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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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Dec 30, 2019; Santa Clara, California, USA; General view of the Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second quarter against California Golden Bears at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Ronald Delancy III – Cornerback – Freshman

Secondary help is a must moving forward. While adding players via the high school route is how you build a foundation, snagging a few transfers who already have experience would be greatly beneficial.

I believe one transfer who Illinois could eye is defensive back Ronald Delancy III. A 5-foot-11, 160-pound cornerback coming out of Northwestern High School in Miami, Florida, Delancy had roughly 17 scholarship offers. As a three-star recruit who was the No. 968 player in the class of 2020, he was a wanted talent by many different programs.

Delancy would end up picking the Nebraska Cornhuskers as his landing spot. After a 1-4 start by Nebraska, Delancy decided to depart the program for greener pastures. He didn’t have a chance to play much in the five games he spent with the Cornhuskers. Most of his time on the field came via special teams.

Nebraska had Delancy listed as a cornerback, so I assume that is where he will play when he finds a new school. Illinois seems like a natural fit for the talented defensive back as the Orange and Blue are in desperate need of depth at the position.

Illinois’ secondary is already sketchy, but we are losing our best cornerback in Nate Hobbs after the 2020 campaign. Building out the depth is going to be extremely important moving forward.

I think Delancy is someone who Illinois should try to pursue. He would technically have to sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules but who knows, maybe they will grant him a waiver to play immediately. Adding a former top 1000 recruit seems like a good move for the Illini.

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