Writing Illini
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Illinois football
CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 01: Doug Kramer #65 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

4. Doug Kramer

The offensive line doesn’t get nearly enough notoriety in the game of football. I can honestly say, this is the best Illinois offensive line I have seen in the last two decades. The leader of the line is Doug Kramer.

Kramer, a 6-foot-2, 255-pound guard coming out of Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois, wasn’t on the radar of many big-time programs. A once committed offensive lineman to Florida Atlantic, Kramer flipped his commitment to the Illini and has been sensational ever since.

After taking a redshirt year in 2016, Kramer has been a staple in the Illinois offense. He started eight games at center in 2017 and then has started every regular season game for the Illini since that season. The only game he has missed in the last two years was the Red Box Bowl and that was due to injury.

If the NFL Draft happened today, I have no doubt Kramer would get picked somewhere in the late rounds. An All-Big Ten third-team selection by Phil Steele, an All-Big Ten fourth-team selection by Athlon and a Wuerffel Trophy watch list player, Kramer has the preseason attention that he deserves.

A spring season wouldn’t have helped boost his draft stock even higher. There wouldn’t have been the scouting attention and it would have been difficult for Kramer to work out for teams while a season is going on.

With the fall season about to start here in a little over a month, Kramer will get the chance to show the scouts his talent. The offense will run like a well-oiled machine, which will help his draft stock. You will be able to see his command of the offense too. Kramer has a great ability to call out blocking schemes and pinpoint a blitz. This kid is the real deal.

Home/Illinois Football