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Sophomore Tanner Heckel starting to shine after breakout vs Duke

The Sophomore from Kansas has gone from playing eight man football to igniting a Big Ten Defense.

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5 months ago

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Illinois football star db Tanner Heckel
Credit: Instagram @Heckeltanner

Sophomore DB Shines in Big Win at Duke

Illinois’ defense once again proved why it’s among the nation’s best, forcing five turnovers in a 45-19 road win at Duke on Saturday. Now tied for first nationally in takeaways, the Illini secondary is loaded with playmakers – but sophomore defensive back Tanner Heckel stole the spotlight by directly influencing three of Duke’s giveaways.

The first big moment came early. Trailing 3-0 and struggling offensively, Illinois punted away, only for the ball to bounce off the Blue Devils’ returner. Surrounded by Duke players, Heckel made a savvy play, punching the ball into space where teammate Tyler Strain could make a clean recovery. The muff set up Illinois’ first touchdown and eased the offense into the road environment.

In the fourth quarter, Heckel elevated again. With Illinois nursing a two-score lead, he made a leaping interception along the sideline, sparking a 12-play, seven-minute touchdown drive that all but sealed the win. On Duke’s very next snap, Heckel crashed the backfield for a strip sack recovered by the defense, leading to yet another Illini touchdown.

All night long, Tanner Heckel was around the football, making high-IQ, momentum-shifting plays in a statement win that pushed Illinois Football to No. 9 in the AP Poll. His emergence adds another weapon to a defense already built on takeaways and shutdown ability, strengthening Illinois’ case as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

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