Illinois Football: Illini land transfer portal DB for 2022

We might be in the middle of the basketball transfer season, but the Illinois football team was able to land a transfer of their own on Friday.

Coming into the upcoming campaign, the Illini will be without two crucial defensive backs. Kerby Joseph is likely to get drafted as he is ranked as the No. 73 prospect in the NFL Draft by Pro Football Focus. Tony Adams is the other defensive back who has departed the program. While he might not get drafted, Adams will sign with a team as a priority free agent without a doubt.

Missing both of those talented players in the secondary is going to be tough. But Bret Bielema was able to help with the depth issue with a big transfer commitment. On Friday, Minnesota State transfer Terrell Jennings took to Twitter to announce that he has committed to the Illini.

Jennings is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback who originally hails from Knob Hill, Colorado but has spent the last few years with the Minnesota State Mavericks of the DII ranks.

For the 2021 campaign, Jennings finished with 19 tackles, four pass breakups, and one interception. He also helped his Minnesota State team to a winning record of 6-5 that year.

Where does Terrell Jennings fit in on the Illinois football roster?

Illinois actually has some pretty good pieces at cornerback entering the 2022 campaign. I love what Tehveon Nicholson brings to the table. He played well last season and impressed me in the spring game, so look for him to be one of our top cornerbacks.

Devon Witherspoon is another talented cornerback. He should be on the other side of the field starting alongside Nicholson this season. I think Quan Martin is going to get a lot of snaps as well.

I am curious to see how the younger, talented, recruits do this season. Elijah Mc-Cantos was a top 800 recruit, and he enrolled early. Look for him to step up and be a primary backup in year one. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get a start or two.

I think Terrell will come in and probably be a second back to the first two strings on the team. He has to prove himself and his abilities. Bielema is building depth, and Terrell adds to that depth. He has some experience at the college level, so that is a huge plus. He will get a chance to work his way up the depth chart as well.

Illinois adding depth at defensive back is important. I don’t mind having a player come into the program who already has some college playing experience. Let’s see what this kid can do.