Former pass-rush newbie Abdullah adds more tools to become Illinois State sack specialist

Illinois State linebacker Amir Abdullah is one of only four Redbirds to have 9.5 sacks or more in the past 17 seasons. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)  

By Barry Bottino  

NORMAL – Amir Abdullah started his college football career in central Nebraska at an NCAA Division III school.

By his own admission, he had little experience in one particular skill.

“I haven’t been pass rushing my whole life,” he said. “Last year was my first year as a true pass rusher. That was something new to me.”

In three seasons playing linebacker at Nebraska-Kearney, he compiled one sack.

Transferring to Illinois State, however, has helped the Chicago Whitney Young product evolve into a force.

He was the team leader in sacks with 9.5 last season for the Redbirds (6-5), who finished ninth nationally with 36 as a team.

“Amir’s got some pretty good tools in his toolbox,” ISU defensive coordinator Travis Niekamp said. “When you’re as talented as Amir, you give him a tool and that tool looks pretty nice.”  

Over the past 17 seasons, only three Redbird players have had more sacks than Abdullah’s 9.5 a year ago – Zeke Vandenburgh (14 in 2022), Romeo McKnight (12 in 2019) and Colton Underwood (10.5 in 2012).

With the 2024 season opener just weeks away, Abdullah and the Redbirds expect the strong-side linebacker’s rise to continue.

In the off-season, he spent time at Exos performance training center in Frisco, Texas.

 “It was a nice experience,” Abdullah said. “I learned a lot. I can see it translating over to the field. I’ve got a few more tricks in my bag, and I’m more explosive off the line.

“I’ll be able to make way more plays than I did last year, and my reaction time will be better,” Abdullah said.

One person who has noticed Abdullah’s growing skill set is new Illinois State offensive lineman J.J. Guedet, a native of Washington, Ill., who transferred from the University of Minnesota.

“Amir might be one of the fastest guys we have on our team, period. Any position,” Guedet said. “He is very quick and he’s also very good at going from a speed move to a power move. As an O-lineman, going against him, I can say that he’s going to be very difficult this season for people to deal with.

“He could fit in at Minnesota pretty well,” Guedet said. “He’s not somebody you’d expect to be coming from a D-II school. He has worked his ass off to be where he’s at.”

Abdullah earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first-team honors last season, along with recognition on four All-America teams. He also finished ninth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the best defensive player in FCS.

His numerous preseason accolades this year include a spot on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.

So what new tricks can Illinois State fans expect to see beginning Aug. 31 against Iowa from the Redbirds’ reigning leader in sacks?

“You’re just going to have to wait and see,” Abdullah said with a laugh.

Dan Verdun contributed to this story.  

Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and spent 19 years at three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.  

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