Illinois:

J Leman

Year: Senior

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Champaign, Ill.

Height: 6-3

Weight: 243

Leman enters his senior season with multiple preseason accolades, including preseason First-Team All-American and preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year selections by Blue Ribbon. His 12.7 tackles per game last year led the Big Ten and placed third in the entire nation. The Champaign native anchors a defense that returns nine starters and will have the responsibility of trying to contain Missouri junior quarterback Chase Daniel. With Leman’s speed and knack for being around the ball and making plays, the Illini will need him to have a solid game to control a Missouri attack that finished eighth in the nation in total offense last season, averaging 425.6 yards of offense per game. If Leman can play at the level he did last year and get good production from his teammates, the Illini might be able to hold Chase Daniel and the Tigers offense in check.

Missouri:

Chase Coffman

Year: Junior

Position: Tight end

Hometown: Peculiar, Mo.

Height: 6-6

Weight: 245

Chase Daniel isn’t the only Chase the Illini defense will have to worry about on Saturday. Chase Coffman is just as big of a threat on the field as the Tigers’ quarterback. Coffman led all Big 12 tight ends last year in receptions (58), receiving yards (638) and touchdowns (9), all as a sophomore. Coffman is also one of the nation’s best blocking tight ends and is packaged with fellow senior tight end Martin Rucker, who is Missouri’s all-time leader for tight ends in both receiving yards (1,341) and catches (119). Paired together, Rucker and Coffman give Missouri arguably the best tight end tandem in the country and stopping both, let alone one, will be a lofty challenge for the Illini defense.