Football

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood calls out team’s immaturity, lack of effort and lack of individual maturity in fiery post-game media conference. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 10, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In a 15-point home loss to Penn State, everybody associated with the University of Illinois men’s basketball program recognized that instead of everyday guys, Brad Underwood has players who take days off.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 10, 2022

This weekend all across the country there will be football recruits on official and unofficial visits.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 10, 2022

North Carolina State's Devin Leary is arguably the best quarterback in the transfer portal to date.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 6, 2022

Just a few days ago, Illinois received a commitment from Johnny Schmitt, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety from St. Rita's High School in Chicago.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

December 9, 2022

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

We are heading into a big weekend for Illinois recruiting and here’s why.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

December 8, 2022

College football fans, hold on to your hats: the world of recruiting is about to heat up, in all phases.

Even before the transfer portal opened Monday morning and was flooded with players, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema had already evaluated the film of hundreds of players. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 8, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Before the transfer portal window officially opened Monday, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and his coaching staff had a lot of homework already done. 

Bielema and his recruiting staff led by Patrick Embleton, who is completing his 10th season on the recruiting staff at Illinois, had monitored, identified and cross-checked hundreds of players by Thanksgiving who could be offered by the Illini to play starting in the 2023 season. 

Despite the fact that practically every Football Bowl Subdivision coaching staff knew what was about to transpire in the transfer portal when the calendar flipped to Dec. 5, Illinois was able to do homework on several possible player fits already in the portal coming from FBS programs or from lower divisional programs (FCS, Division II or lower) that would be ready to contribute to Bielema’s operational roster starting this coming spring. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

December 7, 2022

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

The transfer portal has opened for FBS prospects and its complete chaos across college football.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 6, 2022

Illinois filled up much of its recruiting class late in the Spring or early in the Summer, so I thought it would be fun to check back for any new videos of the current Illini commitments to see if there was any great improvement in their senior seasons and I found a lot of interesting changes.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December 5, 2022

For the Fighting Illini football program, the roster for the class of 2023 is nowhere near set, so stay tuned; but like all good college athletic programs that are successful, recruiting never stops. This time Illinois is looking to tap into the Show Me State (Missouri) looking to add to its roster. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

December 2, 2022

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

As we inch closer to the Early Signing Period for Illinois, we continue to monitor some top targets and see as others emerge.

Illinois will play in the 2023 Reliaquest Bowl on […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 4, 2022

Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema said that he is going to build a program the right way: he is going to add depth to a roster that shows stability and, most importantly, a competitive one.

An NCAA football playoff that mimics its basketball tournament isn't as hard as you might think.

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

December 4, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy TCU Athletics)

There was one thing missing from college football's Championship Saturday:

Reward.

11th ranked Utah upset #4 USC for the Pac-12 title.  #10 Kansas State stunned 3rd ranked TCU in overtime to take the prize in the Big 12.  Both losses could knock the Trojans and Horned Frogs out of the four-team College Football Playoff.  Neither win does anything for the Utes or Wildcats in their quest for a national title.

So...what's the point?

Veteran defensive back Nicario Harper finds what will be his fourth home in five years out of the transfer portal.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 3, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The fourth school in the last five years for defensive back Nicario Harper will be the University of Illinois.