No. 2: Jihad Ward, DE
Why he’s important: Illinois needs an edge rusher who can get after the quarterback. Consistently. Week in and week out. Ward is the best player available to do just that for the Illini. The junior college transfer wasn’t assured of a starting spot a year ago. After all, the Philadelphia native didn’t arrive at Illinois until last summer from New York City’s Globe Institute of Technology. But he quickly transformed himself into an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, with a starting spot secure going into the 2015 season.
Ward finished his first season at Illinois with 51 tackles, including 81/2 for loss, and contributed three sacks.