Shaughnessey Stands Out

Matt Shaughnessy emerged last season as a freshman on an injury-riddled defense. His athleticism was obvious from the start, and his technique has developed over the course of this season as he has now fully recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him during the Iowa game last season. Granted he still needs to add weight to his lean frame, but I would argue that he will emerge as the top defensive lineman the program has ever produced, better than Davey, Burke, Bryant, and James. The JS gave him a glowing reveiew for his onfield intelligence and impact play in the game that went down to the final snap, a sack of the Juice by #92.

"Sophomore defensive end Matt Shaughnessy draws raves for his athletic ability but his football IQ is more impressive.

Shaughnessy recorded three tackles for loss, including two sacks, and eight total tackles. His best play came on the Illini's next-to-last series, when he threw receiver Derrick McPhearson for a 1-yard loss on a reverse.

On second and 9 from their 47, the Illini deployed four wide receivers, with three to the right. McPhearson, the middle receiver on the right, moved forward 1 yard at the snap but then reversed his field and angled back toward quarterback Juice Williams. Williams was moving to his right, along with a running back, as if he planned to run the option.

Shaughnessy, the backside end, kept his head up as he slowly slid down the line and looked for anything coming back his way. Because he did that, Shaughnessy recognized the reverse before McPhearson caught the pitch at the Illinois 41. Shaughnessy, who was at the Illini 45, then turned and ran stride-for-stride with McPhearson toward the sideline. He brought him down at the 46 and the Illini eventually punted.

Shaughnessy's technique was flawless."