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Illinois football offensive line transfer portal wish list 1.0

By Rees Woodcock

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 26: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen at Big Ten football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 26: An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet is seen at Big Ten football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Sep 9, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker Choe Bryant-Strother (9) battles with San Diego State Aztecs offensive lineman Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (61) during the second half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker Choe Bryant-Strother (9) battles with San Diego State Aztecs offensive lineman Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (61) during the second half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

For the offensive tackle position in 2024, I am looking for a good player with experience. I am sick of defensive ends constantly getting by the Illini tackles and getting to the quarterback.

I believe an offensive tackle like Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson would help the Illinois offensive line tremendously. He is a 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle who is a graduate transfer. He entered his name into the transfer portal on Wednesday, and he would be a great addition to the Illini.

Crenshaw-Dickson wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school. The California native was a three-star recruit who was ranked just inside the top 2000. He picked San Diego State as his landing spot.

During his sophomore season in 2021, Crenshaw-Dickson started every game for the Aztecs. He then started 12 games in 2022. This past season, Crenshaw-Dickson was great for the San Diego State program. He was a leader on the offensive line and started in 10 games for the program. Crenshaw-Dickson had an overall grade of 73.5, which ranks him No. 76 in the country among all tackles.

That is exactly what I am looking for in the transfer portal. Crenshaw-Dickson has a ton of starting experience, and he is talented. It is hard to rate that high, and his best rating is in the pass-blocking department. Crenshaw-Dickson checks in with a pass-blocking grade of 79.1.

It is a long shot, but Illinois pulling in someone like Crenshaw-Dickson would be huge for the program. He would start from day one, and he would give the protection needed for Luke Altmyer to blossom.

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