Recruiting - Illinois Fighting Illini On SI - Sports Illustrated

Recruiting

Oct 19, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders perform before kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Tight End Logan Farrell Passes on North Carolina, Commits to Illinois Football

In-state three-star recruit flips his commitment from Tar Heels to Illini, reports On3 Recruits

Oct 19, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders perform before kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Football

Tight End Logan Farrell Passes on North Carolina, Commits to Illinois Football

In-state three-star recruit flips his commitment from Tar Heels to Illini, reports On3 Recruits

Recent Articles

Sep 20, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema talks with an official during the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Football

2025 Big Ten Football Recruiting Rankings: Illinois' Position Revealed

As the early Signing Day approaches, recruiting battles are heating up. Rich Cirminiello updates Illinois' class ranking compared to the rest of the Big Ten.

Brandin Podziemski, Wisconsin's 2021 Mr. Basketball, Picks Illinois

Recruiting

Brandin Podziemski, Wisconsin's 2021 Mr. Basketball, Picks Illinois

Brandin Podziemski, a Top 100 2021 wing from St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Wisconsin, gives his verbal pledge to Illinois on Tuesday

Illini Hope to Find Gem With Late 2021 Commit of DB Kionte Curry

Recruiting

Illini Hope to Find Gem With Late 2021 Commit of DB Kionte Curry

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and his staff hope they've found a unique case fall-through-cracks type of recruit in the form of Florida three-star defensive back prospect Kionte Curry.

Illini Find 2021 Wing With Verbal Commitment of RJ Melendez

Recruiting

Illini Find 2021 Wing With Verbal Commitment of RJ Melendez

Ramses Melendez, a 6-foot-7, 195-pound forward, who announced his decision to verbally pledge his services to Illinois via an Instagram video Monday.

How Bielema's Long Friendship With High School Coach Led to Illini RB Signee

Recruiting

How Bielema's Long Friendship With High School Coach Led to Illini RB Signee

Bret Bielema may want you to believe it was fate that landed him 3-star tailback Josh McCray. McCray's high school coach knows Bielema's personal commitment to know different.

VIDEO: Bret Bielema February Signing Day Media Conference

Recruiting

VIDEO: Bret Bielema February Signing Day Media Conference

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema discussed several topics during his February signing day Zoom conference with national, statewide and local media.

Fmr. Arkansas & East Carolina TB Chase Hayden Commits to Illinois

Recruiting

Fmr. Arkansas & East Carolina TB Chase Hayden Commits to Illinois

Chase Hayden, who signed and played with Bret Bielema's Arkansas program, has committed to play for Bielema again at Illinois.

Illini Get First Commit of Bret Bielema Era: 3-star 2021 TB Joshua McCray

Recruiting

Illini Get First Commit of Bret Bielema Era: 3-star 2021 TB Joshua McCray

Joshua McCray, a 2021 three-star tailback from Enterprise (Ala.) High School, announced his verbal pledge to the Illini Tuesday morning on Twitter.

Illinois Selling 4-Star 2021 Wing Jordan Nesbitt As the Next Ayo

Recruiting

Illinois Selling 4-Star 2021 Wing Jordan Nesbitt As the Next Ayo

Four-star 2021 wing player Jordan Nesbitt says Illinois is selling him on the system that is flourishing for star guard Ayo Dosunmu.

VIDEO: Illini 2021 3-star OL Commit Josh Kreutz w/ Illini Now/SI's Lauren Withrow

Recruiting

VIDEO: Illini 2021 3-star OL Commit Josh Kreutz w/ Illini Now/SI's Lauren Withrow

Illinois 2021 three-star OL commit Josh Kreutz sits down for an exclusive interview with Illini Now/Sports Illustrated correspondent Lauren Withrow.

The Football Family Affair For Illini 2021 Commit Josh Kreutz

Recruiting

The Football Family Affair For Illini 2021 Commit Josh Kreutz

2021 three-star OL Josh Kreutz talks his family of football, his verbal pledge to Illinois and his plans for his senior year at Loyola Academy

2021 4-star St. Louis Wing Jordan Nebsitt Has Illini in Final Three Choices

Recruiting

2021 4-star St. Louis Wing Jordan Nebsitt Has Illini in Final Three Choices

Four-star 2021 wing Jordan Nesbitt says he’s down to Illinois, Saint Louis and Memphis and will be committing on his birthday, Oct. 1.

