Football

December 21, 2022

Coming off its best season since 2007, the Illinois football team looks to the future as verbally committed student-athletes lock in their pledges with signed National Letters of Intent.

IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst Matt Stevens and Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince introduce us to the newest Illini here!

For complete access to player bios, stories, and expert analysis, join IlliniGuys.com:  https://illiniguys.com/subscribe/

OT Zachary Aamland

DE Alex Bray

DB Jaheim Clarke

WR Collin Dixon

P Declan Duley

OLB/DE Patrick Farrell

RB Kaden Feagin

TE Nathan Guinn

LB Antwon Hayden

OL Brandon Henderson

DB Saboor Karriem

OL TJ McMillan

DE Mason Muragin

PK David Olano

DB Kaleb Patterson

OL Dezmond Schuster

DE/OLB Calvin Smith

QB Cal Swanson

DB Zachary Tobe

DL Jeremiah Warren

ATH/DB/WR Kenari Wilcher

Player bios:

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

December 21, 2022

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

4-star DB Jyaire Hill could be a dogged bullet for Illinois, and I’ll tell you why.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema agrees to a six-year […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 20, 2022

If the name Ty Meyers rings a bell, it is because he played football for the Illini in the late ‘90s.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 19, 2022

The Illinois football program has been searching hard for another defensive lineman

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

December 19, 2022

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

The Early Signing Period approaches as Illinois tries to lock down most of their class for 2023 while keeping focus on the transfer portal as well.

Multiple sources close to the Illinois football program have confirmed Texas quarterback Hudson Card and Ole Miss quarterback Luke Altmyer took on-campus visits this weekend.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 18, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy David Craan/illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Two quarterbacks from Power Five Conference schools, who have already declared their intention to find new homes out of the transfer portal, spent their weekend visiting the University of Illinois. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said February is when he’ll determine what Ben Miller’s status will be for the spring and possibly the upcoming 2023 season.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 18, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The date to determine whether Ben Miller will reassume his role as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois will be the first week in February. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 18, 2022

Illinois continues to recruit both sides of the ball.

Illinois running back Reggie Love III riding confidence high after career-best performance at Northwestern and a valuable opportunity this month in ReliaQuest Bowl practices. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 18, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In a lot of ways for himself and the overall program rebuild, Reggie Love’s performance in the regular season finale was a direct definition of the culture being immediately developed at the Smith Family Football Complex. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema says he didn’t interview a single candidate before promoting 34-year-old Aaron Henry to become the next defensive coordinator. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 18, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In the mind and personal experience of Bret Bielema, inexperience can easily be solved with a single opportunity. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst December 17, […]

Illinois safety Sydney Brown has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and his Illini career will end after a historic performance at Northwestern. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 17, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Sydney Brown has played his final game at the University of Illinois. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 17, 2022

Illinois added some much-needed depth to the tight end room with the transfer of Colorado State's Tanner Arkin. 

Sources close to the football program confirm Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is expected to promote cornerbacks coach Aaron Henry to defensive coordinator 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 16, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Craig Pessman/Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Aaron Henry is being promoted to a coordinator title for the first time in his career as he’ll be tasked in taking over the play-calling duties of the Illinois defense. 

Multiple sources close to the University of Illinois football program have confirmed that head coach Bret Bielema has selected Henry, who has spent the last two years as the Illini cornerbacks coach, to be his second defensive coordinator since taking the job in Champaign in Dec. 2021.