Illinois Football: 5 New Year’s resolutions for the Illini
A new year is coming for the Illinois football team, and I want to see a few things happen for this up-and-coming program.
1. Landing Shammond Cooper
The No. 1 recruiting focus for the Illinois football team right now is landing Shammond Cooper. This kid is a difference maker on defense and someone who could help take this team from good to great.
The announcement of Cooper’s college decision will be January 3 at the Under Armour All-American game. He will pick between Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Illinois. All signs point to him ending up with the Illini according to the experts and the vibes coming out of the Cooper camp.
Illinois snagging Cooper would be huge for the program. That would give the Illini four top 600 defensive players for the class of 2019 and three UA All-American Game participants. I am impressed with this class and adding Cooper would only make it even more impressive. This is a big week for the Orange and Blue and one that could help change the trajectory of the program for years to come.
2. Illinois football bowl game
Since that bowl appearance, the Illini struggles have been well-documented. Horrific recruiting classes by the previous regime left the program a mess. But, the hiring of Lovie Smith is going to pay off. He doubled the win total from the previous season, and Illinois was close to five wins in 2018.
In addition to the improvements last season, the Illini are bringing in some talented recruits from the class of 2019. There will be struggles at times in 2019, but I think it is time to make a bowl game. I want to see this Orange and Blue program going bowling in December. This program is on the rise, so let’s prove the doubters wrong. Let’s make a bowl game.
3. Isaiah Williams lights up the stat sheet
Illinois is coming into the 2019 season with a new quarterback. The most likely starter for the Illini is going to be incoming freshman, Isaiah Williams.
Williams is coming off a state championship at the high school level. He won a multitude of awards at the quarterback position. I want that to translate into year one with the Illini. I want to see Williams hit 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing for Illinois. He has the speed to absolutely tear defenses apart and Illinois has a few solid pass catchers. Let’s have a good 2019 season led by a great quarterback in Williams.
4. Reggie Corbin gets in the top 10 for Heisman
The massive bright spot for the Illini in 2018 was running back, Reggie Corbin. This kid came into the season as a solid running back in most eyes, but he proved any doubters wrong with a tremendous campaign. He finished the 2018 season with 1,085 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. He also had 176 yards receiving as well.
I want to see Corbin in the top 10 for the Heisman Trophy. I know he isn’t likely to be sitting in New York as one of the top three or four, but I want him to eclipse the 1,500-yard rushing mark. This Illini offense is going to be dynamic and Corbin is going to be a huge piece of it.
Next. 5 top Illini targets for the class of 2019. dark
5. Marquez Beason is the centerpiece of top 50 defense
One of the biggest gets for the Illini from the class of 2019 was Marquez Beason. This kid got to the state championship in Texas and was on the radar of all the big-time college programs. Illinois was able to snag him, though, and now the Illini defense should be improved from 2018.
Illinois had one of the worst defenses in the nation in 2018. I realize that a few players aren’t going to make them one of the top 10 defenses in the nation, but I think the Illini can pull off a top 50 defense. Adding Beason is going to help the Illini secondary so much. That was one of their big issues in 2018. Let’s see a top 50 defense for the Illini in 2019.