Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illinois Zeroes in on Nation’s No. 1 JUCO Receiver Keon Hutchins

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 1, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In an age when the transfer portal fuels college football’s fast-paced traffic, Illinois is moving with a different tone. The Illini are targeting junior college standouts, tapping into a path most call it the old school approach in recruiting.

Why call it old school? Because the modern landscape revolves around the transfer portal. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema will unquestionably tap into the portal like every other power-conference program, but as IlliniGuys’ Mike Cagley, co-host of Sports . . .

 

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