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Illinois Football: 5 Dark Horse Players for 2016

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of a Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Soldier Field. Northwestern won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of a Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Soldier Field. Northwestern won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of a Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Soldier Field. Northwestern won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of a Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Soldier Field. Northwestern won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

The great part about the upcoming Illinois football season is the amount of talent that is returning from the year before.

Illinois is coming off a 5-7 record that saw two different head coaches and finally a new athletic director as well.

Now, the Illini have stability with an NFL caliber head coach in Lovie Smith and a lot of veteran leadership on both offense and defense.

With so much talent on the team, there are bound to be players that come out of the woodwork to have impressive seasons.

Just a few years ago, Illinois fans witnessed a true freshman in Mike Dudek eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark. No one ever saw that coming.

Last season, in the midst of Josh Ferguson going down with some injuries, true freshman running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn emerged as a threat in the backfield.

Vaughn went for over 700 yards rushing and was one of the most electrifying running backs in the Big Ten.

This season could produce the same surprising players.  They might not be freshmen, but they are players that not many people seen coming.

Here is a list of five dark horse players that no one is watching for in 2016.

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