Illinois Football: 3 reasons Brian Hightower being eligible is important

While there is a huge question about when exactly the Illinois football season will start, one major question about the roster has been answered.

Back on April 28, 2020, Illinois received one of the biggest transfers in recent memory when Brian Hightower decided to pick the Illini over a number of other big programs. The talented wide receiver wanted out of Miami (FL), and his new landing spot was none other than Champaign.

But I thought we were going to have to wait to see Hightower until the 2021 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound wide receiver has two years of eligibility left and with a number of pass catchers for the Illini leaving the program after the 2020 season, I had Hightower immediately starting his first year with the team.

Just a couple of weeks ago, everything changed with the depth chart and Illinois’ plans for Hightower. On August 24, Hightower posted on his Twitter account that he was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

This would have been massive news had the season gone off without a hitch, but players who participate in fall sports won’t have to use a year of eligibility anyways. But there are still some big ramifications to him being eligible immediately.

Here are three reasons Brian Hightower being eligible is important.