Nose Tackle
Starter: Roderick Perry
The man in the middle of the Illinois defensive line should be Rod Perry. The talented defensive tackle joined the Illini last season and dominated upfront. He should be a force once again and someone that is eyed for the NFL Draft in 2022.
Perry transferred into the Illinois program from South Carolina State where he was one of the best players at the FCS level. In his first season with the Illini, Perry was an All-Big Ten honorable mention by both coaches and media. Look for him to be on the first-team All-Big Ten this season.
Backup: Calvin Avery
I love the one-two punch Illinois is going to have at nose tackle in 2021. The starter in Perry will be sensational, but having a player the caliber of Calvin Avery behind him makes this Illinois defensive line special. Everyone in Illini Nation is waiting for Avery to become the four-star recruit he was out of high school, and this season will be the year he takes the step forward.
Avery has been a staple in the Illinois defense since joining the program in 2018. He has played in 31 total games and started in two of those contests. He has the experience and should be able to be a huge asset for the Illini in 2021. I see Avery learning behind Perry once again this season and then becoming a great defensive tackle in his final year in 2022.