Football

Illinois adds to the depth of its quarterback room for the 2023 season by adding a former FBS starter as a walk-on. John Paddock has deep family ties to the Illini football and athletics department. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 23  2023

(Cover photo courtesy Randy Sartin/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- John Paddock has agreed to continue his family legacy connected to the University of Illinois football program. 

The former Ball State starting quarterback will be transferring to Bret Bielema’s Illini roster as a walk-on and will be eligible for spring practices set to begin in a few months. The Athletic was the first to report this news.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 23, 2023

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

The Farrell Files Illinois is here with some 2024 and even 2023 recruiting news as well as perhaps a coaching nugget.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 21, 2023

Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema has an eye for talent

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 20, 2023

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

The Illini continue to be picky in the portal while they work on the 2024 class, and I continue my breakdown of the 2023 class with a look at the offensive line.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 19, 2023

The thing about college athletics today, the world of recruiting never stops.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 18, 2023

It is never too early to start the recruiting process; not since the Ron Zook era has Illinois been this active in its recruiting.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 18, 2023

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

An interesting portal addition

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

January 17th, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Patrick Mahoney's Twitter page)

Illinois received a commitment today from Patrick Mahoney via his Twitter page as a preferred walk-on.

The Glenbrook North High School is a 6-foot-2, 225 pound prospect who is an excellent student in the classroom. He scored a 29 on his ACT and currently has a 3.97 GPA.

With the return of Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph, […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 16, 2023

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

Well would you look at this, 2023 prep recruiting isn’t over after all,

In the back half of his five-year tenure at Arkansas, Bret Bielema hired assistants straight from the National Football League and in 2023, he says he’s interested in doing so again. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 14, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois still hasn’t filled the assistant coach openings at the positions of outside linebacker and running backs and the Illini leader says he’s looking at the three-letter professional league for candidates.

By Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 13, 2023

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

It’s been kind of quiet on the portal front since ECU OL transfer Avery Jones flipped his commitment from Illinois to Auburn and Bret Bielema flipped out on social media. Could this mean less work in the portal? And a couple more names have emerged as visitors this weekend.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 13, 2023

David Olano, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound kicker from Naperville, Illinois, committed to Illinois in June of 2022. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 12, 2023

Illinois made its first 2023 addition via the transfer portal when safety Nicario Harper decided to transfer from Louisville to Illinois for his last year of eligibility.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 11, 2023

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

The Illini continue to stalk the portal quietly and I continue to break down the 2023 class with the wide receivers in this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois.