The Illinois football team lost three players to transfer on Monday. The transfers didn’t end there, though.
On Tuesday, another player from the Illini program decided to transfer. This time it was big-time playmaker Pat Nelson deciding to leave the program. He was a big piece to this Illinois ball club in 2017 and will now need to be replaced heading into the 2018 campaign.
Nelson started his career with the Illini back in 2015. He was a three-star safety who was the No. 994 player in the class of 2015 and the No. 23 player in the state of Illinois. He committed to Illinois over teams like Indiana, Buffalo, Nevada and Northern Illinois.
In year one with Illinois, Nelson took a redshirt. This was a turmoil-filled season for the Illini as Tim Beckman was fired and Bill Cubit took the reins. Cubit was then given a two-year contract but was later fired after Athletic Director Josh Whitman took over in 2016. He then hired Lovie Smith as the next head coach.
Nelson’s first year playing with the Illini was also Lovie’s first year coaching the program. He had a really good season with Illinois playing in 12 games and starting six of those contests at safety. This past season, Nelson continued his great play seeing action in 10 games and starting in eight of those as well.
In the 10 games Nelson played in 2017, he had 65 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He was one of the best players on the Illini defense, but now he has decided to take his talents elsewhere. Illinois will now have to replace him and his skills.
Illinois currently has a few options at safety already on the roster. Bennett Williams was a standout freshman this past season and should form into one of the best at his position in the Big Ten. He will be sensational for the next two or three seasons.
Stanley Green can play the other safety role on the team. He has played a ton the last two years and has a combined 14 starts for this Illinois program. He was also All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2017. I have liked Green since he arrived in Champaign and think he will be a great starter his final two years with the program.
As a redshirt freshman, Harvey Clayton had one start at safety in 2017. He will help with depth along with Dawson DeGroot who had one start at safety this past season as well.
So, yes, it hurts to lose a player like Nelson to transfer, but Illinois has some nice pieces still remaining on the team. If anything, losing him hurts depth. I still like the players Illinois has starting in 2018, though.
Williams has seven starts under his belt. Green has 14 starts in two years. And Clayton and DeGroot each have started a game this past season. Illinois has four safeties who can get playing time next season.
Next: Illini shifting to new era with transfers
I believe the Illini will be okay after the Nelson transfer. I wish him nothing but the best and hope he ends up in a good situation. This program is moving forward, though, and We Will Win.