Football

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Daniel Brown 3-star OLB […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Mario Sanders 3-star WR […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Chase Canada 3-star DB […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Brandon Hansen 3-star OL […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Amar Reynolds 3-star CB […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Carlos Orr 3-star WR & […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Zafir Stewart 3-star OL & […]

Mike, Ked & Matt talk Vernon Woodward 3-star DB - […]

Mike @MikeCagley Ked @KedPrince4 & Matt @matthewcstevens talk Demetrius […]

Player: Angelo McCullom  Position: Defensive Line Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: […]

Mike, Kedric Prince & Matthew Stevens talk AJ Dennis, […]

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 21, 2023

Illinois lost a big portal commitment when Clay Patterson of Yale reneged on his commitment to the Illini, but they added a similarly talented player a few days later when Youngstown State's Anthony Johnson committed to the Illini over several high major offers.

Vernon Woodward was the first of the three Illinois signees in this 2024 recruiting class that was flipped from an initial commitment of a Big Ten Conference program. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athetics)

Player: Vernon Woodward

Position: Cornerback

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 180

Hometown: Winter Park, Fla.

High School: Winter Park

Other offers: UCF, Wisconsin, Boston College, Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Missouri, Ole Miss, Purdue, and Virginia.

Mark Vernon Woodward down as the first of three verbal pledge flips toward Illinois after the prospect had given a commitment to a Big Ten Conference rival program. 

A 20-year friendship between a Florida high school head coach and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema results in another recruiting victory for Bielema’s college program.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player:  Amar Reynolds

Position: Cornerback

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 175

Hometown: Vero Beach, Fla.

High School: Vero Beach

Other offers: Charlotte, Florida A&M, Indiana, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee State

The recruitment of Amar Reynolds to Illinois is more of a product in a lot of ways of who you know than what you know.

The Illinois football coaching staff believes they’ve signed the nation’s best FBS-ready pass rusher in the nation in the form of Hutchinson Community College edge Daniel Brown.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player: Daniel Brown

Position: Outside Linebacker

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 240

Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

Transfer School: Hutchinson C.C.

Other offers: Alabama State, Buffalo, and Alcorn State.

During the Illinois bye week in October, Illini head coach Bret Bielema visited multiple junior colleges in the Iowa and Kansas area during that five-day period.