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

August 6, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a top 2026 target and 2025 potential flip.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 6, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, IL – As the college football season gets underway, Illinois fans are already buzzing about the upcoming basketball season, thanks to an exciting new addition to the team. The Illinois basketball program has a roster of many new stars, many of whom are yet to play a single game. Among these rising talents is Kasparas Jakucionis, a 6-foot-6 combo guard from Vilnius, Lithuania.

The concept of ‘complimentary football’ is about as unsexy a term in the sport but Bret Bielema is determined to bring that concept to the forefront of what the Illini program is and will be. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 5, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just like every offseason, which truthfully gets shorter and shorter due to the recruiting realities of the sport, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema conducts a vigorous self-scout of his football program. 

Illinois third-year safety Matthew Bailey doesn’t have the playing experience to account for the talk of his importance to the Illini’s defense but don’t tell that to his coaches and teammates.

August 5, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The responsibility being hoisted upon Matthew Bailey inside and outside the Smith Family Football Complex is not parallel to a player who has experienced just one start, missed nearly the entire 2023 season and has only one start in his college football career. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 5, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Late last week, Illinois hosted 6-foot-9 wing Spencer Ahrens, a promising prospect from Canada. Although the Illini did not secure a commitment, they made significant progress in their recruitment efforts.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 4, 2024

Champaign, IL – The Illinois women's basketball team is preparing for a foreign tour of Italy and Greece from August 2-12. This is the first overseas trip for Illinois since head coach Shauna Green took over three years ago.

Illinois Athletics August 3, 2024 PARIS – Illinois men's tennis […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 3, 2024

Champaign, Ill. – Jerimy Finch Jr., one of the nation's top football prospects for 2026, visited Illinois on Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive lineman from Warren Central High School in Indianapolis is drawing interest from numerous prestigious programs.

Zy Crisler, a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention selection, has rode the emotional roller coaster ride in his first two years at Illinois but has a comfort being placed back at guard. 

Matthew Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 2, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For what might be the first time since he’s arrived at the University of Illinois, Zylon Crisler has made it back home. 

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

July 31, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell files, I’ll take a look at 2025 WR Brayden Trimble’s reaction to his official offer and more importantly the response from his current 2026 teammate. And I’ll also look at how the Illini stack up against the Big Ten along the DL for the 2025 class.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 2, 2024

Champaign, IL — The pre-season team workouts have ended, but as August rolls in, the focus for Illinois men's basketball shifts to recruiting.

On Thursday, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and his staff welcomed a pair of visitors to campus.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 1, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Good evening and welcome to a very different preseason camp practice report from the fourth session (practice No. 2 was closed to the public/media) for the Illinois program for the 2024 season under lights in Memorial Stadium.

Due to Big Ten Network personnel being allowed full access to Thursday night’s session, Illinois fourth-year head coach Bret Bielema elected to make the full two-hour practice open to media and therefore, you should prepare yourselves for what will be an extensive IlliniGuys.com report. 

For the third straight time since golf returned to […]

The return of a multi-year offensive coordinator, experienced starting quarterback and returning starter at center signals a shorter and more extensive offensive installation for Illinois this August. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 1, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just for a single moment imagine the comfort level of Josh Kreutz in these first few preseason meetings, walk-throughs and practices. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 1, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Good morning and welcome to the third preseason camp practice (practice No. 2 was closed to the public/media) for the Illinois program for the 2023 season in the fourth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema that begins under lights in Memorial Stadium.