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Illinois Football: Top 5 recruiting targets left for the class of 2024

By Rees Woodcock

COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 27: Football on the field during a college football game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Capitol One Field at Maryland Stadium on October 27, 2018 at College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 27: Football on the field during a college football game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Capitol One Field at Maryland Stadium on October 27, 2018 at College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Jan 2, 2023; Tampa, FL, USA; the Illinois Fighting Illini take the field fro the the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Darrion Dupree

Bret Bielema has proved he can put running backs into the NFL. He has been able to recruit well at the running back position too. Hopefully, Darrion Dupree is the next great Illini ball carrier.

Dupree is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound running back from Mount Carmel High School in Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 367 player in the class of 2024. He is also the No. 32 running back in the country and the No. 8 player in the state of Illinois.

I believe Dupree has three official visits scheduled. Wisconsin led things off on June 2. This past weekend, he visited Illinois. The last scheduled visit is set to take place at Missouri on June 23.

247Sports does have a leader in the clubhouse right now. There are two Crystal Ball Predictions in favor of Wisconsin. One of the predictions is a six out of 10, and the other prediction is an eight out of 10.

Even though the Badgers are projected to land Dupree, it is good he hasn’t committed just yet. I believe Illinois is still right there for his commitment. Bielema has been able to land talented in-state running backs, like Kaden Feagin, so I believe we can continue that hot streak.

Illinois could always use more running back depth. We only have five running backs on the roster right now, albeit, they are talented ball carriers. I think Reggie Love III is going to be the lead man for the next two years. Josh McCray will have his say when it comes to carries as well. Behind them is a bunch of high-level three-star and four-star recruits. Adding Dupree would only make us stronger.

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