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Illinois Football: 3 Illini players who didn’t need spring practice

By Rees Woodcock

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 09: Illinois head coach Lovie Smith watches his team warm up prior to a college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 9, 2019 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 09: Illinois head coach Lovie Smith watches his team warm up prior to a college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 9, 2019 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 02: Johnny Langan #17 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is sacked by Jake Hansen #35 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 02: Johnny Langan #17 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is sacked by Jake Hansen #35 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

1. Jake Hansen

There are always players who come through the Illinois football program who hold a special place in my heart. These players aren’t necessarily going to make the NFL, but they gave their heart, soul and bodies for the program every Saturday.

Linebacker Jake Hansen is one of those players for me. This kid has done everything and more for the Illini. He is someone who not only gives everything he has, but he is an extremely gifted player. The amount of experience Hansen has on the football field is the reason why I believe he should be just fine without spring practice this year.

After a season-ending injury before the 2017 campaign could start, Hansen has done some incredible things on the football field. He started every game for the Illini in 2018. He was then on track to do the same in 2019 but missed the final three games with an injury.

Through just short of two seasons as a starting linebacker, Hansen is averaging 83.5 tackles and 2.25 sacks per year. He was a big reason why Illinois was able to win six games last year and get back to a bowl game. Sadly, he couldn’t participate in the bowl game due to the previously mentioned injury.

That brings me to my next point. Hansen didn’t need spring practice because of injury. This kid has dealt with two injuries in the last four seasons. He knows the playbook and is a beast. There is no reason to risk an injury in the offseason during spring practice. Having Hansen rest up is optimal for the Illini.

Hansen is a huge piece to this Illini program. His veteran leadership and knowledge of the playbook, mixed in with his need to stay healthy, are the mains reasons why he didn’t need spring practice in 2020.

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