Safety
Starter: Prather Hudson
The other safety position was a toss-up for me. At the end of the day, I think there will be a few safeties getting snaps, but I have Prather Hudson starting for the Illini.
Hudson transferred in from Georgia where he played in 53 games during his four-year career, but most of that was on special teams. He is now on the defensive side of the ball for the Illini. I think Hudson is an athletic beast who can play multiple positions. Having him tear apart the opposing wide receivers is going to be fun to watch. Don’t be shocked if there is a rotation of talent at this position, though.
Backup: Eddie Smith
I have Alabama transfer, Eddie Smith, as the primary backup to Hudson at safety. Smith was a four-star coming out of high school but couldn’t find his footing at Alabama. He is now with the Illini for his first season.
Smith played in nine games with the Crimson Tide, but they weren’t meaningful snaps. I think he has a chance to rejuvenate his career with the Illini. For now, he is the primary backup to Hudson at safety, but look for Smith to make an impact and, potentially, start a few games this season.
Backup: Derrick Smith
Derrick Smith is the final piece to the safety position. He has some solid experience on the team, as he started four games last season and played in a total of eight contests. I see Smith getting snaps and becoming a solid piece of the Illinois secondary. Don’t be surprised to see Eddie and Derrick both take snaps at safety in 2021.