Illinois Football: 5 Illini freshmen who will make the biggest impact in 2018

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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) /

2. MJ Rivers II

For the first time in a long time, I feel comfortable where the Illinois football team is with the quarterback situation. It looks like the starter heading into the Kent State game is going to be incoming graduate transfer, AJ Bush.

Having Bush as the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart is big for the Illini. He has shown he deserves this spot and should be sensational. But, let’s not forget how important a solid backup is to a football team. Illinois needed a backup quarterback who could step into the game and not miss a beat. I believe this backup could end up being MJ Rivers.

Rivers was a three-star recruit coming out of Lone Star High School down in Frisco, Texas. He was ranked as the No. 976 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 27 dual-threat quarterback. He might not end up being the No. 2 quarterback on the roster, but he has shown enough in training camp to earn that spot.

The impact Rivers brings to the team is intangible. But, the competition that he causes because of his presence makes the other quarterbacks around him better. He has great skill that we may see one day, but his ability to raise everyone else’s game up is going to make a difference this season.

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