5 biggest surprises from the Illinois football win over Eastern Illinois

Illinois football couldn't have looked much better on Thursday night, as Eastern Illinois felt the wrath of what this program could do on the field.

Aug 29, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) reacts after a touchdown during the second half against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports / Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

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4. How quickly Joe Barna caught on to the college game

You can never fully expect a true freshman to make an impact on a program from day one. There are only a few positions where this happens at times, and it is usually on the offensive side of the ball.

Illinois brought in a solid freshman class, but when a player ranks sub-1000 nationally, I am thinking he will redshirt and then maybe by his sophomore season, he will be a solid backup. That isn’t the case with Joe Barna.

Barna didn’t get the start for Illinois, but he was exactly what this program needed. The Illini needed a quality backup who can come in and make an impact and not just let offensive players blow by him and get yards.

Illinois had four players who lined up at outside linebacker on Thursday, and Barna, a true freshman, received 26 snaps, which was third-most among the four edge defenders. According to Pro Football Focus, Barna also received a grade of 65.7, which was the second-best grade behind Seth Coleman for the game.

I fully believe Barna is the real deal. This wasn’t just a good game against an FCS opponent. What I saw on the field, the physical power and vision, makes me think Barna is here to stay. Look for this kid to continue getting solid snaps and being a primary backup at outside linebacker in 2024.

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