College Football Previews #96 and #97 - Rutgers and Illinois
Rutgers may take a step back in 2022 even with their improved talent and depth. Head Coach Greg Schiano enters his 3rd season at the helm in his 2nd stint as Head Coach with moderate expectations. The Scarlet Knights need to win all of their Non-Conference games if they expect to qualify for a Bowl Game this season. Rutgers welcomes back five starters on Offense including two starters on the Offensive Line. The Wide Receiving Unit brings back two starters in seniors Aron Cruickshank and Shameen Jones. Senior Quarterback Noah Vedral - the final returning starter on Offense - will battle sophomore Gavin Wimsatt to determine who the Scarlet Knights signal caller will be this Fall. The Scarlet Knights will use a Running Back by committee approach this season with sophomore Kyle Monangai and junior Aaron Young as the primary options. Rutgers returns five starters on Defense including one starter on the Defensive Line in senior Defensive Tackle Mayan Ahanotu. The Linebacking Unit doesn't bring back any starters and will need several experienced returnees to step up including junior Linebacker Mohamed Toure and sophomore Linebacker Tyreem Powell. The Secondary welcomes back four starters and will be anchored by a pair of shutdown Cornerbacks in senior Kessawn Abraham and sophomore Max Melton. The Special Teams Unit will be led by senior Punter Adam Korsak while junior Guy Fava will handle the Kicking duties. Rutgers backed into a Bowl Game in 2021 but ended up losing badly to Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl. Can the Scarlet Knights become Bowl Eligible the traditional way this season? Rutgers has a brutal Conference schedule with road games at Ohio State, Minnesota, and Michigan State. The Scarlet Knights also travel to Boston College and Temple in early September during the Non-Conference portion of their schedule. I predict Rutgers to take a slight step back and go 4-8 in 2022. They will finish in 6th place in the Big Ten East Division and won't qualify for Postseason play. If the Coaching Staff can keep adding playmakers via the Transfer Portal then the Scarlet Knights will be able to climb the Big Ten East Standings in 2023.
Illinois hopes to qualify for a Bowl Game in 2022 for the first time since 2019. Head Coach Bret Bielema enters his 2nd season at the helm with moderate expectations. The Fighting Illini had four losses in 2021 by a touchdown or less and believes that they can turn a few of those losses into wins this season. Illinois welcomes back five starters on Offense including two starters on the Offensive Line. The Wide Receiving Unit brings back one starter in sophomore Isaiah Williams and will need several experienced returnees to step up including junior Casey Washington and sophomore Pat Bryant. Senior Quarterback Tommy DeVito (Syracuse transfer) will get the first stab at being the starter and will be backed up by junior Artur Sitkowski. Junior Running Back Chase Brown - another returning starter - will be spelled by sophomore Josh McCray. Senior Tight End Luke Ford - the final returning starter on Offense - gives the team another reliable option in the passing game. Illinois returns six starters on Defense including two starters on the Defensive Line in sophomore Defensive Ends Keith Randolph Jr. and Jer'Zhan Newton. The Linebacking Unit brings back one starter in junior Inside Linebacker Tarique Barnes and will hope fellow junior Inside Linebacker Calvin Hart Jr. is fully healthy at the start of the season. The Secondary welcomes back three starters and will be led by a pair of senior Safeties in Sydney Brown and Jartavius Martin. The Special Teams Unit is inexperienced with junior Kicker Caleb Griffin and freshman Punter Hugh Robertson taking over for departed players. Illinois was one win short of being eligible for a Bowl Game in Bret Bielema's 1st season. The Fighting Illini will need to run the table during their early season Non-Conference slate as their Conference schedule is brutal. Illinois travels to Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Michigan and hosts Iowa and Michigan State in Big Ten play. I predict Illinois to go 6-7 and finish in 6th place in the Big Ten West Division. The Fighting Illini will be Bowl Eligible but will lose their Bowl Game to put a slight damper on an otherwise great season.
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