Illinois Football: 5 breakout players for the 2017 season

RB Kendrick Foster

It took a while for Lovie Smith and Garrick McGee to find the running back they wanted to use last season but they ended up picking Kendrick Foster to lead the way. This was a great decision considering how well he played in 2016.

Foster is a running back with tremendous talent and after a rocky start to his Illinois career, he has emerged as a Doak Walker Award watch list member. That is how good this kid is on the football field. I expect great things out of him this season as well.

I picked Foster as one of the players who could have a breakout year in 2017 because of the talent he brings to the field. As a sophomore running back, Foster only rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown. His career trajectory changed when he decided to stay with the program and Lovie was hired in March 2016.

Last season, Foster ended up rushing 126 times for 720 yards and 7 touchdowns. You also have to keep in mind he missed the last game due to injury and he wasn’t the starting running back in the first four games of 2016. With that being said, Foster had a great year and will have an even better senior campaign.

I could see Foster easily hitting the 1,000-yard rushing mark this season. He has that much talent and will display his abilities week in and week out.