Illinois loses potential defensive line starter for the 2025 season as 247Sports.com is reporting Alex Bray has entered the transfer portal. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 22, 2025

Illinois has reportedly lost one of the few returning starters to the 2024 defensive line unit as 247Sports.com reporter Allen Trieu has confirmed Alex Bray has submitted paperwork to get in the post-spring spring transfer portal.

Bray, a 270-pound defensive end who had playing experience in each of his first two previous seasons at Illinois, started in three games last season (vs. Minnesota, vs. Michigan State and at Northwestern in Wrigley Field) and according to Pro Football Focus data, played 365 defensive snaps in 13 games in the 2024 campaign.

The former three-star signee from Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri played a total of 30 snaps in nine games as a freshman in 2023.

With the departure of Dennis Briggs Jr. and Ezekiel Holmes along with the idea that Illinois would rather play Gabe Jacas as a stand-up pass rusher on the outside, Bray was expected to take on a bigger role in the 2025 season. Bray was consistently taking first-team reps alongside Wisconsin transfers James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal on the defensive front during open spring practice sessions this past month.

“He's always had that toughness about himself,” Illinois defensive line coach Terrance Jamison said in August about his then sophomore-to-be. “He's a workaholic. He runs to the ball. He has that endless pursuit. He's a guy we love watching, enjoy watching, because he puts the work in.”

In a winter offseason where Briggs Jr., Holmes and TeRah Edwards were out of playing eligibility, the Illini reloaded their defensive front with the addition of Wisconsin transfers James Thompson and Curt Neal and Kentucky/West Virginia/Florida State transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye in what was supposed to represent the deepest defensive line depth chart since Bret Bielema took over the Illini program in Dec. 2020.

Illinois has an official visit scheduled next month with Southeast Missouri defensive lineman Jaylon Stone after he visits campuses of multiple Southeastern Conference programs. The Illini also slated to return soon-to-be third-year player Pat Farrell to the defensive end depth chart room along with Jeremiah Warren and Demetrius John and incoming rookie Cameron Brooks. Farrell, a 2022 All-Chicago Catholic League first team selection at St. Rita, played in 108 defensive snaps and 83 special teams snaps in the 14 games of the 2024 campaign.

The NCAA spring transfer portal cycle for the 2025 college football season will remain open through Friday, April 25. Players have this 10-day window in April to enter the transfer portal but there’s no set deadline, beyond fall semester enrollment deadlines for specific institutions, for a player to make his transfer decision.