Illinois Football: Illini Team Grades Through 3 Games
![Sep 10, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; (left to right) Illinois Fighting Illini offensive line coach Luke Butkus, head coach Lovie Smith, and back judge Jim Biddle watch the replay board during the 4th quarter at Memorial Stadium. North Carolina beat Illinois 48 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports Sep 10, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; (left to right) Illinois Fighting Illini offensive line coach Luke Butkus, head coach Lovie Smith, and back judge Jim Biddle watch the replay board during the 4th quarter at Memorial Stadium. North Carolina beat Illinois 48 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5f196906c1a93a6d5590744f922e35eea43c0c6f00f1dac4528bafc1aa4a9760.jpg)
Nickerson: 29 tackles (31st). LINEBACKERS . B-. . LB
The defense as a whole has not been as good as I had hoped, but they aren’t bad either.
There were some nice offseason additions to this defense and one of those is linebacker Hardy Nickerson Jr.
Nickerson has done a solid job anchoring the linebacker core. He is a talented player that has helped the defense really come together.
Through just three games this season, Nickerson has accumulated 29 total tackles and 1 sack. He leads the team and is No. 31 in the nation in total tackles.
More from Writing Illini
- Illinois Football: 5 Illini players who need more snaps against FAU
- Illinois football vs. Florida Atlantic first half and game betting lines
- Bret Bielema has made Illinois football a nationally competitive program
- Illinois Football: Predicting how the Illini will finish the 2023 season
- Illinois Football: Illini quarterback controversy is on the horizon
The addition of Nickerson is proving to be crucial in the Illinois defensive scheme.
I also like what James Crawford has brought to the table this season. He is third on the team in tackles with 16 and he has been a nice presence on the football field.
Crawford will continue to develop throughout the season.
And then the other starting linebacker on the squad is Tre Watson. He hasn’t had a terrible year so far with 9 tackles.
But, the fact still remains that opposing offenses are running all over the Illini defense. This trend has to stop or it could be a long season for the Illini.
There are times that the linebackers look lost in the middle of the field. I think this has to do with a new coach and Nickerson still being new to the team.
I would give this group of linebackers a B- this season so far. There is still a lot of room for improvement but I don’t think they are the reason for the slow start.