The Illinois Fighting Illini have a new defensive coordinator this season. Illinois hired former Montana head coach Bob Hauck to run its defense. Hauck will bring over a 3-3-5 defense. His defense has ranked in the top 20 in scoring in the FCS three out of the last five years and top ten in turnovers. With eight new starters on defense, Hauck will have a chance to implement his system with a bunch of new players. Here are the players to watch this season:

Xavier Scott, CB

Xavier Scott is one of the most experienced pieces returning to the Illinois secondary, and that experience could be extremely valuable. Although Scott played in just three games last season, he will be a key factor this season. Scott has already seen plenty of Big Ten football and understands what it takes to play against some of the conference’s best offenses. That matters even more with Illinois changing the look of its defense.

The Illini are expected to ask their defensive backs to be versatile. Scott’s ability to line up in different spots and make plays in coverage gives the coaching staff another weapon to work with. He also brings something that can’t be taught: familiarity with the speed of the college game.

Illinois cannot afford communication issues in the secondary, especially against teams that can spread the field and attack vertically. Scott will have a major responsibility in helping keep everything organized. If he can put together a strong season, he could emerge as one of the most important players on the entire defense.

Matthew Bailey, S

Matthew Bailey is another defensive back who could take a noticeable step forward this season. Last season, Bailey played in 12 games and compiled 76 tackles, including four for a loss. He also had two passes defended.

The safety position becomes especially important in a defense that wants to create confusion for opposing quarterbacks. Safeties have to recognize formations, communicate with teammates, and make quick decisions once the ball is snapped.

Bailey will have opportunities to make plays against the run, but his biggest value could come from his ability to impact the passing game. Illinois needs its safeties to be aggressive without constantly putting themselves out of position.

Bailey has the chance to become one of those players who seems to be around the football every week. If he can consistently make the right reads, Illinois could have a much more disruptive secondary.

Carter Janki, DL

Illinois lost a lot of their defensive line from last year; it will be up to Carter Janki to help replace some of the production. At 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, Janki has the size to be a significant presence on the line. His job will not always show up on the stat sheet. Sometimes the most important play from a defensive lineman is occupying a blocker and creating an opening for someone else to make the tackle.

If Janki can also generate pressure himself, his value increases considerably. Illinois needs its defensive line to make life difficult for opposing running games and quarterbacks. Janki could play a big part in that.

Bottom Line

Illinois has plenty to figure out defensively, but Scott, Bailey and Janki give the Illini three players with the potential to become difference-makers. If all three take another step forward, Illinois could have a defense capable of surprising some people in 2026.