Football

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

April 26, 2025

What do you make of a guy who has numerous Big Ten and SEC offers plus Miami and Louisville from the ACC, yet isn't rated by any service as one of the top 20 prospects in the State of Illinois?  What do you make of a guy who plays with tremendous aggression, violent hands, and quickness on the offensive line, yet looks like an overgrown linebacker compared to his peers?  Well, you make him a defensive lineman.  That's what Tony Balanganayi is going to be at Illinois, and that is why you can look into his background and see that numerous great football programs want him despite his poor fit at the next level at his primary position.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

Bryant represents the highest drafted Illini wide receiver in […]

Luke Altmyer didn’t suddenly become a better person for spurning the post-spring transfer portal in the same way he wouldn’t have become a worse person for making the opposite decision.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 25, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Luke Altmyer has the right to consider himself the same person this week as he was last week.

Altmyer, who turns 23 years old in October and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this past December, has the same value system this week that he had a months ago. And it’s a pretty safe bet he’ll be of the same moral character a few months from now too.

In the effort of full disclosure, I will admit to having a very high opinion of Altmyer. I voted for the Illini quarterback to win the 2024 version of the newly-formed Loren Tate Award given by our local group of beat reporters to “the Illinois football player who not only is most cooperative with local media but exhibits himself with professional integrity in all interactions”.

Illinois loses potential defensive line starter for the 2025 […]

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

April 21, 2025

The Illini should probably just move their offseason defensive backs camp to Florida at this point.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

April 20, 2025

Illinois finally closed the deal on a longstanding recruitment of Jacksonville (Florida) Raines linebacker Tony Williams on Monday.  Williams is the type of athletic linebacker that linebackers coach Archie McDaniel has made a priority, and in fact, McDaniel had made no secret of his desire to feelings about Williams throughout the recruiting process.  McDaniel had been pushing for a commitment for months but Williams held off until he could visit the campus last weekend. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 19, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Just like that, Victor Singleton, a 2026 four-star cornerback from Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio), who had recently been on campus at the University of Illinois, has decommitted, according to On3Sports.

Illinois secures quality depth in the transfer portal with a Football Championship Subdivision product looking to compete with a Big Ten Conference program. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 19, 2025

Less than 12 hours after completing its spring football season, Illinois has once again gone to the Football Championship Subdivision level to add depth to its offensive line for the upcoming 2025 season. 

Ethan Moczulski, who holds the record for the longest converted field goal in Illini football history, has filed paperwork to enter the post-spring transfer portal. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 17, 2025

The player who holds the record for the longest field goal in University of Illinois football history has elected to do his kicking somewhere else for the remainder of his college eligibility. 

The 5-foot-9 Strain, a four-year player who redshirted in 2021, will have one season of eligibility remaining after missing the spring practice season following shoulder surgery.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 17, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Tyler Strain has elected to play his final season of eligibility somewhere other than Illinois.

The plan is for 3-star 2026 prospect Tony Balanganayi from Palatine (Ill.) High School to transition to a full-time defensive lineman at the college level with the Illini.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 17, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The newest commitment of the Illinois 2026 recruiting class will be started in Terrance Jamison’s defensive line room.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting April […]

Illinois running back Josh McCray, who had 114 yards and two touchdowns, in the 21-17 victory over South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl, plans to enter the transfer portal.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 15, 2025

The leading rusher of Illinois’ 2024 season and the most valuable player selection of the 2024 Citrus Bowl will not be on the Illini’s roster for the upcoming 2025 season.

Illinois uses a light-work Monday evening session to get corrections made from last weekend’s closed scrimmage session inside Memorial Stadium.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 15, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Good evening and welcome to the 13th spring football practice for the Illinois program for the 2025 season in the fifth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema.

This low-intensity 90-minute practice session was held in Memorial Stadium without players in shoulder pads (just spider pads) and no full-contact hitting. The session was attended by several high-dollar donating ICON members and several season-ticket holding members of the 77 Club.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
April 14, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Once again, the state of Florida has delivered for the Illinois football program. Early this morning, defensive back Almirian Thomas announced his commitment to the Fighting Illini. While sources close to the program expected the decision, Thomas was so excited he couldn’t wait any longer to make his announcement public.