Football

Three-star offensive tackle prospect Zafir Stewart is a product of the recruitment and the re-recruitment process throughout the entire fall season since his June 12th commitment.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player: Zafir Stewart 

Position: Offensive Tackle

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 320

Hometown: Philadelphia

High School: Imhotep Inst. Charter School

Other offers: Boston College, Cincinnati, Nebraska, Maryland, Ole Miss, Penn State, Rutgers, and West Virginia.

Normally the timeline of how this does with a football prospect is this current Illinois staff will offer early, get the prospect on campus, receive a verbal commitment and then have to fight off other power programs trying to flip the Illini pledge. In the case of Zafir Stewart, this basically went in the opposite way.

Tennessee three-star prospect Carlos Orr is looking to take his physical skills at 6-foot-4 to an outside receiver position at Illinois in possibly two years. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player: Carlos Orr

Position: Wide Receiver

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 185

Hometown: Gatlinburg, Tenn.

High School: Gatlinburg Pittman

Other offers: Austin Peay, Buffalo, East Carolina, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), and Western Michigan.

Carlos Orr needed less than 24 hours following his official visit to the University of Illinois to make his verbal pledge known on social media. On Wednesday morning, the 6-foot-4 and 185-pound receiver sent in his National Letter-of-Intent to make his college destination official. 

By Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst, Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys […]

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

December 20, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the latest on OT target Kevin Wigenton, more on some other transfer portal targets and if there will be any Signing Day surprises.

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 Athletics)

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.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 19, 2023

Illinois continued to hit the JUCO ranks in order to fill key positions next year when Trinity Valley Community College freshman Chase Canada committed to the Illini. 

Just 16 days after giving a verbal pledge to Illinois, Yale graduate transfer defensive lineman Clay Patterson has renounced that commitment to continue his recruitment in the portal. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 18, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Clay Patterson will not be playing his fifth year of college football at the University of Illinois. 

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

December 18, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a key 2025 visit from the weekend and some rumors about huge transfer visits over the last few days as well.

Illinois tight end Tip Reiman says he’s sticking with a decision to leave college football despite not being a projected draft pick by any major news outlet. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyist

December 15, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN  — Tip Reiman has simply not allowed himself a fall-back option to return to college football. 

The 22-year-old Illinois tight end has seen his college career end and says he’s not allowing himself to use his last year of eligibility with the Illini football program to be a safety net option if he’s not projected to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

The deadline to submit or remove your name from consideration for this year’s draft is Jan. 15. However, Reiman will be on the list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2024 NFL Draft to be sent to clubs on Jan. 19. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 16, 2023

The Fighting Illini and Iowa Hawkeyes did battle on the football field back in November. Iowa squeaked out a victory over Illinois 15-13.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 15, 2023

Illinois received a commitment from cornerback Chase Canada.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 15, 2023

Once again, the Fighting Illini have been active in the transfer portal today. Youngstown State defensive lineman Anthony Johnson committed via his X (Twitter) page with the statement "Last one, best one."

Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton played more snaps as a defensive tackle than anybody at his position in a power conference since 2018. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 15, 2023

CHAMPAIGN - Jer'Zhan Newton certainly got nearly everything possible out of his final year of college football. 

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

December 15, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the sudden need at tight end, the impact of Tommy DeVito in the NFL and a new offer for a key position in the portal.

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

December 13, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a recent decommitment and if it matters as well as a big potential visitor this weekend who could help in the trenches.