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Illinois Football: Early look at the Illini defense for 2019

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini walks off the field and is met by athletic director Josh Whitman after losing to the Iowa Hawkeyes 63-0 at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini walks off the field and is met by athletic director Josh Whitman after losing to the Iowa Hawkeyes 63-0 at Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 13: Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Nate Hobbs (8) looks on during pre-game warm ups for the Big Ten Conference college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 13, 2018, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 13: Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Nate Hobbs (8) looks on during pre-game warm ups for the Big Ten Conference college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 13, 2018, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Cornerback

2018 Starter: Nate Hobbs (3-star #1757)

2018 Starter: Nate Hobbs (3-star #1757)

Nate Hobbs has been an underrated cornerback ever since he started being recruited. This kid was a three-star recruit who was the No. 1757 player in the class of 2017. He started for the Illini during his freshman season back in 2017. That year, he made 10 starts for the Illini and was selected for the BTN All-Freshman Team. Hobbs had another good year in 2018 and managed to start in seven games for the Illini.

I see Hobbs continuing to be the starter at the other cornerback spot for the Illini. He has developed his game enough to where I trust him as the starting cornerback for this team. He is a solid starter and should be one of the strengths for Illinois.

Behind Hobbs, I have incoming freshman Joseph Thompson. I know this sounds a bit premature, but I think this kid could do some really good things as the primary backup to Hobbs in 2019. Thompson was a three-star recruit and was ranked as the No. 1236 player in the class of 2019. He should see some valuable time at cornerback this season.

Illinois doesn’t have a ton of depth at cornerback but they are building. The talent level is rising. Beason and Hobbs should be the two main starting cornerbacks on this team. The two backups are solid as well.

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