For the first time since 2011, Illinois was on the good end of a winning season, and with Bret Bielema locked into a long-term contract with a no-compete clause in the Big Ten, it looks as if the Illinois program is making just as big of a statement of change as the rest of the Big Ten. 8-5 to lots of programs isn’t an anthill…..
However, for Illinois, an 8-5 season was just what the doctor ordered to fire up the fan base, and point Bret Bielema’s Fighting Illini in the right direction to continue to move mountains. 9,500 more season tickets have been sold from 2022 to 2023, and the fan base is fired up for another potential crack at the Big Ten West title.
The winning also inspired a spark in roster retention, and despite the Illini ending the season on a tough, but promising loss to SEC opponent Mississippi State, the Illini were able to gain nice traction in the belief of this program. A big part of that started in the locker room, and bringing back starters like Johnny Newton, Keith Randolph, Isaiah Williams, and others, is a big deal for this program. You want to know a big piece of how a program consistently sustains success? Get old, and stay old. Experience and depth are everything.
It’s not often Illinois has produced this much high level-NFL talent, and to convince many to take a shot at the West one last time, was critical for this program, and shows a lot of belief in Bret Bielema.
Offense
Quarterback: Luke Altmyer, a transfer from Ole Miss, is set to take over as the starting quarterback. Altmyer brings a wealth of talent and potential to the team, having previously played in a competitive SEC West. Luke was a highly sought after recruit in High School with a strong arm and excellent decision-making abilities as a young player. Barry Lunny Jr’s staff thinks he has the talent to lead the offense to high-level success, however his ability to adapt quickly to Barry Lunny Jr’s system will be critical. Altmyer will have some talent around him that Illinois frankly, isn’t used to having until last season. Isiah Williams and Josh McCray will be asked to take even larger strides in 2023, and if that happens, it will take a lot of pressure off the young decision maker Altmyer.
Running Backs: After the departure of All Big Ten running back Chase Brown to the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Draft, Josh McCray and Reggie love III will now need to take a big step forward in their careers. The “Thunder and Lightning” style combo of this unit is intriguing. Josh McCray, a dynamic Power Back is getting healthy and needs to step up as the man in this running back room. He has patiently waited through injury issues, and this season is his to take.
The pure speed of former Trinity Catholic RB Reggie Love III is scary, and I see this as a potential to be the biggest breakout on the 2023 offense. Love has done a great job as a “when needed” kind of back in his younger career, but has never gotten enough snaps to really get going. 2023 is his opportunity to come in and keep defenses true with his quick burst speed, and break off big runs, as Chase Brown did in 22′.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: The wide receiver core is a position of strength for the Illini, and one of the deepest units on the team. The receiver room is led by senior playmaker Isaiah Williams, who is a versatile weapon, capable of lining up both in the slot, and on the outside. Williams is a pre-season all Big Ten player after completing 82 catches, for 715 yards and 5 touchdowns a season ago as the Illini’s leading receiver. I think Williams will have a chance to have a special kind of season from an Illini wide out, and place himself in the rightful discission as one of the best Illini receivers in recent program history.
Illinois also returns much improved breakout players like Pat Bryant and Casey Washington to this deep, experienced unit, and will look to make splash across college football as one of the best units in the Big Ten. Washington can be an asset as a reliable pass catcher, and a “Go up and get it” type player. Casey has all the potential to be a major breakout player in 23′. Pat Bryant is just a really solid Big Ten wideout, who will give Illinois a nice deep ball threat, and keep defenses true on the back end. He was Illinois second most productive receiver in 2022, and made some fans in Memorial Stadium with is big play making abilities.
Rising TE Tip Reiman, a 6’5 Junior from South Dakota, previously had the best production from the Illini TE room in 2023 with 19 receptions. He has a lot to prove, but the young man is in an extremely similar spot to the Illini Running backs. Go get what’s yours. He is a big, strong TE who can grow on last seasons success and see more action as Luke Ford departed to the NFL at the end of last season.
Offensive Line: The success of any offense relies heavily on the performance of the trenches, and having 3 of your 5 returning starters of the previous unit. Julian Pearl, Isaiah Adams, and Zion Chrysler will be key to the Illini offenses success in 2023. After a fantastic 2022 led by NFL departs Alex Palczewski, and Alex Pihlstrom this 2023 OL CAN BE a very good, experienced unit. However, a lot will fall on the development of young center Josh Kreutz, son of former Chicago Bear Great Olin Kreutz. I have no doubt Josh is, and will be a stud at Illinois, but take it from a former offensive lineman myself, Center is the second hardest position in football. It’s a TON of pressure and handling Big Ten interior lineman as a sophomore will be difficult. However, I have no doubt that with Bart Millers ability to develop great players, and the sheer talent Kreutz has, the kid will get there. However, it will be on the fans at that point, and Josh for that matter, to be patient. Pressure does create diamonds, but it can also break glass.
