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

5. Rashad Rochelle

Despite having two wide receivers already on the list of players Bret Bielema should pursue for 2022, I am adding another one who can really help the Illini. His name is familiar with Illinois fans. The name; Rashad Rochelle.

Rochelle is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound wide receiver from Springfield High School and resides in Springfield, Illinois. He is rated as a three-star recruit, ranked as the No. 527 player in the class of 2022 and is the No. 72 wide receiver in the country. He is also the No. 9 player in the state of Illinois.

I said this in the previous slide, and I will say it again. Illinois needs more depth at wide receiver. Isaiah Williams will need some help out wide, and Rochelle could be a great option for this program.

Rochelle is a name most people are familiar with around the state of Illinois. A talented quarterback at Springfield High School, Rochelle had been trying to get the attention of the Illinois coaching staff for years. With not a ton of time put into recruiting him, the talented playmaker decided to commit to Rutgers in October.

If you ask Rochelle, his commitment is solid. But I would imagine if Bret Bielema comes in strong and reoffers Rochelle and really recruits him, then Illinois would have a chance to flip him for 2022. The fact we let this kid get out of the state is still making me nauseous.

Bielema has his work cut out for him on the recruiting trail in the state of Illinois. I think securing in-state commitments for 2022 will be a major step in the right direction. These five players are who he should really be targeting.