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Illinois Football: 3 key players for the Illini to beat Florida Atlantic

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 22: A general view of the Illinois Fighting Illini scoreboard before the game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 22: A general view of the Illinois Fighting Illini scoreboard before the game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Illinois football
Sep 8, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. (20) is tackled by Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton (4) and defensive back Miles Scott (10) and defensive back Xavier Scott (14) during the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois football is heading into a much-needed game against Florida Atlantic this weekend.

The Illini are coming off a tough loss to Penn State and need a get-right game. They take on the Owls in Champaign, and this is a chance for Illinois to figure some things out and gain confidence heading into the Big Ten slate.

I am looking for everyone to play well against Florida Atlantic, but there are a few players who could really break this game open.

Here are three key players for the Illinois football team to beat Florida Atlantic

1. Jer’Zhan Newton

An obvious choice for one of the key players for Illinois to beat Florida Atlantic is Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton. He is the best player on the team and someone who can wreck an opposing offense.

I am mentioning Newton for more than those reasons, though. Illinois is coming into a game against a bad Florida Atlantic offense, and it is an opportunity for Newton to stack quality games and force multiple turnovers for the defense.

The Owls are currently one of the worst teams in the country when it comes to allowing sacks. Their offensive line is giving up 2.5 sacks per game, which ranks No. 80 in the nation.

On top of that, Newton has improved his pass rush every game this season. It was capped off by a grade of 85.0 against Penn State with his five quarterback hurries and two hits on the quarterback.

Newton was going against a solid and experienced offensive line against the Nittany Lions as well. With Florida Atlantic, he should be able to eat up their offensive line and get to the quarterback quite often. I believe that not only will Newton have a really good game, but he can make a few plays that increase the margin of victory for the Orange and Blue. That is why he is a key player in this game.

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