
Former Ball State Head Coach Mike Neu Joining Bret Bielema’s Illini Coaching Staff
IlliniGuys.com can confirm the ESPN.com report that former Ball […]
Former Ball State Head Coach Mike Neu Joining Bret Bielema’s Illini Coaching Staff
IlliniGuys.com can confirm the ESPN.com report that former Ball […]
Football Recruiting Spotlight on Jacob Alexander
By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst
January 29, 2025
Illinois remained hot on the recruiting trail when Lincoln Way West Edge Rusher Jacob Alexander pledged to the Illini on Monday. Alexander was among a large group of recruits in Champaign for the Junior Day weekend last weekend and we hope he is merely the first of many commitments from the weekend. As for Alexander himself, he is a 6'4 240 pounder who plays in a sort of DE/ OLB hybrid for Lincoln Way, and though he only had 36 tackles and 5 sacks last year and merited only a mid 3 star ranking from the recruiting services, I like him more than most.
What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illinois Football Lands Another Big In-State Prep Jacob Alexander
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 27, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After another visit to Champaign, edge rusher Jacob Alexander had seen enough. It was time to let the rest of the country know that he will be playing football for the University of Illinois.
Football Recruiting Spotlight on Kenyon Alston
By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst
January 26, 2025
Illinois closed the deal with wide receiver Kenyon Alston on Orlando's Bishop Moore High School on Wednesday. Alston had long been rumored to be an Illinois lean, so much so that fellow Class of 2026 QB Michael Clayton has been talking about him as a future teammate from the time of Clayton's commitment. Alston is a big time get whose high 3 star ranking is a bit misleading given that he has 20+ high major offers including Florida State and Miami.
What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?
Bielema on Illini Staff Retention: “For the most part, I feel really good”
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema declined to get into specifics about assistant coaching contracts and was vague about staff retention for the 2025 season.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
January 26, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When it comes to the topic of retention of his 2024 coaching staff, Bret Bielema refused to get into specifics and was intentionally vague in his first media session in nearly a month.
The Illinois head coach claimed Sunday he “for the most part, feel really good about” about the 10 primary assistant coaches to be back on his Illini staff when spring practices begin in late March and early April.
Illini WR Coach Justin Stepp Loading Up Positional Depth in 2025
Illinois loses productive receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin but intends to make up their contribution with depth in the receivers room instead of instantly ready alpha personalities.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
January 25, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The irony of why Justin Stepp needed a change of scenery when he made the move from South Carolina to Illinois was his ability as a recruiter.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer wanted what he believed was a more dynamic recruiter in that role and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema believed that is exactly who he was getting when he took Stepp away from the Gamecocks coaching staff.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Q & A with Illinois Football Commit Kenyon Alston
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 24, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Orlando Sentinel)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp is standing out from the competition when it comes to securing talented recruits for the future of Illinois football.
The most recent addition to the Illini roster is Kenyon Alston, a 6-foot-2, 172-pound wide receiver from Orlando, Florida. Alston chose Illinois over offers from some of the top programs in college football, including Baylor, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Missouri, Penn State, Mississippi State, and West Virginia. These were no mere courtesy offers—these programs made substantial efforts to land Alston.
IlliniGuys spoke with Alston shortly after his commitment for an exclusive Q&A session.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Kenyon Alston Commits to Illinois
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 23, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini continue to build their class of 2026, which is shaping up to be a promising group. Kenyon Alston, a 6-foot-2, 172-pound wide receiver from Bishop More Catholic High School in Orlando, Florida, announced his commitment to Illinois on Thursday afternoon.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illini Appear to Be in Good Shape with Florida Wide Receiver
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 23, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — All indications suggest that the Fighting Illini football program is trending upward in its pursuit of Kenyon Alston, a 6-foot-2, 172-pound wide receiver from Orlando, Florida.
Sturm: My Thoughts on The CFP
By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst
January 22, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Associated Press)
First, I have to come clean for those of you who may remember our discussion last year: I was against the 12 team CFP. I thought the BCS was a sufficient way to crown a national champion and that:
1. There was too much risk of injury to star players
2. It would devalue the rest of the bowls too much, and
3. The current system was a fair enough way to crown a champion given that we had a good final four last year and usually did so. I remember typing the words "There is rarely a fifth team that has a genuine case at inclusion in the BCS, and there is basically never a sixth, seventh or eighth team that has a case."
Bielema Believed Illini Set in 2025 & Rejected Transfer Portal Running Backs
The tailback room will likely be the position group with the most experienced depth on the Illinois offense when they open up preseason camp in August.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
January 22, 2025
(NOTE: This analysis is only a review of where the Illinois roster stands in mid-January and should not be served as a preview of what the Illini’s positional depth will look like by the time preseason practice opens in early August.)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When asked about his priorities a week before Christmas for the transfer portal as he was gathering players for the 2025 season while also preparing for the upcoming Citrus Bowl, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema detailed exactly what wasn’t on his list.
Heat Checks & Hail Marys - Illini Hoops Loss, Ryan Day Strikes Back, Illini Football Finishes #16 & NIL Evened the Battlefield
Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Sunday's Football List of 2026 Prospects to Date
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 21, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — College football officially concluded Monday night, with the Big Ten claiming back-to-back national titles—Michigan in 2024 and Ohio State in 2025.
Recruiting, however, never rests. The Illinois Fighting Illini appear to be taking full advantage of the recruiting period following their Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina, 21-17.
Football Recruiting Spotlight on Landen Von Seggern
By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst January 18, […]
‘I’m just tired of the disrespect’: Illini QB Luke Altmyer Ready to Be A Northern College Football Field Carrier
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, a Starkville, Miss., is happy […]