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Illinois Football: 5 bold predictions for the rest of the Illini 2022 season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 10: Matthew Bailey #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with his team after recovering a fumble for a touchdown during the first quarter in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 10: Matthew Bailey #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with his team after recovering a fumble for a touchdown during the first quarter in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Sep 10, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois fighting Illini quarterback Tommy Devito (3) throw the ball in the first half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Tommy DeVito breaks Illinois single-season touchdown record

Illinois football hasn’t had a ton of tremendous quarterback play throughout the history of the program. There have been some big names, but nothing special has developed in Champaign.

When you look at past great Illini quarterbacks, names like Dave Wilson, Jeff George, and Kurt Kittner come to mind. Kittner was the most prolific passer for Illinois, and he helped get the Orange and Blue to the Sugar Bowl in the early 2000s.

But the passing records for the Illinois football program are not that great. The record for career touchdown passes in Illini history is 70 by Kittner. If you look at the total touchdown passes during the 2021 season, Bailey Zappe of Western Kentucky threw 62 touchdowns. That was just one season.

The fact that the Illinois quarterback records are so low compared to what the game is today gives me the thought that Tommy DeVito could end up setting the Illinois single-season passing touchdown record.

As it sits right now, the Illinois single-season passing touchdown record is 27 touchdowns by Kittner in 2001. That was a tremendous stat for back then, but 27 touchdowns is nothing in today’s game. That number would have ranked No. 18 in all of college football in 2021.

I think there is a legit shot DeVito passes that 27-touchdown mark in 2022. He has six touchdowns through three games. That comes out to two touchdowns per game. If that is multiplied by 12 games, then he ends up with 24 touchdowns this season.

DeVito has some opportunities to pad his stats in the coming games. Chattanooga is the next opponent, and while they are the No. 10 team in the FCS, they did just give up two touchdown passes to Eastern Illinois. I think DeVito should be able to get on the board with at least two touchdowns.

Wisconsin is next on the schedule, and they have the No. 44 ranked pass defense. Iowa then follows with the No. 32 ranked pass defense. The rest of the schedule looks like this; Minnesota (No. 4), Nebraska (No. 127), Michigan State (No. 43), Purdue (No. 109), Michigan (No. 8), and Northwestern (No. 106).

There is an opportunity for DeVito to have some big games. Three out of the nine games are against a sub-100 pass defense. I think he can break the single-season touchdown record.

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