Football

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

May 22, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

Even as Illinois gets going on the upcoming Class of 2027, more Class of 2026 players are committing to the program. The newest one is tight end of Benjamin Thurman from College of San Mateo. Thurman is an athletic but undersized tight end who played only one year at San Mateo, totaling only 16 catches for 322 yards. However, when you consider that Thurman had six touchdowns in those limited touches and also played defense, he gets a lot more interesting as a prospect.

Thurman's lack of production is also the result of San Mateo's odd system of playing time. San Mateo averaged 15 completed passes per game, but they spread the ball around so much and played so many players that Thurman's 1.5 receptions per game are actually third on the team. To add to this crazy story, like a few other rumored Illinois recruits, Thurman had no interest from high major schools.... and then he had tons. Thurman tweeted that he was open for recruitment in January. After Spring practice was over, Fresno State pulled the trigger with an offer in March. Then, Illinois offered on April 30 and the floodgates opened with 5 more high major offers in the next five days. Ole Miss joined the fray on May 4 and presented the biggest challenge on the recruiting trail for the Illini before Thurman committed to the Illini on May 13.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 22, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – There has not been a single game played on the gridiron at Gies Memorial Stadium this year, but those around the Illinois program believe the Illini could feature one of the most aggressive offenses of the Bret Bielema era.

Illinois added another piece to that vision this morning when wide receiver Nathan Cichy announced his commitment to the Illini’s 2026 recruiting class. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect from Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois, gives Illinois another speedy target on the outside.

Early Friday morning on X, Cichy announced his decision after previously being committed to Harvard.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 21, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's social media page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois Fighting Illini football coaching staff has already turned its attention toward the Class of 2027, aggressively pursuing some of the top in-state talent as recruiting efforts continue to ramp up across the Midwest.

One player drawing significant attention from the Illini is Matthew Brady, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker from Bloomington Central Catholic. Brady is rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and has quickly become one of the more sought-after defensive players in Illinois.

IlliniGuys recently caught up with Brady to discuss his recruitment and growing interest from Power Four programs.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) May 20, 2026 (Cover […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

May 18, 2026

Illinois re-started its Class of 2027 with its first commitment in two months when Lincoln Way (East) offensive lineman Mason Halliman committed to the Illini over offers from most of the upper tier of the Big Ten. Halliman will join high school teammate Jacob Alexander with the Illini and with Alexander's shift to the defensive line, they'll even get the chance to work against each other in practice just as they surely did at Lincoln Way. Halliman is an interesting case because he looks great playing against the best 8A competition in the State of Illinois. However, his future is a big roll of the dice.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

Halliman played left tackle at Lincoln-Way, and he

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) May 17, 2026 CHAMPAIGN, […]

Sean Rice, a 6-foot-2 and 210-pound linebacker prospect from St. Laurence High School, is the third commitment in a six-day period for Bret Bielema’s Illini program.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN — Sean Rice has become the fourth in-state verbal pledge to the Illinois 2027 recruiting class.

Rice is the third commitment in a six-day period in what has been a much more news-worthy recruiting month for Bret Bielema’s Illini program. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker prospect from Evergreen Park, Ill., joins Lincoln-Way East offensive lineman Mason Halliman and Morton offensive lineman Soren Fifer in a 2027 recruiting class that for multiple months had no more than two verbal pledges and was down to one - Evanston cornerback Justin Johnson - after the decommitment of four-star quarterback Kamden Lopati.

After getting an offer from Illinois linebackers coach Archie McDaniel in late November, Rice took an unofficial visit in early April to a spring practice session at Memorial Stadium in Champaign while having scheduled several official visits to Illini league rivals at Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois continued addressing its need along the defensive front with a commitment from junior college defensive lineman Joshua Davis, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound prospect from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi.

Just days ago, IlliniGuys spoke with Davis about his growing relationship with the Illinois coaching staff. At the time, the Mississippi native hinted strongly at his interest in the Illini program. Now, Illinois has secured another important piece for its future defensive line.
Davis said the passion surrounding Illinois football played a major role in his decision.

“When we talked the other day, I was so excited then, but

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The recruiting momentum continues to build for the Illinois football program as the Illini added another commitment to their growing future class today.

Just one day after landing junior college tight end Benjamin Thurman from the College of San Mateo in California, Illinois dipped back into the high school ranks and secured a commitment from in-state offensive lineman Soren Fifer of Morton High School.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Those around the Illinois football program understand the defensive line remains an area of focus for Bret Bielema and his staff.

The Illini are continuing to explore the junior college ranks in search of talent up front, and one prospect who has emerged on Illinois’ radar is 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman Joshua Davis of Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mendenhall, Mississippi, in the class of 2026

The University of Illinois athletics department announced on Wednesday the signing of junior college tight end Benjamin “BJ” Thurman from College of San Mateo in California. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 13, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — The remake of the tight end room inside the University of Illinois football program has continued with an addition from one of Bret Bielema’s favorite go-to places: The junior college player market. 

Illinois announced the signing of junior college tight end Benjamin “BJ” Thurman from College of San Mateo in California. Thurman is likely to be one of nine tight ends on the Illini’s 2026 roster and will likely be one of eight former junior college players that will suit up for Illinois this fall. 

Illinois is scheduled to have 14 uncommitted prospects on an official visit during the first three weekends in the month of June.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 12, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema believes his program’s patience in how they’ve approached the recruiting calendar and salary market for the 2027 recruiting class will benefit them next month.

The verbal pledge of three-star interior offensive lineman Mason Halliman to Illinois last weekend marked just the second commitment to the Illini’s 2027 recruiting class but that lack of numbers is not a shock or necessarily a problem to the program’s sixth-year head coach. Bielema told local reporters weeks ago that his staff’s plan was to wait until after the end of the May evaluation period before figuring out “the market for high school players” for this summer recruiting cycle.

“I know you guys keep a look at this but the market for high school players, the amount of money they’re getting, is unprecedented,” Bielema said in a Zoom session with local media on May 1. “You really have to know what your roster is and what the value of those guys are. I’m not quite ready to have those numbers until after we get done with this May evaluation period.”

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 10, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp is making a strong impression on rapidly rising Geneva High School prospect Bennett Konkey after recently extending an offer to the 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 9, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois football program faced a notable recruiting setback, but its response was immediate and decisive. After losing one of the most decorated quarterback prospects of the Bret Bielema era, Kamden Lopati, who flipped his commitment to Michigan, the Illini coaching staff quickly shifted focus, reinforcing a “next man up” approach as they continue shaping the future of the program.

Illinois has already moved forward, extending an offer to 2027 quarterback Dane Weber, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound signal caller from Chaparral High School in Temecula, California.

Three-star offensive lineman Mason Halliman informed Illinois head coach […]