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Illinois Football: Top performers against Western Kentucky

By Rees Woodcock

LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks over the field against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 31-16. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks over the field against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 31-16. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 14: Members of the Illinois Fighting Illini band perform during a game between the Illini and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Champaign, Illinois. /

3. Isaiah Gay

We continue on the defensive side of the ball for the next top performer. Isaiah Gay was not supposed to be a good player this soon into his career. Most teams probably thought this kid wouldn’t even start on their team all four years with the program. But, Lovie Smith and the Illini coaching staff saw something different.

Gay came into this Illinois program with a chip on his shoulder and so far, he is proving all the critics wrong. He has been a special player through two games despite the box score not showing much in the way of stats. He only finished the game against Western Kentucky with two tackles and one of those was a loss. But, he makes an impact in other areas.

Without Gay last night, Mike White would have had a lot more time in the pocket throwing the ball. He puts so much pressure on the quarterback and when I watch the film and break down the defense, it will show me that Gay was a top performer for the Illini.

Illinois has stumbled into something here on the defensive line. They lost Carroll Phillips and Dawuane Smoot from last season but this team hasn’t missed a beat. Honestly, I feel like they may have actually picked up some intensity with players like Gay and Roundtree. And they are only true freshmen. The future is extremely bright for this defense.

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