback 6’5 Brandon Peters (429 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT passing, 136 YDS, 1 TD rushing in 5 games) for
his second year with the Illini. Artur Sitkowski transferred in from Rutgers. Isaiah Williams (393 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT passing, 389
YDS, 1 TD rushing) switched positions, from quarterback to receiver and split time with DB Coran Taylor (379 YDS, 3 TD, 2 INT
passing, 74 YDS rushing) when Peters was out. Sophomore Matt Robinson (22 YDS passing) is the only other player still listed as
a QB to get time last season.
RB: Returns Chase Brown (540 YDS, 3 TD) and Mike Epstein (367 YDS, 4 TD) who will be complemented nicely with redshirt
freshman Reggie Love (12 YDS) and ECU transfer Chase Hayden (62 YDS). Sophomore Jakari Norwood was a 3-star recruit. True
freshman 240lb Josh McCray is a 3-star recruit.
WR: Lost leading receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe (297 YDS, 3 TD) to the NFL. Casey Washington (106 YDS) transferred to Wake
Forest. Former 4-star 6’3 Brian Hightower (209 YDS, 3 TD) looks like the top target in the unit. Also returns Donny Navarro (88
YDS), 6’4 Dalevon Campbell (48 YDS) and Carlos Sandy (29 YDS, 1 TD in 5 games). Quarterback Isaiah Williams (389 YDS rushing)
switched positions and will use his athleticism as a receiver this year after setting the school’s single game record for rushing
yards by a quarterback (192 vs Rutgers). 2019 4-star Marquez Beason switched from CB to WR. Jafar Armstrong (9 career TD)
transferred in from Notre Dame where he played RB/WR. NM State transfer 6’3 Desmond Dan did not play in a game last year
but could see the field. Freshman 6’3 Pat Bryant is a 3-star recruit.
TE: Daniel Imatorbhebhe (54 YDS, 1 TD in 5 games) transferred to Kansas State. Returns their second leading receiver from last
season in Daniel Barker (268 YDS, 2 TD). Also returns former 4-star recruit and Georgia Bulldog 6’6 Luke Ford (15 YDS) who will
get his catches.
OL: Lost OG Kendrick Green to the NFL. Returns Center Doug Kramer who had a couple great seasons before last year was cut
short with COVID and an injury. The unit combines for 131 starts.
DEFENSE:
DL: Returns Jer’Zhan Newton (23 TOT, 1.5 sacks), Roderick Perry (17 TOT, 2 sacks), 335lb Calvin Avery (14 TOT, 1 sack), 265lb
DE/LB Owen Carney (27 TOT, 5 sacks), Keith Randolph (8 TOT) and Jamal Woods (4 TOT).
LB: Leading tackler Jake Hansen (68 TOT, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 2 INT in 8 games) decided to return after initially declaring for the
NFL. Also returns Khalan Tolson (39 TOT, 1.5 sacks), Tarique Barnes (25 TOT, 1 sack, 1 INT), Isaiah Gay (19 TOT, 2.5 sacks), Seth
Coleman (13 TOT) and Alec McEachern (5 TOT). Calvin Hart (18 TOT, 2 sacks, 2 FF) transferred in from NC State. Lost Camilo
Eifler (27 TOT, 1 sack) to the NFL.
SF: Returns second leading tackler Tony Adams (51 TOT, 1 INT) and fourth leading tackler Quan Martin (38 TOT). Also returns
Sydney Brown (36 TOT, started 6 games) and Kerby Joseph (19 TOT).
CB: Lost Nate Hobbs (31 TOT, 1 INT) to the NFL. Marquez Beason (7 TOT), Lovie Smith’s highest ranked recruit, switched
positions to WR. Returns Devon Witherspoon (33 TOT, 2 INT) and Derrick Smith (22 TOT). 2018 3-star Eddie Smith transferred in
from Alabama (no stats).
SPECIAL TEAMS:
KR: Returns James McCourt (15/15 PAT, 6/10 FG) and Caleb Griffin (5/5 PAT, 1/1 FG). WR Khmari Thompson returns kicks.
PR: Returns punter Blake Hayes (43.7 YD AVG) who is a projected NFL pick.
SPIN
Champaign, IL – If the Big Ten works well for Bielema, Illinois made a great hire. At Wisconsin
(2006-2012), Bielema went 12-1 in his first season, 68-24 overall, only dropped below 9 wins twice
in seven seasons but still always made a bowl game, most notably the Rose Bowl three straight
years (0-2, interim coached 3 rd ). Bielema’s success in Wisconsin did not translate to Arkansas, 0-8
in SEC play in first year and 29-34 overall. The new OC Petersen was the OC at Appalachian State
last season (33.8 ppg) compared to Illinois’ 20.1 ppg in 2020. DC Walters was the DC at Missouri.
There are 21 scholarship seniors on the roster who took advantage of the extra year of eligibility,
which is the most of any power five team in CFB. I thought QB Brandon Peters would have a much
better season last year. Expect a bounce back performance from him in 2021. A season-opening
win over Nebraska would kickstart Bielema’s tenure at Illinois.
Twitter @Autumn_Eleven