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By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

Illinois' early summer recruiting blitz continued when Suffield (Connecticut) Academy's Edge rusher Kayden Bennett pledged to the Illini to become the 20th member of the Class of 2026.  Bennett is a real wild card of an addition.  He's a 4 star player according to some services and a high three star player according to others.  He also has an odd mix of offers that includes only the bottom of the ACC despite his high rating.  His other official visits prior to last weekend's visit to Champaign were to Temple and UConn who haven't gotten a football recruit in the 4-star range since (checks notes) forever. 

Those of you who've read my columns closely will remember that Illinois recruited quite a few players from the private school league that includes Suffield Academy in the first year of the Bielema era and came up empty.   There are a lot of small private schools in the Northeast with high major recruits, but its difficult to evaluate them because they'll often play another team with 2 high major recruits together with 20 guys who belong in 1A ball in Illinois.  However, Suffield Academy has produced quite a few star football players including Christian Wilkins and two recent Michigan Wolverines.  This despite Suffield being one of the lesser teams in the Northeast Prep League.  And with 56 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 8 sacks as a junior in the League, Bennett certainly should have drawn some attention.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 21, 2025

Illinois got its first big flip of the 2026 recruiting season when Pearland (Tx) outside linebacker Jaylen Stewart changed his commitment from Oklahoma State to Illinois.  Stewart is a 6'2, 220 pounder who is a plus athlete and put up very good numbers as a junior at Texas' highest level of competition, which is an extremely rare thing to say about an Illinois recruit.  Illinois has picked up some valuable players from Texas over the years, but aside from Marquez Beason they've been under the radar types.  However, Illinois beat out numerous ACC and Big 12 schools for Stewart in addition to Auburn and USC.  And folks, I fully expect that bigger names will get involved before signing day because Stewart is legit.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Get used to it. Illinois football is now going toe-to-toe with anyone in college football. That’s right, Illinois is landing top-tier talent for the first time in more than a decade.

Today, the Illini received a commitment from Nick Hankins, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback from Belleville, Illinois. Most top recruiting publications list Hankins as a four-star prospect, and if you gauge his list of offers, it’s easy to see how significant this pickup is for Illini Nation.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s basketball program has made waves with its international recruiting success, but the staff hasn’t taken its eyes off top domestic talent either, and when they target players in the United States, they’re going after the biggest fish in the pond.

One of those names is Alex Constanza, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound combo guard from the Class of 2026, ranked #17 nationally by ESPN.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

If you gave just about any offensive coordinator an unlimited roster, the first thing he would do is stock up with specialty tight ends.  Even if the 7th tight end you add isn't sexy and doesn't have an NFL future, there's nothing quite like a specialty tight end to take advantage of a certain match-up or run a play you design for him when you really need a first down.  I wrote this same thing when the Illini signed Carson Goda last summer: look for him to get a touchdown when you least expect it.  Sure enough the Illini designed a play for Goda to leak out into the flat after not looking at him all year and he scored the only Illini touchdown against Penn State.  I hope to see more of Will Vala than that long-term, but that's the first thing I thought of when I looked into Will Vala's ability.  He's the perfect type of guy to put on the field in passing situations and use to get a key play when you really need it.  The 6'4 220 pounder from Downers Grove North is a better player that Goda and Illinois had to beat 4 other Big Ten schools as well as a handful of other high majors to gain his commitment.  However, even with Illinois likely switching to using tight ends more and more as receivers like Bret Bielema and Barry Lunney did at Arkansas, he's a little limited.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting June […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It’s becoming clear that Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema isn’t just content with a top-10 recruiting class, he appears to be aiming for the No. 1 spot in the country.

This 2026 recruiting class is something Illini fans haven’t seen in years, or maybe even decades. Today, Kai Pritchard, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound offensive tackle from Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.), committed to Illinois.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – If the name Isaiah Williams rings a bell with Illinois football fans, it’s for good reason.

