In our continuing preview of Illini position groups, OrangeandBlueNews.com takes a look at the defensive line. Defensive line coach Mike Phair returns a veteran group that Lovie Smith calls the "strength of the team".

Returning players: Carrol Phillips (Sr.), Chunky Clements (Sr.), Rob Bain (Sr.), Henry McGrew (So.), Sean Adesanya (So.), Jamal Milan (R-Fr.), Zeke Martin (R-Fr.), Brandon Roberts (Jr.), Dawuane Smoot (Sr.), Tito Odenigbo (So.),

Additions: Gimel President (Sr.), Brandon Jones (Fr.), Tymir Oliver (Fr.), Kenyon Jackson (Fr.)

Losses: Jihad Ward, Kenny Nelson, Joe Fotu, Teko Powell

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More Illini position previews: Offensive line | Linebacker

Smoot leads veteran group of defensive linemen

“The defensive line is the strength of our team.” Illini head coach Lovie Smith has repeated that line numerous times since he took over the program in March, and he said it again on Monday after the first padded practice. It’s a difficult stance to contradict.

The Illini return a veteran group of defenders up front that measures up with anyone in the Big Ten West. It’s a unit that clearly stands head and shoulders above every other Illini position group at camp. There’s size, athleticism, experience, and depth.

“We definitely have some guys up front,” said defensive line coach Mike Phair. “We have Smoot, Chunky, Bain, Jamal, Carroll, and now President is here. We have some guys. To me, the sky is the limit.”

Smoot, a pre-season All-Conference pick, moves to the strong side with NFL Draft pick Jihad Ward now in camp with the Oakland Raiders. Smoot is poised for a big season.

Under the brain-trust of Lovie Smith and coordinator Hardy Nickerson, the Illini hope to establish an identity as an aggressive, physical defense that takes the initiative. It will be a welcome change for fans who have watched an Illini defense that has often back on its heels.

Illinois struggled to stop the run during the Beckman/Cubit era. They were No. 11 in the Big Ten in rush defense a year ago, yielding 166.4 yards per game and 4.3 yards per rush. The pass defense was much more efficient, but they still only racked up 19 total sacks. Only Rutgers had fewer in the conference.

Improvement does seem inevitable after watching the Illini go through early practices. For the Illinois defensive in 2016, it all starts up front. And it’s a very good place to start.

SDE. Dawaune Smoot. Everything points to a monster senior season for Smoot, a candidate for the team’s MVP honors in 2016. He seems to have found the right weight, now checking in at a chiseled 255 pounds, and he has a tremendous burst of power and speed coming off the edge. Moving to the strong side should be a seamless transition for him. Smoot was on the verge of stardom last year, finishing his junior campaign with 8 sacks and 15 tackles for loss, both team highs. We believe he’s ready to take the next step and solidify a spot early in the 2017 NFL Draft. But first things first. Look for Smoot to put up double-digit sacks. Along with middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson, he’s the heart and soul of the Illini defense.

WDE. Carroll Phillips. From the moment he stepped on campus two years ago, Phillips has been the best looking Illini athlete on the hoof. His speed off the edge allows him to be disruptive on passing downs. Now a senior and full-time starter, it’s time for Phillips to be consistent and show his is more than a one-dimensional player. Still, rushing the quarterback remains his strength. Phillips can outrun any offensive lineman in space. When he has a clear lane to the QB, look out. He’s a guy who needs to keep separation from blockers and not allow them to get to his body. Phillips will play with his hand on the ground at Illinois, but he’s a natural rush linebacker in a 3-4.

DT. Rob Bain. There’s nothing complicated about Rob Bain. He’s the strongest player on the roster who brings initiates the physicality against his OL opponents and embodies toughness and grit. Bain’s hand and arm strength allow him to win matches inside with Big Ten offensive linemen. He won’t wow you with athleticism, however. His get-off is average, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see Bain rotate out on obvious passing downs. He’s a base down run-stuffer. We want to see Bain, a converted offensive lineman, improve his vision and be more instinctual at getting off his off his blocks and sniffing out the football. Any offensive lineman who goes head to head against Bain will know he’s been in a football game.

DT. Chunky Clements. The veteran Clements has dramatically improved his technique since he first got to Illinois. He now has multiple moves in this repertoire that allow him to get off in a hurry and makes plays in the offensive backfield. He specializes in shooting the gap and racking up tackles for loss (11.5 TFL’s in 2015). Though he doesn’t have overpowering size, Clements gets good leverage and he can push offensive guards back into the quarterback. Once he gets through his gap, he can flip his hops and chase the ball from the backside. Sack numbers typically aren’t exceedingly high for interior D-linemen, and Clements is no exception. The measuring stick is how effective he is at disrupting the flow and timing of the offense.

Redshirt freshman DT Jamal Milan is easily one of the breakout performers early on in camp. If he continues to shine, he could push Bain for a starting role. Milan has everything you’re looking for in a defensive tackle: size, power, athleticism, and tenacity. Versatility and experience make Auburn transfer Gimel President a valuable piece to the rotation. Sophomore Tito Odenigbo is solid and will get plenty of snaps. Underrated sophomore Henry McGrew backs up Phillips at WDE.

If football games are won in the trenches, then you have to like the Illini’s chances on defense. They finally have the depth up front to rotate several guys in and keep everyone fresh. The Illini also have a legitimate star in Smoot, something that has been a missing piece the last several years. The D-line may have to carry a largely inexperienced back seven early on in the season. That’s certainly a better situation than if the roles were reversed.