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Illinois Football: Projected Defensive Depth Chart

By Rees Woodcock

Sep 27, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Illinois Fighting Illni defenders Jarrod Clements (99) and DeJazz Woods (90) signal first down as they wait for the referees
Sep 27, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Illinois Fighting Illni defenders Jarrod Clements (99) and DeJazz Woods (90) signal first down as they wait for the referees /
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Nov 14, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Caleb Day (7) during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium. Ohio State defats Illinois 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Caleb Day (7) during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium. Ohio State defats Illinois 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

FS Caleb Day

Next: CB Cameron Watkins

The most interesting player out of the entire defense and the one I will be watching the most for improvement this season is free safety Caleb Day.

I don’t want to say Day has been the most disappointing player from the past recruiting classes but he was one of the highest rated in the last five years.

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini /

Illinois Fighting Illini

Day came out of high school rated as a 4-star athlete.  He was expected to be a great player for the Illini.

Day had a decent amount of teams after him.  He had 7 scholarship offers including Ohio State, Arkansas and Louisville.

Illinois won the recruiting battle and now Day has one more year to show Champaign what he is made of.

I have Day starting at free safety but he has to still prove he is good enough to stay in that role.

Day’s freshman season wasn’t great.  He played in 3 games and had 9 total tackles.

The following year Day got a chance to play in 8 games and his production increased to 16 tackles and a pass deflection.

Last season Day only played in 8 games again and had 7 tackles and an interception.

This season is going to be important for the maturation of Day.  He now has a great coach in there to teach him how to become a great player.

Lovie knows defenses and he is going to be a great asset for Day to learn from.  I am hoping that what Lovie is teaching will soak into Day and he will become a great defender this season.

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