Illinois Football: Illini come in with offer to 2022 ATH Jalil Tucker

On Monday afternoon, the Illinois football team started pursuing one of the top players for the class of 2022.

Versatility is something this Illini coaching staff has looked for in the recruiting market. They get players who can play multiple roles on the team. This enabled the Orange and Blue to win games last season. Jalil Tucker is a versatile player Illinois has started to pursue harder.

Tucker is a 6-foot, 180-pound athlete from Lincoln High School and resides in San Diego, California. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 179 player in the class of 2022 and the No. 18 athlete in the nation. He is also the No. 15 player in the state of California.

A lot of players from the class of 2022 aren’t rated yet, but Tucker is up there with the best of the best. In addition to the offer he received from Illinois on Monday, he also has big offers from teams like Oregon, USC and Washington State.

It comes as no surprise that a variety of teams want this kid to come play for their program. Tucker brings a lot of talent to the table. His speed is the first thing that jumps off the page when watching what he can do on the football field. He is able to blow past defenders. When he catches the ball, he can go into another gear that leaves the defense in the dust.

The ability for Tucker to stay on his feet is impressive as well. He can take a hit but doesn’t go down easily. This is great, especially if he plays more of a slot role. He will take hits across the middle but should be able to rack up the yards after contact.

I love this offer by the Illini. Do I think we have a shot at Tucker? Probably not but I have seen this coaching staff pull off some impressive commitments. Keep an eye out on where Tucker’s recruitment ends up going.