Tag: Isaiah Williams

Donovan Peoples-Jones should be outside looking in at the Detroit Lions roster

Wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones should be on the outside looking in at the Detroit Lions roster after a rough preseason

Last year during the NFL Trade Deadline, the Detroit Lions made somewhat of a surprising move by trading for Donovan Peoples-Jones. The Lions gave up a 6th round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to acquire him from the Cleveland Browns.

Certainly, it was a roll of the dice for a receiver who had recorded 61 receptions for 839 yards in 2022. But that roll of the dice only led to five receptions for 58 yards in Detroit. Despite resigning with the Lions this off-season, it sure feels like Peoples-Jones is on his way out.

Through parts of the summer, head coach Dan Campbell stated that he “wants to see more” from DPJ. Unfortunately, I don’t think that happened. Through the preseason, he recorded 2 receptions for 31 yards on 9 targets and he did have a drop against the Steelers on Saturday. Let’s dive into some film to look at what’s been going wrong for DPJ in Detroit.

Whenever a talented receiver is fighting for a roster spot, there’s always an assumption that the player could be competing at a position that is stacked with talent. While the Lions do have Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams sitting atop of the depth chart at receiver, it’s still wide open behind them.

Let’s look at the play above to see one of the routes ran by Peoples-Jones. The Lions come out 2×2 and you can see Peoples-Jones bunched with Isaiah Williams at the top of the screen. Him and Williams will be running a bench concept (corner route and out route) and they’re the 1st and 2nd read for quarterback Hendon Hooker.

As you can see after the snap, Hooker is staring at both receivers to his right. The cornerback is in good positioning on the out route ran by Isaiah Williams. However, the corner route by Peoples-Jones is too slow and rounded. This causes a delay from Hooker and essentially, he has to look off and throw underneath to Tom Kennedy.

Next I want to highlight a route across the middle of the field by Peoples-Jones. Looking at the play above, the Lions will be throwing out of a trips left formation. To the right of the formation (bottom of the screen) is DPJ.

Once the ball is snapped, you can see him run across the middle of the field on a shallow cross. While I may not know how long he’s supposed to run this route before looking at the quarterback, I would have to assume it’s within 2 or 3 seconds. That’s just the average time a quarterback has to get a throw off.

Certainly, the pass from Hooker is less than ideal. The pass is located somewhat low but a twist line stunt in the middle of this 5-man pressures forces him to hurry the throw. Meanwhile, it does take Peoples-Jones up to 2 or 3 seconds just to get across and he never looks to see if or when the ball is being thrown.

Lastly I want to focus on a dropped pass from Peoples-Jones. Looking at the play above, you’ll see the Lions come out 2×2 with Peoples-Jones on the right (top of the screen).

Once the ball is snapped, he runs a hitch route. While the cornerback does almost jump this pass and take it to the house, he doesn’t end up making contact with the ball at all. In fact, the ball gets by and bounces off the hands of Peoples-Jones. As a veteran receiver fighting for a roster spot, these types of drops can’t happen.

Overall, it’s been a disappointing summer for DPJ. It’s unfortunate because there’s always been so much potential with him. However, he looks slower than he ever has on a football field and the final preseason game on Saturday may be his last one in a Lions uniform.

His route running ability wasn’t crisp against the Steelers. With most of his routes being rounded or taking too long to develop, it led to him only being targeted three times. Unfortunately, he didn’t catch any of them. Adding to that, he was supposed to be one of the key blockers on a designed screen pass to tight end Shane Zylstra and he missed his block completely.

The door was wide open for Peoples-Jones to lockup the 4th receiver spot on the roster. He had the size and experience over other receivers such as Isaiah Williams, Tom Kennedy and others. However, the lackluster performances have piled up and it seemingly has closed the door on any chance for Peoples-Jones to make the Detroit Lions roster.

Detroit Lions News, Notes and Thoughts from Preseason Game 1

Detroit Lions News, Notes and Thoughts from Preseason Game 1 from Lions Wire’s Russell Brown

In a wet and rainy game against the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions lost 14-3 in their first preseason game. We can equate this loss to the Lions not playing their starters but the weather was certainly a factor for both teams. We saw the weather cause muffed punts and players slipping on attempted tackles.

