3. Returning wide receiver cast in 2025 is going to be good
I’ve seen some South Carolina fans complaining on social media about how they didn’t have a couple of key players, so this game didn’t really matter.
Well, South Carolina fans, guess what? Illinois didn’t have our top wide receiver who is going to be a decent pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Pat Bryant decided to opt out and prepare for his professional future, and we still came out with the victory.
Bryant finished the 2024 campaign, which consisted of 12 games due to no bowl game, with 54 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns. That is quite an impressive season for the talented pass catcher. One of the fun things about bowl games is that when a great player like Bryant opts out, you get to see what you might have coming back the following season.
Zakhari Franklin is going to be missed. He had four receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. But Illinois’ leading wide receiver, Hank Beatty, is going to be back next season. He had four receptions for 90 yards in the bowl win.
On top of Beatty returning, Collin Dixon is going to be entering his sophomore season. Dixon had a great catch in the game and finished with 27 yards. Illinois will also get back Malik Elzy. He is one of the few four-star players on the roster, and his potential at wide receiver is through the roof.
Illinois fans got to see more of these players in the game against South Carolina. What their performance on Tuesday proved is that we have a good group of pass catchers returning in 2025. The future is so bright.