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By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 11, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Zeno Jo/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN – As Illinois Football works through its preseason camp, members of the program’s best-ever freshman class are capitalizing on changes, some positive and some negative, to make the most of reps.

Earlier in the summer, the NCAA officially approved a new age-based eligibility model, which will likely bring an end to the redshirt freshman as we know it now. Head coach Bret Bielema, speaking to local media on Saturday, said the new “five-in-five” model is already having an early impact, with true freshmen getting early reps without losing what would have been a year of eligibility.

“Everybody’s trying to figure out how this rule change is gonna affect college football,” he said. “In years past, we’ve kind of even transitioned (away) from guys after four games to guys we wanted to keep their eligibility. To have that alleviated is really big.”

Last year, players like Xanai Scott, Brayden Trimble, RJ Jones III, and Isaiah White played in four games or fewer to retain eligibility, but without having to worry about the four-game limit, there’s more room to experiment.

IlliniGuys.com details noteworthy items from the 15-minute media viewing portion of the seventh practice of the Illini’s 2026 preseason camp session.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 10th, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Zeno Jo/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to the seventh 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 the grass fields in front of the Smith Center for the first time in preseason camp.

Local media, including IlliniGuys.com, are expected to have a media session today with linebackers coach Roger Cooper, defensive backs coach Corey Parker, defensive lineman Pat Farrell, linebacker Ismael Kante and safety Mac Resetich 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.

Illini Positional Changes and/or Jersey Number Changes for upcoming 2026 season
WR Jacob Eberhart - what Bielema called a temporary “sixth-month lease” move from defensive back
WR Jershaun Newton - positional switch from quarterback
TE Kaden Feagin - No. 83 from No. 3
DL Will Holmes - positional switch from linebacker to defensive end/OLB
WR Nate Cichy - late signee after decommitting from Harvard - No. 19
OLB Carter Smith - listed on roster as a DL but is working with Archie McDaniel’s OLB position group
LB Des Straughton - listed on roster as a DB but working with Roger Cooper’s LB position group
LB Kaedyn Cobbs - listed on roster as a DB but working with Roger Cooper’s LB position group

Illini Injury Report

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema answered a question at Big Ten Media Days on how his program was able to afford a 38-player signing class from high school and junior college prospects by saying his program doesn’t offer immediate salary to high school prospects. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 10., 2026

CHICAGO — When asked about the cost of recruiting high school players continually getting more expensive every year, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said his program doesn’t have that problem. 

“Well, we’re not paying any high school players. Some teams are but we are not,” Bielema said at the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days.

During the early signing period last December, Illinois’ 2026 signing class was ranked No. 21 in the nation by 247Sports.com, eclipsing the previous high of 22nd in 2008 and 2007. The 2026 recruiting haul included nine signees that received at least one four-star rating by a national recruiting service, the most in program history. The Illini's four-star signees include outside linebacker Kayden Bennett (ESPN), defensive lineman Parker Crim (Rivals), defensive back/wide receiver Jacob Eberhart (Rivals), defensive back Nick Hankins Jr. (247/ESPN/Rivals), defensive back Jakwon Morris (ESPN), offensive lineman Kai Pritchard (247/ESPN), wide receiver Nas Rankin (247/ESPN), offensive lineman Micah “Champ” Smith (ESPN), and linebacker Cameron Thomas (ESPN).

The reporter was asking the question to Bielema about the annual increased expenses of the guaranteed salaries for high school and junior college signees and marveled at Illinois signing 38 first-year players from that player marketplace in a 2026 recruiting class

Following the federal court ruling in Colorado on eligibility for Class of 2022 athletes, Illinois coaches have brought in a wide receiver from a Football Championship Subdivision program.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 9, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois brought in a wide receiver for an official visit this weekend in the hope he’ll be the final addition to its roster for the upcoming 2026 season.

Josh Lorick, a 23-year-old who has played two years of junior college football in California and just finished two seasons at the Football Championship Subdivision program Incarnate Word, confirmed via his Instagram page that he spent this past weekend as a recruiting visitor in Champaign-Urbana.

Less than two weeks before on-campus classes begin and 25 days before his team opens the 2026 season at Gies Memorial Stadium against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sept. 3 (8 p.m., Big Ten Network), Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is looking to further bolster his wide receiving group with a transfer player that already has 26 games of experience.

Of the 109 active players on Illinois’ 2026 preseason roster, only 42 were recorded with the exact same weight from the beginning of spring practice sessions.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 9, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — More than six out of every 10 Illinois football players saw a weight change from the previous spring roster to the updated 2026 preseason roster released Saturday morning.

Of the 109 active players, only 42 were recorded with the exact same weight on both rosters.

As Illinois continues its evolution into the 3-3-5 defensive scheme brought by first-year defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck and several assistant coaches from Montana, the weight changes of several Illini defensive players are more than noticeable.

It should be noted this is the last time the weights of the Illini players will be changed before the following March.

Deon Williams, who transferred from City College of San Francisco after recording 25 total tackles, 17 solo tackles with with three tackles for loss in 10 games last season while helping the Rams to a Bay 6 League championship and a berth in the Northern California Regional Playoffs, showed the biggest body transformation of all the defensive players going up 35 pounds from a listed 270 pounds to 305.

