I’m not sure blaming the offensive line is an accurate representation of our run game issues. I forget who it was, but someone on this board posted some data that suggested our line was actually middling, but our RBs had some of the worst yards-after-contact numbers in all of the ncaa.
Looking ahead to 2026
- Status
My understanding is that Beerman is an excellent athlete with speed. While we can all hope he’s ready to be a major contributor next year, bringing in a no doubt run stopper for next year would fill a big need.
I’d really like them to get another tight end who’s a receiving threat, too.
I totally understand your point and the RBs do need to take some accountability as well for the run game woes, but the fact that this offensive line was even "middling" is very disappointing, in my mind.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Yes, it was this chart here:
Yards before contact (offensive line): middle of the pack.
Yards after contact (running backs): worst in the country.
Like the next poster alluded too, even being a middle of the pack offensive line is disappointing with the experience we had returning, but the running backs were really, really bad.
So for example in looking at this our line was actually providing for more yards before contact than Ohio State but our RBs were getting a full yard+ less after contact.
Valentine gets hurt against OSU, does not have a good finish to the season. Yards per carry the first six games: 5.46. Yards per carry the last six games: 3.41.
If that’s not a correlation I don’t know what is.
If that’s not a correlation I don’t know what is.
Last edited:
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Correct. We had more yards before contact than:
Ohio St
Tennessee
Oklahoma
Missouri
LSU
Texas
Georgia
Iowa
Miami
Washington
Etc
But had less yards after contact than:
Every team in college football.
dont think that is evenly distributed across the RB room.....which makes some of the personnel decisions even more confounding
it didnt seem like Feagin nor Valentine were very good at getting yards after contact. Laughery was better, imo
This is a chart that shows those wanting Mizzou is a bowl game (not me) may not really want it. It could get ugly.
Their run game looks a lot different than Illinois'. I said last year, IL really needs a portal RB. Hopefully the FL RB will help if they don't go portaling.
I think Barnett definitely plays as a true freshman, I think it's one position that can play immediately if the talent is there. Plus any RB that Alabama wanted can certainly play here, they are a RB factory, so they must have seen something in him
The difference between Mizzou's running game and ours is that they went out and got Ahmad Hardy, a guy I had picked up in a college fantasy dynasty league who had cleared 1300 yards as a true freshman for ULM. Backs of that caliber don't always translate to higher-tier competition, but Hardy was basically doing it all himself on a 5-7 team. Struggled against a few top-tier defenses but also commanded attention from those units. I'm surprised there wasn't more competition for his services in the portal last year since he was a true freshman in 24.
I don't think there will be a guy like that this year. Jax State's Cam Cook is a workhorse, but he's draft eligible and may go that route. Frosh Caleb Hawkins was a touchdown machine at UNT, but that's a very good offense and a very good team. Evan Dickens looked fantastic at Liberty; he's a former GTech washout.
I recall the vibes were pretty high around our RB room. We may have oversold ourselves on those guys a little
Part 1: I agree 100%, that's a big part of the difference.
Part 2: No one in the Illinois RB had showed success at the D1 level. At least sustained success as Laughery did show against NW & South Carolina. Otherwise, what we had seen showed they were all RB2's. Valentine is just now coming along.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Yes, it seemed that earlier in the season Feagin would slow down coming in to contact. The last few games her didn't slow down, and had some of his best results for the year.
1m4tr
Cliffmas
I just don’t get Feagin. Being as big as he is, he just goes down too easily. Is it a balance issue or a worry about injuries?
blackdog
- Champaign
As the post above says he tends to slow down into contact instead of running THROUGH it. He also tends to stop driving his legs once he gets hit and his balance isn't all that great as he went down to a lot of arm tackles.
He’s a physical freak, but most schools recruited him to play defense. Sometimes he looks clumsy, awkward, and hesitant.
Same thing with Feagin. Before he got hurt the first time he hit the holes hard but when got back he became tentative and has never gotten over it. He has so much potential but if he can't get out of his own head he will never reach it. Like someone on here mentioned before it might be a better option to move him to tight end and go out and find a couple of quality RBs.Valentine gets hurt against OSU, does not have a good finish to the season. Yards per carry the first six games: 5.46. Yards per carry the last six games: 3.41.
If that’s not a correlation I don’t know what is.
it was suggested a few times here last Aug, but
the insiders here pretty much said it was never really an option, and they were sticking to him being a RB
I think he could have a huge year next year right for this reason. Could have a huge bowl game too.Valentine gets hurt against OSU, does not have a good finish to the season. Yards per carry the first six games: 5.46. Yards per carry the last six games: 3.41.
If that’s not a correlation I don’t know what is.
When are we saying he got hurt? Ohio State? I actually thought he had a better second half of the season.
We got him for a full healthy year. He's not a RB1, but he is a solid RB2. I think Valentine's a potential #1, and like I said his dropoff could be attributed to that injury (which looked very gruesome, but was able to get back and not miss any time).
- Status