Illinois Football: Verdis Brown and Reuben Unije would be Illini dream team

It is clear, the Illinois football team needs some more help on the offensive line.

The Illini went with the trial by fire method with many positions in 2017. We had the privilege to see all sorts of freshman don the Orange and Blue on Saturdays. It was fun at times but then there were other times you could clearly tell they were inexperienced.

Getting some big-time offensive linemen in the class of 2018 is really important for the future of the program. Without talented blockers, the team around them will crumble. Lovie Smith, Garrick McGee and Luke Butkus all know this, and that is why landing some big fish is becoming increasingly important by the day.

Illinois actually has the interest of a few big-time offensive linemen from IMG Academy. Verdis Brown is one of the two players. He was a key recruit for the Illini earlier this year and the Orange and Blue even made his top 10. He is also from Chicago, so that is another bonus.

Brown committed to Florida State back on July 14 and most thought his recruitment was over. Florida State was poised to have a great year and there were no signs of that changing. But, one thing led to another and the Seminoles had a bad year and their head coach bolted for Texas A&M. On November 29, Brown reopened his recruitment.

I think Illinois has a legit shot at landing Brown. They were in his original top 10 and he has visited Champaign throughout the year as well. Getting someone with his size – 6-foot-4, 290-pounds – would be big for the Illini and their offensive line. He would move into a starting role day one.

The other offensive lineman from IMG Academy that wasn’t on the Illini radar until recently is Reuben Unije. Much like Brown, Unije is a highly rated recruit. He is a four-star who is the No. 79 player in the class of 2018.

Unije has scholarship offers from everyone. The kid is a superstar but he is from the south and SEC and Big 12 teams are all over him right now. Despite that fact, he has still decided to show interest in Lovie and the Illini.

So far, Oklahoma is the only team to get an official visit from Unije. That is ending this weekend, though. He is coming up to Champaign for his second official visit. This is a huge visit for the Illini. Unije was supposed to make a commitment back in November but decided to extend that and take a visit to Illinois. This is an opportunity for Illinois to get two of the best offensive linemen in the nation.

Both Unije and Brown have great size on the offensive line. They are quick off the ball and can block with the best of the best. Illinois could easily have one of the biggest offensive lines in the country.

Unije and Brown both would start day one for the Illini. Brown is listed at center but I would bet he swings over to one of the guard positions. Unije would then be at one of the tackle positions – preferably on the quarterback’s blindside – with his 6-foot-6, 300-pound size.

I would then imagine Doug Kramer possibly being the starting center heading into 2018. He would be a redshirt sophomore but started eight games at center for the Illini in 2017. Ironman Nick Allegretti would then play his traditional guard role as a senior. He started every game last year and eight of those were at guard. The other four were at center because Kramer was injured. I imagine the other tackle position would go to Larry Boyd. He started nine games last season and played in all 12 contests.

So, the Illinois starting offensive line would consist of a 6-foot-6, 340-pounder in Boyd, 6-foot-6, 300-pounder in Unije, 6-foot-4, 320-pounder in Allegretti, 6-foot-4, 290-pounder in Brown and a 6-foot-2, 295-pounder in Kramer. That is a pretty stout offensive line.

In addition to the offensive line being really good for the first time in years, they would also have depth as well. If what I project happens, that would leave Alex Palczewski as a backup who started in 11 games in 2017. Vederian Lowe would be a solid back as well. He started in seven games last season and played in a total of eight.

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These two will be great backups and the Illini have others waiting in the wings and a few more coming in from the class of 2018. Adding Unije and Brown would be big for this Illinois program. They have a few solid quarterbacks coming in next season who will be able to move the ball down the field as well. Getting these two offensive linemen is extremely important for the future of this program.