Illinois Football: 5 observations from the Illini win over Iowa

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Oct 8, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) runs the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Backfield could be a two-headed monster

When the 2022 campaign started, I was thinking Illinois football could have a dangerous two-headed monster at running back.

Chase Brown was going to be the lightning with Josh McCray’s thunder. They were going to be the best one-two punch at running back in the Big Ten, if not the country. But that ended quickly with McCray getting injured.

This weakened Illinois’ running back room because McCray is a sensational runner of the football. But it also gave Brown the green light to be on pace for one of the best seasons in program history.

Even with the injury to McCray, though, I think there is still a chance Illinois could have a dangerous two-headed monster in the backfield. I think Reggie Love III should get more play with what he has done on the field.

On Saturday night, Love had three carries for 16 yards and one reception for five yards. That was 5.3 yards per carry, which is a good mark. For the season, he has now has 30 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown, which comes out to 5.1 yards per carry. That is a really good number for someone who should have been a third-string running back on the roster.

I love what Brown is doing, and he shouldn’t have any carries taken away. But, especially with DeVito potentially being on the mend, it is time to feed the two-headed monster in the backfield. Brown and Love can be that duo.

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