Football

The Chicago Bears selected Illinois center/Hinsdale native Doug Kramer in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 207 overall pick. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 30, 2022

Doug Kramer Photo Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Doug Kramer will not need to move out of the Chicagoland area to start his professional football career. 

Illinois offensive tackle Vederian Lowe was taken by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round with the 184th overall selection of the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 30, 2022

Cover Image:  Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Vederian Lowe’s professional football journey will begin in Minneapolis.

Illinois safety Kerby Joseph was taken by the Detroit Lions in the third round with the 97th overall selection of the 2022 NFL Draft.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 29, 2022

Kerby Joseph’s draft moment included hearing his name called by an NFL Hall of Famer.

The Illinois safety was selected late on Friday in the third round with the 97th overall selection by the Detroit Lions. The man who announced Joseph’s selection at the draft in Las Vegas was arguably the most decorated player to put on a Lions jersey as former Heisman Trophy winner and Lions all-time leading rusher Barry Sanders.

Joseph finished the 2021 campaign with 57 tackles and tied for first in the nation in interceptions (five) in the 12-game regular season. He was honored by the league’s voting media members as the first-team all conference selection following his fourth season at Illinois that included being the only player in the nation with at least five interceptions and three fumble recoveries during the regular season. The Orlando native was No. 1 graded defensive back in the nation by Pro Football Focus evaluators during this 2021 regular season that saw an Illini defense see an improvement of 16 points per game and 101 yards per game from last season.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 29, 2022

(Cover photo Justice Ugo's Twitter page)

The Fighting Illini football program is looking to improve its stock on the defensive side of the ball.

Justice Ugo is looking to be added to the class of 2022 roster. Ugo is 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds; he is big, strong, and very athletic.

The Illini have stepped up their recruiting game, and are now battling the big boys from the Big Ten and other top Power Five programs, including former powerhouse Florida State. Ugo just visited Tallahassee where the visit went well.

But where does the Blinn (Texas) Junior College star stand with the Illini?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

April 28, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ty Perkins' Twitter page)

Illinois is looking to add more quality depth to its wide-receiver department. Ty Perkins is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound wide receiver from Lucasville, Ohio, who visited Illinois recently. IlliniGuys.com caught up with Perkins to get an update on his visit and recruitment. 

Right away this visit appeared to have gone much better than Perkins thought would happen.

"My visit...was amazing! My family and I had a great time in Champaign. It was so much better than my original expectations for it," Perkins said.

But it was so much more than that; the excitement from Perkins and his views on Illinois is trending upward. It is safe to say a lot of potential football recruits just have not paid much attention to what Illinois has to offer.

By Zain Bando - IlliniGuys Student Correspondent April 28, […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

April 26, 2022

Quarterback Belay Brummel has recently picked up some big-time interest from this state university.

With many of the state of Illinois' top prospects now committing to the Illini, that culture head coach Bret Bielema talked about is starting to form, just like he had hoped.

Brummel is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound class of 2023 signal caller who has an interest in Illinois.

"Haven’t received an offer yet. They’ve brought it up in conversation very frequently, but I believe they would like to watch me throw a little more before offering. That's the feeling I got on my unofficial (earlier this month)," Brummel said.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

Apil 18, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Vanderbilt Athletics)

The Fighting Illini added some size and experience to the defense line when Vanderbilt defensive tackle Rashaan Wilkins, Jr. decided to come to Champaign.  Wilkins was a two-year starter at Vanderbilt and figured to remain the starter at the SEC school but decided to enter the transfer portal when Vanderbilt made a coaching change.

Wilkins has taken a very unlikely route from Chicago to Champaign.  He started high school at Mt. Carmel in Chicago as a 6'2, 180 pound wide receiver.  He grew to 6'3, 240 pounds and excelled at both outside linebacker and tight end, but only showed enough to earn Division III offers coming out of high school.  Wilkins took the offer from nearby Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  Wilkins played two games at tight end and caught two passes, but injured his ankle and decided to save that year of eligibility and transfer to Monterey Peninsula Junior College in California.  Wilkins excelled at Monterey and ate his way to a sturdy 300 pounds. That brought the attention of several Division I programs and Wilkins selected Vanderbilt.  Wilkins earned steady playing time in his two years at Vanderbilt but decided to finish his career closer to home in Champaign, and Illinois is quite fortunate that he did.

Illinois is swept at home in its Saturday doubleheader […]

Illinois bullpen gives us seven earned runs over final […]

Illinois picks up its first post-spring game verbal commitment with former junior college and FCS cornerback Terrell Jennings. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 23, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- The journey for Terrell Jennings began as a nationally ranked rugby player and will likely end in a Illinois football jersey.

Jennings, who has gone from junior college in California to Football Championship Subdivision programs University of North Dakota and Minnesota State University, committed Friday morning to the Illini program as an instantly eligible graduate transfer for the upcoming 2022 season. 

Jennings, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive back, is expected to immediately add to the Illini’s cornerback depth that will also include projected starters Devon Witherspoon and Tahveon Nicholson and battle with redshirt freshmen Tyler Strain and D.D. Snyder for depth positions or could challenge for the nickel cornerback spot when he arrives back in Champaign in July. 

In a phone interview Friday evening with IlliniGuys.com, Jennings confirmed he was on the Memorial Stadium sidelines during the Orange-Blue spring game and elected before he left two to end his recruitment after entering the portal less than two weeks ago. 

Illinois moves into a tie of first place in […]

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By Zain Bando - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

(Cover photo courtesy Zain Bando/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, IL – Bret Bielema addressed the media after Thursday’s spring football game, as the White team prevailed 58-40 behind three touchdowns passes from Syracuse transfer quarterback, Tommy DeVito, along with two of them going to newly-minted wide receiver, Isaiah Williams.

Bielema had a lot of high praises, especially when it came to his new quarterback.

“Offensively, I liked the way Tommy handled the huddle. We've always known that he has a live arm.... dynamic,” Bielema said.

The old ball coach made it clear, however, that it’s DeVito’s job to lose once the summer hits, hinting at when Art Sitkowski might return from his shoulder injury.

“When we start in June, Art Sitkowski will be a full go,” he said.

Bielema also enjoyed the swagger of Kendall Smith, a defensive back who has been through the ups and downs of the program’s current rebuild.

Tommy DeVito shined with three touchdown passes but the Illinois starting quarterback question will still depend on seeing Art Sitkowski actually throw a football. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 21, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- The good and bad news for Bret Bielema is he couldn’t name a starting quarterback following the spring game even if he wanted to do so.