Illinois Football: 2021’s Dontae Balfour receives Illini offer

The Illinois football program continues to remain hard at work on the recruiting front, offering two-way standout, Dontae Balfour.

The college football offseason is in full swing, which means the recruiting trail is officially at the forefront of what expects to be a unique winter and spring during the pandemic.

Florida was one of many states that successfully finished high school football as scheduled. Despite a new regime, the Illini continue to heavily target the south, as they offered senior wideout and defensive back, Dontae Balfour.

Balfour is a three-star recruit and a member of the 2021 class. He attends Bradford High School in Starke, Florida, as he was a two-way threat on both sides of the ball. He is currently rated as the No. 62 cornerback in Florida and the No. 97 player from his age group.

Balfour was offered by the Illini on January 13, adding to an extensive list of some of college football’s most storied programs. Including Illinois, he was offered by Oregon, Missouri, South Carolina, Penn State, and LSU, to name a few.

At press time, his Crystal Ball projection has him leaning toward the Auburn Tigers out of the SEC.

Balfour’s squad struggled during the 2020 season, finishing 5-6, as they would fall to South Sumter in a 9-6 backbreaker during the team’s second postseason game. Despite finishing the season below .500, the Tornadoes won three of its final four games, potentially creating a foundation for future playoff success in the years to come.

What would Dontae Balfour bring to Champaign?

Balfour brings in a 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame to the collegiate level. His Hudl highlights, which can be seen below, showcase his prolific speed on both sides of the ball.

Balfour has shown the ability to get after the quarterback as well, making him a clutch playmaker no matter what situation his team might find themselves in.

Let’s see if the Illini can win out and flip Balfour’s Crystal Ball projection while conquering an important part of the southern pipeline in the process.