But these aren’t excuses and at halftime, Lions head coach Dan Campbell didn’t make excuses. He acknowledged the weather and needing better execution from the offense. Talking with Lions reporter Dannie Rogers  asked about the offense and he said, “Look offensively, we’ve got to make some plays. We’ve got a wet one here but when we need some plays, we need to make some plays.”

Offensive Notes

It was an uneventful night for quarterback Nate Sudfeld. He wasn’t efficient with the ball in his hands and as he extended plays beyond the pocket, he would hold the ball for too long. Rather than checking the ball down, running it or throw it away, he’d get outside of the pocket and still get sacked.

As Campbell said, they needed the offense to make some plays. So he turned the football to quarterback Hendon Hooker in the second half and this led to some plays being made. On his second drive with the offense, Hooker led the Lions 88 yards down the field on a 14-play drive.

This drive stalled when Hooker had a slight overthrow to Donovan Peoples-Jones in the corner of the end zone on the 3rd down. It was great effort by Peoples-Jones, who did his best to replicate an Odell Beckham Jr., one-handed catch in Metlife Stadium but he wasn’t able to secure the pass. Ultimately, this led to the Lions going for it on 4th-and-goal and not getting it.

On both drives that Hooker played in the 3rd quarter, his mobility really stood out. He ran the ball 4 times for 34 yards. His longest run was for 16 yards and he trucked a Giants defender on his way for the first down.

Throwing the ball, Hooker finished 5-for-9 for 36 yards and he showed good rapport with UDFA receiver Isaiah Williams. They connected on consecutive plays during the 14-play drive in the 3rd quarter. After that drive, Hooker came out of the game and was being evaluated for a concussion. This led to Sudfeld coming back into the game and finishing the 4th quarter.

Outside of the quarterbacks, the rest of the offense was a mixed bag. Some players stood out, and others needed a lot of work. On the offensive line, there appeared to be some miscommunications that led to defensive linemen being unblocked, or defensive backs piercing into the backfield to wrap up running backs before they could make a move.

The one running back that looked pretty good was Sione Vaki. His first carry went for 15 yards and he made an impressive cut to gain the additional yardage. He finished with 29 yards rushing on four carries. If he’s able to stack performances like this, he could emerge as the 3rd running back for this offense.

That said, I’d still be surprised if Craig Reynolds doesn’t make the roster. Despite only having 11 yards on four carries, Reynolds had consecutive runs that led to 8 yards during the Lions’ second drive of the game. Despite having three straight carries on that drive, Reynolds played on the punt team and he ran down to make the tackle.

Defensive Notes

While there were only a few bright spots on offense, the Lions defense played well for the most part. Early in the game, the Lions defense saw big plays made from rookie Ennis Rakestraw and free agent acquisition Amik Robertson.

On the opening kickoff, Robertson made the first tackle of the game. In addition to that, he had a pass breakup on that opening drive. To top that off, Ennis Rakestraw made a great tackle on 3rd down and this led to the Giants punting on their opening drive.

For the defensive line, we saw plenty of James Houston in the first half. He did have two tackles and a QB hit. There was a moment in that first half where he got away with hitting Drew Lock late near the sideline. As for other defensive linemen, it was a strong showing for Nate Lynn, Isaac Ukwu and Brodric Martin.

Leading the way, Martin had four total tackles and two pass deflections. He almost had a sack but he let Tommy DeVito slip through his hands. Fortunately, Nate Lynn was there and he made the sack on DeVito.

It was a strong first showing for Lynn as he had two sacks, two QB hits and a sack. The Lions defense only recorded two sacks against the Giants and the other sack was made by Ukwu. He showed decent bend while running the arc to bring down Drew Lock.

Other bright spots on the defense were linebackers DaRon Gilbert and Malik Jefferson. Starting with Jefferson, he had a strong showing in the second half with six tackles and a tackle for loss. He made some tackles on special teams as well.

As for DaRon Gilbert, what a fun story he’d be for the Lions. He’s undrafted out of Northern Illinois but a Detroit native that played at Birmingham Brother Rice High School in Michigan. He started getting in a groove in the second quarter with good positioning and multiple tackles. If he made the Lions 53-man roster, he’d have the entire city behind him.

