Illinois Football: Calvin Avery could blossom with Minnesota Vikings

There was a myriad of Illinois football players who were signed after the NFL Draft on Saturday.

The Illini finally started to win games last season, and this success put a lot of the players in the limelight. Just imagine how many Illinois players would have been drafted if this program was winning in the years prior to 2022.

Illinois was able to win eight games on the backs of these players. One of the main front-line talents for the Orange and Blue was Calvin Avery. The nose tackle wasn’t selected in the draft, but on Saturday, he did end up signing with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings are getting a brick wall in former Illinois football nose tackle Calvin Avery

Coming out of Bishop Dunne High School in Texas, just about every program wanted Avery. He as a four-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 216 player in the class of 2018. In a surprising turn, the Illini were able to land this high school All-American.

For the first couple of seasons in Champaign, Avery was a backup defensive lineman. He started to really make his mark on the program in 2020 with two starts and followed that season up with another two starts in 2021.

This past season, Bret Bielema and his defensive staff utilized Avery as the starting nose tackle for the program. He ended up starting in 12 games, and Avery helped anchor a really good Illinois rush defense.

As a senior, Avery would amass 24 tackles, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection. If you are looking for someone who can stop the run, Avery is your man.

I think the Vikings got a brick wall when it comes to Avery. He still has plenty of room to grow as a player as well. Illinois only tapped into the potential of this kid. The Vikings will hopefully be able to mold him even more.