Illinois enters season with high hopes & strong recruiting will keep Illini contending for years to come

In nine days No. 12 Illinois kicks off its football season against Western Illinois with expectations of competing for a spot in the Big Ten Title game and certainly the College Football playoff.

Coming off the school’s first 10-win campaign since 2001, capped by an exciting New Year’s Eve Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina, Bret Bielema and his staff have created a buzz around the Champaign campus we haven’t seen going into a season since the early 1990s.

And sitting on a Top 25 recruiting class, checking in at No. 25 in the Rivals Industry Standings, prospects from across the country have taken notice and look forward helping Bielema build a consistent winner for years to come.

“I think Coach B is as real as it gets when it comes to head coaches,” Miami (Fla.) Edison quarterback Michael Clayton said. He was the first to commit to Bielema in this 2026 cycle, giving his verbal back in November over an offer list that included opportunities across the ACC, Big Ten and SEC.

“He relates with his players extremely well. He preaches and lives out family in the football building through all of his coaches every day. Also he is a very knowledgeable and experienced as a head coach who has won multiple Big Ten championships before so there is a belief and trust in doing things his way.

Clayton is now part of a class that’s up to 24 commits spanning eight different states.

“I’m super excited about our class of 2026 and believe that by the time we are all done with our Illinois careers, we can help establish Illinois as a continuous Top 10 program, help win Big Ten championships, and compete for National Championships!”

Illinois having a lot of success in the Sunshine State

Clayton, who added he is not looking into his recent offer from Deion Sanders and Colorado, is one of five players out of Florida to commit to Illinois in this 2026 class. He came out strong as a senior throwing for 270 yards and three touchdowns in leading Miami (Fla.) Edison past Flanagan this past weekend.

Others from Florida that have jumped in include cornerback Almirian Thomas (a long, high upside perimeter defender), linebacker Tony Williams (101 tackles as a junior), big-play receiver Kenyon Alston (over 20 yards per catch as a junior en route to 14 touchdowns) and edge rusher Kingston Shaw (11.5 TFLs as a junior).

Alston has 26 receiving touchdowns going into his senior year and the Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Moore standout looks like someone Bielema can count on to change the game in his offense.

“Coach B is awesome and his coaches follow his lead,” Alston said. “The players they recruit are like-minded and team guys. The fam-ILLY isn’t just a saying or motto it’s their actual culture. The team has started to create a national buzz and I’m excited to watch them perform this year. I can’t wait to be a part of that wide receiver room because I believe we are building something special and I want to be a part of something bigger than myself.”

Home-cooking has been huge

The jewel of the class is Chicago (Ill.) Morgan Park four-star receiver Nasir Rankin. He’ll start on offense in Champaign but plans to also make an impact in the secondary when all said and done. He chose to play down the road from home over USC and many others. Rankin will also play basketball at Illinois.

“It seems like it’s been progressing Illinois every year since Coach B’s been up there,” Rankin said when he committed. “I see the type of class they have right now. Only adding me and trying to get a few others that’s what matters most to me. I can see it’s progressing to be one of the best programs.”

Rankin, Alston and another homegrown talent in Davon Grant could make for one of the Big Ten’s best pass-catching trios down the road. Grant is nearly 6-4, he’s going to be an imposing matchup problem that turned 67 receptions into 1,016 yards and seven touchdowns for DeKalb (Ill.) High.

Other key in-state targets locked in with Illinois include four-star cornerback Nick Hankins, offensive tackle Casey Thomann, defensive linemen Tony Balanganayi (also plays OL) and King Liggins, edge rusher Jacob Alexander and tight end Will Vala.

We are high on the 6-foot-1 Hankins at Rivals. He picked off four passes as a junior and is active in the secondary. You need guys like him to matchup with the studs Ohio State, Oregon and others will challenge defenses with every Saturday.

Out of Olney (Ill.) Richland, Thomann is 6-7, 310-pounds and on film flashes all the traits coveted at the postion. He can move, he can bend, and Thomann is physical. It will be interesting to see what he develops into at Illinois and with Bielema’s track record particularly at the point of attack he’s a good one to bet on being one of the conference’s best offensive linemen down the road.

“I think a big part of it is Coach B and his coaching staff and how much input he put in the program,” Thomann said when he committed. Rivals ranks him as the No. 36 offensive tackle in the country “Their success, especially in-state guys, for Coach B be able to grow that program is incredible and I’m happy part of it.” 

Illinois is not going to lack for size and rough, energetic play around the line of scrimmage and the defensive lineman in the fold possess those qualities.

