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Illinois Football: Top 5 instant impact newcomers for the Illini in 2023

By Rees Woodcock

LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini leads the team on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini leads the team on the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 02: The Illinois Fighting Illini helmet on the field in the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

4. Saboor Karriem

Illinois’ secondary has been depleted after the NFL came in and took all of our talent out of the program. With three NFL Draft picks coming out of the secondary and one player getting signed as an undrafted free agent, the Illini will need some talent to come in and play immediately.

I think Saboor Karriem could be a great option to be an instant impact player in year one. He is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound cornerback from West Orange High School in New Jersey. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 343 player in the class of 2023. He is also the No. 6 player coming out of New Jersey.

The talent that Illinois lost in the secondary in impressive. Devon Witherspoon departed as a cornerback. Illinois had both Sydney Brown and Kendall Smith depart as safeties. Quan Martin also left the program and is entering the NFL as a safety. He was a solid nickel defensive back for the Illini.

Bret Bielema has done a good job reloading at defensive back. I like some of the pieces we have on the roster. Taz Nicholson and Matthew Bailey should get plenty of shine. Elijah Mc-Cantos was a highly-rated recruit from the 2022 class. We also have a couple of transfers in Nicario Harper and Kaleb Patterson who could make some waves.

There is so much uncertainty with the Illinois secondary, though. I would imagine, once all of the freshmen arrive on campus, that the secondary will start taking shape. In the first couple of games, we will probably see our secondary rotate in and out frequently. There is plenty of room for Karriem to come in and make an instant impact. He has the talent to be able to be a freshman All-American in 2023.

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