4. Offensive Line
The Illinois football team should have a great offensive line in 2019. This group has so much experience and will lead this team to a winning record, you can mark my words.
I project something like Alex Palczewski, Kendrick Green, Doug Kramer, Richie Petitbon and Verdis Brown as the starters on the line this season. There is solid depth behind them with Vederian Lowe, Kievan Myers, Jordyn Slaughter and Company. This is a great group of offensive linemen.
But this group is also fairly old as well. Petitbon is gone after this season. Palczewski, Kramer, Lowe and a few other offensive linemen will be gone after the 2020 campaign. That leaves the cupboard pretty bare. Illinois only has one offensive lineman, Evan Kirts, coming in from the class of 2019 as well. We are going to have to reload if we want to stay solid up front.
Class of 2020 Options
Kevin Tyler – Tyler is a 6-foot-5, 295-pound offensive tackle from Ritenour High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 817 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 68 offensive tackle in the nation.
Monroe Mills – Mill is a 6-foot-7, 291-pound offensive tackle from Father Tolton High School in Columbia, Missouri. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 1345 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 122 offensive tackle in the nation.
Blaise Sparks – Sparks is a 6-foot-7, 301-pound offensive tackle from North Fort Myers High School in North Fort Myers, Florida. He isn’t rated or ranked by the recruiting sites.
Jalen St. John – St. John is a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive guard from Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 605 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 36 offensive guard in the nation.
James Robinson – Robinson is a 6-foot-4, 327-pound offensive guard from Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 1154 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 70 offensive guard in the nation.