Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Five-Star Wing Jaylan Mitchell Talks Illinois Basketball Recruiting
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
February 8, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Last weekend, Illinois hosted one of the nation's top recruits, Jaylan Mitchell. A five-star prospect per ESPN. Mitchell is ranked fifth in the country in the class of 2027, and Illinois is a program he has a strong connection and ties with.
Football Recruiting Spotlight on Jack Paris
By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst
February 7, 2025
Under Bret Bielema, Illinois has always been ready to make a late addition and this year fits that pattern as Oak Park Fenwick linebacker Jack Paris committed to the Illini after decommitting from the Air Force Academy just a few days before the late signing day. Paris had no high major offers but after compiling 91 tackles, two sacks, and an impressive 17.5 tackles for loss in his senior year, Illinois took a chance on the up and comer just as they have for Matthew Bailey, Mac Resetich and Tanner Heckel in recent years.
What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Denton, Texas Recruit Kaedyn Cobbs Joins 2026 Illinois Recruiting Class
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
February 7, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois added to its 2026 football recruiting class, which now stands at nine commitments, with the addition of Kaedyn Cobbs, a 6-foot-0, 195-pound defensive back. Cobbs plays safety and has occasionally lined up as a linebacker.
‘They’re coaching each other’: How this Veteran 2024-25 Illini Squad Finds Beautiful Basketball On Their Own
Illinois has four veteran presences in the starting lineup that are coaching and finding plays to be made on their own without being dictated to by third-year head coach Shauna Green.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
February 7, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If you’ve noticed Illinois be more relaxed, calm and even less vocal on the sideline this season, there’s a logical reason.
This Illini squad which still features a starting lineup of two fifth-year players and two four-year players has long officially gotten to the point where they don’t need play-to-play coaching. And even Shauna Green is starting to admit its most beautiful basketball is being played when this team can go off the script and just play by feel.
Illini Hold Off Late Rally to Down Northwestern, 73-60
By IlliniGuys Staff February 6, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Sturdy's Rewind: Illini Shooting Blanks
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
February 6, 2025
The Illini once again got off to a slow start but this time were unable to overcome a poor shooting first half in an 82-73 loss at Rutgers. The Illini trailed by 17 points in the first half before storming back to take a lead, but they could never get any distance and a late Rutgers run led by future lottery pick Dylan Harper gave the Scarlet Knights the win. Will Riley showed flashes in the second half, scoring 11 second half points to help Illinois, but Harper had 15 in the second stanza to counteract Riley’s heroics.
Illinois falls to 15-8 and 7-6 in league play as they head to Minnesota on Saturday before a brutal stretch to close the season.
These 3(5) Things:
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illinois Football Receives Commitment from West Chester Linebacker Cam Thomas
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
February 6, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Ohio State may have won the 2025 college football national championship, but Illinois got a big victory of its own by landing three-star linebacker Cam Thomas from Buckeye country in West Chester, Ohio. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound standout chose the Fighting Illini over a host of Power Five programs, including Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Indiana, Duke, NC State, Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
Game Preview: Illini vs. Northwestern
(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Illinois vs. Northwestern Date […]
Another Slow Start Dooms No. 23 Illini in 82-73 Upset Loss at Rutgers
By IlliniGuys Staff February 5, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Bielema & Illini DL coach Terrance Jamison Raid Wisconsin For Defensive Line Transfers
Illinois will boast arguably the most depth in its defensive front this spring than it ever has produced in the Bret Bielema era.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
February 5, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The offseason objective of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and his defensive line coach Terrance Jamison was to completely overhaul a defensive front that admittedly already was seeing depth issues in the 2024 campaign.
Therefore, Bielema and Jamison both went to a familiar stomping grounds for success in the transfer portal by raiding the University of Wisconsin program.
Sturdy's Game Preview: Battle of the Freshmen
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
February 5, 2025
The Illini are headed to Piscataway on Wednesday night to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in what was expected to be a battle between 3 of the top Freshmen in the country. But Dylan Harper is likely out and although Ace Bailey and Kasparas Jakucionis continue to impress as lottery picks, Illini Freshman Will Riley and Morez Johnson took center stage in their last outing. Even without Harper, this is a fantastic group of youngsters.
Here’s a look at this matchup.
Setting the Stage
#23 Illinois (15-7, 7-5) at Rutgers (11-11, 4-7)
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Piscataway, N.J. // Jersey Mike’s Arena
TV: BTN – Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play) & Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas
REPORT: Clint Sintim Leaving Illini Staff For Colorado State
Illinois will be hiring its fourth outside linebackers coach since 2022 as CBS/247Sports.com reports Clint Sintim will be leaving the Illini staff to join Jay Norvell’s Colorado State coaching staff.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
February 5,2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Clint Sintim will not be returning to Bret Bielema’s coaching staff at Illinois for the upcoming 2025 season.
Bielema, who is entering his fifth season as the Illini’s head coach, confirmed the move in a scheduled media conference at State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon. The move to mutually part ways with Sintim, who came over from his alma mater Virginia, means Illinois will be hiring its fourth outside linebackers coach since 2022.
CBS Sports/247Sports.com were the first to report on Wednesday morning that Sintim is expected to join the Colorado State coaching staff, led by fourth-year head coach Jay Norvell, as inside linebackers coach.
Dad Not Surprised Illinois Freshman Morez Johnson Quickly Becoming Illini Fan Favorite
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
February 5, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois freshman Morez Johnson Jr. is living up to expectations and quickly becoming a fan and national media favorite. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound forward/center continues to improve, showing his talent with each game on the schedule.
The former Illinois Mr. Basketball, Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, and Champaign News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year committed to Illinois in 2021 and remained loyal to his home-state university. Fans were excited about the new additions to this year's roster, including Carey Booth, Ben Humrichous, Kylan Boswell, Will Riley, Tomislav Ivisic, Jake Davis, Tre White, and potential NBA lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis.
It was easy to overlook the talented Thornton High School product, but head coach Brad Underwood made sure the media knew what the Illini had in him.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illinois Football Recruit Cam Thomas Keeping Close Tabs on the Illini
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
February 4, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois football prospect Cam Thomas is one of the top four-star recruits in the nation, according to Rivals.com, in the class of 2026. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker has done his homework on the Illini and is closely following both their committed recruits and potential additions in recent days and weeks.
Thomas is a teammate of Illinois’ 2025 commit Grant Beerman, also a four-star linebacker, at Lakota West High School. Beerman, who stands at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, has already pledged to the Illini would like to join forces with Thomas again at Illinois.
Why February 1st Was An Important Day For Illinois Football Coaching Contracts
IlliniGuys.com details what it means to have five Illinois football assistant coaches are now operating without an approved contract.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When the calendar flipped to February 1, the multi-year contracts of six University of Illinois football assistant coaches expired, including defensive coordinator Aaron Henry.
According to documentation obtained from Illinois Board of Trustees meetings minutes and public records requests by IlliniGuys.com, the contracts of Henry, tight ends coach/special teams coordinator Robby Discher, offensive line coach Bart Miller, defensive line coach Terrance Jamison and running backs coach Thad Ward saw their contracts end at midnight on Jan. 31, 2025. The four-year contract of football strength and conditioning coach Tenarius “Tank” Wright also expired on Friday.
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