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Penn State Football: getting to know Illinois | 3 key players

By Lawrence Santa Maria

Dec 5, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) runs the ball during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) runs the ball during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brian Hightower #14 of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Brian Hightower #14 of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Brian Hightower – Wide Receiver

Wide receiver Brian Hightower has only caught nine passes this season, but when the Illini quarterbacks have found him, he has dome damage with those nine catches.

Hightower’s 22.3 yards per reception average ranks fifth in the country, as he has been the home run threat for the Illinois offense. The junior has nine receptions for 201 yards and two touchdowns thus far this season.

We saw last week the Penn State football secondary is susceptible to getting beat over the top, as the Spartans hit touchdown passes of 45 and 26 yards last week, and it has been an issue that has plagued their defense all season.

It was a similar type of wide receiver for the Spartans, Jailen Nailor who entered that contest averaging over 20 yards per catch who burnt Penn State for the 45 yard touchdown reception.

It is going to be tough for this Illinois offense to consistently move the ball and keep the chains moving, so a big play to a wideout like Hightower at a crucial time could be exactly what Illinois needs offensively.

Next. Penn State seniors face tough decision: Who stays, who goes?. dark

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