Louis Dorsey's long TD catch shows sign of what’s to come

The Illini Football team had, inarguably, a rough second season under Lovie Smith. Youth took the forefront as Illinois relied largely on true freshman for production.

On the bright side, that youth provided many eye-opening highlights and established a building block for the future. One of those players was Louis Dorsey. And one of those moments was his huge 77-yard touchdown grab against Indiana in the home finale.

This was one of the most exciting plays all year, and it showed off Dorsey’s incredible athleticism and speed as he beat his man to the inside and then left everyone in the dust.

It was also the longest touchdown for a freshman in Illinois history.

Dorsey also finished with over 100 yards receiving in the game, his first 100-yard game (but certainly not his last).

The six-foot-six 225-pound playmaker was a revelation at one of the most overlooked positions in Illinois football history. He racked up 22 receptions for 395 yards and three touchdowns, garnering Big Ten All-Freshman team honors.

Inevitably we lost the game. However, the upside here is plainly visible as the tight end made several acrobatic catches throughout the season and showed incredible polish as a freshman receiving threat.

If Illinois can attract more players like Dorsey, who can make plays that electrify the fan base and continue to improve even when everything is less than ideal, then the future looks very bright for Illinois.