3-Star 2023 DT Jamarrion Harkless Commits to Illini Over Several SEC Power Programs
Kentucky defensive tackle prospect Jamarrion Harkless becomes the seventh commitment in Illinois’ 2023 recruiting class and third commit from Illini’s first official visit weekend.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
June 5, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- For the first time in this 2023 recruiting season, Illinois can say they picked up a commitment victory over Southeastern Conference power programs.
In-State 2023 Three-Star OLB Pat Farrell Continues Bret Bielema’s Chicagoland Trend of Illini Recruiting Wins
Three-star OLB Pat Farrell from Chicago’s St. Rita High School is the 12th in-state high school prospect signed by Illinois since Bret Bielema was hired in Dec. 2020.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
June 5, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bret Bielema’s rebuild of the Illinois football program has placed the Chicagoland area as a cornerstone to his recruiting philosophy and Pat Farrell continued that tradition Sunday night.
Florida OT Rico Jackson Becomes Illini’s Fifth 2023 Verbal Commitment
Florida Lauderdale three-star offensive tackle prospect Rico Jackson pledges to Illinois during official visit weekend.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
June 5, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The first official campus visit for Rico Jackson’s recruitment process was enough for him to commit to Illinois.
Why the Time is Now to Start Following the Illinois Football Program
Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Student Correspondent June 4, 2022 The […]
Loss of 3-star DL Dante Barone Highlights Illini’s Recruiting Challenges
The decision of three-star defensive lineman Dante Barone to verbally pledge to Rutgers represents the third d-line prospect loss for the Illini program early on in this 2023 recruiting season.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
June 1, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Dante Barone’s verbal commitment to Rutgers represents a recruiting trend in the disturbingly wrong direction for the Illinois football program.
The 270-pound three-sport defensive pass rusher from the same New Jersey prep school of current Illini commitment Zachary Aamland and early enrollee Owen Anderson is the third priority defensive line prospect to spur Illinois for a rival Big Ten Conference school.
Barone’s decision, confirmed on his social media pages on Wednesday evening, replicates the Illinois recruiting losses of three-star St. Louis product Tyler Gant (who committed to Northwestern shortly after an unofficial visit to the campus in early May followed by three-star Roderick Pierce from Chicago’s Brother Rice High School choosing Wisconsin six days after Gant.
2023 Oklahoma QB Cal Swanson Recruitment Picking Up After Illini Offer
Swanson, a three-star quarterback in Ardmore, Oklahoma, says he received a scholarship offer from Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
June 1, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Ardmore (Okla.) High School Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Cal Swanson is just getting used to what Bret Bielema has previously called “the Illinois effect” to recruitment.
Swanson, a 2023 quarterback prospect from Ardmore (Okla.) High School, received a scholarship offer from Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. on Monday less than a month after the new Illini assistant coach saw Swanson lead his team through the second week of its spring practice.
The offer from Illinois is still Swanson’s only one from a Football Bowl Subdivision school but he’s slated to arrive for his on-campus official visit this weekend.
“I’m not a very patient person by nature and never have been so I can’t see this lasting much longer,” Swanson said. “What I want out of this visit is to see the facilities at Illinois, especially that football building and then I really want to connect with the other players on their visits too. It’s important I get a bond with them because this is going to be a huge part of the (recruiting) class. Then, I really need to find some time to sit down and really think about how I want this to go and where I want to be.”
Recruiting: 3-Star 2023 OL Zachary Aamland Continues Bielema’s Illini OL Rebuild
Zachary Aamland used Memorial Day to become the first out-of-state commitment and second offensive line pledge to the Illini’s 2023 recruiting class.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
May 30, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Zachary Aamland's Twitter page)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The tradition of Illinois continuing the foundation building of its offensive line has continued with its first out-of-state commitment for the 2023 recruiting class.
Zachary Aamland, a 6-foot-6 and 285-pound offensive lineman from The Hun School in New Jersey, used the Memorial Day holiday to announce his verbal pledge to Illinois after receiving other scholarship offers from several Power Five Conference schools such as Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.
In a complete rebuilding job of the Illini offensive line by head coach Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Bart Miller, Illinois signed five high school offensive linemen in this incoming 2022 recruiting class along with two junior college transfers.
Hoosiers End Illini Baseball’s 2022 Season
Illinois’ 8-1 loss to Indiana in the elimination game of the 2022 Big Ten Baseball Tournament on Friday night ended their season with a 31-22 record.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
May 27, 2022
The baseball season for Illinois is over.
Recruiting: Fighting Illini Football Targets One of the Nation's Best
Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
May 25, 2022
The Fighting Illini are going up against the big boys in the Big Ten looking for players; not since the Ron Zook era has recruiting been this fluid.
Illini Two-Out Magic Not Enough in 7-5 Loss in Big Ten Baseball Tourney Opener
After a 7-5 loss to Michigan in the Big […]
Illini Arrive in Omaha Needing Big Ten Baseball Tournament Championship
While Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb is trying to allow for a slim chance of an NCAA at-large berth, Illini will need its first conference tournament title in 11 years to extend the 2022 season.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
May 26, 2022
Only Mother Nature seems to know when the 2022 Big Ten Baseball Tournament will begin but Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb seemingly knows how this event has to end for his program.
Recruiting: Nation’s Best 2023 Kicker David Olano Wants “to stay at home” at Illinois
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
May 26, 2022
Naperville North’s David Olano, arguably among one of the best placekickers, says he wants to stay home with his college choice and is eager to get an offer from Illini staff.
David Olano says he understands, accepts and is trying to be patient with the being one of the nation’s best in his recruiting class but without offers from any Power Five Conference schools.
Football Recruiting Spotlight on Jonah Morris
Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst
May 23, 2022
Coach Bret Bielema's staff has left no stone unturned when it comes to adding talent to the program and while you may have heard some strange stories thus far on this site, Morris' story makes for a whole other chapter.
IlliniGuardians Pulls Off First Major Fundraising Event With Sellout In Decatur
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IlliniGuys.com Teams Up with Illini […]
Recruiting: Illinois Showing They Believe in Michigan Prospect
Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
May 23, 2022
Mason Muragin made the visit to Champaign, Illinois, a visit which has been different from other schools recruiting Muragin.
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