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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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CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 14: Ra’Von Bonner
CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 14: Ra’Von Bonner /

Running Backs

Current: C-

Coming into this season, most people thought senior running back Kendrick Foster was going to take the reins and lead the Illini backfield. Much like last season with Ke’Shawn Vaughn, this didn’t happen and Foster has now been relegated to the back of the pack for one reason or another.

The running back situation has been kind of confusing this season. Mike Epstein emerged as a great running back who was having a sensational true freshman campaign but he had a lower-body injury that has now sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Fellow true freshman, Ra’Von Bonner, started this past game against Rutgers. He is a solid runner but clearly still a little raw. He is second on the team in rushing with 145 yards and three touchdowns, though. I look for him to continue getting the rock in the second half of the season. He will be followed by Reggie Corbin and Dre Brown.

Corbin came into this season injured and is finally getting healthy. He was the No. 2 running back for the Illini last year behind Foster and it looks like he will be the backup once again. He has a nice quick burst and is good at catching the ball out of the backfield.

Brown is the third-string running back right now. He was injured his first few years at Illinois and finally set foot on the field for the first time last game. He will be used sparingly the rest of the season.

The running back position is by no means set, and who knows who will start and play next season. Right now, I have little confidence in what is going on in the backfield and that affects the grade.

Future: C

The future at running back really all depends on how healthy Epstein is entering the 2018 season. He is going to be sensational for the Illini and Garrick McGee should be able to build a solid offense around him.

But, I am worried about the running backs behind Epstein. I am starting to warm up to Bonner but he doesn’t have much of an initial burst off the line. He needs to get a little quicker. The running backs behind him, Corbin and Brown are questions marks right now because they aren’t playing much.

Illinois only has Jakari Norwood coming in from the class of 2018. He is rated as a two-star so don’t be surprised if he doesn’t see playing time early on in his career. The running back position is shaky right now and I don’t know how much better it is going to get. I am not improving this grade too much for the future.

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