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Ryan Walters discusses performance of 1 DL in Week 1, potential revenge game against Virginia
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Ryan Walters will be looking for more production out of his defense following the loss to Indiana. However, he was especially impressed with 1 member of his defensive line per Joey Wagner of 247Sports.
Jer’Zhan Newton finished the game with 5 total tackles, 2 solo tackles, 1 sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss. He has been a very consistent player so far for Illinois this season. Walters was impressed by how often Newton was in the Indiana backfield.
“The level he’s playing with and the consistency he’s playing with is pretty special,” said Walters. “We didn’t get that many sacks, he got the one sack, but was in the backfield all night and had a bunch of hurries and really affected the quarterback. Just his motor. We saw that in the summertime and workouts. He just always strains in practice so it shows up in games.”
Walters is hoping that Virginia does not get to move the ball as easily as it did last season. The Cavaliers beat the Fighting Illini 42-14, and now have former Clemson assistant Tony Elliott as head coach. It will be a new challenge for Illinois this time around.
“I think it’s in the back of peoples’ minds,” said Walters. “It’s a new staff, a new system, a new system for us as well. New personnel, all of those things. You remember the losses. They took it to us last year at their place. I know our guys are excited to go play.”
Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.