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Projected 2024 Illinois football defensive depth chart

While the Illinois football offense needs to score points, the Illini defense needs to prevent them. That is what I am hoping happens with the 2024 defensive unit.

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Kenenna Odeluga (39) tackles Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Xavier Trueblood (97)during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Kenenna Odeluga (39) tackles Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Xavier Trueblood (97)during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports / Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
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Interior Linebackers

Starter: Dylan Rosiek

Seeing 616 snaps for any program in the FBS is impressive, let alone in the Big Ten. That is the amount of action Dylan Rosiek saw last season for the Illinois football program.

Rosiek led Illinois in 2023 with 82 tackles. He also had four forced fumbles, three pass deflections, and a sack. I expect another big season out of Rosiek in 2024.

There is no doubt Rosiek is going to be starting for Illinois as an interior linebacker this season. He has been a staple in the Illinois defense for a couple of years now, and I firmly believe he could make a first or second-team All-Big Ten roster for the 2024 campaign.

Starter: Kenenna Odeluga

Both Illinois interior linebackers are juniors, so we could have them around for the 2025 campaign as well. That is exciting to think about, especially with the potential Kenenna Odeluga has at the position.

The path is clear for Odeluga to start in 2024. He had to share time in 2023 with Tarique Barnes, but it is now his time to shine. In just 322 snaps, Odeluga managed to rack up 37 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one pass deflection, and one sack last season.

I honestly believe that Illinois has one of the best one-two punches at linebacker in the Big Ten. Rosiek and Odeluga will cause problems for opposing offenses in 2024, and it is a big reason why Illinois fans should be excited about the potential of this team.

Backups

While I am pumped for the starting linebacker corps for the Illini, I think we get a little thin when it comes to backups for the interior linebackers.

James Kreutz, who played 83 snaps last season, is the most experienced backup interior linebacker Illinois has on the roster. He is a good player who managed 18 tackles and a sack last season. I think he could have a good year.

I am excited to see what Jojo Hayden can bring to the position as well. He is a young player out of East St. Louis who took a redshirt as a freshman in 2023. At 6-foot-2, Hayden has a ton of potential and could blossom into an elite player.

The only concern I have is inexperience with the interior linebacker depth. If the backups can develop a little more, Illinois is going to have one fierce middle of the defense.

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