Football

Former East Carolina center Avery Jones has renounced his verbal pledge to Illinois to attend Auburn. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema tweets “College football is changing everyday. #NIL”.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

Cover Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

January 10, 2023

Seven days from being scheduled to attend his first class at the University of Illinois, Avery Jones has decided to be at another place other than Champaign for the 2023 season. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 10, 2023

Saturday on national television (NBC), the Fighting Illini received some great news in regard to their continued recruiting success.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 9, 2022

I'm sure Illinois fans would have liked to finish the season with a win

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 9, 2023

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

In this Farrell Files Illinois edition

Illinois left tackle Julian Pearl was named All-Big Ten honorable mention selection last month by both the coaches and media contingent inside the league.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 8, 2023

A multi-year starter at one of the most important offensive line positions has elected to return to Illinois for next season. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 7, 2023 

There is an old saying about striking while the iron is hot.

Isaiah Adams, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema’s latest junior college biggest success story in his overall pilgrimage to restore the Illini offensive line, is returning to college for the 2023 season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 7, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Arguably the most physically punishing Illinois offensive lineman in the 2022 season is returning for his final year of eligibility. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Basketball Analyst

January 6, 2023

Illinois added its third four-star quarterback in two calendar years on Thursday as Luke Altmyer from Mississippi decided to join the trend of Mississippi natives coming to Champaign.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 6, 2023

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

A couple of 2025 updates and why Luke Altmyer is a good fit for what Illinois wants to do in this Farrell Files Illini edition.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

January 5, 2023

Owen Strebig, a 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive tackle from Catholic Memorial High School

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 4, 2023

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

The Illini lost their bowl game to an inspired Mississippi State team 19-10 and now the focus is on the portal.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 3, 2023

(Photos courtesy Steve Snider/IlliniGuys)

The Illini fell 19-10 to Mississippi State in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday in a game that they led for most of the afternoon before a couple of late scores flipped the script. The Bulldogs made numerous key plays late to set up a game winning field goal in the final seconds. The ‘desperado’ play by Illinois to end it led to a fumble return for a TD to give us the 19-10 final. 

Isaiah Williams had 9 catches for 114 yards, while Tommy DeVito hit on 23-34 passes for 253 yards, but the Illini failed to convert a key 3rd down with 2 minutes to play and allowed 7 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. 

Here’s what we saw…

Fourth-year sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Williams left little doubt who the most impressive athlete on the Raymond James Stadium turf was in Illinois’ first January bowl win since 1990. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 3, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. -- Since the day of the bowl announcement, Isaiah Williams kept saying how this experience felt different than his first postseason game experience three years ago. 

The Illinois tailback duo of Reggie Love and Josh McCray couldn’t make up the difference of a missing Doak Walker Award finalist. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports)

TAMPA, Fla. -- Bret Bielema has brought the mentality to Illinois that “what we do” is producing 100-yard rushers but without the services of Chase Brown, the running game stalled in the Illini head coach’s first bowl game. 

Without Chase Brown, who elected to opt out of this bowl game and concentrate his efforts into the upcoming National Football League draft, the duo of Reggie Love and a notably healthy Josh McCray was not enough to make up the difference from the absence of the Big Ten Conference’s leading rusher. 

By IlliniGuys Staff January 2, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]