NORMAL – A relentless Illinois State pass rush that produced 52 sacks was a gigantic reason the Redbirds advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in 2019.
When end Romeo McKnight transferred to Charlotte to play his senior season this fall, he took 12 of those sacks with him.
As ISU coach Brock Spack, defensive coordinator Travis Niekamp and defensive line coach Brian Hendricks go about rebuilding that pass rush, Blake Fehrmann is emerging as an answer.
The New Mexico transfer has stepped into McKnight’s vacated spot and impressed Spack.
“I think he had a very good fall.