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Illinois Football: 5 breakout players for the 2017 season

By Rees Woodcock

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMPER 27: Wide receiver Mike Dudek
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMPER 27: Wide receiver Mike Dudek /
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Illinois football
CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 15: A general view of Memorial Stadium as the Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on October 15, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 17-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

OG Larry Boyd

The Illinois football team had a good class of 2017 come into the program. They snagged some talented players who will help at just about every position. One player that I am going to keep an eye on is Larry Boyd.

I think Boyd could have a breakout season for the Illini because he brings a lot to the table and plays an important position for this team.

Boyd is a 6-foot-6, 340-pound offensive tackle from Trinity Catholic High School in Saint Louis, Missouri. He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school who was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 455 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 5 player in the state of Missouri.

Illinois snagged Boyd and this is going to turn out to be a great get. The offense line has been a struggle for the Illini over the last half-decade. They have needed some serious help and I believe they have received that with Boyd.

Boyd is projected to be a starting offensive tackle on the team this year as a true freshman. The way you are going to be able to tell Boyd’s impact is through the running game and how many quarterback sacks are tallied up.

If Foster has a great year and Crouch doesn’t get up looking out his ear hole too many times, then I think that says a lot about the year Boyd is having. I think he will be a tremendous help to a team that has needed great offensive linemen for years now. Boyd will be a future NFL Draft pick.

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