The 2025 season is quickly approaching, and the Illinois football program is projected to do pretty well.
Last season was great for the Illini. We won 10 games and took down a tough South Carolina team that has a now-Heisman Trophy favorite.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, Illinois will have some tough games. We will also go up against a few of the top players in the country.
On Monday, ESPN released an early 2026 NFL Mock Draft for just the first round. While no Illinois players showed up on the list, we will be taking on three players projected to be selected in the first 32 picks.
Caleb Downs (Ohio State) – Pick #5
Luke Altmyer is going to go up against Caleb Downs from Ohio State. He is a ball-hawking safety who transferred to Ohio State from Alabama after the 2023 season.
Downs had 81 tackles, six pass deflections, and two interceptions last season. ESPN has him going No. 5 overall to the New Orleans Saints. Illinois’ offense will have its hands full against the Buckeyes on October 11.
D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana) – Pick #28
Late in the first round, Indiana is projected to have cornerback D’Angelo Ponds selected. ESPN has Ponds going No. 28 overall to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens are always looking to build their defense, and Ponds is a great option. He transferred in from James Madison with his head coach. In his first year with the Hoosiers, Ponds finished with 55 tackles, nine pass deflections, and three interceptions. It will be interesting to see if Illinois’ wide receivers can get space against Ponds in Bloomington on September 20.
Denzel Boston (Washington) – Pick #31
Illinois’ defensive backs are going to be challenged when we head out west. Illinois takes on Washington on October 25, and they have one of the best wide receivers in the country.
Denzel Boston is entering his fourth season with the Huskies, which is a rarity nowadays. He burst onto the scene last season with 63 receptions for 834 yards and nine touchdowns. I fully expect Xavier Scott to be on Boston for most of the game. This could be a matchup of two All-Americans in 2025.