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Illinois Football: 5 grad transfer targets for Bret Bielema and the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 30, 2019; Santa Clara, California, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini run out of the tunnel before the game against the California Golden Bears at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2019; Santa Clara, California, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini run out of the tunnel before the game against the California Golden Bears at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; A general view during the first half in a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Bret Bielema era of Illinois football has a chance to do some special things with this program.

Coach Bielema inherited an Illini team that has talent on the surface, but there is absolutely zero depth everywhere on the depth chart. That is why some plug-and-play pieces might not be a bad idea this offseason.

Here are five transfer targets for Bret Bielema and the Illini.

1. CB Eric Cuffee

One of the bigger weaknesses for the Illinois football team in 2020 was the secondary. The Illini gave up 237.1 yards per game through the air, which ranked No. 72 in the nation.

To help mend this issue, Illinois should pursue some transfer talent this offseason. Eric Cuffee is someone Illini fans should keep an eye on.

Coming out of Waco High School in Texas, Cuffee was a four-star recruit who was the No. 280 player in the class of 2016 and the No. 27 cornerback in the nation. He was also the No. 45 player in the state of Texas.

After committing to Texas and redshirting his first year, Cuffee didn’t get a chance to play for the Longhorns during his redshirt freshman campaign. He decided to move on from the Texas program and ended up with Trinity Valley Community College in 2018.

In the lone season at the JUCO level, Cuffee played in nine games with 13 tackles. He then decided to take his talents to the DI level again and signed with New Mexico in 2019. After redshirting his first year with the Lobos, Cuffee didn’t play this year and is looking for a new home.

Illinois might have a chance to snag Cuffee. When he was initially being recruited, he took an official visit to Arkansas. Bret Bielema was the coach of the Razorbacks at the time. So, that connection is there.

Yes, there are some question marks with Cuffee. But this kid was a top 300 recruit coming out of the state of Texas. He has talent. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a flier on him. He would also be immediately eligible.

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