The Illinois football team is getting another big visitor this weekend who could help the team immediately.
While the Illini are still looking to add a graduate transfer quarterback to the mix, they are also building the weapons on the outside. No matter who the quarterback ends up being in 2019, he is going to have some nice options to throw to. Adding a player like Josh Imatorbhebhe would solidify the wide receiver corps.
Imatorbhebhe is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound wide receiver who attended USC the last three years but is now in the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. He can play immediately and has two years of eligibility remaining. That is huge news for whoever lands this kid.
Coming out of North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, Imatorbhebhe was rated as a four-star recruit who was the No. 158 player in the class of 2016 and the No. 29 wide receiver in the nation. He was also the No. 17 player in the state of Georgia as well.
Imatorbhebhe had scholarship offers from just about every team in the country. Some of the big-time programs who were after him included Alabama, Oregon and Michigan. But USC won out and landed this talented pass catcher.
In 2016, Imatorbhebhe took a redshirt after graduating early from high school. He then suited up in 2017 and had two catches for 11 yards in the six games he played in. Last season, Imatorbhebhe didn’t get a chance to play because of a reoccurring ankle injury.
Illinois has already been able to snag multiple USC transfers this offseason. Defensive end Oluwole Betiku entered his name into the transfer portal and is coming to Champaign. He can play right away and has two years of eligibility remaining. We also picked up wide receiver Trevon Sidney from USC as well. He can play in 2019 and still has two years of eligibility remaining too.
Now that the Illini have already added two big-time USC transfers, it would be nice to add one more to the mix. Imatorbhebhe would help the wide receiver corps from day one. He could come in and, potentially, start for the Orange and Blue. His athletic ability would be amazing for this offense.