Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[WeWillWhen]

Bret still isn’t done. I expect another quality add on each of the OL and DL before next season (may need to wait until Spring portal window for that to happen, but we’ll see). Obviously also need a punter.

I very honestly am surprised that we didn’t see more depth guys jump into the portal. That’s a great testament to the staff. They’ve made Illinois a program where players want to stay and compete for a spot on the two-deep this Spring. I know that some players were told by staff (in so many words) to not be hasty in their decisions, trust the process and wait out this window to see what their position groups look like. I think we’ll see a few more guys leave in the Spring if/when it becomes clear to them where they stand in the pecking order.

 

[Bucktown]

One additional great thing about all of these guys returning is the fans get to have a stronger more meaningful connection with the players on the team vs the rent-a-player situation at many other schools.

Let's hope that translates to more people in the seats. Ohio State and USC will likely sell out, but many of the next season's other home games are not quite as compelling.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Will we go after another O-Lineman or does the staff view it set?

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1876438460602720735

 

[STLini25]

So where will this have us ranked in the Big Ten next year? Nationally?

I’ll bite. Top 6 in Big Ten. Top 20 nationally. I think 9-3 regular season is very possible. But need to win games like USC, at Indiana, at Washington, at Wisconsin. Need to go 10-2 to make CFP.

 

[DevILLDawg]

View attachment 38655

Perfect response...even regionally accurate. Bravo!

 

[illinoistradition]

One additional great thing about all of these guys returning is the fans get to have a stronger more meaningful connection with the players on the team vs the rent-a-player situation at many other schools.

Let's hope that translates to more people in the seats. Ohio State and USC will likely sell out, but many of the next season's other home games are not quite as compelling.

If they get into the 45k+ season ticket number (which is doable), then it can be nearly all sellouts. DIA needs to make sure they keep pricing well!

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Will we go after another O-Lineman or does the staff view it set?

what about...

Ayden Knapik, Idaho Vandals, Offensive Tackle

Ayden Knapik is a 6-7, 245-pound Offensive Tackle from Kennewick, WA.

247sports.com

 

[DevILLDawg]

All the podcasts are alluding to the football boosters making their goal and possibly exceeding...I know numbers are typically only thrown out by Bret but are we closer to 10 or 15 mil?

 

[mhuml32]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1876438460602720735

Big battle with Iowa

 

[Ander1345]

Big battle with Iowa

"They're the only B1G school who couldn't go toe to toe with a SEC school, need I say more?"

 

[thechampishere]

yup
some donors came thru when needed.

Is this donors or revenue sharing with the new rule and $21M budget for all sports?

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

I don’t know - I think right now today its donors & donor money will always be part of it to an extent .

 

[ILLINISON1]

Looks like most our key pieces are coming back, Luke Gabe DJ.
Wow I know I'm an ILL fan when good things happen and I get nervous.

Also can we carry this many WR? Feels like someone is moving on after Spring.

 

[IllinifaninIL]

Big battle with Iowa

Fck Iowa.

 

[CDRUSN]

Bret has always been an ideal coach for this program, plowing through the rough spots, keeping his eye on continuously improving, and keeping the coaching staff, admin staff, trainers, and players motivated and living the Familly values he has instilled. He is also great with the DIA, university leadership, recruits, students, boosters, long time fans, and former players. Additionally, Lunney has shown steady improvement as the OC, and Henry grew by leaps as the DC from the start of his first year to the end of his second. With almost all of our key eligible players returning, this is the most exciting time to be an Illini football fan in my life time.

 

[DeonThomas]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1876438460602720735

That's the thinnest Bret has looked since he arrived (Photo in the orange shirt/top)!

 

[DeonThomas]

Bret has always been an ideal coach for this program, plowing through the rough spots, keeping his eye on continuously improving, and keeping the coaching staff, admin staff, trainers, and players motivated and living the Familly values he has instilled. He is also great with the DIA, university leadership, recruits, students, boosters, long time fans, and former players. Additionally, Lunney has shown steady improvement as the OC, and Henry grew by leaps as the DC from the start of his first year to the end of his second. With almost all of our key eligible players returning, this is the most exciting time to be an Illini football fan in my life time.

One interesting tidbit pertaining to Henry and our 2024 defense....

Living in South Carolina, our local news/sports tonight featured some comments from Dabo about the firing of his Defensive Coordinator. Of note, Clemson in 2024 allowed the same yards per game and just 1 more point per game as Henry's 2024 Illini defense. The sportscaster went on to comment that those Clemson defensive stats were the team's worst since 2014.

Point Being: We're fairly happy with the year-over-year improvement by our Illini defense, but we still finished only in the middle of the Big10 pack. Further, one member of our CFP competition in 2025 (CLEMSON) is firing the head of their defense for delivering those same stats as Henry!

 

[kyillinifan]

Keep Henry. He is building a good def.

 

[Joel Goodson]

One interesting tidbit pertaining to Henry and our 2024 defense....

Living in South Carolina, our local news/sports tonight featured some comments from Dabo about the firing of his Defensive Coordinator. Of note, Clemson in 2024 allowed the same yards per game and just 1 more point per game as Henry's 2024 Illini defense. The sportscaster went on to comment that those Clemson defensive stats were the team's worst since 2014.

Point Being: We're fairly happy with the year-over-year improvement by our Illini defense, but we still finished only in the middle of the Big10 pack. Further, one member of our CFP competition in 2025 (CLEMSON) is firing the head of their defense for delivering those same stats as Henry!

fair point, but Clemson has slightly different expectations than we do

 

[BZuppke]

Bielema is the best thing to happen to Illinois football in my lifetime, (1993), and probably well before that. What a time to be an Illini.

In most of our lifetimes.

 

[BZuppke]

If they get into the 45k+ season ticket number (which is doable), then it can be nearly all sellouts. DIA needs to make sure they keep pricing well!

In the 80s we had 50,000 season ticket holders. Hard to do today since all games are televised. Wow.

 

[Illini4Christ]

That's the thinnest Bret has looked since he arrived (Photo in the orange shirt/top)!

He looks great. He is starting to look like a linebacker rather than a lineman.

 

[Illiniguy74]

Travolta got nothing on Rodney.

 

[Illiniguy74]

Bret has always been an ideal coach for this program, plowing through the rough spots, keeping his eye on continuously improving, and keeping the coaching staff, admin staff, trainers, and players motivated and living the Familly values he has instilled. He is also great with the DIA, university leadership, recruits, students, boosters, long time fans, and former players. Additionally, Lunney has shown steady improvement as the OC, and Henry grew by leaps as the DC from the start of his first year to the end of his second. With almost all of our key eligible players returning, this is the most exciting time to be an Illini football fan in my life time.

It's also great that a Illini Football fan (first and foremost) like me has continual access to exciting football content.