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Illinois Football: Top 5 defensive targets left for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 13: An Illinois football Helmut rests on a post during a Big Ten Conference college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 13, 2018, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. Purdue won, 46-7. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 13: An Illinois football Helmut rests on a post during a Big Ten Conference college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 13, 2018, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. Purdue won, 46-7. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 13: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet sits on top of a dryer on the sidelines during the Big Ten Conference college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 13, 2018, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – OCTOBER 13: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet sits on top of a dryer on the sidelines during the Big Ten Conference college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 13, 2018, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Antonio Johnson

Arguably the biggest target on the defensive side of the ball for the Illini is Antonio Johnson. This kid could help take the Illinois secondary from great to legendary.

Johnson is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound safety from East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 123 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 9 safety in the nation. He is also the No. 3 player in the state of Illinois as well.

Everyone wants Johnson because of the talent he brings to the table. He has offers from big-time programs like Georgia, LSU and Michigan, among others. That means this recruitment is going to be awfully tough for the Illini.

Johnson likes Illinois enough to head up there this past weekend for one of the biggest recruiting events of the year. He was able to make the trip and had a chance to bond with the other big-time recruits who were visiting.

With the myriad of other teams vying for his commitment, it will be tough to land Johnson. I think we have a solid chance here, though. Former Illini great Terry Hawthorne is on the East St. Louis football coaching staff, and Illinois has safety Stanley Green on the roster right now, who was also from East St. Louis high school. This would be a huge get for the Orange and Blue if we can land this caliber of a safety.

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