Illinois Football in the Mix for Four-Star Defensive Line Prospect

Highly ranked prospect Cameron McHaney announced his top five schools, and Illinois made the cut

Defensive lineman Cameron McHaney (#95) during practice on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 on IMG Academy Football Media Day in Bradenton, Florida. | Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

Illinois football has been on a tear in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Currently ranked 12th nationally in 247 Sports’ class rankings, the Illini are pushing to climb even higher – and a commitment from standout defensive lineman Cameron McHaney could be the next major step forward.

🚨NEWS🚨 4-star DL Cameron McHaney is down to 5️⃣ schools, he tells @On3sports‼️

McHaney will announce his commitment on July 1.

Read: https://t.co/S2MYeS4MiM pic.twitter.com/FjISn24aCT

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 19, 2025

McHaney, a 6-foot-1, 315-pound force in the trenches, revealed this week that he has narrowed his list of possible schools to five: Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Louisville and Vanderbilt. The four-star prospect (per On3) plans to announce his decision on July 1.

Originally from Greenwood, Indiana, McHaney began his high school career in the Midwest before transferring to national powerhouse IMG Academy, where he had a breakout junior campaign. He recorded 39 tackles and two sacks while facing some of the top competition in the country. His season vaulted him onto the national recruiting radar in 2024, and he has continued to gain momentum ever since.

2026 3 ⭐️ DT Cameron McHaney was making it look EASY at @RivalsCamp Miami ✅ pic.twitter.com/86ATkC47Dk

— Rivals (@Rivals) April 11, 2025

McHaney isn’t just a football standout – he’s a well-rounded athlete. As a sophomore, he qualified for the Indiana state track meet in the discus throw, placing 13th. That combination of size, power and explosiveness makes him a particularly intriguing prospect for any program.

The Illini have already secured commitments from three pass rushers in the 2026 class: Parker Crim, Jacob Alexander and Kingston Shaw. Adding McHaney would be the cherry on top of a defensive line haul that already appears to have elite potential.

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