2023 College Football Catalog: Previewing the Illinois Fighting Illini
Josh Frey
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Just like the NFL season is right around the corner, college campuses are preparing to welcome back their football squads for the fall season. As the summer progresses we will be taking a look into how many of the FBS college football programs fared in 2022, what they did during the offseason, and how they can find success during the 2023 season. As we continue our tour through the Big Ten, today, we move onto the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Overview
2022 Results
- W vs. Wyoming, 38-6
- L @ Indiana, 20-23
- W vs. Virginia, 24-3
- W vs. Chatanooga, 31-0
- W @ Wisconsin, 34-10
- W vs. Iowa, 9-6
- W vs. Minnesota, 26-14
- W @ Nebraska, 26-9
- L vs. Michigan State, 15-23
- L vs. Purdue, 24-31
- L @ (3) Michigan, 17-19
- W vs. Northwestern, 41-3
- L vs. (24) Mississippi State, 10-19 (ReliaQuest Bowl)
Overall Record: 8-5 (5-4)
2022 All-Big Ten Members
- C Alex Pihlstrom (Coaches Second-Team)
- G Isaiah Adams (Media Third-Team)
- OT Alex Palcewski (Coaches Third-Team, Media Second-Team)
- DL Jer’Zhan Newton (Coaches and Media First-Team)
- DL Keith Randolph (Coaches and Media Third-Team)
- CB Devon Witherspoon (Coaches and Media First-Team)
- S Sydney Brown (Coaches First-Team, Media Second-Team)
- S Jartavius Martin (Coaches Third-Team, Media Second-Team)
Recent Vikings Draft Picks
- OT Vederian Lowe (2022 Draft, R6 P184)
Every Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Draft Pick
2023 Draft Selections
- R1 P5: CB Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks)
- R2 P47: S Jartavius Martin (Washington Commanders)
- R3 P66: S Sydney Brown (Philadelphia Eagles)
- R 5 P163: RB Chase Brown (Cincinnati Bengals)
2023 Schedule
- 9/2 vs. Toledo
- 9/8 @ Kansas
- 9/16 vs. Penn State
- 9/23 vs. FAU
- 9/30 @ Purdue
- 10/6 vs. Nebraska
- 10/14 @ Maryland
- 10/21 vs. Wisconsin
- 11/4 @ Minnesota
- 11/11 vs. Indiana
- 11/18 @ Iowa
- 11/25 vs. Northwestern
Notable Additions
- ATH Kaden Feagin (four-star recruit)
- QB Luke Altmyer (transfer portal, Ole Miss)
- DL Raashaan Wilkins (transfer portal, Vanderbilt)
- S Solomon Turner (transfer portal, Hawai’i)
Notable Losses
- QB Tommy DeVito (UDFA, New York Giants)
- WR Dalevon Campbell (transfer portal, Nevada)
- TE Daniel Barker (transfer portal, Michigan State)
- OT Brody Wisecarver (transfer portal, Tulsa)
- CB Devon Witherspoon (NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks)
- S Sydney Brown (NFL Draft, Philadelphia Eagles)
- S Jartavius Martin (NFL Draft, Washington Commanders)
- S Coran Taylor (transfer portal, Alabama A&M)
- DC Ryan Walters (head coach, Purdue)
Keys to 2023
Rebuilding an Elite Secondary with a New DC
The Fighting Illini had the very best defense in college football last season, holding opponents to just 12.8 points per game. Now, they have to try to replicate that performance without defensive coordinator Ryan Walters who took the head coaching spot at Purdue this season. Luckily, new DC Aaron Henry, the former secondary coach, plans on running a very similar scheme to Walters, and it should be a smooth transition.
Additionally, though, Illinois faces the difficult task of rebuilding a secondary that has seen four players get drafted into the NFL over the past two years, including Devon Witherspoon, who went fifth overall in 2023 after allowing just 22 receptions for 206 yards, 0 TDs, and 3 INTs in 62 targets.
Another New QB
For the third consecutive season, the Fighting Illini head into the season with a new player under center. Things went about as well as they could have with Tommy DeVito in 2022, who passed for 2650 yards and 15 TDs over 13 games, and now is competing for an NFL roster spot with the New York Giants in 2023.
Now, they turn to Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer, a former four-star recruit who attempted just 54 passes over his two seasons with the Rebels. With Chase Brown no longer in the backfield, a lot of the production will be forced onto the shoulders of the new Illinois QB.
Finish the Season Strong
Illinois got off to a blazing start in 2022, winning eight of their first nine games and being ranked as high as No. 17 in the nation before falling off a cliff at the end of the year. They lost four of their final five games, including the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State.
However, every game went down to the wire. Only the bowl game was decided by two possessions, and they even remained competitive against No. 3 Michigan. If they can find a way to get off to a similar start and maintain it through the rest of the season, against a much easier schedule that doesn’t include any CFP favorites, they could be in the mix to make their first Big Ten title game.
Prediction
- W vs. Toledo
- W @ Kansas
- L vs. Penn State
- W vs. FAU
- L @ Purdue
- W vs. Nebraska
- W @ Maryland
- L vs. Wisconsin
- W @ Minnesota
- W vs. Indiana
- L @ Iowa
- W vs. Northwestern
Overall Record: 8-4 (5-4)
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.