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The Illinois Fighting Illini will start out the 2026 season at home against the UAB Blazers before facing Duke and Southern Illinois in games two and three.

A road game at Ohio State will test the physicality of the Fighting Illini in a whole different way, particularly along the defensive line as the Buckeyes boast one of the Big Ten's strongest offensive lines. 

Illinois stocked up on transfer portal players this past offseason to bolster its roster in anticipation of a rugged Big Ten Conference schedule, including on the defensive side of the ball where nine new players were added.

Among them is Darrell Prater, who boasts the size Big Ten teams covet at the defensive tackle position and who has made his presence felt thus far in offseason workouts. 

Thomas: Prater a "Great Addition"

Prater, a 6-foot-3, 300 pound transfer from the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, was singled out as a "great addition" to the Fighting Illini by defensive line coach and run game coordinator Jordan Thomas in an interview posted by reporter Scott Richey of The News-Gazette in Champaign, Ill.  

"Darrell has been a great addition to this room," Thomas said.

"Coming in here from Jack State, guy's played a lot of college football, and (he has a) cultural football background (with) his dad being a coach," he continued. 

Prater's experience has helped smooth things out along the defensive front from a football knowledge standpoint. 

"That's a guy that, as a defense all three guys up front have to have some idea of what's going on coverage-wise. 

"And then having him at that position with his background, it's been a huge asset," Thomas added. 

Prater has 39 college football games under his belt, all of them with the Gamecocks, with 63 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks on the ledger thus far. 

All but one of those sacks came last season suggesting the Fighting Illini may have found a player on the upswing as he enters his senior season. 

Thomas Excited to Sort Through Depth Chart

The abundance of newcomers, including standouts like Prater, has made life fun in Champaign for coach Thomas, who joined the Fighting Illini this season after coaching with Boston College in 2025 and with the NFL's Cleveland Browns prior to that.  

Thomas is busy evaluating players along the defensive line and preparing to put them together in time for Sept. 3's home opener at Gies Memorial Stadium.

It's a process that requires patience, a keen eye for details, and a willingness to experiment with different lineups and play calls. 

"You know, it's my job to kind of see what guys do really well and just continue to sort through that you know, that's the fun part," Thomas said. 

"Teaching's the fun part, also seeing what your guys are really adept at to start and figuring out what they need work at, and just find a good plan from the get-go and just get those weak spots out out of their game so they can be a fully rounded football player." 

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