Illinois Football: Projected Defensive Depth Chart
DE Carroll Phillips
Next: LB Julian Jones
The final member of this four senior dominating force is defensive end Carroll Phillips.
This defensive line is the most experienced I have ever seen in Champaign and having a guy like Phillips on the end is going to solidify it as potentially the best line we have ever seen.
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Illinois nabbed this talented defensive end from the junior college ranks a few years ago. He was a 3-star junior college transfer that was one of the best coming out that year.
In Phillips first season in Champaign he managed to see action in 6 games. In those games he accumulated 6 tackles and a sack.
Last season Phillips was given a bigger role on the team and he blossomed because he had more responsibility.
Phillips played in 10 games his junior season and had 26 tackles and 2 sacks. He is now going to be looked at in a leadership role heading into 2016.
I would like to see Phillips develop even more in 2016. He still was a little raw last season but with the help of a coach like Lovie I think he will improve probably more than anyone on the defense.
Phillips should be the icing on this great defensive line cake.