The original Isiah "Juice" Williams was a highly touted recruit who quarterbacked the Illini to the 2008 Rose Bowl. The next Isaiah Williams was another highly sought after high school quarterback who switched to wide receiver and had a successful All-Big Ten career for the Illini and is now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now, the Illini may be in position to land another Isaiah Williams, this one from the Lone Star State and on the defensive side of the ball.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini football program has rolled up its sleeves and gone to work. When it comes to recruiting, they are currently one of the best in the country with their 2026 class.

Kayden Bennett, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound outside linebacker from Suffield (Conn.) Academy is the latest addition. The three-star Class of 2026 prospect committed to Illinois shortly after his weekend visit, saying he found his home, to play his college football at the University of Illinois.

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

June 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

With less than two weeks until the NBA draft on June 25th, the Illini have two players mocked in the first round and will be on the minds and on the tongues of the talking heads on draft night. The question remains as to where the one-and-done stars will be selected on Wednesday evening in Brooklyn.

With that in mind, IlliniGuys caught up with 3 NBA scouts and executives that work for 3 different franchises, and they gave us some anonymous takes on what they see for the Illini duo.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood confirmed Monday details to what has led to Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic and Mihailo Petrovic being absent for the start of summer workouts.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois men’s basketball program began summer workouts Monday without any of its three international additions to the 2025-26 season.

Third-year transfer portal center Zvonimir Ivisic and the pair of first-year college basketball signees Mihailo Petrovic and David Mirkovic were in present with the rest of Brad Underwood’s makeshift roster for the upcoming season for various off-the-court reasons related to the Illini head coach’s plan to invest heavily in European players.

Ivisic, who is a transfer from the University of Kentucky and Arkansas programs and is the twin brother of Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic, is in Champaign after signing a Big Ten Athletics Aid Agreement in April. However, as we now flip the calendar to mid-June, the 7-foot-2 and 245-pound athlete from Vodice, Croatia has yet to be officially admitted as a student to the University of Illinois. Underwood stated he and his staff have been required to “get all of his international [transcripts] as well and get it all translated as well”.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Iowa Athletics)

For the next several days, I will break down one current men’s and women’s basketball player each day and discuss what expectations might be for the upcoming season.

Today's Double Dribble 2-1 Focus: Aaliyah Guyton and Keaton Wagler

Player Biography: Aaliyah Guyton transferred from Iowa, most call it staying home or coming back home, but the 5-foot-8 guard appears to be more drawn to the Illinois coaching staff, family environment, and opportunities than anything else. Illinois head coach Shauna Green was once again able to recruit the Peoria, Illinois, prep standout and demonstrate why Illinois is a good fit for her.

One Iowa source cited that Aaliyah’s father, A.J. Guyton, former first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2000, wasn’t pleased with her development in Iowa City. ESPN HoopGurlz ranked her the No. 58 player in the country coming out of high school. She had several big-time offers including Ohio State, Mississippi State, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and Nebraska.

What we know:

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood confirmed 21-year-old wing Ty Rodgers has suffered a major knee injury that will require a medical procedure to fix and will “require some time away”. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.  — Ty Rodgers’ status for the upcoming 2025-26 season is currently in doubt after suffering a major knee injury that will require surgery. 

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood confirmed Monday in a summer media session that the 6-foot-6 wing suffered the injury while playing pickup basketball earlier this summer and that Rodgers will require a medical procedure to fix this injury before he can again be medically cleared for basketball-related activities. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 16, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

For the next several days, I will break down one current men’s and women’s basketball player each day and discuss what expectations might be for the upcoming season.

Today’s Double Dribble 2-1 Focus features Keaton Wagler and Aaliyah Guyton

Player Biography: Keaton Wagler is a 6-foot-4, 175-pound shooting guard from Shawnee, Kansas. A four-star high school recruit, Illinois believes Wagler’s upside could land him a meaningful role on a Big Ten roster. Head coach Brad Underwood was sold on Wagler due to his consistent winning impact at every level he's played at. He chose Illinois over Minnesota, DePaul, Saint Louis, Tulsa, and Colorado State.

What we know:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

Illinois football continues to add major talent to its future, flipping a key defensive piece from a Big 12 school. The Fighting Illini landed a commitment from Jaylen Stewart, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound edge rusher out of Pearland, Texas, who had previously pledged to Oklahoma State.