Football

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

January 1, 2024

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at RB Ca’Lil Valentine and his impact as well as a look at a key 2025 target at wide receiver.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 29, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll start looking at each player on the offense in the 2024 class in many different categories. First up is QB Trey Petty.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 28, 2023

Illinois revealed two major transfer additions on signing day, and somehow the transfer of a starter from another Big Ten team with two years of eligibility remaining was minor news compared to the commitment of All Conference Left Tackle JC Davis. Make no mistake, the transfer addition of Kevin Wigenton was awfully big too. Wigenton started six games for Michigan State last year and ended the season with a PFF grade of 66.9, which was good for second on the team.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 25, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look on defense of the 2024 class and whether Bret Bielema is focusing too much on JUCO and not enough on the transfer portal.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 26, 2023

Illinois signed a pretty good class of high schoolers and JUCO players last week on signing day, but the biggest news of the day was the transfer commitment of All Conference Left Tackle JC Davis from New Mexico. Davis is a plug and play transfer who fills Illinois' biggest need on offense for the 2024 season. The commitment of Davis would be a great moment regardless of the situation. This guy is a really good football player who would start on just about any team in the United States.  Take a look below.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 25, 2023

I hope you all enjoyed part 1 of the signing day spotlight on the offense. I have to admit those nine offensive players were a little more fun to review, but the 10 defenders the Illini announced on signing day a few days ago are pretty good players as well. I'm going to start with the three young men most likely to play next year (by default): the defensive linemen.

Eddie Tuerk- DL

Many Illini watchers were excited to see that Coach Bielema announced Tuerk as a defensive lineman on signing day, but I have to say I concluded when he committed back in June that he was a much better player on that side of the ball. Tuerk is a good-sized young man at 6'5 and now 290 pounds, but he doesn't have the frame to carry much more weight than that without compromising his agility and straight-line speed. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he bulked up from 260 pounds last year to 290 now, but I think that's right about where he should stop. Unless he's going to be a center, you'd be asking Tuerk to either limit his athletic ability or play undersized in the Big Ten, where there are very few linemen under 300 pounds. Take a look at his abbreviated senior film. The defensive highlights stand for themselves, while the offensive highlight focuses on his speed.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 25, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll start breaking down the 2024 class that signed this week and continue to take a look at trending portal news.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone at the […]

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 24, 2023

Illinois completed a strong signing day on Wednesday so I thought this would be a great opportunity to check back on the players Illinois has had in the fold for quite a while to see how they've improved in their senior year. A couple of these guys are multi-position players, but Coach Bielema identified each of their primary positions in his signing day press conference, so that's where I'm slotting all of them for now.

I'm going to start with my favorites: the offensive line. Folks, this group of three linemen is the best I can remember coming into the program. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

December 22, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

Color me surprised by the commitment of OT Kevin Wigenton from Michigan State through the transfer portal.

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Joe Barna 3-star OLB […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Josaiah Knight 3-star OLB […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Ca'Lil Valentine 4-star RB […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Easton Baker 3-star LB […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Tysean Griffin 3-star ATH/WR […]