The Lions do have five linebackers already locked onto the roster. Those players are Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. But if they’re open to having a 6th linebacker on the roster, it feels like it’ll come down to Jefferson or Gilbert.

The last roster spot I want to focus on is the 4th safety spot. As I mentioned in my game one preview, the Lions will have an important decision to make on who the 4th safety will be after Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu.

The experienced player is C.J. Moore and he recorded three tackles in this game. However, he did slip while attacking downhill during a run by Giants running back Eric Gray. With Moore missing, this gave Gray plenty of running room as he took it to the house. Later in the game, Moore was limping in the end zone on the Giants second touchdown of the game. It looked like a possible knee or ankle injury but nothing has been mentioned of an injury at this time. Either way, it’s still worth monitoring.

As for the competition with Moore, there are two other players to really keep tabs on with Morice Norris and Brandon Joseph. Starting with Norris, he had three tackles but none of the tackles were like the one he made in practice earlier this week.

The standout for the 4th safety spot was Brandon Joseph. He had three tackles, a pass breakup and an interception. On the interception, he jumped a route over the middle of the field and looked like his old self at Notre Dame. If the Lions can get him playing like that again, what an addition that would be for the Lions secondary and special teams.

Final Thoughts + Injury Notes

Overall, it was far from pretty for the Lions but it wasn’t horrible. Again, that’s expected with no starters playing. There were a lot of positives with some skilled players on offense but ultimately, the defense played really well outside of two drives. Improving the defense was important for the Lions this off-season. Despite a quiet three series for first round pick and presumed starter Terrion Arnold, the depth of the defense appears to be taking shape. We’ll see if that carries over to the rest of the season.

The Lions did have a few players get banged up in this game. Offensive lineman Connor Galvin got rolled up on and had to be carted off with a knee injury. Receiver Antoine Green went to block a Giants defender but he essentially got launched to outer space and left the game with a concussion. Earlier, I mentioned that Hendon Hooker is in the concussion protocol. Lastly, we did see defensive tackle David Badda go down with an achilles injury.

After the game, it was confirmed by Dan Campbell that Badda and Galvin probably suffered some long term injuries. Those will be worth monitoring as the Lions still have two preseason games to play. Next Saturday, the Lions will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Oh, and, yes, kicker Jake Bates did hit a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Lions rookie WR gets big praise from Dan Campbell after preseason debut

Williams led the Lions in receptions and receiving yards in his NFL debut as an undrafted rookie from Illinois

There wasn’t much to be excited about with the Detroit Lions offense in the team’s 14-3 preseason-opening loss to the New York Giants. Resting all starters, the Lions second-team offense managed just one first down in the first six drives of the game.

The Detroit offense did perk up a bit late in the game, and one big reason for that was the play of undrafted rookie wideout Isaiah Williams. No. 83 hauled in all four passes thrown his way for 35 yards, both of which led the Lions.

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After the game, Detroit head coach Dan Campbell praised Williams’ performance in his preseason debut. In fact, Williams was the first player Campbell brought up.

“Isaiah Williams showed up,” Campbell said after the game. “I mean, he made some plays out there, and that was clear. That was clear to see. He did some really good things that showed up.”

Campbell was right in his assessment. Williams showed his skills as an undersized receiver who wins with precision and quickness. One notable catch saw Williams leap to catch a ball throw higher and behind where he expected it. The undrafted rookie from Illinois leapt to snag the ball with his back to the defense, then instantly turned the ball up the field to pick up extra yards and a first down.

Williams has not really stood out in training camp so far, making some nice plays and showing generally reliable hands but no real “wow” moments. The consistency of his performance in the preseason opener was a big step for Williams in his quest to be the man who extends the string of seasons a UDFA makes the Lions 53-man roster to 14 years.

Two Lions rookie UDFAs were selected in the UFL draft

The UFL held its draft on Wednesday and two Lions rookie UDFAs, Isaiah Williams and Isaac Ukwu, were selected by teams in the spring league

One of the most prominent undrafted rookies heading to Detroit Lions training camp this weekend now has another option. Isaiah Williams was one of two current Lions players selected in the UFL draft on Wednesday.

Only players not selected in April’s NFL Draft in Detroit were eligible for the UFL draft. There were 80 players taken in the 10-round draft among the eight UFL teams.

