Position Preview: Introducing Your 2008 Illini Defensive Lineman

That's Will Davis wrapping up Troy Smith back in the '06 matchup between Ohio St. and Illinois. The Bucksleyes nipped out a 17-10 victory in that game but the Illini's game performance proved they could hang with the #1 team in the land. As you all know a year later the Illini took the next step and beat the (again) #1 Buckneyes in Columbus.

Now Will Davis is a senior and the leader of what promises to be a stud defensive line unit for the '08 Illini. Davis will start on one end, bookended with senior Derek Walker. Up the middle at DT are senior David Lindquist and, likely, sophomore Josh Brent. The unit was to have four senior starters, but Sirod Williams had season-ending knee surgery and will redshirt. He'll be back next year but his absence allows Brent to take over the starting role. Brent is one of the best recruits of the Zooker era and could be dominant.

Backing those guys up and likely getting a good amount of playing time are Doug Pilcher, Antonio James, Daryle Ballew and Jerry Brown. Pilcher is, by most reports, a max effort guy who makes up in work ethic what he lacks in talent. I'm going to enjoy watching him stuff running backs this season. Ballew is a redshirt freshman who some say could start now and may start before the season is over. Jerry Brown is a potential monster who had a sack last season against the Bluckteyes. James is a junior who has played most every game the last two seasons. He can get to the quarterback and adds depth to this skilled and experienced unit.

Next I've gotta mention the freshman group the Zooker brought in, a group that by and large looks to contribute immediately. The cream of the crop is Corey Liuget out of the state of Florida. What a snake by the Zooker. Urban Meyer can't be pleased. He will get his fair share of playing time this Fall at DE. Then you have yet another round of beasts from Dunbar high school in D.C. (the same school as Rejus and Vontae): ends Reggie Ellis and Ugo Uzodinma. Ellis is one of the top prospects out of D.C. this year - if not the top prospect - and Ugo isn't far behind. Another frosh is Glen Foster from Mt. Carmel, and rounding out the group are two guys with beastly names and, no doubt, beastly talents: Whitney Mercilus and Wisdom Onyegbule.

Also involved on the D-Line this Fall are redshirt sophomore Anterio Jackson and senior Bryson Whalen. Clay Nurse, who we mentioned in the linebacker preview, may also see time on the line. Jackson is a former All-Stater out of Fenger. Nurse played primarily on kickoffs last year but there is some buzz about him.