With the NFL season on the horizon, the preseason has given Illinois football fans some familiar names to watch and root for.
Standouts from the last three iterations of the Illini have appeared in the first week of the preseason, each with something to prove to their teams.
Tommy DeVito, quarterback of Illinois in 2022, looks to do enough to strengthen his case as the starter for the New York Giants.
In a quarterback room that really has no clear winner as of yet, DeVito’s strong game certainly helped. After completing 10-of-14 for 73 yards and one touchdown, his stats were comparable to those of his locker room competitors.
As DeVito looks to build his case for some prominent playing time, so too does last season's star wide receiver, Pat Bryant.
While he only caught two passes for 21 yards, both were very meaningful as they resulted in first downs. In a battle for the wide receiver three spot for the Denver Broncos, getting these important reps in during the preseason allows Bryant to showcase his skills to the new coaching staff.
Given his elite playmaking ability and the openness that the Broncos receiving core holds, save for Courtland Sutton, the chance to get legitimate playing time this season is certainly there for Bryant.
Bryant's teammate from the 2023 season, Jer’Zhan Newton, also looks to boost his role on the Washington Commanders' defensive front.
Newton was able to register a sack to go along with three tackles. Although he sits at second on the depth chart at his position, his rise could be very similar to another Illini who performed well last year in Chase Brown.
He should get many more opportunities to prove himself on the defensive line as the season progresses, which could result in the coaching staff trusting him more. As a high pick just two drafts ago, the Commanders will surely want to put Newton into a position in which he can thrive.
As of late, the Illini have been prominently represented in the NFL with players like Quan Martin, Devon Witherspoon, and Kerby Joseph, and the players mentioned above could be on their way to joining them.