5 crucial positions Illinois football needs to address in the transfer portal

2. Offensive Guard

One of the hardest-hit positions since the season ended has to be offensive guard. This is a crucial position because it helps protect Luke Altmyer from any blitzes up the middle. Illinois needs to find some good pieces at offensive guard this offseason.

• Who is leaving?

Illinois has had a few departures at offensive guard. The biggest is likely Zy Crisler. He has spent a couple of seasons with the program and was a nice rotational piece at the position in 2024.

Crisler played 449 snaps, but he only ranked No. 604 among all guards in the college game. His 51.1 grade from Pro Football Focus ranks dead last among all Illinois guards.

While losing Crisler hurts depth, so does the Illini losing two players to the transfer portal. Both Kevin Wigenton II and Hunter Whitenack have departed the program. They played a combined 74 snaps this past season, so that is depth in the future that is leaving.

• Who is back?

Thankfully, Illinois does have some starting talent back in the fold. Josh Gesky is going to be the biggest returning piece for the Illini.

Gesky played the most snaps for Illinois, as he logged 754 snaps in 2024. Brandon Henderson is still with the program too. He had four starts in 2024, and he played the third most snaps at 321 snaps on the year.

• What does Illinois need?

Depth. I think the simple answer is depth. Illinois only has two offensive guards returning who played snaps in 2024.

I would love another starting-caliber guard to come into the program from the transfer portal. Illinois needs talent up front, and getting someone in who can at least push Henderson and Gesky will be important.

Overall, I want at least two offensive guards to emerge from the transfer portal. Give me a starter and then someone who can fill in snaps and be a starter down the road.