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Illinois Football: 5 Illini players who benefit the most from a fall season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL. - NOVEMBER 30: The Fighting Illini take the field before a Big Ten Conference college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the IIllinois Fighting Illini on November 30, 2019, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL. - NOVEMBER 30: The Fighting Illini take the field before a Big Ten Conference college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the IIllinois Fighting Illini on November 30, 2019, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 09: Josh Imatorbhebhe #9 of the Illinois Fighting Illini catches a fourth quarter fourth down pass to keep the drive alive between Xavier Henderson #3 and Shakur Brown #29 of the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 09, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Illinois Fighting Illini won the game 37-34. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. Josh Imatorbhebhe

Transferring to Illinois was a big move for Josh Imatorbhebhe. He had a chance to restart his career and develop his talents into one of the elite wide receivers in the game.

Coming out of North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, Imatorbhebhe was one of the top players in the class of 2016. A four-star rating and ranked as the No. 123 player in his class, USC came calling and scooped up the talented wide receiver.

After taking a redshirt in year one, playing sparingly in year two and dealing with injuries in year three, Imatorbhebhe graduated and took his talents to Illinois for his final two years of eligibility.

With the Illini, Imatorbhebhe has been sensational. 33 catches for 634 yards and 9 touchdowns in year one has the talented pass catcher on the radar nationally and is likely to be eyed by NFL scouts for the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.

But, if the Big Ten would have played in the spring, it would have been extremely difficult for someone like Imatorbhebhe. He might have opted out of the spring, and then his draft stock would have remained the same unless he showed out in one of the training sessions.

Imatorbhebhe doesn’t have to worry about that now, though. Illinois is playing in the fall and winter. He is going to get a chance to play in eight games, which will be viewable by scouts all over the country. It wouldn’t shock me to see his stock rise rapidly either. With so much talent around him, I am fully expecting Imatorbhebhe to light the world on fire in the short time we get to see him.

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