Football

The marriage of Bret Bielema’s return to the Big Ten Conference at Illinois coincided with everything Donovan Leary wanted at the college level. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 17, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Tony Petersen was sold on Donovan Leary as the quarterback of the future for the Illinois program by watching him struggle. 

Bret Bielema’s Illini Program Flipped Gabriel Jacas’ Commitment on National Signing Day and beat SEC programs by doing it. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 17, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Radio silent. 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- While it wasn’t exactly a mission from God, Bret Bielema’s first full recruiting class at his new program was built to put his version of the Illini band back together.

The 2022 recruiting class for the Illinois head coach was always going to have the look and foundation of what he wants this football program to be and early in this process it was the commitments of big, tough and athletic offensive linemen who stayed loyal throughout the fall months that will define the success or failure of this recruiting class.

“What is significant about this first class? I think it embodies what we believe in,” Bielema said in his Wednesday media conference. “We have a strong belief here in the importance of offensive linemen and defensive linemen. We need numbers…so to get (the offensive linemen) and have the chance to mold them was critical.”

Illini head football coach Bret Bielema and his staff […]

2022 Georgia prospect Tyson Rooks has parlayed one season […]

Gabriel Jacas, a three-star pass 2022 rusher from Fort […]

December 15, 2021

It's the day Bret Bielema has looked forward to since he was hired almost a year ago to the day; his first Signing Day after a full recruiting cycle.

It's a busy day full of excitement, as top prospects across the country - and the world - make good on their verbal pledges.  And the Illini's international recruit - 6'8", 300-pound offensive lineman Magnus Moller of Denmark - wasted no time getting his signed letter of intent into the Illinois football office just after midnight.

Check back with IlliniGuys.com and follow us on Twitter at @Illini_Guys for updates throughout the day!

Here are the newest Illini:

December 14, 2021

Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema is making waves in the recruiting business. Bielema built a house in Champaign, making it known this is his home state and he’s going to win at Illinois and plans to be here for a while.  And considering his history of putting offensive linemen in the NFL, any big man has to at least pause if Bielema or anyone on his staff places a call. 

Tuesday night, three-star OL Isaiah Adams, who stands 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, from Garden City Community College in Kansas, answered the call and committed to Bielema's Illini.

December 13, 2021

Illinois lost a 4 star grad transfer quarterback this year with the graduation of Brandon Peters, but Friday they added another one in Syracuse transfer Tommy DeVito.  DeVito was one of Dino Babers' first big recruit at Syracuse and he got off to a promising start before Babers benched him three games into this season for Mississippi State transfer Garrett Shrader.  Devito entered the transfer portal soon thereafter and Illinois made quick contact.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

Former Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito has decided to transfer to Illinois and will compete for the starting job in the 2022 season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 11, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Let’s be very clear about this very early, Bret Bielema doesn’t need my help, will never require my help and Lord knows he shouldn’t ever ask for my help in identifying talent. 

Former Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito has decided to transfer […]

Rochester star and Illini commit Hank Beatty joins Sturdy […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

December 9, 2021

Shawn Miller is a 2022 6-foot-1, 190-pound wide receiver from Scottsdale, Arizona, who plays at IMG Academy in Florida and who committed to the Illini early mainly due to how the staff made him a priority.

I used to write short reviews of our incoming recruits for a different website, and over the years I've found it fun to look back and see where I was right or wrong.  This year, I decided to let everyone else in on the fun with each of the members of Illinois' outgoing class.

Tony Adams- Before:  I wrote how much I loved how this young man hits from the safety position.  He has a pretty good film as a wide receiver, but if you put him at that position you'd be wasting his biggest asset.  I can see why he doesn't have many high major offers due to the lack of competition and his difficult projection because he has the size of a corner but he only played safety in high school and that appears to fit his strengths.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December , 2021

The season is over now for the Fighting Illini, but this staff knows a key position to take the next step is finding a quality signal caller who can lead Illinois to the top of the West Division of the Big Ten. Here are several key players in the portal.