Ascending Illinois LB with Size, Physicality, and Scheme Fit Questions
Eric Garrett is a linebacker prospect/status name to watch because his value will hinge less on box-score stats and more on whether his size, physicality, and football IQ translate into reliable downhill play and special-teams impact. I could not verify Illinois-specific 2025–26 game production for him in the available results, so the key question is fit: can he consistently diagnose quickly, tackle cleanly, and hold up against Big Ten tempo and gap schemes? If Illinois is looking for a tough, assignment-solid defender with developmental upside, he is the kind of player worth tracking.
