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By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — One of the headline prospects in Illinois football’s 2026 recruiting class is quarterback Michael Clayton II, who committed to the Illini in November 2024 and never looked back.

Several IlliniGuys writers and analysts were asked to identify players who could rise to the top in this class, and the conversation consistently returned to Clayton, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound signal caller from Edison High School in Miami, Florida.

We caught up with Clayton for a one-on-one Q&A to discuss signing day, his next steps, and even the unique celebrity of his high school coach, Luther Campbell, the former rapper known as Luke Skyywalker from 2 Live Crew.

Kedric: How does it feel to finally be signed and knowing what's ahead of you?

Michael: I’ve known I wanted

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has extended an offer to shooting guard Mason Martin, giving the Naperville Neuqua Valley standout his first Power 4. The 6-foot-5 guard has emerged as one of the top scorers in the state so far this season, and his early production has quickly placed him on the radar of college coaches.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has long valued length and proven scoring ability on the perimeter, and Martin fits that profile. With the high school season just underway, Martin has already delivered eye-catching performances, including scoring 27 points in one game and 41 points against West Aurora. In that 41-point outing, he knocked down 11 three-point field goals, which is certain to draw more attention moving forward.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer is the third ever recipient […]

By Kedric Prince -IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Krka/Drago Perko/kosarka.si)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — At IlliniGuys, the focus never drifts far from the recruiting trail, especially as Illinois continues to expand its reach beyond domestic borders. One name Illini fans should keep a close watch on is Zak Smrekar, a rising wing prospect from Slovenia who is getting a lot of attention.

Smrekar is a 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing who is expected to play college basketball next season. Illinois has consistently shown interest in European prospects who can shoot, read the floor, and make plays within a structured offense. Smrekar checks those boxes. He is a capable shooter and a natural scoring wing, particularly effective in catch-and-shoot situations where his quick release stands out.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst December 17, […]

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular December 16, 2025 The […]

December 15, 2025 Ked Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst […]

Despite having one of the youngest power conference rosters, Illinois’ defensive numbers through 11 games of the 2025-26 season are better than previous seasons.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Any basketball coach will likely youth doesn’t usually equate to instant success, yet Shauna Green’s Illinois team is doing everything they can to reverse that trend.

The Illini’s 81-69 win over North Texas represented the 11th straight game that Illinois has held an opponent under 70 points in a game and the current streak is 13 in a row that includes the two 2025 NCAA Tournament games from last March.

Knowing her emphasis on the defensive end of the floor and her reputation for taking defense seriously going back to her head coaching start nearly a decade ago at Dayton, Green doesn’t want to be surprised as her 2025-26 Illini squad has been about consistent defensive stops. However, given she’s in charge of by far her youngest team, with an average age of 19.83 years as of the start of the 2025-26 campaign and

Mike White, the Illini head coach credited with reviving […]

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

December 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini fell to Nebraska on Saturday 83-80 on a last second 3 pointer by Jamarques Lawrence. The Illini had trailed by as many as 13 points, and 10 points in the second half, but battled back to tie it in the final minutes before Lawrence's heroics. Kylan Boswell scored 20 points, while Keaton Wagler had 19 points and 10 assists and Andrej Stojakovic had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way as Illinois fell to 8-3 and 1-1 in Big Ten play. Nebraska moved to 2-0 in conference play and a school record 11-0 overall.

Here’s a rewind.

These 3 Things

Defensive Lapses Continue -

Illinois women’s basketball head coach Shauna Green earns her […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Illinois vs. North […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Brent Zinkmann/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head coach Brad Underwood tried to set expectations months ago. At media day in October, he spoke confidently about freshman guard Keaton Wagler, even comparing him to former Illinois All-American Ayo Dosunmu. When he added that Wagler might be a one-and-done player, many on social media thought the praise was too aggressive for someone rated as the nation’s No. 67 shooting guard and the No. 2 overall player in Kansas, according to On3.

How could a three-star prospect become the center of such bold comparisons?

No. 13 Illinois loses for just the second time […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirms All-Big Ten defensive back Matthew Bailey will not be active for the Music City Bowl game after having surgery immediately following the regular season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 13, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Add Matthew Bailey to the list of the Illinois players who will not be participating in the upcoming Music City Bowl game.

Approximately an hour before the opening tip of the Illinois men’s basketball conference home opener versus Nebraska, Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema confirmed Saturday in his local media conference inside State Farm Center that Bailey will not be part of the Music City Bowl roster. Bielema detailed that Bailey elected to have surgery a few days after the regular season finale win over Northwestern to repair an upper body injury sustained in the middle of the 2025 campaign.

Since the Illini’s 42-25 loss at Washington, Bailey has been seen wearing a cast/club on his right hand but Bielema said the injury was “from something prior to this year” despite the fourth-year safety was never added to the conference-mandated availability report due to the injury.

“Last season we had seven postseason shoulder surgeries and this year there has been one already,” Bielema said Saturday referencing Bailey’s surgery last month was on his shoulder.