Williams was one of three players (along with Mississippi’s Copiah-Lincoln Community College transfer Joshua Davis and rookie Kingston Shaw) to show a double-digit weight increase from the spring to now.

IlliniGuys.com details noteworthy items from the 15-minute media viewing portion of the sixth practice of the Illini’s 2026 preseason camp session.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 8, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to the sixth 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 but was the first practice in full pads.
“Well, we got the perfect trifecta today,” Bielema said with a smile. “The hottest day we’ve had (in preseason camp), the first day in full pads and the longest practice we’ll have so far. I’m kind of excited to see how the guys respond because we really backed off of them on Friday after what was a really good week of practice.”

Bielema confirmed Eberhart’s move from defensive back to wide receiver on Saturday to local media before the team’s first full-pad practice and in doing so, said the tactic is “a six-month lease with a 12-month option”.

Bielema said the past intention was to recruit Eberhart, who was a four-star prospect by On3.com/Rivals.com, as a defensive back but the first- full-pad practice on Saturday would be his introduction to wide receiver.

Eberhart, who was a summer enrollee, has been battling an undisclosed injury that has kept him in a green, non-contact jersey since the beginning of preseason camp. Bielema said Saturday Eberhart isn’t likely to get full medical clearance until the week of the 2026 season-opening game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sept. 3 (8 p.m., Big Ten Network).

“If he had been with us throughout all spring and summer maybe we wouldn’t be doing this,” Bielema said. “He’s probably not going to get full medical clearance until the week of the first game. I think sometimes it’s a little easier on offense to learn things quicker.”

Illinois was able to win the recruiting battle for the 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete in the 2026 recruiting class even after Eberhart took June official visits to Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Despite the official roster switching Eberhard to wide receiver, Bielema was quick to point out to local media that this move for Eberhart was “nothing permanent” and the future for the St. Louis native would likely be a defensive back.

“I told the offensive coaches that he’s on a six-month lease with a 12-month option,” Bielema said. “We’ll see where this one goes.”

Local media, including IlliniGuys.com, had a media session with Bilema. 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.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema stressed Saturday the move of former four-star signee Jacob Eberhart was temporary for the 2026 season but wouldn’t rule out making it permanent.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 8, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — While his head coach verbally compared it similarly to a limited-time car or housing contract, rookie Jacob Eberhart has been moved from defense to offense. 

Illinois sixth-year head coach Bret Bielema confirmed Eberhart’s move from defensive back to wide receiver on Saturday to local media before the team’s first full-pad practice and in doing so, said the tactic is “a six-month lease with a 12-month option”. 

Bielema said the past intention was to recruit Eberhart, who was a four-star prospect by On3.com/Rivals.com, as a defensive back but the first- full-pad practice on Saturday would be his introduction to wide receiver. 

Eberhart, who was a summer enrollee, has been battling an undisclosed injury that has kept him in a green, non-contact jersey since the beginning of preseason camp. Bielema said Saturday Eberhart isn’t likely to get full medical clearance until the week of the 2026 season-opening game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sept. 3 (8 p.m., Big Ten Network). 

“If he had been with us throughout all spring and summer maybe we wouldn’t be doing this,” Bielema said. “He’s probably not going to get full medical clearance until the week of the first game. I think sometimes it’s a little easier on offense to learn things quicker.” 

Illinois was able to win the recruiting battle for the 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete in the 2026 recruiting class even after Eberhart took June official visits to Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. 

Despite the official roster switching Eberhard to wide receiver, Bielema was quick to point out to local media that this move for Eberhart was “nothing permanent” and the future for the St. Louis native would likely be a defensive back. 

“I told the offensive coaches that he’s on a six-month lease with a 12-month option,” Bielema said. “We’ll see where this one goes.”

Eberhart, whose late father Jason, was a four-year letterwinner on the Illini football team from 1997-2000, was a Missouri high school state finalist in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays as a track and field athlete. 

Jordan Anderson is back in the running back room for his final season of college football and looking to provide quality depth for new positional coach Tyrone Wheatley.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 7, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Don’t ask new Illinois running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley what he expects to get from the oldest player in his positional room.

Wheatley isn’t sure how the 2026 campaign will work out for sixth-year running back Jordan Anderson but he’s sure he doesn’t enjoy hearing the word ‘expectations’ in early August when the first-year assistant coach has been in Champaign-Urbana only seven months.

What Wheatley is already sure of is having Anderson transfer in to his meeting rooms quickly began to advance the level of teaching he was able to do for a positional group that already returned two ball carriers (Ca'Lil Valentine and Aidan Laughery) that accounted for 1,127 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground last season.

“You said expect and I don’t like that word because I have to manage those for him,” Wheatley said. “The expectation for him is the role he’ll be given. And right now, we don’t know what that role is. As we go here, it’ll unravel and show itself to all of us. I know this. When it does, he’ll do a great job at that role.”

Illinois seventh-year center Jake Renfro was nominated among 40 projected starting centers named to The Rimington Trophy watch list.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 6, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN — For the first time this summer, Illinois has a player on a preseason watch list.

