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Illinois Football: 5 Illini targets from St. Louis for the class of 2020

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 13: Illinois Fighting Illini helmets sit on the sidelines as players warm up 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 helmets sit on the sidelines as players warm up 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) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 05: An Illinois Fighting Illini football helmet sits on a table on the sidelines during the Big Ten Conference game as the Illini take on the Michigan State Spartans on November 5, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Kevon Billingsley

The defense hasn’t been good over the last few years. Things are changing, though, and more talent is coming into Champaign. This will help improve the defense for years to come.

Illinois’ defensive line is starting to build up to a solid unit. We have some talent coming back who will help this defense stop the run up the middle. I really like the depth we have on the defensive line too. Jamal Milan, Kenyon Jackson, Tymir Oliver, Verdis Brown and Calvin Avery will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

But, the Illini are going to need to reload after the 2019 campaign. They are going to need more depth next season. There needs to be a player who can come into the program and contribute snaps from day one. I think that player can be Kevon Billingsley.

Billingsley is a 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive tackle from Parkway North High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 344 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 35 defensive tackle in the nation. He is also the No. 7 player in the state of Missouri as well.

The size, speed and strength Billingsley brings to the table make him a dangerous player at the next level. This also makes him a difficult player to land as well. He did cut his list down to 12 teams back on January 18 and kept Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Minnesota, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Illinois alive for his commitment.

That is one tough list to compete with for Billingsley. Illinois should be able to compete with the other teams, though. The most dangerous programs I am keeping an eye on are Missouri and Alabama. I think they are the biggest threats. But, I think the Illini will be in this one until the end.

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