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Illinois Football: 6 transfers the Illini should pursue for 2021

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 21, 2020; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Love Smith looks toward the scoreboard during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Love Smith looks toward the scoreboard during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois football
Nov 16, 2019; Boise, ID, USA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) New Mexico Lobos running back Kentrail Moran (24) looks for room to run during first half action against Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois football has become known as a great landing spot for recruits who are looking for a second chance.

On the Illini roster for 2020, there are 18 players who played for different programs before landing in Champaign. The transfer route is something Lovie Smith and the Illinois coaching staff have done a great job of utilizing.

I don’t expect Illinois’ pursuit of transfers to slow down anytime soon either. There will be plenty of opportunities for the Illini to land some great players this upcoming offseason. If fact, there are some transfers who are already hitting the market. I have my eye on a few who could help the Orange and Blue.

Here are six transfers the Illini should pursue for 2021.

1. Kentrail Moran – Running Back – Redshirt Junior

Illinois has only played in five games this season due to the cancellation of the Ohio State game last week, but in the span of the first five games, the Orange and Blue have really started to run the ball well.

The emergence of Chase Brown and Mike Epstein as a solid one-two punch is nice to see. Illinois will also have true freshman Reggie Love waiting in the wings for his chance to shine. But the one thing I can say is for certain in the future is that the Illini will deal with the injury bug.

That is why adding a running back who has some college experience isn’t a bad idea for 2021. Kentrail Moran might be a good fit.

Coming out of O’Fallon High School in O’Fallon, Illinois, Moran was rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 374 player in the class of 2016. Coach Mike Bellamy was recruiting Moran at the time, and after an official visit to Champaign, Moran decided to commit to the Illini.

Moran didn’t have qualifying ACT or SAT scores, though. By the time he did get qualified, Illinois had changed coaching staffs and already filled the running back need. Moran then committed to play for New Mexico.

In 2016, Moran took a redshirt. As a redshirt freshman in 2017, he had 14 carries for 32 yards. The following season, Moran missed the year due to an injury, but he was allowed to take a medical redshirt season. In 2019, Moran had 27 rushes for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns.

While the numbers aren’t impressive for Moran, this once top 400 recruit is looking for a new home after declaring he was entering the transfer portal back in September. With two years of eligibility remaining, it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to bring Moran back to the state of Illinois.

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