He is a great addition. A big body with a lot of D-1 experience.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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Multiple outlets have alluded to us having some budget to land an impact player. This seems like an intriguing take, but I'll assume this isn't the one that got the bag and there is still some splash to come?
This is a bottom 5 defensive line in the conference. Prather had a 60 PFF grade last season against conference USA competition, and a 59 grade two seasons ago. If he’s starting for us, we’re gonna get ran on all day. I think he can be a fine depth piece, but we’ve really screwed up if he’s starting
Hey, Fly Illini Fly:
which is it? a fine get or "ain't nothin for a nose tackle?"
which is it? a fine get or "ain't nothin for a nose tackle?"
It would seem we still have money to use even though retaining Bailey, X, Clark and keeping our returning offensive players wasn’t cheap and the $3M spent on Houser, we should still have some dry powder
There are still plenty of Edge rushers with P4 experience that haven’t committed yet, I would think we would land one of them given they would walk into a lot of snaps here
There are still plenty of Edge rushers with P4 experience that haven’t committed yet, I would think we would land one of them given they would walk into a lot of snaps here
You need a proven 4 starter at the other dt.
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
haven’t been able to follow super closely, would it be accurate to say we have thus far landed a solid transfer class but that we have overall lost more talent than we’ve gained?
That's the million dollar question. A few "experts" say we have a very similar talent level coming in, as opposed to what we have lost. But in all honesty it's really hard to say.
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
'28 FL QB:
6’2 183lbs | 3.7gpa
Winter Park, FL
6’2 183lbs | 3.7gpa
Winter Park, FL
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I would say it’s been okay overall. I think on offense we landed about as much as we lost. Hard to replace Luke but we did well with a replacement. Lost Bowick and Hollins and landed Perry and Platt which is a for sure upgrade. On the OLine that’s hard to say since we didn’t lose anything to the portal but added a starter so I’d say we gained there. No gains or loses at RB. Got worse at tight end. Overall we came out ahead.
Definitely got a downgrade at kicker. On defense I’d say we improved in the portal in the secondary gaining Williams, Filmore compared to Patterson, Karriem, Woodward, rooks etc. Think we got more playable depth so probably improved. Linebackers we got worse. Lost hood and Hayden and only got the Colorado state transfer. At OLB we added a guy, but didn’t lose anything because all of the outgoing guys were seniors. So I guess we did better, but the overall talent dipped because we lost more than we gained overall. At DL, we didn’t add more than we lost. Could change, but it’s a pretty big gap. So on defense and special teams, we got worse, besides at DB and maybe OLB/LB. So overall, I’d say offense we got slightly better or maintained. On defense and special teams we have lost more than we gained.
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Your question is a little vague.
1) Are you asking did we lose more or gain more in the transfer portal? We gained significantly more in the transfer portal than we lost in the transfer portal.
2) Are you asking is the 2026 team more or less talented than the 2025 team? In my opinion, I think we will be similar in 2026 as we were in 2025.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Sorta depends what position group you're talking about.
We're in very nice shape in the offensive skill positions, and have a lot of good options on the OL (and of course at QB), but the downside risks of replacing a guy like Luke and 4/5 of the OL are just inherent to college football, no amount of perceived talent or rankings can really take away the scare factor of that.
We're loaded at DB and knock on wood for health should have the opportunity to be better there than we were last year.
But our front seven wasn't exactly stellar last year, and there is no Gabe Jacas or Dylan Rosiek among what we're putting together for 2026. The size and depth in the middle is improving and I hope it will improve more (heavy rotation on the DL is essential to BertBall, so it's not necessarily all about one big star), but it's going to be a big question mark.
We've been stout against the run for BB's entire time here. It would be a real shame if slippage in that area costs us the opportunity to take advantage of our back end.
It would be accurate to say that it is too early to say.
I would say the secondary and WR room upgraded in Talent. OL should be more athletic this year. DL wait and see.
Just need to find a way to be competitive on the defensive front this year. I believe the type of DL that everyone gets on here hoping to see have joined and be a difference maker ….well they just started classes as freshmen and more on the way. These young men won’t be cheap next year either. Elite defense is coming.
Agree on all counts, but I would also say the LB room is a question mark - the only experience we have there is Kruetz and the new transfer Edmonson. Beerman will clearly have to play a lot this year, then it's guys who are F/RS F that haven't played before
Where’s the boom?
And If just one of Kreutz , Edmonson or Beernan gets hurt , it’s not like Feagin can play that position !
LB room needs at least one , if not 2 guys with experience added
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
C/o 2027| | edge/te | | 3.6 GPA | |6’4 250 |
Osceola, FL
I’m guessing they’re expecting Beerman and Jack Paris to step up.
We must really want this kid. Offered him 7 times?
Beerman is going to be really good. Paris was a very sneaky add in the '25 class. Potential to be a very good LB here.
The Moises team is very good. We got two of their recruits in our last class. Their last qb is going to Alabama.
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