“Coach B and his staff brought a whole new mindset to Champaign,” Liggins said. “Toughness, discipline, and belief. The family vibe isn’t just for show it is real. They don’t just talk about building a culture; they live it every day. 

“As for the 2026 class, we’re coming in to take it even further. We see what’s been built, and we’re ready to build on it. We’re not coming to Illinois to mess around we are coming to hold the standard and win— also we are coming to make history. Period.”

Vala doesn’t come off the field for Downers Grove North. He can catch the football, he’s a punishing blocker and he gets after the quarterback when playing defense.

“I think Coach B and the staff have done an incredible job building a culture where development and toughness come first,” Vala said. “They’ve recruited guys who fit that mindset and they coach them hard but care about them off the field too. As for the 2026 class, I think we can help take this thing to another level. There’s already a strong foundation in place and we’re coming in ready to compete, push each other, and add to the momentum.”

Defensive Swiss-Army Knife

One of the best recruiting wins of the cycle was beating Oklahoma and others for St. Louis (Mo.) Kirkwood athlete Jacob Eberhart.

“As a football player I think the thing I love about his is his versatility,” Kirkwood head coach Jeremy Maclin said. A two-time All-American wide receiver at Missouri, Maclin played nine seasons in the NFL.

“His ability to be put in numerous different spots and succeed and take advantage of his matchups whether it’s offense or defense. He’s a really good-sized kid but he moves so well for his size. He’s the best wide receiver, DB, whatever he is on the field he’s the best on the field. Put him at linebacker and rush the passer he’d be the best guy rushing the passer. He’s that type of player.”

Ranked as the nation’s No. 8 athlete and No. 226 prospect overall, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Eberhart projects somewhere in the back end of the Illini defense.

“Everybody wants him to be a versatile player that can roam the field but he’s also big and sturdy enough we can hop right into Dime and not lose a beat of cover skills because I can throw him in the box.

“You also have to see what happens with his body when he gets there. I think everybody loves his size, the way he runs at his size and he’s not afraid to come down and make tackles. He can also cover with the best of them. You’re looking at someone you can put anywhere on the football field.”

Maclin is even more impressed with Eberhart’s intangibles.

“You also love how competitive he is,” Maclin said. “Dude wants to win. He’s going to work his tail off. He’s one of the hardest working guys on this football team. It definitely makes your job a lot easier when your best player is one of your hardest workers. Other guys follow suit.

“He’s a light. Guys gravitate towards him. He has a good sense of humor. He’s genuine. Those are the type of guys you want in your program.”

More hype around the Illinois program

The Illini went into Ohio and landed two future front-seven difference makers in linebacker Cam Thomas and edge rusher Parker Crim. Thomas had 84 tackles and 14.5 stops for loss as a junior and chose Illinois over Michigan, Indiana and many others. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Crim has a near 7-foot wing-span and is one of the strongest players committed to a Big Ten program in the cycle. Illinois beat Iowa State among others for the intriguing defensive end. Crim had 101 tackles, 21 stops for loss and 12 sacks. He gets after offenses every Friday night.

“I feel like Bielema and the staff are some of the most wise and intelligent people that Illinois could have,” Crim said. “Just watching them coach you can tell that they have a goal and that they are ready to accomplish that goal and the class of 2026 will help them achieve it as well because we have some phenomenal players that are hard working and will do anything to be the best that we can be individually and collectively as a team.”

Fort Bend (Texas) Marshall safety Isaiah Williams heads into his senior season with five career interceptions. 

“I think with that defensive background he has we’re gonna be great on defense always,” Williams said of Bielema. “I think the 2026 class can take it even more further with the team we have lined up it’s no doubt.”

Suffield Academy edge Kayden Bennett is also a tough block on Fridays, registering 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a junior with three forced fumbles. Pearland (Texas) High’s Jaylen Stewart shows nice twitch on tape.

Omaha (Neb.) Millard South teammates in offensive lineman Landen Von Seggern and running back Nelsyn Wheeler look forward to their future in Champaign.

“Coach Bielema has built a family and Illinois,” Wheeler used his sub 11.0 speed in the 100m dash to rush for 1,032 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. “Not a single selfish soul. Everyone willing to die for one another and I think that’s what has a lot to do with the success they are having. Along with the coaching staffs ability to develop seemingly everybody that comes through the program. This 2026 class is one of the more talented classes in the country. So when you combine that with the ability Coach Bielema and his staff has to develop it’s gonna be dangerous!”