When the Illini play at Michigan State, Illini offensive coordinator Rod Smith will have his hands full trying to scheme around Kenny Willekes, a defensive end who should garner All-Big Ten honors and could easily be the Big Ten Player of the Year. Willekes put up mind-boggling numbers in 2018:
[Willekes] had 78 tackles last season, including 20.5 for a loss, 8.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was named the Big Ten’s Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year and a second team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writers Association of America and Sporting News.