Illinois Football: Roster adjustments made for Illini spring practice

Illinois football opened spring practice just about a week ago, and there are going to be some changes to the team this spring.

It has almost been three months since the Illini fell just short to Mississippi State in the ReliaQuest Bowl. This was a heartbreaking defeat, but it left me wanting more.

Thankfully, during the spring, Illinois fans get a little taste of football with spring practice. This series of practice is then capped off with the annual spring game that will be held on Thursday, April 20 on the Big Ten Network.

Before the game against Toledo to start the 2023 campaign, Illinois will be going through some slight changes to the roster. We already talked about how the Illini lost linebacker Shammond Cooper to the transfer portal. He would have been a solid depth piece this season, but now we have to adjust the roster to fill that void.

There are numerous changes to the Illinois football roster for spring practice

In the press conference to open up the spring practice series, head coach Bret Bielema laid out the changes and adjustments to the Illini roster.

The biggest eye-opener was the Cooper departure. I think he will be missed by everyone. I think the next adjustment that caught my eye was the move of some offensive and special teams players to the secondary.

This past season, I liked what I saw out of Miles Scott at wide receiver. I thought he flew under the radar and had potential to be a solid pass catcher. Well, those hands are now going over to the defensive side of the ball. He is now a defensive back.

Nick Fedanzo, a former three-star running back, is going from running back/special teams to safety this season. At 6-foot, 210-pounds, he has the size to be a bruiser in the secondary. Illinois is moving Ben Clawson to the secondary as well.

I am intrigued by the move of Dylan Davis from the offensive line to the defensive line this spring. He was an FCS Freshman All-American with Furman and then transferred into the Illinois program this past season. I think there is a lot of potential for Davis to help the Illini out on the defensive line, as he already knows the tendencies of the opposite side of the ball.

Rounding out the adjustments that were made to the roster is Ben Schultz and Kalen Villanueva. Schultz is going from linebacker to tight end. Villanueva transferred out of the program after the 2021 campaign. He decided to come back to Illinois this spring. He is returning as a linebacker.

I like to see adjustments made before spring practice. There are holes in the team, and the coaching staff is trying to fill those holes. Getting experience in the spring is going to be important. Illinois fans should get excited for the spring game.