It is no secret that Xavier Scott is one of the best cornerbacks in the game. The real question is who will step up and be the Illini’s No. 2 option on defense.
The Illini have a tough matchup with the Duke Blue Devils, especially with their transfer quarterback Darian Mensah. The 20-year old through for almost 400 yards and three touchdowns in the Blue Devils season opener (against FCS Elon).
It is safe to say that Mensah will keep the ball away from Scott as much as possible, however with an already
banged-up Illini secondary, Mensah has the ability to exploits holes in the defense.
“We are actually healthier this game than we were last week,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said. “Juice [Jaheim Clarke] won’t be with us, but we kind of knew that on Tuesday. He should be ready for next week. Other than him that is really the only guy out, that is in our projected two deep.”
Clarke, a corner, didn’t play in last week’s win either. Stepping up in place was junior Kaleb Patterson, who received high praise from his head coach.
“A guy that has had a really good camp for us is Kaleb Patterson,” Bielema said. “I thought he had a really nice fall camp. Tori Cox, Xavier and Amar Reynolds has had a really nice fall camp for us.”
And even with the reinforcements arriving, there was one more player that Bielema and his staff were impressed with.
“A guy that a week ago we didn’t know if he was going to be out there, that played fairly well for us was Xanai [Scott],” Bielema said. “That allows us to put more guys on the outside.”
Xanai Scott, the younger brother of Xavier Scott, is a true freshman that really excites Bielema. If he will see the field against a loaded Duke offense is still up in the air, but if the coaching staff needs to put more bodies in, they have them at their disposal.
