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Illinois Football: 5 sleeper players for the Illini in 2019

By Rees Woodcock

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini walks on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini walks on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 05: An Illinois Fighting Illini football helmet sits on a table on the sidelines during the Big Ten Conference game as the Illini take on the Michigan State Spartans on November 5, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Edwin Carter

The Illinois offense this upcoming season should be one of the best units I have seen the Orange and Blue have in decades. I would argue this is the best offensive the Illini have put on the field since Kurt Kittner was throwing to Brandon Lloyd.

There are multiple reasons why this Illinois offense is going to be so special in 2019. We have a few quarterback options, which is something we haven’t seen in a while. But we also have players who can catch the ball. One of those players is Edwin Carter.

Carter was a three-star recruit coming out of Sandalwood High School. He was ranked as the No. 1668 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 243 wide receiver in the nation. He was also the No. 270 player in the state of Florida.

No one expected Carter to do much of anything with the Illini program. This kid wasn’t ranked very high, so why have any expectations of his abilities on the field? Let me just tell you, this kid was sensational the few times we actually got to see him in 2018.

Illinois’ quarterback situation wasn’t great last season, but Carter managed to still put up some solid numbers in limited time on the field. He only played a total of 11 snaps during his freshman season but had two catches for 34 yards and two touchdowns. Those are impressive numbers.

Carter was obviously redshirted and is now back and cleared to suit up for the Orange and Blue. Illinois did have a few graduate transfer wide receivers come into the program, so I would imagine Carter is going to be coming off the bench.  But to have a player on the bench who can come in and be a solid pass catcher is invaluable. I look for Carter to make an impact in the playing time he sees this season.

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