CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois linebacker CJ Hart is out for the season with a knee injury, head coach Bret Bielema announced on Thursday.
Hart stood out in Illinois’ 30-22 season-opening win against Nebraska last Saturday in his first game as an Illini. He had six tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for a loss and a 41-yard, scoop-and-score fumble return just before halftime to swing the momentum in Illinois’ favor against the Huskers. But Hart suffered what appeared to be a left leg injury in the fourth quarter and was helped off the field, gingerly putting weight on his leg.
“He obviously was devastated but very impressed with his resiliency last night, just visiting with him and his folks about the path and the journey that he’s on now,” Bielema said. “A guy that has bought in 100 times over since coming here, came in as a transfer and automatically adjusted really well with our team and our roster, really bought in, obviously a game day starter, was the Defensive Player of the Week last week in the Big Ten but also for us here in the building. Just had embodied everything that we asked. Unfortunately, these things happen. My guess is that CJ will come back stronger and better than ever.”
Hart had surgery on Wednesday afternoon, Bielema said. Bielema said it is not an ACL injury but it is a knee injury.
“Hard work is my friend,” Hart wrote on his Twitter page. “Perseverance is my nature. What has happened is part of the game I love. I will be back stronger and better than before. I appreciate the continued prayers, love and support.”
Hart, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound sophomore transferred to Illinois from North Carolina State in the offseason and has earned plenty of praise from the coaching staff. He showed his athleticism against Nebraska and often was the spy on quarterback Adrian Martinez, who rushed for 111 yards, including 75 on one carry.
“He did a great job in the game and flashed exactly the way he’s been flashing since he’s gotten here,” linebackers coach Andy Buh told Illini Inquirer on Tuesday.
According to PFF, Hart received Illinois’ highest defensive grade against Nebraska.
In two seasons at North Carolina State, Hart accrued 53 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks and arrived in Champaign with a glowing recommendation from NC State head coach Dave Doeren to his former boss, Bielema. Hart became immediately eligible this offseason thanks to the NCAA’s new rule that allows a player to transfer one time without the penalty of sitting out a season.
“Just savvy, savvy player, plays hard,” said defensive coordinator Ryan Walters. “He can dip in and out of blocks and and bend a corner. Obviously was very productive in effecting the quarterback before he went out and was advantageous when that ball was on the ground, he recognized he had some space to scoop and score instead of fall on it. That’s something we work on every day of the week in the turnover circuit. He was able to get in the end zone. I hate that he got hurt but he’s going to be a really good player for us.”
Tarique Barnes filled in for Hart after the injury and could be in line for extended playing time depending on the severity of Hart’s injury. Illinois has depth at the inside linebacker position, thanks largely to the addition of Hart and the return of Jake Hansen, who had previously declared for the NFL Draft before electing to return to school. Barnes and Khalan Tolson could be in line for more playing time and walk-on Alec McEachern got praise from Bielema near the end of training camp.
“It was really awesome for a variety of different reasons to have the coaching moment or teaching moment for Art Sitkowski, right? Everybody understood when the backup quarterback comes in the game, the whole world knows it. It’s of equal value and magnitude now that CJ Hart, who started last week and played really well forus at the WILL linebacker is not going to be there. It’s going to be a little bit by committee but I think Tarique Barnes, by far, has had a really, really good last two or three weeks of camp. Khalan Tolson, Alec McEachern, there are a variety of guys who will be filling into that spot that I’m very, very excited to see play. Even though this situation comes about in an unfortunate way, it’s something they have to take as a positive an an opportunity that they’re going to get.”