Williams, a wide receiver and return man from Illinois, was selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the fourth round. The Stallions are the first-ever UFL champs after winning the league’s title game in June. The UFL comes from the merger of the USFL and XFL and plays in the spring.

Joining Williams in the UFL draft is Isaac Ukwu, an undrafted rookie pass rusher from Ole Miss. The Michigan Panthers drafted Ukwu in the third round. He’s a longshot to make the Lions roster as an undrafted rookie, but Williams could challenge to make the final 53-man roster as a reserve slot receiver and return specialist.

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Being selected in the UFL draft doesn’t do anything in terms of NFL opportunities for Williams or Ukwu. They are still Detroit Lions. However, if they don’t make it in the NFL, the UFL teams that drafted them control their rights in that league.

The Lions recently added Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates after the UFL season concluded. Should Williams or Ukwu play in the UFL next spring, they would be eligible to return to the NFL once the second season of the upstart league is over, but as NFL free agents.

 

3 underrated players for the Detroit Lions offense

3 underrated players for the Detroit Lions offense, from Lions Wire’s Russell Brown

About a month ago, I had looked into the Lions defense and wrote about three underrated defenders for this season. Switching gears, I want to do the same for the Lions offense.

We all know that the Lions offense is one of the most dynamic and yet, unpredictable offenses in the league. Defensive coordinators have gone on record and said that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is currently the toughest to prepare for during game week.

Despite not drafting any offensive player until the 4th round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Lions seem to be a team that can make anything work with whoever is on the field. Let’s look at three offensive players that could be highly underrated right now.

RB Sione Vaki

This one shouldn’t be surprising. Whenever talking about players that could contribute right away or potentially in a big way, the first name always brought up is Sione Vaki.

During the Lions rookie mini-camp, he was very impressive in running back drills and showed his special teams ability right away. The expectation is for him to have some contribution as a returner on kick return.

Even though he was primarily a safety in college, Vaki showed what he could do with the ball in his hands for the Utah offense. Despite only having 42 carries in college, he had 317 rushing yards and two touchdowns. In addition to that, he recorded 11 receptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

While the Lions offense will primarily run through Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Vaki sprinkled into the offense. This is where it all leads back to the creativity of Ben Johnson. I can’t help but think of short yardage, red zone and 3rd down packages that feature Vaki on a weekly basis.

IOL Kayode Awosika

We’ve seen the Lions offensive line get banged up in the past. While none of us want to see it, there’s still a chance that injuries occur at some point this season. As we’ve seen Frank Ragnow battle through injuries, there could always be a stretch of games where Graham Glasgow has to move to center.

If that’s the case, the player that could step up is Kayode Awosika. Last season, he played in 252 regular season snaps and he only gave up one sack. According to PFF, he earned a 59.8 overall grade last season. While those aren’t great numbers, he still flashed on tape. Keep in mind, he did play 100% of the snaps in the NFC Championship Game.

The Lions clearly see something with Awosika and his ability. That’s why he was resigned to a contract this off-season. As he continues to work with offensive line coach Hank Fraley, one would assume that his better days of football are ahead of him.

WR Isaiah Williams

This one shouldn’t surprise anyone. I’ve been a fan of Isaiah Williams since I watched his tape after he signed a deal with the Lions after the 2023 NFL Draft.

It’s not every day that a UDFA makes the roster but with some uncertainty around the 4th and 5th receiver spot on the Lions roster, I think Williams has a chance. If he earns that chance, it wouldn’t surprise me if he contributed more than people think.

When watching his tape, I think he was comparable to Green Bay Packers WR Jayden Reed. While Williams only ran a 4.63 time in the 40-yard dash, he did post a 6.75 time in the 3-cone drill and he did have a 38 1/2″ vertical. I’m not sold on Donovan Peoples-Jones or Antoine Green quite yet so this summer, I would keep tabs on Williams as much as possible.

Three UDFA’s that could impress at Lions rookie minicamp

Three UDFA’s that could impress at Lions rookie minicamp, including an intriguing WR prospect

As teams across the NFL welcome their rookies to their rookie mini-camp, the Detroit Lions will be doing the same today. They will be getting their first look at the rookies they have on the roster. From the 6 players they drafted to 30 other players that signed as undrafted free agents (UDFA) or trying out for the team, the competition will be real.

