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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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Illinois Football
EVANSTON, IL – NOVEMBER 24: Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Ricky Smalling (4) reacts after gaining yardage during a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats on November 24, 2018, at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. Wide Receiver

The final position I believe we need to add to in 2020 is at wide receiver. While we have a great group of pass catchers for the next few years, the Illini will have to reload after that.

This upcoming season should be pretty fun with the talent we have coming into the program. Illinois has Trevon Sidney and Josh Imatorbhebhe transferring in from USC. They both have two years of eligibility remaining. I can’t wait to see what the Illini quarterbacks can do with some wide receivers.

Sidney and Imatorbhebhe will be joining some good Illini wide receivers already on the roster. Ricky Smalling should have another good year. Edwin Carter is healthy again. He had one of the best 11-play stretches in the history of college football before going down with an injury. I can’t wait to see the progression of Dominic Stampley and Company as well.

But depth is going to end up being a big concern with this Illini grouping. Sidney, Imatorbhebhe and Smalling are all gone after the 2020 campaign. A total of eight out of the 13 wide receivers we have on the roster will also be gone after the 2020 season.

Illinois is adding a couple of pass catchers in the next few classes, though. Casey Washington is coming in from the class of 2019. He should make an early impact. I also think landing Jadon Thompson from the class of 2020 is going to be huge too. This kid can absolutely ball. But we need another couple playmaking wide receivers on the roster.

Class of 2020 Options

Mookie Cooper – Cooper is a 5-foot-8.5, 193-pound wide receiver from Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 64 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 11 wide receiver in the nation.

James Frenchie – Frenchie is a 5-foot-9, 175-pound wide receiver from Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 288 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 51 wide receiver in the nation.

Kobe Stewart – Stewart is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound wide receiver from Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 819 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 137 wide receiver in the nation.

Jay Wilkerson – Wilkerson is a 6-foot-0.5, 157-pound wide receiver from Heritage High School in Midlothian, Texas. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 853 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 140 wide receiver in the nation.

Next. Projected Illini lineup with Adam Miller and DJ Steward. dark

Lawaun Powell – Powell is a 5-foot-11, 192-pound wide receiver from East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Illinois. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 860 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 142 wide receiver in the nation.

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