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Illinois Football: TE Luke Ford to Redshirt

What Happened?

Illinois football tight end Luke Ford will redshirt the 2023 season, head coach Bret Bielema announced on Monday.

Ford suffered a torn ACL in the team's season-opening loss to Indiana.

He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready to contribute in 2024.

What it Means

Ford's absence is a significant blow to the Illinois offense.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound tight end was expected to be a major contributor in Bielema's offense.

He caught 30 passes for 395 yards and four touchdowns in 2022.

Next Steps

With Ford out, the Illini will need to find other players to step up at tight end.

Redshirt freshman Henry Boyer and true freshman Owen Anderson are likely candidates to fill the void.

The Illini open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at home against Eastern Illinois.

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