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The decision of three-star defensive lineman Dante Barone to verbally pledge to Rutgers represents the third d-line prospect loss for the Illini program early on in this 2023 recruiting season. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 1, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Dante Barone’s verbal commitment to Rutgers represents a recruiting trend in the disturbingly wrong direction for the Illinois football program. 

The 270-pound three-sport defensive pass rusher from the same New Jersey prep school of current Illini commitment Zachary Aamland and early enrollee Owen Anderson is the third priority defensive line prospect to spur Illinois for a rival Big Ten Conference school. 

Barone’s decision, confirmed on his social media pages on Wednesday evening, replicates the Illinois recruiting losses of three-star St. Louis product Tyler Gant (who committed to Northwestern shortly after an unofficial visit to the campus in early May followed by three-star Roderick Pierce from Chicago’s Brother Rice High School choosing Wisconsin six days after Gant. 

Swanson, a three-star quarterback in Ardmore, Oklahoma, says he received a scholarship offer from Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 1, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ardmore (Okla.) High School Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Cal Swanson is just getting used to what Bret Bielema has previously called “the Illinois effect” to recruitment.

Swanson, a 2023 quarterback prospect from Ardmore (Okla.) High School, received a scholarship offer from Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. on Monday less than a month after the new Illini assistant coach saw Swanson lead his team through the second week of its spring practice.

The offer from Illinois is still Swanson’s only one from a Football Bowl Subdivision school but he’s slated to arrive for his on-campus official visit this weekend. 

“I’m not a very patient person by nature and never have been so I can’t see this lasting much longer,” Swanson said. “What I want out of this visit is to see the facilities at Illinois, especially that football building and then I really want to connect with the other players on their visits too. It’s important I get a bond with them because this is going to be a huge part of the (recruiting) class. Then, I really need to find some time to sit down and really think about how I want this to go and where I want to be.” 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 31, 2022

Earlier in the week, Illinois women's head basketball coach Shauna Green got the memo: you need more size.

Every team has it, and she has added it. Aicha Ndour is a 6-foot-6 post who originally signed to play with Rutgers.

Ndour does not have a lot of playing time at the DI level, which may not be all bad. Learning a new system under a new coach from the start will pay dividends later.

Ndour started playing basketball at the age of 16. Illini fans can remember a guy named Kofi Cockburn who was a two-time All-American at Illinois but did not start playing until his freshman year of high school.

Zachary Aamland used Memorial Day to become the first out-of-state commitment and second offensive line pledge to the Illini’s 2023 recruiting class. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 30, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Zachary Aamland's Twitter page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The tradition of Illinois continuing the foundation building of its offensive line has continued with its first out-of-state commitment for the 2023 recruiting class. 

Zachary Aamland, a 6-foot-6 and 285-pound offensive lineman from The Hun School in New Jersey, used the Memorial Day holiday to announce his verbal pledge to Illinois after receiving other scholarship offers from several Power Five Conference schools such as Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.

In a complete rebuilding job of the Illini offensive line by head coach Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Bart Miller, Illinois signed five high school offensive linemen in this incoming 2022 recruiting class along with two junior college transfers. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

May 30, 2022

The new-look Illini and super senior Jacob Grandison have something in common this week: neither has said goodbye yet, but both are looking at a future that doesn't include the other.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 29, 2022

Illinois assistant basketball coach Chester Frazier offered Tafara Gapare well over a month ago. But with the focus now shifting away from transfers, high school prospects are once again taking center stage.

Tafara Gapare is a 6-foot-10, 210-pound small forward from South Kent School in New Zealand.

Make no mistake: Gapare is not "Plan B"; he is currently listed as a 2023, but his camp and several colleges are hoping to get him to reclassify to participate in the class of 2022.

Here at IlliniGuys.com we have shared how scholarships work: sometimes an offer will be put on the table as a "courtesy," but then there are those when everyone is all in.

Gapare said, "I'm learning so much more about Illinois. Because of my schedule, I didn't get to watch a lot of games, not just Illinois but all of the schools recruiting me. I have people in my circle that I trust to help guide me when it's time to decide. I know they know Coach (Chester) Fraizer very well."

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

May 28, 2022

Let us just start this column with a bang--a source close to the program said about the recent commitment from Baylor transfer Matthew Mayer: “Look out, here we come, this roster has five legitimate NBA players on it.”

Matthew Mayer, a four-year player and former starting forward at Baylor, has announced his intention to play his final season of college basketball at Illinois. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 27, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The transfer portal has once again been kind to the University of Illinois men’s basketball program. 

Illinois’ 8-1 loss to Indiana in the elimination game of the 2022 Big Ten Baseball Tournament on Friday night ended their season with a 31-22 record. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 27, 2022

The baseball season for Illinois is over. 

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

May 25, 2022

The Fighting Illini are going up against the big boys in the Big Ten looking for players; not since the Ron Zook era has recruiting been this fluid.

After a 7-5 loss to Michigan in the Big […]

While Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb is trying to allow for a slim chance of an NCAA at-large berth, Illini will need its first conference tournament title in 11 years to extend the 2022 season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 26, 2022

Only Mother Nature seems to know when the 2022 Big Ten Baseball Tournament will begin but Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb seemingly knows how this event has to end for his program. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 26, 2022

Naperville North’s David Olano, arguably among one of the best placekickers, says he wants to stay home with his college choice and is eager to get an offer from Illini staff.

David Olano says he understands, accepts and is trying to be patient with the being one of the nation’s best in his recruiting class but without offers from any Power Five Conference schools. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

May 23, 2022

Coach Bret Bielema's staff has left no stone unturned when it comes to adding talent to the program and while you may have heard some strange stories thus far on this site, Morris' story makes for a whole other chapter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   IlliniGuys.com Teams Up with Illini […]