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Illinois Football: Illini lose 2024 offensive tackle commitment

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 05: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 05: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The Illinois football program lost a member of the 2024 family on Sunday.

Bret Bielema and the Illini coaching staff have built a couple of solid recruiting classes in the first two years with the program. The class of 2024 is on pace to be another solid unit.

While everyone wants commitments and no one to change their mind, sometimes players do back away from a commitment. That is what happened to Illinois on Sunday night.

On social media, Caleb Pyfrom announced that he was opening his recruitment back up after “talking with my family.”


Pyfrom is a 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive tackle from Central High School in Nebraska. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 617 player in the class of 2024. He is also the No. 48 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 5 player coming out of Nebraska.

Where does Illinois football go from here after losing 2024 commit Caleb Pyfrom

On a basic recruiting level, Pyfrom was a good get for the Illini. He was a top 700 player at a crucial position for the program. Pyfrom backing away from his commitment is a bit of a gut punch.

Illinois still has a solid recruiting class for 2024, though. The group ranks No. 48 in the country, and we have 17 commitments. So, while losing Pyfrom does hurt, it is not like the cupboard is bare. Illinois still has some great talent coming in next season.

At this point in the proceedings, I think Illinois will add one or two more incoming freshmen to the class of 2024. There aren’t a ton of options left unless we end up flipping a few recruits.

My guess is the Illinois football coaching staff is already hitting the transfer portal and recruiting some of the options who have already entered. There will be plenty of great options in the portal in the coming months as well.

Losing a player like Pyfrom is a bit of a speed bump, but Illinois still has a great foundation for the class of 2024. Bolstering this class with some solid transfer portal options will solidify that the Illini are building something special in Champaign.

Next. What the Illini should do with Bret Bielema. dark

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