Illinois gave up an alarming average of 32 points per game last season, surrendering more than 30 points in eight of 10 losses.

And although last Friday’s spring game did nothing to quell those concerns, with the offenses putting up a combined 63 points in the blue squad’s 35-28 victory over the orange team, defensive coordinator Tim Banks isn’t concerned.

“It’s spring. You’re playing with short depth and don’t have a lot of guys on either side of the ball,” Banks said. “As a defensive guy, we’d like to hold them to a goose egg every time, but the reality of it is we want to be able to win the game and put ourselves in position to do that.”

Also, per Beckman’s spring game rules, the defense was limited to one outside blitz and one inside blitz and barred from blitzing any corners or safeties.

While the point totals were discouraging, one positive sign for the Illini defense was the blue team’s five interceptions, including a 45-yard pick-six by Taylor Barton and a fourth-quarter pick by Mason Monheim to extinguish the orange team’s comeback hopes.  

“We want to try to turn the ball over four times a practice, and the guys are really taking that to heart,” Banks said. “They had a couple of opportunities that they were able to capitalize on, and for us to be a good defense you continue to improve and continue to make those types of plays.” 

Illinois’ defense surrendered explosive offensive outputs to nearly every opponent last season, but Monheim shined as one the few bright spots in the otherwise dismal season. The freshman linebacker was called upon early and often, working his way into the starting lineup by Week Three and never relinquishing it.

This season, Monheim and fellow sophomore Ohioan Mike Svetina will be even more important, particularly with senior linebacker and All-Big Ten honorable mention Jonathan Brown missing the spring after offseason shoulder surgery.

With a host of veteran players moving on — starters Michael Buchanan, Terry Hawthorne, Glenn Foster, Justin Green, Akeem Spence, Supo Sanni, Justin Staples, Ashante Williams, Patrick Nixon-Youman and Steve Hull, who moved from safety to wide receiver — Monheim and Svetina are among the most experienced on the defense in just their second year. They are two of seven defensive players remaining who started any games last season.

“He earned his stripes playing down in the Big House and Madison (Wisc.) and places like that,” Banks said of Monheim. “He understands that there’s still some things that he needs to improve on, but the thing I like about Mason is he’s out there trying to get better at it. So I think his future is bright.”

Chad can be reached at [email protected] and @cthornburg10.