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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 28: Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Jamal Milan (55) lines up and awaits the snap of the ball from Wisconsin Badger offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz (61) durning an college football game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Wisconsin Badgers on October 28th, 2017, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana, IL. Wisconsin defeats Illinois 24-10. (Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Defensive Tackle

I am comfortable with what the Illini will put on the field in 2019 when it comes to the defensive tackle position. This is actually one of the deepest interior defensive lines I have seen in Champaign in quite some time.

The starters for the Orange and Blue will probably be Calvin Avery and Tymir Oliver. Avery is a former big-time recruit who is developing into a great defensive tackle. Oliver started every game for the Illini in 2018, so I don’t see him losing his starting job. That is who might be starting.

Behind those two, there is a mix of Jamal Milan, Kenyon Jackson and Jamal Woods. Those are all great second options for this defensive line. My only issue is that Milan, Jackson and Oliver are all seniors this season. That means they will be gone in 2020 leaving only Avery, Woods and a few unproven players.

Illinois has three defensive linemen coming in from the class of 2019, but they are all defensive ends. We were able to land Quinton McCoy in the class of 2020, though. He will help with depth, but there is still a big need for another defensive tackle in this class. We can’t just move forward with Avery, Woods and McCoy. That isn’t enough depth on the roster.

Class of 2020 Options

Denver Warren – Warren is a 6-foot-1.5, 318-pound defensive tackle from Brother Rice High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 464 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 43 defensive tackle in the nation.

Sawyer Goram-Welch – Welch is a 6-foot-4, 278-pound defensive tackle from Longview High School in Longview, Texas. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 955 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 72 defensive tackle in the nation.

Willis Singleton – Singleton is a 6-foot-1, 301-pound defensive tackle from Warren Township High School in Gurnee, Illinois. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 1124 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 83 defensive tackle in the nation.

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