Spring opponent review: Illinois

With spring practices now wrapped up around the country, HuskerOnline.com will take a look at where each of Nebraska’s 12 opponents in 2018 currently stands coming out of spring ball and heading into the summer.

Today in our spring opponent review we take a look at Illinois, as we caught up with OrangeandBlueNew.com publisher Doug Bucshon to get his thoughts and perspective on the Illini coming out of the spring.

Illinois is heading into year three under head coach Lovie Smith, and they've yet to show any signs things are heading in the right direction. Will that change in 2018?

Bucshon: "The top story of the spring was the spread offense installed by Rod Smith, who learned the scheme under the tutelage of Rich Rodriquez at several stops, including last season at Arizona. Gone is offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and the power running game. Smith wants to spread defenses out horizontally and create space. Though Illinois still lacks the playmakers to make it work, it can’t be worse than what Illinois fans had to endure the last two years when Illinois fielded one of the five worst scoring offenses in the nation.

"The biggest improvements we saw this spring were in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The offensive and defensive linemen, many of whom played a ton of snaps last year as true freshmen, are more physically mature. Energetic new defensive line coach Austin Clark has his group playing with an edge. There’s legitimate Big Ten size and talent on the offensive line. Illinois should at least be able to compete physically with opponents in the rugged Big Ten West, something that has been an issue in recent years.

"Many pieces were missing this spring due to minor injuries or off-the-field issues, so the team that takes the field for camp later this summer will look much different than what we saw this spring. Wide receiver Ricky Smalling, tight end Louis Dorsey, and safety Bennett Williams – three of the top freshmen in the Big Ten last year -all sat out the spring. The Illini got their reps in, but spring ball wasn’t particularly informative for those of us who are trying to handicap what kind of team Lovie Smith will field this fall."

All five starters return on the offensive line, led by potential All-Big Ten guard Nick Allegretti. The other four starters are all sophomores, so this group is likely at least a year away from reaching its potential. The best of the youngsters are tackle Vederian Lowe and guard Alex Palczewski. There’s raw talent. Depth is a major issue, however. Unless a couple of incoming freshmen can crack the two-deep, Illinois only has 6-7 legitimate Big Ten starters on the offensive line.

Defensively, linebacker is a major question after starter Tre Watson transferred to Maryland. Former JUCO transfer Del’Shawn Phillips is solid and is the leading returning tackler, but others have to step up and outplay expectations. Junior Dele’ Harding is a physical run stopper who needs to be more consistent, and 2017 projected starter Jake Hansen is coming off of a serious knee injury that cost him the entire season. Despite having former All-Pro linebacker Hardy Nickerson on the staff, Illinois has missed on too many priority linebacker recruits, and it could burn them.

Illinois was 13th in the Big Ten in sacks a year ago. They need to find someone who can be a threat coming off the edge. The most likely candidate is sophomore Bobby Roundtree, an impressive looking athlete on the hoof who got starts last season a true freshman. Roundtree started the season off strong with three sacks in his first three games, but the physicality of the Big Ten was a bit much for him.

Epstein played just five games a year ago as a true freshman because of injury, but he’s vitally important to an offense that lacks a proven quarterback and will rely heavily on the running game.

Epstein would seem to fit well in the new spread attack – he’s a versatile back who can run inside or out and catch passes out of the backfield.

An ESPN.com freshman All-American last year, Williams started seven games at free safety and finished fifth on the team in tackles (64). He led the team with three interceptions, all coming in Big Ten games.

A rangy safety with good instincts, Williams was the surprise of the 2017 recruiting class, and he has the look of a future NFL Draft pick.

Cam Thomas was the only scholarship quarterback on the roster this spring, and he’s coming off some shaky starts last in his freshman season in which he completed just 42 percent of his passes and tossed five interceptions and zero touchdowns.

The Illini are bringing in former Nebraska recruit AJ Bush as a fifth-year transfer after he spent a season warming the bench at Virginia Tech. He’s a physical runner but has struggled mightily with his accuracy. Three true freshmen also join the team this summer. It should make for an interesting battle in training camp, and whoever emerges as the starter must be solid.

Bucshon: "The timing of the game doesn’t favor an Illinois team that will be looking to pull an upset in Lincoln. Nebraska gets a reprieve in the matchup with Illinois on November 10 after playing four of six games on the road, including at Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. However the season shakes out for the Huskers in Scott Frost’s first season, it’s unlikely they will overlook Illinois and enter the game unprepared mentally.

"Illinois couldn’t get the running game going in a 28-6 loss to the Huskers last year in Champaign, rushing for 94 yards total and averaging just 2.5 yards per carry. History is likely to repeat itself, with Nebraska returning seven starters on defense and the Illini still breaking in a young offensive line. Illinois should put up more than six points this time around, but I see Nebraska cruising to a comfortable win at home."

Bucshon: "The most optimistic outlook has Illinois reversing the downward trend, being more competitive in the conference, and reaching 4-5 win territory in Lovie Smith’s third season in Champaign. Despite a favorable schedule, it won’t be easy. This is still a very young squad – the sophomore class forms the core of the team – and the quarterback situation is dubious. My early prediction is a 4-8 record, which includes two early-season wins over cupcakes Kent State and Western Illinois."