4-star recruit reaffirms all-in, Illinois football “over everybody”

It is hard to recruit in today’s landscape, but the Illinois football program has managed to knock recruiting out of the park.

Landing big-time recruits has not been a specialty for the Illini over the years. But the 2026 class seems different. We have multiple four-star commitments and a national recruiting ranking of No. 14 in the country.

While commitments are great, holding on to those recruits is the key. Early National Signing Day is still a half-year away, and there is an entire season before that. But on Sunday, Illinois had one of its biggest recruits reaffirm his pledge to the Orange and Blue.

Linebacker Cam Thomas took to social media to let the Illinois fanbase know that he had completed his official visit and it is, “#Illini over everybody!”

Thomas, a four-star linebacker who ranks as the No. 333 player in the class of 2026, could have gone nearly anywhere. The Ohio product had offers from teams like Michigan, Louisville, and Oregon, among the 28 total scholarships he has been offered.

Illinois football still has to make Cam Thomas a priority and play well in the fall

The reaffirmation from Thomas is always nice. He is an elite recruit, and Illinois needed to show out this weekend. That looks to be the case.

Bret Bielema and the Illinois coaching staff can’t coast on those words by Thomas, though. We still have to make him a top priority and keep checking in with him throughout the coming months.

This fall is going to be key, too. Illinois needs to continue winning. We are projected to be a contender for the College Football Playoff, and if we lay an egg, that would be bad.

Lastly, while I am pumped and excited to have Thomas join the Illini, there are a few big hitters out there that have yet to swing for this kid. My eyes are on Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Alabama. If any of those three teams come in with an offer, Illinois’ mission to hold on to Thomas would be a little bit harder. It is great that Thomas is locked in with the Orange and Blue, but we can’t let up. It has to be pedal to the metal with this recruitment for the Illini.