5 big questions for the Illinois football spring game

Spring practice is currently taking place, and the Illinois football spring game is quickly approaching.

The Illini will get to display what is happening with the program on April 20 when the spring game takes place. This is where fans get to see the blend of returning players and newcomers. We will also get to see who is taking the lead in each position group.

There are quite a few questions I have for the spring game, though.

Here are five big questions for the Illinois football spring game

1. Which Illini wide receivers take WR2 and WR3 spots?

Illinois football had some changes to the roster this offseason, and the wide receiver corps was one of the positions that took the biggest hit.

Entering the spring game, the Illini are without our top two wide receivers from the 2023 season. Isaiah Williams and Casey Washington are both heading to the next level, which accounts for 54.3% of our receiving yards and 39.1% of our receiving touchdowns from last season.

I believe Pat Bryant, who registered 560 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023, will be leading the team at the wide receiver position. He is going to be our No. 1 wide receiver on the roster. But who emerges as our No. 2 and No. 3 wide receiver?

Bryant was third on the team in receiving yards and led the Illini receivers in touchdowns last season. The next best wide receiver in receiving yards was Ashton Hollins who had 199 yards and zero touchdowns.

Early candidates for the No. 2 and No. 3 wide receiver spots are Malik Elzy, Kenari Wilcher, and Hank Beatty.

Elzy was our top recruit from the class of 2023. The former four-star only registered stats in two games last season but had five receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. His 6-foot-2, 210-pound size is going to be a nice target for Luke Altmyer.

I like Beatty in the slot, as that is where he did most of his work last season. He has good hands and can be a nice piece over the shallow middle. Wilcher is also an electric player. He had a good game against Penn State last season with three receptions for 35 yards.

The No. 2 and No. 3 wide receiver spots will get figured out. For the first time in a long time, Illinois has the bodies to actually have a legitimate competition. The quality of talent is pretty impressive.