Maintaining a strong defensive line is extremely important for the future of this program. Illinois has a good defensive line right now, but the majority of the middle of the line will be departing. Lovie Smith and the Illini coaching staff need to find a few solid replacements for these talented seniors. One of the future defensive linemen could be Shontrail Key.
Key is a 6-foot-7, 250-pound defensive tackle from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Illinois. He isn’t ranked or rated by the recruiting sites, but this kid clearly has the potential to be an impact player for this program.