Illinois Football: Depth is building as Illini add transfer offensive lineman

Illinois football received a massively under-the-radar transfer commitment on Thursday night.

Whoever wins the quarterback job under Bret Bielema is going to need some protection. Building the front lines is something I have harped on for years. Illinois managed to add a crucial piece to their blocking needs with Jack Badovinac announcing he is coming to Champaign.

Badovinac is a 6-foot-2, 295-pound offensive lineman who played his last three seasons of college football with Colgate. Some people might question why an FCS transfer is such a big deal. Badovinac isn’t just a regular FCS player. This kid was one of the best to do it at that level.

Since joining the Colgate football program, Badovinac played in 34 games and started in 31 of those contests. In 2018 and 2019, he was an All-Patriot League First Team player. He is also a member of the Colgate All-Decade Team of the 2010s.

Where does Badovinac fit in on the Illinois football roster?

I honestly believe the senior could come in and compete for a starting job from day one. Alex Palczewski and Vederian Lowe came back for an extra year and will man the tackle roles for the Illini. Doug Kramer is obviously going to be the starting center. And then for the two guard positions, I think the battle will be between three players.

Blake Jeresaty had to sit out last season due to injury. He was supposed to come in as a graduate transfer and start right away. I have him pegged as the leader in the clubhouse right now for a guard spot. Verdis Brown is now the incumbent starter from last season, as he led the way in all eight games for the Illini. And then there is Badovinac. He is coming in with a ton of experience.

The way I see it, I would say Jeresaty snags a full-time starting job at left guard. Brown and Badovinac will then duke it out at the other guard spot. At worst, though, Illinois just got a lot more talented and a lot deeper at an extremely important position on the field.

I love this pick-up for the Orange and Blue. We want to win now, and bringing in experienced players is the way to go. Bielema has this train rolling.