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Illinois wide receiver Jayshon Platt is among 44 pass […]

August 19, 2026 Illinois named six captains for the […]

Illinois tailback Ca'Lil Valentine was one of 62 players […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 18, 2026

CHAMPAIGN – He’s larger than life. At 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, Micah “Champ” Smith is one of those guys who fits the “big man on campus” stereotype of a highly-rated football recruit. Not too long ago, though, that could have been a different campus.

Smith, a four-star recruit hailing from Fort Pierce, Florida, had been committed to UCLA since last summer, but reopened his recruitment after the Bruins parted ways with head coach DeShaun Foster.

"It was a difficult process for me and my family,” Smith said. “Coach Foster being fired earlier in the season... it came down to us having to make a decision. They didn't sign a new staff until after National Signing Day, and I planned to sign on National Signing Day, so it was very, very difficult on me and my family."

Smith took official visits to Ohio State, Tennessee, and Texas, and was even spotted at an Illini game last fall — though during that visit to Gies Memorial Stadium, he declined to speak with reporters.

"We kind of went silent on the media just because a lot of false things were being put out around my name, and I didn't say anything,” Smith said. “Because there's no need for me to do that.”

New Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck says he’ll call the signals from the pressbox viewpoint during games for the first time in his career.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 17, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — For the first time in 34 years, Bobby Hauck will not be on the sidelines while coaching a college football game.

The first-year Illinois defensive coordinator confirmed Monday he will be in the Gies Memorial Stadium pressbox during the Illini’s season opener against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sept. 3 (8 p.m. CST, Big Ten Network).

“I’ve never done that for a game since I was a (graduate assistant at UCLA for then-head coach Terry Donahue),” Hauck said Monday. “I’ve been a head coach so long that I can’t remember doing that. I’ve done it here for every spring and camp scrimmage we’ve had so I’m just a believer in being able to see everything that is going on.”

It appeared several Illinois veteran players projected for the team’s two-deep were given the day off from contact on Monday as the Illini began its second week of preparations.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 17, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Zeno Jo/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to the 12th preseason camp practice for the Illinois program for the 2026 season in the sixth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema.

Tonight was simply a 15-minute viewing period after the team stretching pre-practice period of the team using Memorial Stadium for the start of the second week of preseason camp. The Illinois players were back in just helmets, shoulder pads and shorts for this Monday session.

Local media, including IlliniGuys.com, were able to discuss items later on this afternoon. The IlliniGuys.com video of those media sessions should be available on our YouTube channel, X (@matthewcstevens) and on the IlliniGuys.com football board.

We’ll keep the positional change chart up for a few more days in case folks didn’t see it or there are more items to add to it in the coming days.

The Big Ten Conference had the top two teams […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

August 16, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — One of the Fighting Illini’s biggest recruiting targets is Brady Pettigrew, an outstanding combo guard from Bolingbrook who has emerged as one of the nation’s most sought after recruits.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound five-star prospect, according to ESPN, recently revealed the 34 schools that have offered him scholarships. Pettigrew has also scheduled five official visits, a list IlliniGuys confirmed as his recruitment continues to take shape.

Pettigrew will visit Michigan on Sept. 12 before traveling to Florida on Sept. 24. Illinois is his only scheduled official visit in October, with Pettigrew set to be in Champaign on Oct. 2. He will visit Ohio State on Nov. 6 before traveling to Arkansas on Jan. 1, 2027.

Despite identifying those five programs for official visits, Pettigrew made it clear that his recruitment remains open and other schools could still receive visits.

“My list of schools is rather large, because

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

August 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Hoops)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois fans have learned that when associate head coach Orlando Antigua gets involved in a recruitment, the Fighting Illini have a chance.

Early Saturday afternoon, IlliniGuys learned Illinois is now in the hunt for one of the nation’s top recruits, Darius Wabbington. The development is big because Illinois was not included when Wabbington initially announced his final six schools recently.

That original list consisted of Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona, Indiana, UNC and Texas.

Now, there has been a significant change.

Illinois has built one of college basketball’s top programs, demonstrated an ability to develop players for the NBA and has one of the nation’s most respected recruiters in Antigua. Those factors have helped the Illini work their way into Wabbington’s recruitment despite not making his initial list.

How important are Antigua and his recruiting ability?

IlliniGuys caught up Saturday afternoon with Derek Wabbington, Darius’ father, and learned just how much Illinois’ position has changed.

By IlliniGuys Staff

August 16, 2026

IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst Kedric Prince has been dropping bombshells this weekend. 

First, it was his behind-the-scenes revelations from his appearance on the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular radio show and then last night new word of another top-level prospect on the Illini basketball radar.

Here's his tease from Saturday night on the IlliniGuys premium boards:

By IlliniGuys Staff August 15, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff

August 14, 2026

So...did you see what IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst Kedric Prince put on our premium boards last night?

Talk about a scoop!!

Ked appears on this week's IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular radio show that will be heard in six states this weekend.  https://illiniguys.com/radio/

But - if you can't wait, check out what he posted that had given the IlliniGuys owners' jaws dropping!  https://illiniguys.com/forum/forums/basketball-discussion.1648/

Tonight, I learned that

By IlliniGuys Staff August 13, 2026 CINCINNATI, Ohio - […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirms the addition of 23-year-old wide receiver as a late addition to the 2026 roster but still unsure of his playing status in games.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN — While Illinois has officially added 23-year-old transfer wide receiver Josh Lorick as a final addition for the 2026 season, Illini head coach Bret Bielema gave reservations about his eligibility for upcoming games.

Lorick, who is from Adelanto, Calif., is officially on the 2026 roster with a No. 87 jersey number and listed as a fifth-year player. Illinois brought in Lorick, who has played two years of junior college football in California and just finished two seasons at the Football Championship Subdivision program Incarnate Word, for an official visit this past weekend in the hope he could provide depth in the wide receiver room for his final season of college football.

Lorick, listed at Incarnate Word at 6-foot and 170 pounds, is trying to play a fifth season of college football following a ruling from the U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver that all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

August 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Thomas Cordy/The Palm Beach Post)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois may have a built in advantage in the recruitment of defensive end Ty Kirkpatrick, a three star prospect from Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Kirkpatrick, a member of the 2028 recruiting class, received a scholarship offer from Illinois in late July. While his recruitment is still in its early stages, the Illini have something working in their favor that goes beyond football: familiarity.

Illinois recently caught up with the highly ranked ESPN prospect to gauge where his recruitment stands and how he views the Illini after developing a relationship with defensive line coach Jordan Thomas and other members of the program.

“My relationship so far has been really good. My high school (Cardinal Newman) has multiple players and ties with Illinois,