Florida has been a recruiting hotbed for the Illinois football team, and the class of 2021 is no exception.
Defensive back help was a must for the Illini in this class. We needed help on the outside, and that is what we got with Tyler Strain signing on Wednesday.
Strain is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback from Pace High School and resides in Milton, Florida. He is rated as a three-star recruit, the No. 1557 player in the class of 2021 and the No. 136 cornerback in the nation. He is also the No. 213 player in the state of Florida.
Breakdown of Strain’s impact on Illinois
While the Illinois secondary worries me moving forward, the cornerbacks are a little better off than the safety position. The Illini cornerbacks are going to be anchored by Marquez Beason in 2021.
Beason’s career has gotten off to a rocky start, but he will start coming around as he gets healthier and the game starts slowing down. But, beyond Beason, I am not sure what Illinois really has at cornerback.
That is why getting someone like Strain into the program is so important. The previous coaching regime didn’t build enough depth, but Strain will go a long way in helping solve that problem.
Honestly, in year one, Strain might get a lot of playing time. I am worried about what Illinois’ secondary is going to do about bodies on the field. Strain will need to progress quickly so the Illini can have some more depth in 2021. This kid is going to be extremely important