Football

Illinois AD Josh Whitman and several Big Ten officials are declining comment on if and/or when a long-form media rights deal will be signed by the television partners and conference officials. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 29, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- As we get closer to flipping the calendar to July, the Big Ten Conference is set to begin a media rights deal between the network partners without a long-form contract being signed.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

June 28, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the next wave of commitments from June recruiting weekend No. 2 and another player on commit watch.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 27, 2023

Chase Green is a three-star recruit who wanted a visit to Illinois, that wish was granted last weekend.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

June 27th, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Barna)

When Illinois football coach Bret Bielema was hired, one of the first items of note was his spill about recruiting the state of Illinois very hard.

"I'm from Illinois, there's no reason we can't try and keep the best talent in-house." Bielema said. "I want to put a border around the state." he said smiling

Bielema may have been smiling but he meant business. Today, he added to his in-state haul by getting  Wheaton's three-star defensive end Joe Barna to stay home. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 26, 2023

The Fighting Illini football program continues to impress with its recruiting efforts.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 26, 2023

Illinois continued its recent run of recruiting success when it flipped cornerback Vernon Woodward of Winter Park High School from his commitment to Wisconsin and added him to the increasingly impressive Illinois recruiting class of 2024.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

June 26, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll take a look at the most recent commitment, break down another from the “great eight” weekend and look at the running back rankings for the 2023 season in the Big Ten.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 26, 2023

This was another big recruiting weekend for the Illinois football program.

June 25th, 2023 By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema attempting to mine the junior college market once again with the scholarship offer of 2023 California wide receiver Alex Capka-Jones.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 26, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Even into late June, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is still trying to plug talent into the final scholarship spots of his roster.

And for the third-year Illini coach, that means more mining under-recruited junior college talent. California junior college wide receiver Alexander Capka-Jones showed up at the Champaign-Urbana campus Wednesday morning for the Illini Rising Camp and left Memorial Stadium with a scholarship offer.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 24, 2023

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

June 23, 2023

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

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer will be one of 14 […]

Illinois successfully flips the verbal pledge of three-star CB Vernon Woodward from Wisconsin as the Florida native switches to Bielema’s Illini.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 21, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Vernon Woodward's Twitter page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois has flipped the verbal pledge of its first 2024 prospect away from a Big Ten Conference rival and away from Bret Bielema’s former employer.

Vernon Woodward, a three-star defensive back who will be attending Winter Park (Fla.) High School this fall, has been swayed to change his college destination to Illinois after giving a verbal commitment to Wisconsin in the first week of June just two days after arriving on the Madison, Wisconsin campus.

Konkel joins athlete Tysean Griffin, offensive lineman Eddie Tuerk and offensive lineman Brandon Hansen as the verbals from inside the state in this current recruiting class. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

June 21, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Karsen Konkel's Twitter page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The new Illinois special teams and tight ends coach has put his first touches in the 2024 recruiting class for Bret Bielema’s Illini program. 

Karsten Konkel became the 10th verbal pledge to Illinois’ 2024 recruiting class when the tight end from Pinckneyville, Ill. announced his decision on Wednesday morning via a social media post.