Illinois Football: 3 reasons Brian Hightower being eligible is important

1. Replaces Ricky Smalling

Coming into the 2020 campaign, I was excited about the wide receiver corps and what Brandon Peters has to throw to game in and game out. That excitement was tampered down a little bit when Ricky Smalling decided to leave the program.

Smalling was with the Illini for three years and went through some rough times. His first couple of seasons weren’t good record-wise, but Smalling kept fighting through the muck. Last season, his hard work came to bear fruit as the Illini broke through and made a bowl game. But, after all of this, Smalling still decided to depart the Orange and Blue.

I thought we were going to be a man down when it came to the wide receiver corps. I slotted Casey Washington into Smalling’s starting wide receiver spot, which isn’t a downgrade by any means. But depth was going to be a concern.

Those concerns are now dwindling as Brian Hightower has become immediately eligible. This is huge news for the Illini this upcoming campaign. I have Hightower taking over the starting job alongside Josh Imatorbhebhe and Trevon Sidney. These three talented, highly-rated, wide receivers should help this Illinois offense move the ball down the field.

The departure of Smalling was sudden and surprising. I didn’t see it coming, but it looks like Illinois has actually hit the upgrade button at wide receiver. Hightower taking over Smalling’s duties should be a seamless transition and one that might even make the team better.