The Illinois Fighting Illini should be in good hands this upcoming season, as its experienced offense has received multiple positive grades by Pro Football Focus this off-season. Pro Football Focus, according to their website, “analyzes every player and every play of every game to deliver player grades, stats, and rankings for the NFL, fantasy football, and NFL Draft." The Fighting Illini offensive line has received multiple high rankings by PFF.
In a January article, PFF writer Cam Mellor ranked all 130 college offensive line situations. The Illini came in at number 11.
When giving his explanation regarding the high ranking, Mellor mentioned the Illini’s “strength,” being the interior offensive line, and noted how guard Kendrick Green finished with the country's fourth-highest run-blocking grade among guards.
Mellor added how the Illini offensive line “ranked as the 17th-best unit in terms of run-blocking grade and allowed pressure on just under 18% of their snaps in the passing game.”
A July 7th tweet by @PFF_college ranked the highest-graded Big-Ten offensive lines (returning players). The Illini were number one on the list with a grade of 81.6.
PFF also gave Illinois senior quarterback Brandon Peters a high ranking earlier this off-season.
In a June tweet by @PFF_college, they ranked the “top-four highest passing grade when scrambling among returning QBs.” Peters was fourth on the list. The Fighting Illini will get to show off their highly-ranked offense when they open up the 2020-2021 season in Piscataway as they’re hosted by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Oct. 3.