Writing Illini
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Illinois football
COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 27: An Illinois Fighting Illini football helmet during a college football game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capitol One Field at Maryland Stadium on October 27, 2018 at College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

4. Thurman Geathers – Linebacker – RS Sophomore

Adding players on the defensive side of the ball is crucial this offseason because of the lack of depth Illinois has right now. Linebacker is a position grouping that I am referring to the most.

Illinois actually just took a hit at linebacker with Tarique Barnes going down with an injury and missing the rest of the season. The Illini can’t afford injuries. So, adding someone like Thurman Geathers from the transfer marketing would be good for the program.

Geathers, a 6-foot-3, 218-pound weakside defensive end out of North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia, was rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 718 player in the class of 2018. While Geathers played defensive end in high school, he was recruited as a linebacker at the college level.

After a long recruitment that saw roughly 28 scholarship offers, Geathers decided to pick Louisville as his landing spot. In 2019, Geathers took a redshirt to save a year of eligibility. He then had 4 tackles and 0.5 sacks in 2020 before deciding to opt-out on November 2. Geathers then put his name into the transfer portal on November 18.

Bringing Geathers into the Illinois program would be great for depth and talent. The Illini are losing Jake Hansen and Milo Eifler after the 2020 campaign. That leaves a massive hole in the middle of the defense. I know Khalan Tolson and Shammond Cooper are ready to take over, but we need more talent.

Geathers would bring some experience to the Illini. He would be a nice fit into the Lovie Smith defense and, hopefully, we could get him in on a waiver.

Home/Illinois Football