Illinois Football: Top 2024 target takes in what the Illini have to offer

While the basketball team is dealing with the transfer portal, the Illinois football program is in the midst of finishing up spring practice while trying to recruit at the same time.

The Illini class of 2024 started off on a good note with the addition of offensive tackle Brandon Hansen back in November. This addition gave Illinois the first commitment of this class and a solid in-state recruit.

But since Hansen’s pledge, the 2024 class has slowed down for the Illini. We haven’t had another commitment, and it is hard to pinpoint who might be next to say yes to the Bret Bielema regime.

I believe one player Illini fans should keep an eye on is Tysean Griffin. He is an athlete out of Chicago, Illinois who already has, roughly, 19 scholarship offers and has taken a shine to the Orange and Blue.

Tysean Griffin would give Bret Bielema and the Illinois football team flexibility in the class of 2024

Griffin is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound athlete out of Morgan Park High School. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 457 player in the class of 2024. He is also the No. 45 athlete in the country and the No. 10 player coming out of Illinois.

Illinois was one of Griffin’s first scholarship offers back in May 2021. Since then, the Illini have been recruiting the versatile Chicago product. This past weekend, Griffin headed down to Champaign to check out what the Illini had to offer. This unofficial visit is, hopefully, the first visit of multiple in the near future.

The great part about Griffin as a player is the fact he can play both sides of the ball. I think the top thing that jumps off the page is Griffin’s speed. He can fly past anyone on the football field. He can line up in the backfield or in the slot and be effective.

I am intrigued by Griffin’s ability to play in the secondary as well. His speed will obviously help him keep up with wide receivers, but the strength that he possesses is underrated. Griffin can shed a blocking wide receiver and get to the ball carrier, which is an important ability to have on the field.

While Illinois only has one commitment for 2024 as of right now, adding someone like Griffin would help boost this group immediately. He is a wanted player by numerous teams, and hopefully, Illinois is the eventual landing spot. This kid is dynamic.