Illinois football is going up against a very talented Penn State team this weekend.
The Nittany Lions enter the game with a well-rounded team. They have a nasty defense, and now their offensive is starting to click. The Illini have to play a nearly flawless game if we want to knock off a top-10 team in the country.
There are a few players who I think need to step up against Penn State. If these players can perform at an A-level, then this game could go in favor of the Orange and Blue.
Here are three key players for the Illinois football team to beat Penn State
1. LT Julian Pearl
Illinois is going into a tough matchup against Penn State for multiple reasons. One of the reasons is that the Nittany Lions have a fierce defense.
I watched as Penn State ended up beating West Virginia a couple of weeks ago, and their defense looked solid. The main area that stood out to me was how intense the Penn State pass rush was against the Mountaineers’ offensive line.
That is why I think Julian Pearl is a key player in the game on Saturday. Illinois is going to need to protect quarterback Luke Altmyer, and having Pearl protect his blindside is crucial.
Pearl has been slightly above average this season, ranking No. 182 out of 556 offensive tackles graded by Pro Football Focus. His pass blocking has been a little suspect, though. Pearl checks in with a grade of 57.3 in pass blocking, which ranks No. 301 in the country.
Penn State seems to rarely bring a four-man rush. They tend to bring an extra blitzer or two, which will put stress on the Illinois offensive line. Pearl being able to hold his own on the end of the offensive line is going to be big for the Illini. It could lead to sacks, injuries, and turnovers if he can’t.