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Illinois Fighting Illini Key to the Season

The defensive front has to get into the backfield. Illinois has the guys, and now the pressure has to come. The 2022 defense lived behind the line, making 81 tackles for loss and 28 sacks. The 2023 bunch stalled a bit too often - 24 sacks and 57 tackles for loss - and last year, despite all of the success, the line managed just 54 tackles for loss and 24 sacks.

Illinois Fighting Illini Key Player

Malik Elzy, WR Jr. The Illini have defensive options to get behind the line. What they don't have is a sure-thing No. 1 target to make defenses worry. There's talent and depth to be fine overall as a corps, but it

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