Illinois Football: Pregame grades for the Toledo Rockets defense

The Illinois football team has an offense that could struggle at times as they get used to each other in game situations.

New Illini quarterback, Luke Altmyer, is getting his chance to start for a power-five program. This new role is going to take some time to get used to. The first couple of games are going to be a learning curve.

I think Illinois is going to have to lean on the running game, especially this Saturday against Toledo. The Rockets’ defense is nothing to joke about. They have some playmakers.

Here is what the Illinois football team will face, as these are the pregame grades for the Toledo Rockets defense

• Defensive line – Overall D+

The Toledo defensive line took a huge hit this offseason, as their best lineman, Desjuan Johnson, headed to the NFL. He was selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson was second on the team with 5.5 sacks, and he also accounted for 65 tackles and an interception.

While the edge of the defensive line is going to be wounded with Johnson leaving, the middle of the defensive line should be okay. Darius Alexander and Judge Culpepper are both back for another year.

Culpepper had 44 tackles, 1.0 sacks, and 1.0 forced fumbles in 2022. Alexander would finish last season with 21 tackles, 3.0 pass deflections, 1.5 sacks, and 1.0 fumble recoveries.

The Rockets’ defensive line isn’t the best in the world. This is a unit that lost its best player and even with him, they gave up 150.8 yards per game on the ground in 2022.

• Linebackers – Overall C+

Toledo does return their top linebacker from the 2022 campaign. Dallas Gant is back for his senior year. The Ohio State transfer racked up 115 tackles, 5.0 pass deflections, and 2.0 forced fumbles in 2022.

Beyond Gant, there was a lot of attrition for the middle of the Rockets defense. Dyontae Johnson is now with the New York Giants. He had 108 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 3.0 pass deflections, 2.0 fumble recoveries, and 1.0 forced fumbles last season.

Toledo also lost Jamal Hines, who was sixth on the team in tackles and led the program with 6.5 sacks in 2022. Nate Givhan won’t be coming off the edge either. He departed the Rockets’ linebacker corps after tallying 5.0 sacks last season.

Gant is going to provide stability for Toledo at linebacker. But there is a lot of talent to still replace with so many departing pieces. That knocks the grade down a bit.

• Defensive backs – Overall A+

I think the scariest part of the Toledo defense this season is going to be the secondary. They were great in 2022, and most of the talent returns to the roster.

Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is back in the Toledo secondary. He is their leading cornerback, as he would finish with 42.0 tackles, 19.0 pass deflections, and 5.0 interceptions last season. Mitchell would also have two defensive touchdowns. This kid is the best defender they have.

The Rockets have some ball-hawking safeties returning as well. Nate Bauer, Maxen Hook, and Zachary Ford are all back on the roster. They accounted for five of Toledo’s interceptions in 2022. All three were also in the top seven in tackles on the team.

Toledo returns nearly all of their talent in the secondary from 2022. This team averaged giving up 191.8 yards per game through the air, which ranked No. 17 in the nation. Illinois’ offense could have a hard time moving the ball via the pass on Saturday.