Projected 2024 Illinois football offensive depth chart

Tight End

Starter: Cole Rusk

Losing Tip Reiman is going to hurt the Illinois football team in 2024. He was a good tight end, and now he is getting a chance in the NFL. But, as I mentioned earlier, the offseason was good to the Illini.

Illinois was able to pull in a top tight end with the addition of Cole Rusk. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound monster had 39 receptions for 512 yards and six touchdowns with Murray State last season. I don’t expect those numbers due to depth and better opposing defenses, but he should be able to give Illinois at least the Reiman numbers from last year of 19 receptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

I think the Illini coaching staff wants the offense to be explosive, and having Rusk starting at tight end would give us that spark. In my eyes, he is the starter heading into the first game.

Backups

I use the term backups in this spot loosely. Illinois won’t just play Rusk in 2024. I think the Illini could easily play at least three tight ends quite a bit.

The first backup off the bench behind Rusk should be Tanner Arkin. He is more of a blocking tight end, so I could see him and Rusk on the field at the same time. These two should give headaches to opposing defenses.

Following Arkin will likely be Henry Boyer. Playing 97 snaps in 2023, Boyer does have some experience that will be valuable to the Illinois offense. I look for Boyer to expand on his three receptions for 20 yards from last season.