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Illinois Football: Top 3 areas for the Illini to address in the class of 2021

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – OCTOBER 06: Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Jake Hansen (35) during the College Football Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 6, 2018, at HighPoint.Com Stadium in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Linebacker

Another area of the Illinois football team that I love for the 2020 campaign is linebacker. We have some talented started linebackers at all three positions this upcoming season.

The projected starting linebackers for the Illini in 2020 should look something like Shammond Cooper (LOLB), Jake Hansen (MLB) and Milo Eifler (ROLB). I think these three could do some real damage in the Big Ten. I also like their backups. There is some depth at the linebacker role. But I can’t say the same for 2021.

Hansen and Eifler are both departing the program due to graduation. That is going to kill the defense. The projected starting linebackers for the 2021 campaign include Cooper (LOLB), Lavar Gardner (MLB) and Derrick Smith (ROLB). I think these three could be really good together and one of the best units in the Big Ten. But the depth just isn’t there. The talent behind them worries me.

In 2021, I have a total of nine linebackers on the roster and five of those linebackers will be seniors. That means we need to add talent from the class of 2021. But what should be the game plan?

With zero depth at linebacker, I think a graduate transfer would need to come in and help out. I am not talking about starting right away, but we need someone who can play snaps and not bring down the level of play.

In addition to the graduate transfer, Illinois needs to snag at least two linebackers from the class of 2021. We have a full slate of scholarships available, so if we could land three or four linebackers, that would be optimal. The linebacker situation is at code red right now.

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