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Illinois Football: 5 positions that need to improve with the class of 2020

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini greets fans before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini greets fans before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 13: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet sits on the sidelines during 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) /

The Illinois football team is going to need to land more players for the class of 2020 if we want to be competitive in the future.

Lovie Smith and the Illini coaching staff did a great job building depth and talent with the last few classes. This team is poised to have their best season in about a decade. I fully expect a bowl appearance with the roster we have in 2019.

The quarterback situation is finally settling. We have some options there including a young freshmen sensation in Isaiah Williams. I love what we have at running back this season and into the future. With Rod Smith calling the plays, I think we will be okay.

The defense has some great depth at defensive end as well. Not only are there great players on the roster already, but the Illini were able to snag three talented defensive ends from the class of 2019. Those were all huge pickups for the program.

But there are still some areas that I take issue with. They might not be immediate needs, but these positions need to be addressed in the class of 2020, so we aren’t left out to dry.

Here are five positions that need to improve with the class of 2020.

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