No. 19: Justin Hardee, WR
Why he’s important: The fifth-year senior is back and ready to improve a position group that was somewhat of a question mark for the Illini last season. Hardee missed all of the 2015 season with a broken foot, an injury he suffered last July. He might not have filled the void at No. 1 receiver caused by Mikey Dudek’s injury last season, but his veteran presence would have been reassuring, particularly when the drops started to climb for Illinois. Initially recruited to play defensive back at Illinois, Hardee hasn’t put up prodigious numbers in his first three seasons, garnering 47 catches for 527 yards and one touchdown.