Throughout time, the Illini have produced great linebackers. From Dick Butkus to Kevin Hardy to J Lehman, there have been legends come through the program for decades. But, while there have been solid linebackers recently, the grouping hasn’t been the caliber of generations in the past.
I feel like that is starting to change with Lovie’s regime and the talent he is bringing into the program. The 2019 rendition of the linebacker corps will be one of the best I have seen in years. The talent isn’t just with one guy. We have a handful of linebackers who can make a big impact on this defense.