Illinois Football: 5 Illini payers who have switched positions this spring

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 17: Illinois tight end Brandon Jones (88) works out before a Big Ten Conference football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 17, 2018, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

There were a few additions to this team in the offseason that enable the Illini to move some players around to better suit the program. Brandon Jones is a player who looks to be playing a different position in 2019.

Jones was a 6-foot-5, 235-pound strongside defensive end coming out of high school. He was rated as a three-star recruit who was the No. 1468 player in the class of 2016 and the No. 72 defensive end in the nation. He was also the No. 14 player in the state of Missouri as well.

During his redshirt freshman season, Jones was still listed as a defensive end. In 2017, he flipped over the fullback role for the Illini where he didn’t see action on the field. Last season, Illinois then moved him over to the tight end position. This was a weak area for the team, so getting more depth is always a good thing.

Jones is now entering his redshirt junior campaign. Instead of being on the offensive side of the ball, it looks like Jones will now be back in his original role at defensive end. Will he see the field? That is still left to be decided, but he has now shifted from tight end back to his natural position of defensive end. I believe the addition of Luke Ford, probably, enabled the Illini to make this move.

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