That’s one thing we’ve learned from the Lions coaching staff over the years and is they want competition. That competition has opened doors of opportunities for veteran players such as Kalif Raymond, John Cominsky and others.

While I can’t wait to see how Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw play this summer, I’m really excited to see a couple of undrafted players compete. Let’s take a look at three UDFA’s that could impress over the next few days at Lions rookie mini-camp.

Illinois WR Isaiah Williams

Starting with a player that has a clear path to becoming a number 4 or number 5 receiver on the roster. Isaiah Williams from Illinois should get a chance to crack the 53-man roster.

He’s listed 5’10” and 186 pounds and is more of a gadget player than anything else. However, he posted 82 receptions in consecutive seasons at Illinois and is tough over the middle of the field.

While he doesn’t have blazing speed, he plays faster than he tested. Additionally, the usage and ability to move him around offensive formations could bode well for him with Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator. Even though it does sound like Brad Holmes is content with Antoine Green and Donovan Peoples-Jones, it wouldn’t be surprising if Williams forces the Lions to make some difficult decisions in August.

Ole Miss EDGE Isaac Ukwu

One thing we’ve learned with Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, they have a type for their defensive front. Ole Miss EDGE Isaac Ukwu certainly fits that type of player.

Listed at 6’3″ and 258 pounds, I’ve only watched one game of him up to this point. He’s not been overly impressive but there are certainly flashes. His ability to hit a ghost rush or dip his shoulder and turn the corner to pressure the quarterback is fun to watch.

Ukwu needs to get stronger against the run. Primarily with recognizing blocks faster and staying square to the opposition. That will all come with time but the chance to compete is important and Ukwu will get that chance. I could see a scenario where he finds himself in some type of rotation with Mathieu Betts, James Houston and Josh Paschal.

Florida IOL Kingsley Eguakan

Finding a backup center should be a goal for the Lions this summer. While it’s nice to rely on Graham Glasgow, it’s important to have multiple options on the interior part of your offensive line.

When looking at Kingsley Eguakan, he was a player that I watched a few weeks prior to the Senior Bowl and he impressed me enough that I thought he would be drafted. Unfortunately, he didn’t and he now finds himself in Detroit with a clear opportunity to earn the backup role at center.

Eguakan is 6’3″ and 307 pounds and he put up 26 reps on the bench press at the Scouting Combine. His frame appears to be somewhat maxed out but he’s a strong finisher in the run game. One of the biggest concerns with him was health as he battled through an ankle injury for most of last season. He’ll need to get stronger and he’ll have to improve his pad level. However, there’s much to be desired with his skill-set as a developmental prospect.

Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew believes Detroit ‘pretty well stocked’ at WR

Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew believes Lions ‘pretty well stocked’ at WR when talking about Isaiah Williams’ chances as a UDFA

Isaiah Williams is easily the undrafted rookie with the highest expectations as the Detroit Lions begin their rookie minicamp. Detroit signed Williams to a $225,000 base salary guarantee as a UDFA out of Illinois after the 2024 NFL draft.

However, Williams faces an uphill battle to stick in Detroit. At least that’s what Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew intimated on Friday in his pre-practice press conference.

Agnew noted Williams’ background coming out of St. Louis, where the Lions assistant GM played on the Rams’ defensive line for the final three seasons of his career. Williams was a quarterback as a youth and began at that position at Illinois before switching later in his time in Champaign.

He talked up the “playmaker” nature and mentality Williams brings, but that won’t ensure a spot on the Lions roster, not even with the hefty signing bonus and salary guarantee. Agnew noted that the wide receiver position is “pretty well stocked for us.”

That’s a statement that might catch some observers off-guard, though it’s been a consistent message from the offseason actions the Lions have taken all winter and spring.

After re-signing Donovan Peoples-Jones, a midseason trade acquisition in 2023, the Lions are running back the same receiving corps as in 2023, with the exception of Josh Reynolds, who signed as a free agent in Denver. Reynolds started 13 games and caught 40 passes for 608 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season. All were second on the team amongst wide receivers behind All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Jameson Williams is expected to step up in his third season and the first without any offseason issues (injury, gambling suspension) occluding his path. Veteran Kalif Raymond (35 catches, 489 yards in 2023) is back as well. Peoples-Jones and 2023 seventh-rounder Antoine Green, as well as former Saints starter Tre’Quan Smith are all in the mix as well.

