Illini Football 2025

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#205      
HensonHall71
PleaseMakeABowlGame said:
That's a very premature assessment. We lost our top 3 DLine pieces - two very good ones with Briggs and Edwards (which still wasn't from a good run defense). Likely only upgraded or filled one of those areas with James Thompson. Outside of that there's many question marks.

I do agree OLine should be improved, especially with the positive signs to close out last season.
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I agree Run D will be a key for the defense this year given it was a soft spot last year against the good teams and as you point out the personnel hasn’t gotten a huge upgrade on the DL

But stopping the running just about then DL- we need our LB’s to step up in the gaps much better and with a more experienced group hopefully the LB core will be better- and hopefully Jacas is all world this year and needs lots of attention from the offensive scheme which will free others up- we didn’t have a great pass rush last year that offenses needed to scheme against - both these things can improve the run D even without getting a “run stopper” in the DL on paper
 
#206      
JKR
BZuppke said:
113 miles each way - Plainfield to Champaign. Longtime season ticket holder.
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Uh Zup, Roselawn is like 100 yards from the stadium:

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#207      
BrownTown
HensonHall71 said:
I agree Run D will be a key for the defense this year given it was a soft spot last year against the good teams and as you point out the personnel hasn’t gotten a huge upgrade on the DL

But stopping the running just about then DL- we need our LB’s to step up in the gaps much better and with a more experienced group hopefully the LB core will be better- and hopefully Jacas is all world this year and needs lots of attention from the offensive scheme which will free others up- we didn’t have a great pass rush last year that offenses needed to scheme against - both these things can improve the run D even without getting a “run stopper” in the DL on paper
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When you have a dude that HAS to be accounted for on the front it really raises the profile of the entire line as they are drawing double teams or single with a chip. Obviously, we don't have a Johnny Newton. He's the best Defensive Lineman to play in the orange and blue in my lifetime, but a combination of Jacas and Thompson will inevitably make life easier for the interior D line and linebackers.

I think Thompson has an All B1G (2nd or 3rd) year and gets picked somewhere between late 3rd to low 5th round.

I love his film, he has pro size, and he's what 22/23? If you can't fill your D Line with Texas Tech money 5 stars, then get old!
 
#209      
Illinir1
Illinir1 said:
366 miles from Camdenton, MO (Lake of the Ozarks) for every home game. Looking forward to Illini Football 2025 edition.
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I once met a gentleman at a game and when I asked him where he was from he told me Atlanta. Assuming Atlanta, IL (just SW of Bloomington), I asked him "do you take I74 to get here?". He looked at me strange and said "no I fly" (Atlanta, GA). 🤪
 
#212      
DeonThomas
Todd99 said:
Okay, maybe this could be its own thread but let’s try….

How far do you travel and how many games a year?

TGB is 170 miles
SIllini1975 is 143 miles
TheFlyingIllini1317 came from Chicagoland
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675 miles away in SC. I average 4-6 football and basketball games per year, always a combination of home/away venues. Have tickets to both Duke and USC football so far in 2025-26.
 
#222      
Brosky
BrownTown said:
When you have a dude that HAS to be accounted for on the front it really raises the profile of the entire line as they are drawing double teams or single with a chip. Obviously, we don't have a Johnny Newton. He's the best Defensive Lineman to play in the orange and blue in my lifetime, but a combination of Jacas and Thompson will inevitably make life easier for the interior D line and linebackers.

I think Thompson has an All B1G (2nd or 3rd) year and gets picked somewhere between late 3rd to low 5th round.

I love his film, he has pro size, and he's what 22/23? If you can't fill your D Line with Texas Tech money 5 stars, then get old!
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You're probably too young to remember Don Thorpe. He's the best DL I can recall.
 
#223      
Brosky
Experienced players returning make me a bit more optimistic. I hope Elzy finally shows what he's capable of; the guy is uber talented. And I really, REALLY hope Feagin is injury free. Let's find out what he can really do on a regular basis.
 
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