high-volume, high-impact linebacker who anchored Illinois’ 2007 rise
J Leman was an elite, instincts-driven linebacker for Illinois, finishing with 407 career tackles and earning consensus All-America honors in 2007 after leading the Big Ten in tackles with 152 in 2006 and posting 132 more in 2007. He stood out for his sideline-to-sideline range, production in the backfield, and toughness in big games, including the Rose Bowl run, while also bringing a reputation as a high-character, academically respected leader. If you want a middle-of-the-defense tone-setter who can diagnose plays quickly and rack up stops, he fits.
