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Illinois Football: Top 5 Recruits Who Will Impact the 2017 Season

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois Football
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 /

DE Owen Carney

The Illinois football team lost their entire opening day starting defensive line plus a back defensive tackle who was great as well.

The replacements at defensive end for Carroll Phillips and Dawuane Smoot are projected to be Sean Adesanya and Tito Odenigbo.

These two guys are solid players but Illinois clearly needed more depth and someone to potentially push these two for starting snaps.

I see that person being Owen Carney.

Carney was a three-star recruit from Miami, Florida.  He was a big-time get for Lovie from out of state and it proves he has a nice reach when it comes to recruiting.

Scout has Carney listed as a 6-foot-4, 229-pound defensive end who can run a 4.86-second 40-yard dash.  They also have him as the No. 42 defensive end in the class of 2017 and the No. 7 defensive end in Florida.

It is great that Carney decided to enroll early so he can participate in spring practice.  This will enable him to show the coaches he is the man for the starting job.

Carney was a huge snag for the Illini because he does provide depth and I wouldn’t doubt if he starts day one for this program.

I think Carney will be special for this team and he will be the next great Illini defensive end.

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