Illinois center Jake Renfro has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Rimington Trophy, released Thursday by the Rimington Trophy Committee. The 24-year-old transfer from Cincinnati and Wisconsin, who is entering his seventh year of college football, was one of 40 players listed among the top centers in college football entering the upcoming 2026 season.

“When it comes to his experience in the game and in college football, he’s a guy that has not only read the book but he’s seen the movie,” Illinois offensive line coach Bart Miller said of Renfro on Wednesday. “For him to come in and he wasn’t able to take reps in the spring but he took mental reps on every play. He was with me the whole spring and he was making calls and communicating with [Illini projected backup center T.J. McMillen] and he was kind of a player-coach.”

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 6, 2026

(Editor's note: this is the second in a series as Ked highlights several Illinois basketball players and what their development could mean for the Fighting Illini this season.)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — By the time June arrives, most college basketball programs have wrapped up their transfer portal additions and high school recruiting classes. The attention shifts to summer workouts, player development and preparing for the upcoming season.

Illinois appeared to be finished adding to its roster.

Then came June 8th.

The Fighting Illini landed a commitment from 6-foot-5, 180-pound wing Lincoln Williams of Kankakee, Illinois, giving Brad Underwood another intriguing athlete with tremendous upside. While many fans had forgotten about Williams by early summer, Illinois never did.

Williams had been a familiar face around the program for years, attending Illinois practices and games more times than most could count.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 4, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Expectations around the Illinois men's basketball program have never been higher entering a season under head coach Brad Underwood. After reaching the program's first Final Four since 2005, the Fighting Illini have returned the core of that team, added elite talent through recruiting and the transfer portal, and have positioned themselves as one of the favorites to win the national championship.

The combination of experience, size, athleticism and depth has many around college basketball believing this could be the most complete Illinois team of the modern era. If those expectations are met, the Fighting Illini could find themselves cutting down the nets next April in Detroit.

This past March 28th, Illinois punched its ticket to the Final Four for the first time since the 2005 season with a 71-59 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in Houston. The Illini's memorable run ended April 4th with a 71-62 loss to UConn in Indianapolis.

Illinois knew it would lose All-American freshman guard Keaton Wagler to the NBA Draft. Wagler was selected with the No. 5 overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers. His departure was expected, but the priority for the Illinois coaching staff was retaining the stars who fueled the Final Four run.

The Illini accomplished exactly that.

Starting power forward David Mirkovic officially returned, along with twin brothers Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic. Illinois also brings back Andrej Stojakovic, the only McDonald's All-American on the roster. Keeping that nucleus together sent a message that elite players can stay together in today's college basketball landscape.

Because of that continuity, along with several key additions, Illinois has become one of the nation's consensus favorites entering the 2026-27 season.

The preseason rankings reflect those expectations.

Will Holmes, a 25-year-old former professional baseball player with only two years of organized football as his experience, will be a hybrid-type player at Illinois in the 2026 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 5, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — At the conclusion of his first preseason camp practice as the defensive coordinator at Illinois, Bobby Hauck looked down at the first and top note from the two-hour session that he wrote dow and just smiled.

“My note from the practice yesterday is Will Holmes is going to be hard to handle,” said the Illini’s 62-year-old defensive play-caller, who is entering his first ever season in that job position.

Holmes, a 25-year-old transfer pass rusher from Utah State, has been moved into a specialized role in Hauck’s 3-3-5 defensive scheme where the 255-pounder will be in the defensive line meeting room on a daily basis but Holmes is likely to line up in a variety of unique ways before the snap.

“He’s going to kind of be a hybrid guy for us,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said on Monday night. “He’ll live in the defensive line room but probably do a variety of things for us as it plays out.”

IlliniGuys.com details noteworthy items from the 30-minute media viewing portion of the second practice of the Illini’s 2026 preseason camp session.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 4, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Good evening and welcome to the second 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 30-minute viewing period after the team stretching pre-practice period but, as per usual, did not involve any full-team activities but highlighting the individual positional work early in this camp. Per NCAA and Big Ten Conference rules, the practice on Monday night and tonight’s practice was just in helmets, shorts, and spider pads (basic cushioned pads that are used on non-contact days) so there’s practically nothing to be gleaned from the line-of-scrimmage play.

Local media, including IlliniGuys.com, had a media session with Illini offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck. It’s the first time that both coordinators have addressed the media since late April. 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.

Illini Positional Changes and/or Jersey Number Changes for upcoming 2026 season
WR Jershaun Newton - positional switch from quarterback
TE Kaden Feagin - No. 83 from No. 3
DL Will Holmes - positional switch from linebacker to defensive end/OLB
WR Nate Cichy - late signee after decommitting from Harvard - No. 19
OLB Carter Smith - listed on roster as a DL but is working with Archie McDaniel’s OLB position group
LB Des Straughton - listed on roster as a DB but working with Roger Cooper’s LB position group
LB Kaedyn Cobbs - listed on roster as a DB but working with Roger Cooper’s LB position group

Illini Injury Report

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer August 4, […]

Illinois received the fourth-most voting points of the program’s […]