Illini 2021 4-Star Target Brandon Weston To Commit On Sept. 1

Recruiting

Illini 2021 4-Star Target Brandon Weston To Commit On Sept. 1

Brandon Weston, a four-star 2021 Illinois target, confirmed on Twitter Tuesday afternoon he'll make his college verbal commitment on Sept. 1.

Four-Star 2021 Wing Brandon Weston Names Illinois In His Top Six

Recruiting

Four-Star 2021 Wing Brandon Weston Names Illinois In His Top Six

Could the Morgan Park to Illini pipeline continue with Brandon Weston? Four-star wing forward names Illinois in his top six.

Florida 2021 3-Star SI All-American Candidate QB Walter Simmons III Chooses East Carolina Over Illinois

Recruiting

Florida 2021 3-Star SI All-American Candidate QB Walter Simmons III Chooses East Carolina Over Illinois

Illinois football missed out on commitment of 2021 Florida 3-Star Sports Illustrated All-American Candidate QB Walter Simmons III.

High School Football In Illinois Moves To Spring; What Will Top Prospects Do?

Recruiting

High School Football In Illinois Moves To Spring; What Will Top Prospects Do?

The state of Illinois will not have a fall high school football season and will attempt to have football in an abbreviated spring schedule.

‘The Zoom Meetings Are What Separate Illinois’: Recruit Talks BLM, George Floyd & Playing Madden With Illini Coaches On Zoom

Recruiting

‘The Zoom Meetings Are What Separate Illinois’: Recruit Talks BLM, George Floyd & Playing Madden With Illini Coaches On Zoom

Illini verbal commitment DD Snyder says he was able to have a personal connection with the Illinois coaching staff after an organized Zoom call specifically on George Floyd and Blacks Lives Matter.

3-star ATH Theodore Lockley’s commitment to Illinois’ 2021 class lasted under 40 days

Recruiting

3-star ATH Theodore Lockley’s commitment to Illinois’ 2021 class lasted under 40 days

Lockley, a 6-foot and 175-pound 2021 class athlete, sent out a message on Twitter Monday afternoon confirming he was reopening his recruitment.

2021 3-Star OG Zachary Barlev Flips From Bowling Green To Illinois In One Day

Recruiting

2021 3-Star OG Zachary Barlev Flips From Bowling Green To Illinois In One Day

Illinois gets its second in-state prospect in the form of a flip as 2021 three-star OG Zachary Barlev decommits from Bowling Green in order to make a pledge to the Illini.

Illini Hope 2021 CB Commit Tyler Strain Can Be Another Overlooked Prospect From Florida

Recruiting

Illini Hope 2021 CB Commit Tyler Strain Can Be Another Overlooked Prospect From Florida

Just two months after receiving a scholarship offer from Illinois, his first and only offer from a Power Five Conference school, Florida 2021 CB prospect Tyler Strain gives a verbal commitment.

SI All-American Watch List: Seven Illinois Commits and Five Key Illini Targets Named

Recruiting

SI All-American Watch List: Seven Illinois Commits and Five Key Illini Targets Named

Top 10 position rankings start this week; preseason SI99 out in August

Illini LB commit Trevor Moffitt Growing Out of Dad’s Football Shadow

Recruiting

Illini LB commit Trevor Moffitt Growing Out of Dad’s Football Shadow

Illinois 2021 verbal commit linebacker Trevor Moffitt is growing out of the massive shadow of his father’s football success about as fast as he runs a 40-yard dash.

Texas 3-Star LB Dylan Hazen Selects Wake Forest over Illinois Among Others

Recruiting

Texas 3-Star LB Dylan Hazen Selects Wake Forest over Illinois Among Others

The three-star 2021 linebacker prospect from The Woodlands, Texas, made his verbal pledge official Monday afternoon by picking Wake Forest.

Like Father, Like Son: Josh Kreutz, Son Of Six-Time NFL Pro Bowler, Commits To Lovie Smith’s Illini

Recruiting

Like Father, Like Son: Josh Kreutz, Son Of Six-Time NFL Pro Bowler, Commits To Lovie Smith’s Illini

By becoming the 13th commitment in Illinois’ 2021 recruiting class, Josh Kreutz has agreed to play for the same head coach that his father Olin had in the NFL for nine years.