Since we are 93 days until a regular season Illinois football game is played, let’s take a look at the player who will don the No. 93 jersey this season.
The Illini coaching staff is doing a great job recruiting out of state talent. The state of Texas has been one of the bigger producers of talent for the Orange and Blue. The class of 2018 gave us one of the best players in the state, Calvin Avery.
Avery was kind of the start of the recruiting momentum for the Illini. When Lovie Smith and the coaching staff were able to pull this big-time defensive tackle from the Lone Star State, people started to take notice of what was happening in Champaign.
Despite his four-star rating and a ranking in the top 250 among the class of 2018, Avery wasn’t thrown to the wolves. He had a chance to play in every game as a true freshman, but he didn’t have to step up into a starting role without being ready. That is what having depth does for a program. He ended up finishing with 18 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in year one.
Now that Avery is entering his sophomore campaign, the 6-foot-2, 330-pound defensive tackle has a chance to take a step forward and start some games for the Illini. The interior defensive line is deep this season like previously mentioned, but I think there is a chance for Avery to see multiple starts and, potentially, be the every week starter for this program.
The main competition for Avery entering training camp is Kenyon Jackson, Jamal Milan and Tymir Oliver. Both Oliver and Milan started every game they could have last season. Milan ended up missing the first four games but started the final eight. With both of those players having so much experience and being seniors, it might be hard for Avery to be the main man this season.
I still think there is a shot for Avery to be the everyday starter for the Illini. But, at worst, he is going to be the primary backup and then take over the starting job the final two years he is in Champaign. This kid has all the talent in the world. His time will come and once it does, he will shine.