Talk all you want about the Illinois quarterbacks, receivers and running backs. They are the skill guys who pile up stats and get most of the credit for wins or losses.
But the fate of the 2018 Illini offense will be decided by the people who never touch the ball. At least, not on purpose.
One senior (Nick Allegretti) and four sophomores (Vederian Lowe, Alex Palczewski, Jake Cerny and Doug Kramer) left spring ball as the starters on the offensive line. Another sophomore, Larry Boyd, is in the mix.
To put it kindly, offensive line play was not a strength in 2017.