Edwards could be key in rebuilt Illini defensive line

CHAMPAIGN — No defensive tackle played more in 2023 than Johnny Newton. His 749 snaps dwarfed his closest Big Ten competitor among interior defensive linemen and were 73 more than any other defensive tackle among the power conferences.

Newton was a constant on the field for the Illini. The literal first line of defense playing alongside Keith Randolph Jr. and Denzel Daxon.

Now all three are on NFL rosters. Newton went in to the second round of the 2024 NFL draft to the Washington Commanders. Randolph and Daxon signed as undrafted free agents with the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

That made addressing the defensive line a major offseason priority for Bret Bielema and Co., with TeRah Edwards at nose tackle the only truly experienced option up front returning for 2024. While there’s intrigue in young defensive linemen like sophomore Alex Bray and true freshman Angelo McCullom, the Illini added Dennis Briggs Jr. (Florida State), Gentle Hunt (Florida A&M) and Enyce Sledge (Auburn) for a reason.

Starting over on the defensive line is simply easier when there’s experienced players on hand to tackle that challenge.

And those three transfers have a dozen seasons of college football between them.

“A Johnny Newton comes around every 5, 10, 15 years,” Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry said. “That cat, he was different. He obviously elevated the guys around him. To lose a guy of that caliber, we’ve got to make up for it in other areas. We believe we have, as a whole, just as many talented guys. Briggs has been doing an incredible job. TeRah has had an incredible offseason.”

Edwards doesn’t see the task of replacing all three starters from last season’s defense as pressure. The Columbus, Ohio, native has been around college football long enough — this is his fifth season — to understand how it works.

Players leave.

The roster changes.

The expectations don’t.

“Honestly, Coach B. has built the standard of culture,” Edwards said. “If you’re going to be on that field, you’re going to be tough, smart and dependable. Our group, that’s how we approach it. If they trust us to be on the field, we have to be tough, smart and dependable. Be consistent. Be guys they can depend on as every day guys. The goal is to play winning football regardless of how we get it done.”

Edwards has mostly been Illinois’ backup nose tackle in his time with the team. He played behind Calvin Avery in 2022 after transferring from Northwestern and was behind Daxon, who played a single season for the Illini after transferring from Ohio, in 2023.

But he still played in 25 of 25 games the last two seasons. That’s experience he can tap into. Much needed experience for this version of the Illinois defensive line.

“Everybody has a timeline,” Edwards said. “For me, it was just playing my role to my best ability. Going into my last year, I’ve been able to take the pieces of what I’ve done right and what I haven’t done to the best of my ability and put it all together for this last season.”

Edwards said one thing he wished he could tell his younger self was to buy-in sooner to what the Illinois coaching staff was doing in his development. That it’s an easy thing to say, but something more difficult to do wholeheartedly because of the consistent commitment needed to live it.

“Trust is built both ways,” Jamison said. “A young man like TeRah transferring in, he’s got to get to know us and be in position to trust us. Trust how we’re correcting him, how we’re building him up. He’s a young man that we’ve empowered because he’s shown we can trust him. He’s shown he’s accountable to the work and is consistent. He’s in a position where he has that voice, a position to influence. He’s taken it and run with it.”