Cornerback
There are some elements of the Illinois secondary that I am excited to see. I think the safety position could be pretty decent this season. I do want to see an upgrade at cornerback, though.
I think the Illini cornerback situation has some solid talent. I have Xavier Scott returning and being one of the starters this season. He really started to come into his own last season, and he has a chance to be on an All-Big Ten team in 2024.
On the other side, I have Kaleb Patterson getting starts for the Illini. I think him and Tyler Strain could rotate equally throughout the season, but these two will battle for a starting job. Look for a timeshare between them and even see them on the field at the same time.
I also like Jaheim Clarke at cornerback. He saw a ton of snaps as a freshman, and entering his sophomore campaign, look for those snaps to increase and for him to be a primary backup for the Orange and Blue.
Depth is the main area I want to see upgraded on the Illinois roster. In my eyes, we have four solid cornerbacks, and then there is a massive drop off of talent or uncertainty.
Landing another cornerback or two in the transfer portal would go a long way in helping the Illinois defense. Competition brings out the best in players, and that transfer portal would provide that competition.