Football

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 3, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Bret Bielema has always loved tight ends. Wherever he's been, that's been a constant. Barry Lunney has also loved his tight ends at his three college stops. However, the manner in which they've used those tight ends has been anything but consistent. At Wisconsin and Arkansas, Bielema has used tight ends as blockers, but has often had an occasional guy who's a receiver-first as well. Lunney's offenses at Arkansas and UTSA have been receivers first, but guys who can block a little too. Bielema's first OC Tony Petersen filled the roster with blocking tight ends, and Lunney has used primarily blockers since he's arrived too. However, Tip Reiman and Tanner Arkin are gone and there's an opportunity to change things up a bit. What does that mean for 2026? Well, read on.

Newcomers
Officially, there's only one new player at the position: freshman Will Vala.

After three years calling the defenses at Illinois, Aaron […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 31, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Back in November, Illinois was just the second program to offer St. Laurence linebacker Sean Rice, who, since making the switch to his new position, has seen production – and interest – grow in a big way. He caught up with IlliniGuys writer Zeno Jo during the program’s Junior Day earlier in January to talk about his recruitment process.

Since visiting Illinois in November, Rice’s list of Division I offers has grown from two to 11. He attributes that growth to the switch from defensive line to linebacker, which came, in large part, thanks to his coaches. He calls the decision to switch positions “by far” one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

After three years at Illinois, Robby Discher has elected to leave Bret Bielema’s staff to join Ryan Day’s operation at Ohio State.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 31, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When Illinois opens its 2026 Big Ten Conference schedule on Sept. 26 at Ohio State, Robby Discher will be on the sidelines coaching but it will be on the home side.

Discher has agreed to join Ryan Day’s coaching staff to be the Buckeyes special teams coordinator leaving Illini head coach Bret Bielema in need of replacing two position coach spots, one of which is one of his three coordinators who he values on his staff.

Bielema had previously said that he expected all three of the coordinators on his staff to return for the 2026 season but Discher has elected to leave for Ohio State’s operation that is 79-12 overall and 54-5 in the Big Ten in the seven seasons of Day’s leadership. Discher’s hiring in Columbus, Ohio marks the first time Ohio State will have a full-fledged special teams coordinator since it fired Parker Fleming after the 2023 season. Ohio State’s special teams were overseen for the past two seasons by quality control coach Rob Keys and program assistant Gunner Daniel.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 30, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini will start the 2026 season with the same three backs that figured to lead them in the 2025 season: Ca'Lil Valentine, Kaden Feagin and Aidan Laughery. However, with the recent news that the Illini are experimenting with Feagin as a tight end next year and the addition of two more excellent prospects, I don't expect 2026 to be more of the same for this group. For one thing, Valentine passed Feagin as the primary back as the year went on and he figures to take an even bigger role in 2026. Valentine has added 25 pounds since he arrived in Champaign, and with a little more weight he could be in line for a run to the NFL next season.

Newcomers
Javari Barnett from Tampa Bay Tech flipped back to Illinois from his Alabama commitment on signing day and Nelsyn Wheeler from Omaha Millard South exploded into a high level prospect after transferred to one of the top teams in Nebraska. Barnett was one of my favorite early commitments, so I wasn't surprised when Alabama swooped in and talked him out of his Illini pledge. However, Barnett had an injury plagued senior year in which he didn't really progress as a player, so I also wasn't terribly surprised when he slipped back out of his Illini commitment.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 28, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy East Carolina Athletics)

I know you're all expecting recruiting spotlights on each of our newcomers, but with the constant comings and goings I decided it was better to break down the post-portal roster position by position. And, since everyone was most anxious to learn who our quarterback would be, I'm starting there.

The newcomer: Katin Houser, transfer from ECU. I really thought the Illini nailed this one. Typically a P4 program without unlimited dollars is looking for a transfer QB who was highly rated but failed at his first school or a guy who did well against lesser competition but is looking to move up a level in his last year of eligibility. In Houser, the Illini got the best of both worlds. He's a guy who had the ability to earn a 4-star rating coming out of high school, yet he also shone at ECU when he transferred after Michigan State's new coach Jonathan Smith brought a new QB with him to East Lansing. Houser redshirted in his first year and then took over as the primary starter in 2023. However, Michigan State endured a brutal season that saw the Spartans start off decently but then fall apart down the stretch. Houser took over the starting job in week 4 and generally played like a talented player who wasn't ready yet.

The Illinois football team's 2026 Big Ten schedule was […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 26, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Hoosier Huddle)

Welcome to Part 3 of the Cignetti Recipe. Now that I've done a deep dive on Curt Cignetti and in his staff, I thought I'd look into the players that have benefitted from Cignetti's new dynasty at Indiana.

Most people would tell you that the Indiana turnaround was all about Cignetti bringing his best players from James Madison with him. However, only 13 of the 31 incoming transfers to Indiana in 2024 followed Cignetti and his staff. And I'm sure everyone noticed that James Madison has continued to excel with the players that Cignetti left behind so clearly some good players stayed and the cupboard wasn't bare in Harrisonburg. New JMU coach Bob Chesney took much of his staff with him from Holy Cross and there's only one staff member left over from the Cignetti era, so it stands to reason that the Cignetti-coached Dukes remaining at JMU are still very talented. Not only that, but only two Hoosiers were drafted in 2025.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 25, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – During last week’s men’s basketball game against Minnesota, the seats behind the home baseline at State Farm Center were filled with a group of 2027 recruits, with each of them sitting next to the coaches actively recruiting them. Among them was Evanston Township High School athlete Justin Johnson.

