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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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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – SEPTEMBER 25: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 25, 2021 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

2. Demetrius Hill

Sunday was pretty big for the Illinois football program. We were able to secure a transfer portal commitment from one of the best defensive backs in Demetrius Hill.

Coming out of Miami Springs Senior High School in Florida, Hill was a three-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 991 player in the class of 2021. He was also the No. 78 safety in the country and the No. 123 player in the state of Florida.

Despite offers from some big-time programs like Florida, Hill would land with Florida International. In year one, he would take a redshirt. This past season, Hill would break out and have one of the best years by a freshman defensive back.

Hill would finish the 2022 campaign with 95 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 forced fumbles, 2.0 pass deflections, 1.0 sacks, and 1.0 interceptions. These great numbers would earn him Freshman All-American honors.

Illinois landing this talented safety is going to be great for the program. He already has DI experience, and Hill should slide into a starting spot from day one. With players like Sydney Brown and Kendall Smith departing the program, Hill immediately becomes an instant impact defensive back.

I think Hill goes down as the No. 2 instant impact newcomer for the upcoming season, but he was close to being No. 1. I think Illinois fans are going to be pleasantly surprised by how well the secondary will play in 2023.

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