Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Football: Illini don Mel Kiper’s top 5 at each position

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 17: Illinois Fighting Illini offensive lineman Kendrick Green (55) lines up next to Illinois Fighting Illini offensive lineman Doug Kramer (65) before the ball is snapped during the Big Ten Conference college football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 17, 2018, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 17: Illinois Fighting Illini offensive lineman Kendrick Green (55) lines up next to Illinois Fighting Illini offensive lineman Doug Kramer (65) before the ball is snapped during the Big Ten Conference college football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 17, 2018, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It has been a while since Illinois football players have received serious notoriety for their play on the field.

The Illini have struggled this decade for one reason or another. These struggles have hurt the national profile of the program, and these struggles are in part due to the fact we just haven’t had great teams. The talent hasn’t always been there. But that is clearly changing with what we have on the field in 2020.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper released rankings of the top five players at each position heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. Yes, these are early rankings considering the 2020 NFL Draft just concluded. But, let’s be honest, everyone loves rankings.

Illinois didn’t have a player on the quarterback top five, although we do go up against two of the top five this year in Justin Fields (Ohio State) and Tanner Morgan (Minnesota).  We don’t have a top-five player in a myriad of other positions either because, well, having a top-five player at a position is extremely difficult. There are 130 DI programs and 85 scholarship players per team. That is 11,050 players.

Despite there being so many talented players at the DI level, the Illini were able to find their way onto two of the top five lists put out by Kiper.

The Illinois offense should be one of the best we have ever seen, and a big reason for the projected success is due to center, Doug Kramer. This kid has been with the program since 2016 and has now made 28 straight starts. Kramer checks in as the No. 5 center in the nation according to Kiper.

Lovie Smith has always harped on all three phases of the game. Without each phase working, the team will struggle to win. Having a great punter and kicker is extremely important. According to Kiper’s top five kickers and punters list, Illinois punter Blake Hayes checks in at No. 2 and kicker James McCourt at No. 4.

Hayes is actually the top punter on the list. McCourt would then be the No. 2 kicker. Illinois is in good hands with both of these talented specialists. It brings me great comfort to know that we don’t have to worry about special teams in 2020.

Next. Top 3 areas for the Illini to address in the class of 2021. dark

Those are the three players who make Kiper’s top five list for each position. These three players are extremely important. It wouldn’t shock me to see other Illini players move up into the top five at some of these positions. I believe we are going to have at least four players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Home/Illinois Football