Illinois DL Eli Coenen brings rare size and disruptive upside
Eli Coenen is a **6-foot-7, 275-pound** sophomore defensive lineman whose value comes from unusual length, rotational impact, and a developmental ceiling that is higher than his current box-score numbers suggest. In 2025, he played in 12 games for Illinois and finished with **12 tackles and 1.5 sacks**, while also flashing backfield disruption with a sack in the Music City Bowl; earlier at Bemidji State he showed more production, hinting at untapped pass-rush ability. He looks like a fit for teams that want a long, physical DL with traits to coach up, not just an instant-stat monster.