Defense
On the defensive side of the ball, Illinois has made significant strides in recent years, and last year ranked among the best in all of college football. The Unit is now led by Aaron Henry after the departure of former Defensive Coordinator Ryan Walters to Purdue. Henrys secondary’s was something scary in 2023, and personally the best unit I’ve ever seen at this university. He deserved the job, and he got it.
Defensive Line: What else can we say about the “law Firm?” Keith Randolph and Johnny Newton are back and better than ever, which to the rest of the West should have some Offensive coordinators shaking in their visor hats. This unit being dominant is massive. Taking pressure off a young, yet talented secondary is extremely important, and these two doing their thing and getting to the quarterback is going to be critical. After a monster freshman season, Gabe Jacas is back and ready to get after Big Ten quarterbacks on the Edge as that OLB/DE hybrid, and I think he will only solidify this unit as not only the best on the team, but also the best DL unit in the Big Ten.
Linebackers: Dylan Rosiek and Tarique Barnes are talented, tough young players with a lot of potential, and can be an asset to the success of this team when it’s all said and done. Rosiek is a quick riser on this team and will be asked to play a larger role in leadership for a younger defensive unit. After the departure of Shammond Cooper, this left a great opportunity for Dylan to be the man, next to solidified returning starters Tarique Barnes and Seth Coleman. Like a lot of this team, he has stepped up and been the man before, but can you step up and be the man every play now. Time will tell. Seth Coleman is a beast and is going to do his thing. He is a tall, lengthy, OLB who will make it hard on passers when he gets pressure on. He will provide a great punch to go along with Gabe Jacas.
Secondary: Now led by former LSU assistant Antonio Fenelus, the young unit will be a big tell tale of the 2023 season, and just how far this team can go, after having your best secondary in school history only a season ago. My record prediction varies a lot based on the success of this unit. If your secondary is picked apart every game, it’s hard to keep up with anybody on the scoreboard, and you find yourself fighting uphill a lot. Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey are two players that stepped up when needed for Illinois and made nice impacts. Bailey, a freshman from Moline, IL was a young surprise when he needed to play in 22’ and found himself with some big plays over the course of the season. Xavier Scott is a very solid young player, and absence from the Michigan state game in 2022 was a big part in the Illinois DB unit having its worst game of 2022, and showed just how talented of a player thing young man is. It also shows how much of a young leader he can be to this unit, when even in a room full of NFL talent. A lot will have to happen, but if this unit is even solid, the Illini are going to have a legit crack at the west.
Final Thoughts
The Illini are a Dark horse to win the Big Ten West, and with the Additions of Luke Fickell to Wisconsin, Matt Rhule to Nebraska, and Ryan Walters to Purdue, the West is looking like an open, and interesting race in it’s final season. The Illini’s last shot to crack that Big Ten west title is now, and with conference realignment coming in 2024, and the additions of USC and UCLA the Big Ten is going to become very interesting to say the least.
With the right dominoes falling into place, I believe Illinois can snag 8-10 wins and sending themselves to Indy. However, two things absolutely have to happen…
- Luke Altmyer cannot be a step down from Tommy DeVito in 2022. Tommy quickly learned a new offense after being mauled by ACC defenders at Syracuse with a horrid offensive line unit. He was a great leader for this team, and drove the Illini to success in 2022, with pieces around him, that Illinois has not seen since 2007. The kid is a winner. If Luke can provide the same spark, and adapt to Lunny’s offense at a quality pace, that will be the key first step in success in 2023.
- As I already stressed, the secondary will be critical. With a new Defensive Coordinator in place (Henry), a new DB coach (Fenelus), and a lot of new faces, Illinois cant afford to slip through the cracks and get picked apart in the secondary. Do you have to be as good as 22? No, and you probably wont be. Very strong chance you wont be without Spoon and Quan. But, if you are still able to compete as a high level secondary over the course of 23, its monstrous. A top 30 DB unit would be massive, and I think its attainable under Aaron Henrys Defense, and his ability to develop players. Devon Witherspoon, Quan Martin, and Kerby Joseph are all prime examples of players who always had the talent, but were able to flourish under Henry/Bielema. Illinois first test vs Toledo will be very interesting. Jason Candles team is the favorite by many outlets to win the MAC, and will have a very solid passing attack to start of Illinois season. A great early test how ready this unit will be once they are full throttle into Big Ten play.
Even with so many unknowns in the world of the Big Ten football, I trust Bielema’s Illini will have the team looking like a competitor in 2o23. If the injury bug stays away, and all the boxes are checked, the Illini are really going to have a final shot at the Big Ten West in its final year of competition as a 2 divisions. Its going to be a fun ride, with a TON of questions to answer, but, Bret Bielema says his unit is ready to take on the mysteries of 2023.
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