Currently rated as a three-star recruit, Johnson has attracted interest from nine Division I schools. IlliniGuys’ Zeno Jo was at State Farm Center on Saturday and spoke with Johnson, who said he was there for his first Illini basketball game. Sitting next to him for most of the game was Illini defensive backs coach Corey Parker.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 24, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A year and a half ago, Illinois became one of the first Division I schools and the first power conference school to offer Chicago native and Brother Rice standout defensive lineman Brayden Parks. Fast forward to present day, Parks has become not just one of the highest-rated players in the state, but one of the highest-rated defensive linemen in the entire nation.

When Parks spoke to IlliniGuys back in September, he’d racked up over 40 offers, with some of college football’s bluebloods chasing his signature. While Illinois did hop on the Parks train early, the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State have added to his ever-growing list of offers since then.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 23, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Wide Open Country)

Welcome to Part 2 of the Cignetti Recipe: The Staff.

You may have seen that as a condition of Curt Cignetti's recent in-season extension that he ensured that he would basically have as much money as he wanted to keep whatever staff he wanted. On one hand, that makes sense because a staff is an underrated aspect to a program's success. On the other hand, it's a little surprising to see that Indiana would pay top dollar for the guys that have stuck with Cignetti as he's risen through the ranks. Coordinators Bryant Haines and Mike Shanahan have been with Cignetti at all of his head coaching stops, and the money is Cignetti's attempt to share the wealth since they both started making $10,000 as IUP assistants.

Haines is only 40 years old, and like Cignetti he has a brother in coaching. His brother Tyler is the head coach at DII Catawba. He's a far better communicator than Cignetti and is a future head coaching candidate, so the money helps Cignetti by ensuring that Haines doesn't leave for a head coaching job before he gets a perfect opportunity, not that it stopped Haynes from interviewing for the Michigan job. Shanahan (no relation to the hall of fame coach of the same name) is only 36, and after a brief playing career that included a cup of coffee in the NFL, he took a job at IUP and he's stuck with Cignetti ever since. Shanahan's expertise is with wide receivers and he retains that position coach position at Indiana, but he took the offensive reins at the end of Cignetti's time at James Madison and is still the OC (though Cignetti is very hands-on with the job). He too is a very personable guy and will have a shot at a big-time head coaching job before too long. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 23, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy MaxPreps)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois is beginning to turn more attention toward the 2027 recruiting class as the program continues to evaluate long-term talent on the high school front.

The Big Ten has shown recruits across the country that leaving SEC territory to play in the league is not only realistic but increasingly attractive. With the last three national champions coming from Michigan, Ohio State, and most recently, the Indiana Hoosiers, the conference’s profile has never been stronger.

Illinois took another step in that direction this week, extending an offer to Darren White, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive tackle from Lake Nona High School in Orlando, Florida.

By Zeno Jo - Illini Guys Staff Writer

January 22, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Earlier this week, Illinois picked up a commitment from Jacksonville State defensive lineman Darrell Prater, who has one year of eligibility remaining. On Wednesday, Prater hopped on a phone call with IlliniGuys’ Zeno Jo to chat about his recruitment process, what he’s looking to get done in Champaign, and why Illinois was his pick.

Prater, who was part of the 2022 recruiting class, walked on to Jacksonville State his freshman season and worked his way towards a scholarship by his sophomore season. He says his experience and versatility are his biggest strengths on the field, and at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, “I just love the culture that they showed me,” he said. “There’s such a family bond on the staff and surrounding fans. It’s such a great place to be at.”

Illinois defensive back Xavier Scott discussed Wednesday his role as a defensive leader for the upcoming 2026 season

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 21, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If you’re ever wondering who might have first leaked out that Xavier Scott was returning to Illinois for the 2026 season, look no further than the woman who Scott pays rent to every month for his apartment.

Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry was planning to put a pair of new signees into Xavier Scott’s off-campus apartment that he shared this past season with starting safety Miles Scott and Henry was told by the landlord of that priority that may not be the best idea. Before ever talking to Scott himself, Henry was informed by the landlord that she was informed by Xavier Scott that he’d still need the apartment for the next several months.

“I actually got some insight that my landlady let Coach Henry know what I was doing,” Scott said while smiling. “She didn’t mean to tell (Henry) but I was just telling her to hold off giving the apartment away. That kind of shook Coach Henry a little bit and he kind of found out what was going on.”

Darrell Prater, a former four-year contributor from Jacksonville State, has elected to move up to a power conference program to compete for a starting role on Illinois’ defensive front in 2026.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 20, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The football coaching staff at the University of Illinois has again elected to dip into the talent pool of the Group of Six conferences for defensive line depth assistance.

Darrell Prater, a four-year defensive tackle at Jacksonville State, has signed an agreement to play his final year of collegiate eligibility at Illinois. Prater, a 6-foot-3 and 300-pound defensive lineman, is part of a massive reconstruction by Illini assistant coach Terrance Jamison and his boss, fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, of the Illinois defensive front for the upcoming 2026 season.

Prater spent the 2025 season as a rotational defensive tackle piece in a 3-4 defensive scheme led by first-year head coach Charles Kelly, who served as a defensive coordinator at Florida State, Alabama, Colorado and Auburn before getting his first head coaching assignment at 57 years old.