Illinois RB Chase Brown takes home national honor for Week 1 performance
Illinois suffered a tough loss when it fell to Indiana in Week 1 of the season. The Fighting Illini were coming off a 38-6 victory over Wyoming in Week 0 before slipping up in B1G play.
Despite the even record, one thing has been consistent: The play of RB Chase Brown.
The running back has rushed for 350 yards (6.4 ypc) on 55 attempts and 2 touchdowns through 2 games. Brown’s play has earned him some special recognition.
The 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 @DoakWalkerAward Running Back of the Week belongs to @chasebrown____ after Week 1 vs. Indiana.
🔸 First RB in #Illini history to rush for 150+ yards in each of the first two games of a season
🔹 199 yards
🔸157 yards after contact#HTTO | #famILLy pic.twitter.com/AimhNNny0h— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) September 7, 2022
Brown is coming off a solid 2021 season in which he rushed for over 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns. The junior back has certainly carried that momentum over through 2 games.
Brown will get a shot to run the ball against Virginia this weekend. The Cavaliers are 1-0 after a 34-17 win over FCS Richmond. The Spiders did rush for 170 yards on 35 attempts on the Cavalier defense.
That could provide Brown with a big day. Illinois will definitely need him if they are going to make any sort of headway in the B1G conference this season.