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Illinois Football: Early Illini projected depth chart for 2018

By Rees Woodcock

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on October 21, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Fighting Illini 24-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on October 21, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Fighting Illini 24-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 29: Illinois Fighting Illini fans are seen in the tailgating area before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 29: Illinois Fighting Illini fans are seen in the tailgating area before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Outside Linebacker

Starter: Jake Hansen

Due to injuries last season, the Illinois linebacker core had to deal with some sort of constant rotation. This hurt the team but now some of those players are getting healthy. The main linebacker I am referring to is Jake Hansen.

Hansen was looking like a starting linebacker for the Illini heading into the 2017 season. He had a great spring practice but when he entered training camp, he went down with a season-ending injury.

Illinois missed Hansen’s experience greatly. He had played as a true freshman the year before. During the 2016 campaign, he played in every game for the Illini and even made one start. This experience was supposed to grow last season but he couldn’t lace up the cleats.

Coming into 2018, I think Hansen will officially win the starting job. He has that much talent. He is likely to be a redshirt sophomore still after, probably, getting a medical redshirt this past season. Illinois is going to need him to step up too. He is an important piece to the puzzle.

Backup: James Knight

Backing up Hansen at outside linebacker is likely to be James Knight. He is going to be a sophomore after playing a lot of snaps his true freshman season.

Knight was an underrated player coming out of East St. Louis High School. He ended up playing in every game for the Illini and started in one as well. The experience he gained last season will help as a backup entering the 2018 campaign.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Knight still sees a lot of snaps and potentially starts a game or two this upcoming season. He is a really talented player who will eventually get the starting nod down the road.

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