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Illinois Football: Projected floor and ceiling for the Illini recruits in year one

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 05: Fans wave the 'Hail to the Orange' flag over Dad's day as the Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Michigan State Spartans during the Big Ten Conference game on November 5, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 05: Fans wave the 'Hail to the Orange' flag over Dad's day as the Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Michigan State Spartans during the Big Ten Conference game on November 5, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 11: Illinois cheerleaders lead the team on to the field before a Big Ten Conference football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini on November 11, 2017, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Bryce Childress

Ceiling: Illinois snagging a player like Bryce Childress was huge for the program. They are now getting a solid cornerback to help build depth at one of the most important positions on the field. The ceiling for Childress year one is going to be pretty high as well.

I have Childress’ ceiling being a starter in 2019. Illinois had good starters last season in Tony Adams and Nate Hobbs, but there is always room for players to come in and take the starting job. I think there is a legit possibility of Childress and Marquez Beason coming in and snag the starting jobs for the Illini.

Childress has the skills and ability. He is ranked as a three-star recruit who is the No. 861 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 80 cornerback in the nation. I could see him being the starter for Illinois next season.

Floor: Like I previously mentioned, Illinois had some solid starters at cornerback last season. They are also adding Beason who will be starting at cornerback in 2019. This means Childress might not see a lot of playing time,

I have Childress’ floor being a backup to start the 2019 campaign. He would see playing time and maybe a few starts his freshman season, but his main goal is to relieve the starters. He would be a great depth piece and would continue improving so he could potentially start the following two or three seasons.

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