Football

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 3, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Bloomington Pantagraph)

Defensive back coach Aaron Henry is the Tim Anderson of the basketball staff. When Henry was hired, not a lot of people knew what he would bring to the coaching staff at Illinois.

My first encounter with Henry was last June during a media event held by head coach Bret Bielema.

Photo courtesy Illinois Athletics

Henry, along with executive director of personnel and recruiting Pat Embleton, did most of the touring. But Henry caught the eye of a lot of reporters that day. His charisma and easy flow to anyone who would talk to him kept our attention.

I was so impressed with Henry that I wanted to be the first media guy to interview him. I must admit, I did not go through the proper channels to talk to him, but I just wanted to pick his brain.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

May 3, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Miles McVay)

Four-star offensive tackle Miles McVay from East St. Louis, Illinois, attended the Illinois spring football game last week as a man who is in high demand.  The class of 2023 standout is wanted by 35 different colleges.

IlliniGuys.com caught up with the future high school All-American to get his thoughts on the current Illinois team as well as other recruits.

McVay said, "It was cool.  I got a chance to see and hang with all my St. Louis Metro guys and hang with and talk to Coach (Cory) Patterson and (Bret) Bielema."

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

May 2, 2022

There are some recruits that you just know will be difference makers in college. 

One Illinois prep who fits that bill is Lyons Township's Eddie Tuerk.  He's a stands 6-foot-4, 255 pound sophomore defensive lineman who many publications project as a legitimate four or five-star recruit.

We caught up with a brief question and answer segment from Tuerk.

Kedric: What were your thoughts on your visit recently, and how many offers do you have right now?

Eddie: The visit went great, I really liked it. Right now I have 16 offers. Let me think, I don't want to leave anyone off: Cincinnati, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Tennessee, and Wisconsin to name a few.

Illinois completed its 10-shot comeback win Sunday at the […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

April 28, 2022

It is springtime, more than the start of a new Major League Baseball season, the NFL Draft, and final exams. It also means spring football games for all of the colleges.

The Fighting Illini are coming off yet another losing season (5-7) but made great strides through the season and were so close to making a bowl game in year one under head coach Bret Bielema.

As talented and passionate as Bielema's assistants are in game-planning, they are equally impressive in the way they attack recruiting. Not only are they getting the top players in the state to visit, but also selling the dream and the vision that now exists at Illinois.

Last week, three-star offensive tackle prospect Brandon Henderson updated his recruiting with IlliniGuys.com after his first time on campus. Henderson is a 6-foot-6, 300-pound OT from East St. Louis, Illinois, in the class of 2023.

Illinois has added to its offensive line room with the addition of Furman offensive lineman Dylan Davis. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 1, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- For the third straight season, Illinois has gone to the Football Championship Subdivision level for offensive line help. 

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 […]