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Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 26, 2023

Illinois signed a pretty good class of high schoolers and JUCO players last week on signing day, but the biggest news of the day was the transfer commitment of All Conference Left Tackle JC Davis from New Mexico. Davis is a plug and play transfer who fills Illinois' biggest need on offense for the 2024 season. The commitment of Davis would be a great moment regardless of the situation. This guy is a really good football player who would start on just about any team in the United States.  Take a look below.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 26, 2023

When the NCAA decided to change the outlook of college athletics with transfers, transfer portal, and recruiting in general, head Illinois head coach Brad Underwood set the tone for the University of Illinois.

A lot of coaches do not like the new landscape of college athletics and the direction it is going. Unfortunately, those who do not embrace the new trend may be fighting an uphill battle or looking for a new job. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 25, 2023

Illinois commit Hayven Smith is back on campus again to watch her future teammates this past week at the State Farm Center. Smith, a legitimate 6-foot-6 center with a big upside to her future, is watching more games to learn what the Illini are trying to do offensively and defensively. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 25, 2023

I hope you all enjoyed part 1 of the signing day spotlight on the offense. I have to admit those nine offensive players were a little more fun to review, but the 10 defenders the Illini announced on signing day a few days ago are pretty good players as well. I'm going to start with the three young men most likely to play next year (by default): the defensive linemen.

Eddie Tuerk- DL

Many Illini watchers were excited to see that Coach Bielema announced Tuerk as a defensive lineman on signing day, but I have to say I concluded when he committed back in June that he was a much better player on that side of the ball. Tuerk is a good-sized young man at 6'5 and now 290 pounds, but he doesn't have the frame to carry much more weight than that without compromising his agility and straight-line speed. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he bulked up from 260 pounds last year to 290 now, but I think that's right about where he should stop. Unless he's going to be a center, you'd be asking Tuerk to either limit his athletic ability or play undersized in the Big Ten, where there are very few linemen under 300 pounds. Take a look at his abbreviated senior film. The defensive highlights stand for themselves, while the offensive highlight focuses on his speed.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 25, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll start breaking down the 2024 class that signed this week and continue to take a look at trending portal news.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 24, 2023

Illinois completed a strong signing day on Wednesday so I thought this would be a great opportunity to check back on the players Illinois has had in the fold for quite a while to see how they've improved in their senior year. A couple of these guys are multi-position players, but Coach Bielema identified each of their primary positions in his signing day press conference, so that's where I'm slotting all of them for now.

I'm going to start with my favorites: the offensive line. Folks, this group of three linemen is the best I can remember coming into the program. 

Michigan State freshman guard and former Illini recruit Jeremy […]

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio, Illini Uber-Insider

December 24, 2023

The Illini gave Missouri a beat down on Friday evening in a 97-73 spanking that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. The Ilini led by 25 at the half and cruised to a dominant win that served notice. This team is for real. 

Terrence Shannon continued his quest to be a first team All-American and have his jersey in the rafters with a 30 point 11 rebound and 4 assist performance and Quincy Guerrier scored 28 points and grabbed 8 rebounds of his own as Illinois took control early and never looked back. 

Here’s what we witnessed:

Missouri head coach Dennis Gates grew up in Chicago with an appreciation for elite Illini basketball and believes he saw it again Friday night in the Illinois Braggin’ Rights blowout win. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Reporter

December 24, 2023

ST. LOUIS — While growing up on the west side of Chicago, Dennis Gates had an appreciation for watching Lou Henson’s great Illinois basketball teams of the past. 

The early plan for the Illinois offense was simple: Take the ball off the rim and run until Missouri stops them. And the Tigers rarely did in a 97-73 blowout win for the Illini. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 23, 2023

ST. LOUIS — Illinois took its cue on offensive pace Friday night from the original and long-standing hockey tenant of the Enterprise Center - get it and go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyF69uXEFhY  

By IlliniGuys Staff December 22, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois guard Terrence Shannon says he circled the date of his final Braggin’ Rights game immediately upon his announcement to return to college basketball this season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 22, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Terrence Shannon’s only memory of the Braggin’ Rights Game certainly isn’t a good thought. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio, Illini Uber-Insider

January 22, 2023

Although the talk is always of Big Ten Championships and NCAA runs, for people who live in the St. Louis metro area there is often no bigger game than the annual McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights game each December. The Illini struggled a year ago in this game as the Tigers cruised to a win, but this Illini team appears different, and they seem to understand the importance of this game and want to have a Merry Christmas. It all starts with a win over Mizzou. 

McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights

#13/11 Illinois (8-2) vs. Missouri (7-4) 

Dec. 22, 2023 // 8 p.m. CT // St. Louis, Mo. // Enterprise Center 

TV: FS1 – Jason Ross Jr. (Play-by-Play), Robbie Hummel (Analyst) 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   WEST PALM BEACH, […]