Needing a tall target on the outside, Illinois football was able to find their man from the state of Florida.
On Wednesday, Patrick Bryant decided to sign early and officially join the Orange and Blue. He is a much-needed piece to the puzzle on offense.
Bryant is a 6-foot-3, 187-pound wide receiver from Atlantic Coast High School and resides in Jacksonville, Florida. He is rated as a three-star recruit and is the No. 1050 player in the class of 2021 and the No. 153 wide receiver in the nation. He is also the No. 138 player in the state of Florida.
Breakdown of Bryant’s impact on Illinois
The wide receiver depth at Illinois took a hit before the 2020 season as Ricky Smalling departed the program. After the season, the Illini will likely have a couple of more pass catchers depart in Josh Imatorbhebhe and Trevon Sidney.
This leaves plenty of room for players to step up. I see Brian Hightower being arguably our No. 1 option with players like James Frenchie and Casey Washington stepping up into a more prominent role.
But this also leaves room for a newcomer to come into the fold. Bryant, with his size, could be an instant impact player. Illinois having another big target will only help quarterback Isaiah Williams complete more passes.
I believe Illinois has the offensive weapons to have a really good offense in the Big Ten. Bryant would add to the wide receiver depth and be a piece we could fit in from day one. This is an under-the-radar get for the Illini.