Williams joins that competition, along with another UDFA the team signed, Jalon Calhoun from Duke.

Illinois WR Isaiah Williams would be a perfect middle round draft pick for Ravens

If the Baltimore Ravens can grab Illinois WR Isaiah Williams somewhere in a middle-to-later round, they definitely should.

In the latest edition of this site’s Every Round Baltimore Ravens Mock Draft, the following pick stands out: Rd5: Pick 153 Isaiah Williams, WR, Illinois. This would be a great selection, as Williams would both fill a need and be a tremendous value for Baltimore here.

Williams, who came to Illinois as a highly recruited quarterback before shifting to wide receiver in 2021, led the Big Ten in receiving this past season. The St. Louis native was All-Big Ten first team, as he finished second in receiving yards, behind only Ohio St.’s Marvin Harrison Jr., who many believe will be the first wideout taken in this year’s draft.

His elite 2023 season was foreshadowed by the stellar way he ended his 2022 campaign. Williams was arguably the best offensive performer on the field when Mississippi St. beat Illinois in the Reliaquest Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023. It was the biggest game that Williams played in during his college career, and afterward, he spoke about the new role he was given and how well that worked for him.

“I was not just being used as a gadget (today), being able to run routes and get open, I got to show that I can create separation,” he said in an exclusive with The Sports Bank.

While it was in a losing cause, Williams conveyed that afternoon in Tampa how he truly has the clutch gene. The Illini team captain was the only player in the nation with two game-winning touchdowns in the final minute or overtime this past season. He also left school as the leading receiver in the Power 5 for players with eligibility remaining.

One thing the Ravens receiving corps could use more is YACs, a forte of Williams. He led the Big Ten and ranked 10th in FBS in yards after catch with 553, per PFF, during the regular season,

He’s also a chain mover, as his 48 first-down receptions ranked 14th in the nation (2nd in the Big Ten) during the regular season

In addition to all that, he’s got tremendous character. He was a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Man of the Year Award and a nominee for the AFCA Good Works team.

“Not only is he a good football player, but I think he’s an exceptional person with great leadership qualities,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said after Williams made the switch from quarterback to receiver.

“He’s lightning in a bottle, just a very active, natural receiver. He’s an exceptional player.”

 

 

LSU offers 2026 DB from Texas

Brian Kelly is hard at work on the 2026 recruiting class. Recently, he offered a defensive back from the Lone Star State.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is hard at work on the 2026 recruiting class. Recently, he offered a defensive back from the Lone Star State.

[autotag]Isaiah Williams [/autotag]is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back from Missouri City, Texas, where he plays for Fort Bend Marshall High School.

The Fort Bend Marshall Buffaloes finished the 2022 season 12-2 with a loss to Port Neches-Groves in the Quarterfinal round of the UIL 5A D2 playoffs.

Texas is currently a 26% favorite to land Williams per On3.

Film Analysis: Williams is a defensive back that is not afraid to come up and lay a lick on a running back in run support. He will be fun to watch going forward.

FILM

Week 6 preview: Iowa Hawkeyes versus Illinois Fighting Illini discussion with Illinois Rivals insider

Week 6 sees the Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Illinois Fighting Illini. Some Illini insight from a discussion with an Illini insider at Rivals.

As the Iowa Hawkeyes get ready to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT, the game appears to be shaping up as an old-fashioned Big Ten slug fest.

To get up-to-speed on the upstart Illini who are surprising some with their rebuild, an insider from Rivals provided insight to some key items regarding the Illini.

The insider is one I have known for nearly a decade, was my college roommate, college football teammate, and one that is still a friend although providing he is coverage for the Illini.

The Illini insider is Jonah Puls. Find him on Twitter (@JP_UIRivals) for all things Illinois. From football, to basketball, to even their highly-ranked golf team.

We discuss the Illini’s accelerated rebuild, a few players that could influence this matchup, dive into some advantages that each team has, and get into some predictions on who takes this Big Ten West matchup.