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Illinois Football: Illini secure commitment from 2022 in-state lineman

By Rees Woodcock

Sep 15, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; A general view of a Illinois Fighting Illini helmet on the field prior to the game between the South Florida Bulls and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; A general view of a Illinois Fighting Illini helmet on the field prior to the game between the South Florida Bulls and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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While Illinois football fans await the start of the 2021 campaign, some good news has come down the recruiting pipeline.

The 2022 class has started well with 15 recruits already pledged. The class ranks No. 43 in the nation and No. 10 in the Big Ten. But the Illini have been on the recruiting trail frequently, and the efforts have paid off with a big-time in-state commitment.

On Monday afternoon, Brian Allen took to Twitter to announce his commitment. He posted his final two of Illinois and Iowa, and just a little over an hour later, the talented defensive end announced his decision that he was committing to the Illini.


This is a big pick-up for the Orange and Blue. Allen is a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive lineman from St. Thomas More High School and resides in Woodstock, Illinois. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 849 player in the class of 2022. He is also the No. 117 defensive lineman in the country.

More top 1000 talent coming for the Illinois football team.

A solid balance of quality and quantity is what the Illini have been missing throughout most of the past decade. Either the quality was high but the quantity wasn’t there or the quantity has been high but there weren’t many quality players.

Bret Bielema is changing that trend. He now has 16 players committed for 2022, and six of those players are top 1000 recruits. That is an impressive haul so far. There are roughly nine more scholarships left on the table, though.

I also like the fact Allen is a defensive lineman. The 2022 class is offense-heavy, so having a defender coming in will help bolster the front of the 3-4 defense Ryan Walters is wanting to run.

Bielema is also showing his words about wanting to win the state of Illinois are starting to come true. The Illini have now secured nine players from the state of Illinois, which is a great in-state haul. That is something we haven’t seen in years.

Next. The Writing Illini 2021 season predictions. dark

Allen picking Illinois is big for the program. Let’s continue adding talented pieces and make the 2022 class one of the best in the conference.

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