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Illinois Football: Position evaluations midway through the 2017 season

By Rees Woodcock

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 07: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini argues with an official during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 7, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 07: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini argues with an official during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 7, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 15: Wide receiver Ricky Smalling
TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 15: Wide receiver Ricky Smalling /

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Current: B+

I have a lot of faith in the current wide receiver core for the Illinois football team. This is the one position that I know will be extremely good the next four years. They have so much talent at this position.

The leading wide receiver for the Illini is Ricky Smalling. He is a true freshman, like many of the players I have mentioned. He has 14 catches for 272 yards and a touchdown on the season. I look for him to continue progressing the rest of this year and becoming our No. 1 wide receiver in 2018. He now has a quarterback who can throw the ball as well.

Mike Dudek will be back for his senior season in 2018 as well. He has some of the best hands in the game and his return next year will be great for this program. I also look for Louis Dorsey – who is a tight end – to continue being one of the main targets for Illinois quarterbacks as well. He is a true freshman and third on the team in receiving yards with 189.

Illinois also has a nice stable of wide receivers behind these three as well. Carmoni Green and Kendall Smith will both be big contributors throughout their time with the Illini. I look forward to seeing how they develop over their careers. Dominic Thieman has been getting a lot of playing time as well. He will only be a junior in 2018.

The only player Illinois has graduating after this season is Malik Turner. He is currently fourth on the team in receiving yards with 180 for the season. He has been a great target this season for the Illini quarterbacks, and he will be missed after this year.

Overall, the talent Illinois has at wide receiver gives the team a chance to win now. They are all pretty talented and if they only had an offensive line and quarterback, this team would be decent.

Future: A+

Youth and what is coming in is why the grade is so high for the future of the Illinois wide receivers. The players who are contributing right now are mostly true freshmen and they also have some who are waiting in the wings from the class of 2017 as well. I am excited about the talent currently on the team.

Smalling is going to end up being one of the best pass catchers in school history. Illinois just needs to get someone into the program that can get the ball down the field. That should be happening in 2018.

Speaking of 2018, the Illini are also bringing in some more talented pass catchers. Daniel Barker is coming in as a tight end and he is 6-foot-4. So, that is a nice, big, addition to the football team. Carlos Sandy is the lone wide receiver coming in from the class of 2018. He is a superstar playmaker out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Florida. He was a sneaky pickup for the Illini.

The future is so bright for the Illini pass catchers. They have so much talent on the team and coming in, I just hope the quarterback position develops enough to utilize all of the playmakers.

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