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‘We all have to step up’: Brown, Epstein on stepping up in RB room

When you think of the Illini offense, a run-first attack generally comes to mind.

Since Rod Smith took over as offensive coordinator in 2018 the Illini have ranked in the top half of the Big Ten in rushing and have averaged nearly 200 yards per game on the ground.

Most of those numbers can be attributed to the excellence of Reggie Corbin, who ran for 1,760 yards over his last two years as an Illini.

If you look back to the 2019 season for Illinois, the Illini sported a three-headed monster in the backfield. Both Corbin and Dre Brown rushed for well over 500 yards, and Ra’Von Bonner tacked on nearly 300 more as the trio’s bruising back.