Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[Dan]

Welcome to the Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

Transfer Portal Window: January 2-16


2026 Illini Football Signees

1) QB Michael Clayton II
2) LB Cameron Thomas
3) OL Kai Pritchard
4) LB Tony Williams
5) P Jack Gray
6) WR Kenyon Alston
7) OLB Jacob Alexander
8) DB Nick Hankins Jr.
9) WR Nas Rankin
10) TE Will Vala
11) OL Landen Von Seggern
12) DL Parker Crim
13) LB Kaedyn Cobbs
14) OLB Kingston Reigns Shaw
15) DL King Liggins
16) RB Nelsyn Wheeler
17) DB Isaiah Williams
18) DB Jakwon Morris
19) WR Davon Grant
20) OL Casey Thomann
21) DB Jacob Eberhart
22) DL Tony Balanganayi
23) DB Almirian Thomas
24) RB Javari Barnett
25) OLB Jaylen Stewart
26) OL TJ Taylor
27) OL Maika Matelau
28) OL Alfred Washington
29) OLB Kayden Bennett
30) OL Champ Smith



2027 Illini Football Commits

1) QB Kamden Lopati (July 27th, 2025)

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

 

[illinidarrin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998067395785593083

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998067395785593083

Pass. Mark Gronkowski 2.0

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Same Leavitt to hit the portal.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Certainly wouldn’t mind if we targeted a talented backup, stuck behind one of those alpha QBs. Lincoln Khienholz, Kenny Minchey, Austin Simmons, etc.

 

[eas23]

Trey Owens of Texas seems like the type of QB we could go after. Decently rated recruit who fell down the depth chart.

 

[illinidarrin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998085665070932224

 

[fatt lacosse]

Both of UConn's starting OT's are in the portal as well.

 

[illinidarrin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998086501876531422

 

[JucoIllini10]

Certainly wouldn’t mind if we targeted a talented backup, stuck behind one of those alpha QBs. Lincoln Khienholz, Kenny Minchey, Austin Simmons, etc.

Lincoln Kienholz is my way-too-early pick for QB transfer. Recruited by Lunney out of high school and pushed Julian Sayin for the starting job. He might just follow Hartline down to USF but definitely one to keep on eye on.

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

backup QB Kenny Minchey of ND to enter portal

 

[illinidarrin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998124945268699314

 

[illinidarrin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998127218502086816

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998127218502086816

a position of need for us -

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

a position of need for us -

we need tackles.

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

we need tackles.

I thought we just signed two tackles outta juco

 

[kyillini]

We need a center like the one Indiana got this year from ND. A Chicago area kid. I wonder if Turek will transition to the center position.

 

[therealmiket86]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998143436055261496

 

[aaeismacgychel]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998143436055261496

Still young. Didn't have all that much success outside of the Ball State game this year, but that's not surprising for a young DT. And Purdue's run defense was atrocious, he is a big boy though. I take it we're interested?

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

I thought we just signed two tackles outta juco

You'd like Matelau to be more of a guard (at most RT). Taylor seems more natural on the right side as well. An established, starter caliber left tackle would be a very valuable addition.

Right now it would be Knapnik.

 

[Red77sng]

we need tackles.

We can use another guard and two tackles

 

[Red77sng]

I thought we just signed two tackles outta juco

We did but these are already established lineman

 

[JBfor3]

Does the staff already know who our starting QB will be next year...?

 

[illinoistradition]

Still young. Didn't have all that much success outside of the Ball State game this year, but that's not surprising for a young DT. And Purdue's run defense was atrocious, he is a big boy though. I take it we're interested?

We were close to getting him out of high school, so we might still be interested? Likely needs to trim some weight.