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Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

Cover photo courtesy of Auburn Wire

December 11, 2023

Illinois' coaches have been working hard to address their clear need on the defensive line and the made another quality addition when former Auburn Defensive Tackle Enyce Sledge decided to switch orange and blue uniforms by committing to the Illini. Sledge was "on the plains" as they say at Auburn, for two years but he only saw the field for 15 snaps in his two years. That means figuring out where Sledge will fit in with the Illini involves a lot of guesswork.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 11, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a few visitors and an important one coming up as well as break down the latest commitment from the portal.

Illinois suffers the worst loss in the 40-game women’s basketball tenure of head coach Shauna Green in a 36-point home defeat to open Big Ten Conference play.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 10, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Sunday afternoon was not one of those instances where the tangible scoreboard didn’t reflect the exact intangible situation of both teams. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio

December 10, 2023

The Illini lost on the road to a very good Tennessee team that desperately needed a top win after losing close games to Purdue and Kansas and they came out hot and ready on Saturday in an 86-79 win over Illinois. Dalton Knecht looked like an NBA draft pick, showing off his game in this one, but Tennessee put all 5 starters in double figures as they pulled away late for the win.

Here’s a look at what we saw.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 10, 2023

The Illinois football staff offered Zach Barrett, 6-foot-3, 270-pound offensive line from Orland Park, Illinois, to join the program as a preferred walk-on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kxLW6h4-Hs    

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 9, 2023

It's commitment Saturday for the Fighting Illini men's football team.

By IlliniGuys Staff December 9, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 9, 2023

This past spring Illinois basketball fans waited and waited to see who was going to be the floor general this year, all the while social media and message boards thought they had the answer.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst; Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

December 9, 2023

(Cover phot courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The song goes ‘Headed East to Tennessee: Destination Fame’, and the Illini are looking for even more after a pair of huge wins last week at Rutgers and over Florida Atlantic at Madison Square Garden. But the Vols will be the biggest test of all. Tennessee is a battle tested group with high level athletes that plays some of the best defense in the country. The Illini will need a great effort in this one to get the win. 

Setting the Stage

#20/18 Illinois (7-1) at #17/13 Tennessee (5-3) 

Dec. 9, 2023 // 11 a.m. CT (12 p.m. ET) // Knoxville, Tenn. // Food City Center 

TV: CBS – Rich Waltz (Play-by-Play), Bill Raftery & Jay Wright (Analysts), Jon Rothstein (Sideline) 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas (Analyst)

Notable

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

December. 8, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

It is December and college basketball season, right? Well, yes, but it also means it is the month when football teams can go out to recruit and bring potential prospects on campus. 

The National Signing Day is only a couple of weeks away and the Illinois staff is trying to secure the players already committed and also to lock up a few more potential prospects.

These are the recruits expected to be on campus this weekend, but according to a source, there might be a few late additions:

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 7, 2023

Yale football transfer Clay Patterson updated his commitment to Illinois with IlliniGuys today. Clay Patterson is a 6-foot-3 defensive lineman from Frisco, Texas. Patterson committed to Illinois last Saturday via his X page.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 8, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a few more key portal targets and a few JUCO players to keep an eye on as Illinois continues to try to upgrade in the trenches.

"Illinois deserves all the credit for allowing Terrence to showcase his skills." – Treanette Redding

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Dec. 7, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

"Illinois deserves all the credit for allowing Terrence to showcase his skills." –Treanette Redding

Last Saturday at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey, my IlliniGuys colleague Brad Sturdy informed our subscribers of at least five NBA teams in attendance watching senior Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins.  That got my wheels spinning and got me digging more into what is possibly to happen for Shannon specifically.   

Of the NBA's 30 teams, 28 of them were in attendance Tuesday night

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 7, 2023

For the past two summers, Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman has raved about the way head football coach Bret Bielema has been able to retain players in the program in the wild world of the transfer portal.