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Illinois Football: Top 5 in-state recruits Illini should target for 2022

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 18, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema talks with quarterback Austin Allen (8) during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs won the game 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema talks with quarterback Austin Allen (8) during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs won the game 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois football
Sep 9, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema walks off the field after checking on an injured player in the 4th quarter in a 28-7 loss to the TCU Horned Frogs at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joey Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois football hiring Bret Bielema as the next head coach of the program is one of the best moves they have made in years.

Bielema won a lot of people over, including myself, in his introductory press conference. He has also made a commitment to recruit in-state kids. Winning the state of Illinois will make the Illini successful on the football field. There are a handful of recruits who Bielema should be targeting for 2022.

Here are the top 5 in-state recruits Illini should target for 2022.

1. Kaleb Brown

The state of Illinois is producing some great talent for 2022, and included in that group are a ton of playmakers. One of those playmakers is Kaleb Brown.

Brown is a 5-foot-11, 177-pound wide receiver from St. Rita High School and resides in Chicago, Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit, ranked as the No. 41 player in the class of 2022 and is the No. 7 wide receiver in the country. He is also the best player in the state of Illinois.

Illinois was the very first offer to Brown. The previous coaching regime at Illinois was able to eye talent, but they would drop off the list because there wasn’t enough consistency and follow up with recruits after the initial offer. I believe that will change, though.

Michigan is the projected landing spot for Brown right now. With the Wolverines struggling, I am not so sure how strong that prediction is by the 247Sports “experts”. I believe Bret Bielema and his staff can sneak in and make this a race.

Brown clearly has a liking to Illinois. During his camps, he wears Illinois gloves. He is an in-state recruit who doesn’t have his mind made up yet. He would instantly be a starter with the Orange and Blue as well. This kid has a chance to make his home-state team great.

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