Finishing 8-4 in Champaign is cause for celebration. Yes, it was a fantastic year for head coach Bret Bielema’s team. Yet, looking back, the Illini will likely be lamenting the “what-ifs” of 2022.

Entering November the Illini were in the driver’s seat in the B1G West. They even had a cushion. That’s when 3 straight heartbreaking losses occurred. The skid cost Illinois a chance to be in Indy representing the West. In all 3 games, Illinois had leads. It couldn’t hold any of them.

In what will go down as one of Bielema’s best coaching jobs, fans will be left thinking Illinois deserved a better fate. Maybe so. But fans can’t dwell on the negatives. This was a team picked in the preseason to finish 5th or 6th in the West.

But the Illini made a ton of improvement in a year. They flexed their muscles on defense. They’ll look to keep climbing in 2023.

Let’s take a look at how the 2022 Illini graded out at each position.

Quarterback: B

This is a tough 1 to assess. On one hand Syracuse transfer Tommy DeVito upgraded the position. His leadership and ball security were big reasons why the Illini reached 8 wins.

On the other hand, DeVito’s lack of “big-play ability” might be the reason Illinois dropped 3 straight November games.

DeVito completed 69.8% of his throws while amassing 2,397 yards on the year. He threw 15 TDs and only 4 picks. Solid numbers, no question.

But when they needed him to stretch the field to Isaiah Williams or Brian Hightower, the results weren’t as productive. Too many times the Illini offense had to march the field methodically. And when they fell behind in their November losses, they proved to not be an offense built to play from behind.

Running backs: A

Chase Brown’s 2022 numbers were fabulous. Brown finished 2022 as the nation’s No. 2 rusher behind UAB’s DeWayne McBride with 1,643 yards.

The junior was the focal point of the offense and his production didn’t disappoint. Even Brown’s backups — Reggie Love III and Josh McCray — showed flashes of brilliance. It was a group that had a lot of success.

And if Brown (a Doak Walker finalist) decides to return for his senior year, it’ll be a position group with experience and one that’s ready to lead in 2023.

Wide receivers/tight ends: C+

Williams was the undeniable leader of this unit. He hauled in 72 balls for 595 yards and 5 touchdowns. But after Williams, production fell off. Hightower finished with 452 yards and a pair of scores.

Tip Reiman and Luke Ford had modest numbers at tight end. It wasn’t a position that put much fear into opposing defenses. Moving forward, Illinois must find a way to get its playmakers more touches and OC Barry Lunney Jr. will have to figure out how to get the tight ends more involved.

Offensive line: B+

To say this unit overachieved might even be an understatement. Losing a pair of NFL draft picks in Vederian Lowe and Doug Kramer off the 2021 group made 2022 an unknown for this group.

But the Illini came together, led by right tackle Alex Palczewski and junior college transfers Isaiah Adams and Zy Crisler, to pave the way for Brown’s record-setting season.

The only hiccup was the 21 sacks allowed on Illinois’ QBs. Not awful, but a number Bielema and Lunney would like cleaned up in 2023.

Defensive line: A

As intimidating a unit as there was in the league. Where do we even begin?

How about with Jer’Zhan Newton? The sophomore DT from St. Petersburg, Florida, had 13 TFL and led the team with 5.5 sacks. He was near-impossible to block 1-on-1.

Sophomore Keith Randolph Jr. tied Newton with 13 TFL. Randolph added 4.5 sacks and an interception. The combo of Newton and Randolph was as imposing a duo as there was up front defensively in the B1G.

Linebackers: A-

Senior Isaac Darkangelo led the team in tackles with 67. Darkangelo recorded double-digit tackles vs. Purdue and Northwestern and played extremely good football over the final month of the season.

Sophomore Seth Coleman was consistent all year. He tallied 42 tackles and had 2 key sacks in the 9-6 win over Iowa.

Finally, freshman Gabe Jacas turned into a fierce pass-rusher off the edge. Walters loved to get him in 1-on-1 situations to pressure the QB. Jacas had 4 sacks and 5 QB hurries.

The unit feasted off of teams being put in passing downs.

Defensive backs: A

Maybe the best overall position group on a talented defense. The names and numbers both were eye-popping.

Sydney Brown has put forward an All-America type of season. He was named the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Northwestern, which included 2 defensive scores.

Brown was 2nd on team in total tackles (59) and the team leader in interceptions with 6.

Alongside Brown, Witherspoon has put forth his own All-America campaign. The junior is 1 of 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award and 1 of 20 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award. He also led the nation in forced incompletions (13) according to PFF.

While Brown and Witherspoon were the leaders of the unit, guys like Kendall Smith, Jartavius Martin and Tahveon Nicholson also shined with standout seasons. It was a group that fed off each other’s success.

Specialists: B

Junior kicker Caleb Griffin was solid, connecting on 13-of-17 field goals with a long of 48.

Australian punter Hugh Robertson had some difficult conditions to punt in at times. The gale-force winds when the Illini hosted Michigan State made punting an adventure. Robertson’s 21.0-yard average on 3 punts that game was a season low. However, the redshirt freshman had some fun on a fake punt in the regular-season finale against Northwestern, gaining 23 yards and a 1st down.