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Illinois Football: Has Lovie Smith done enough to compete in Big Ten West?

By Dante Pryor

COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 27: Reggie Corbin #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is tackled by Antwaine Richardson #20 of the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 27: Reggie Corbin #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is tackled by Antwaine Richardson #20 of the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Quarterback position still a question mark

The Fighting Illini offense got a lot more complicated during the offseason. During spring practice, the starting quarterback job seemed to be sophomore M.J. Rivers’ for the taking. This made it very strange when he decided to transfer in May.

There was supposed to be an injection of talent at the wide receiver position, but Jeff Thomas and AD Miller decided not to transfer.

At quarterback, that leaves the job up for grabs between incoming freshman Isaiah Williams, redshirt freshman Coran Taylor, Matt Robinson, and Michigan transfer Brandon Peters.

Williams, a dual-threat quarterback out of Missouri, is one of Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Rob Smith’s biggest recruiting wins. If he isn’t ready when the season starts, the coaching staff will have to choose between the quarterback who’ve been in the system longer, or the quarterback with the most starting experience. Whoever wins the job will have a big-time running back to whom he can hand the ball off.

Tailback Reggie Corbin was the first Illini tailback since Mikel Leshoure to run for 1,000 yards in a season. He’ll run behind an experienced offensive line that returns all but one starter.

The receiving corps is another story. There aren’t any dynamic playmakers in the bunch. Their leading receiver, Ricky Smalling, caught only 33 passes last season. The one positive is they only have to replace one starter.

If they can figure out quarterback, and get a few plays in the passing game to keep defenses honest, they should improve on their points per game average from last year.

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