Illinois Football: The future for Ricky Smalling is extremely bright
The 2017 campaign hasn’t gone the way many fans had hoped for the Illinois football team.
Despite the Illini fan base getting ready for another weekend of unsure results – and looking for the third win of the season – it isn’t hard to find the bright spots of this program on the rise. I know, there will be some people that roll their eyes at that previous statement but I honestly believe there is a lot of positive to take from this season.
One of the bright spots that continues to impress me each game is wide receiver, Ricky Smalling. He doesn’t have a ton of receptions or yards this season – 25 catches for 415 yards – but he has been one of the many freshman players to start for this Illini program. He has also made the best out of a bad quarterback situation as well.
I was privileged enough to witness the Illinois all-time receiving record by a freshman just four years ago. Mike Dudek wowed an entire fan base as he caught pass after pass to accumulate 1,038 yards through the air. This was an impressive feat and Dudek still dons the Orange and Blue today. Will that number ever be beaten by an Illinois freshman wide receiver? I highly doubt it.
But, that doesn’t mean Illinois has failed to secure players who could eclipse that massive number. Smalling is a pass catcher that doesn’t come around very often. It isn’t his fault he has a quarterback trio who is barely surpassing the 50-percent completion mark – Jeff George Jr., Chayce Crouch and Cam Thomas combined for a completion rate of 50.9-percent.
Smalling is doing what he is asked to do on the football field. He laces up his cleats, clips on his shoulder pads and hustles out onto the field every game in an attempt to get another win on the board for his in-state college of choice. His 16.6 yards per reception is only second to hidden treasure running back Kendrick Foster who is averaging 18.3 YPR on his three catches this season. Dudek only averaged 13.7 YPC on his 76 receptions during his sensational freshman campaign.
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The curve of Smalling’s career will be interesting to see. He is one of the best, if not the best, player on this Illinois football team already as a true freshman. Just imagine what he will be able to do with a quarterback who can get him the ball and more experience under his belt. The sky is the limit for this young budding superstar.