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Illinois Football: 4 observations from the Illini win over Nebraska

By Rees Woodcock

Aug 28, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois fighting Illini linebacker Calvin Hart Jr. (5) runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois fighting Illini linebacker Calvin Hart Jr. (5) runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 19, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Daequan Hardy (25) grabs the jersey of Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Luke Ford (82) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Illinois 56-21. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Daequan Hardy (25) grabs the jersey of Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Luke Ford (82) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Illinois 56-21. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Finally, Luke Ford

It has been a grueling three years, but Illinois football fans finally got to see what Luke Ford could actually do on the field.

After the 2018 campaign, Ford transferred from Georgia to Illinois so his ailing grandfather could watch him play football. Sadly, the NCAA denied him a waiver, which meant Ford had to sit out the 2019 season due to the transfer rules.

2020 was supposed to be the emergence of Ford. The COVID-19 pandemic hit, which didn’t help things. On top of that, the Illinois coaching staff didn’t use Ford in the right manner. He didn’t see the field often and when he did, it was mainly in a blocking capacity.

The Bret Bielema era has officially started at Illinois and, already, he is using Ford the way he was always meant to be used. In Ford’s first two years of playing college football, he had 3 receptions for 19 yards and 0 touchdowns. In his first game with Bielema at the helm, Ford had 3 receptions for 30 yards and 1 touchdown.

I loved the fact Illinois used Ford in red zone situations. It was nice to see a big target like Ford being utilized in an area of the field we tend to struggle with the most. That is what he is meant to do. Ford is meant to be a big-time target.

Moving forward, I look for Ford to be a bigger and bigger piece to the offensive puzzle. Illinois’ offense could run through our tight ends. We have the firepower to have the best one-two tight end duo in college football.

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