It is that time of season again, when you are constantly updating social media to see if an Illinois football player has hit the transfer portal.
Last season wasn’t too bad. Bret Bielema has done a great job building relationships and keeping Illini players on the roster. There will always be some detractors, but for the most part, this program is great at keeping talent home.
With that being said, as I look up and down the roster, it wouldn’t shock me to see certain players depart the program. Please note, I don’t want them to leave. But honestly, I wouldn’t blame them if they did enter the transfer portal.
Here are five Illinois football players I wouldn’t blame if they hit the transfer portal
1. Malik Elzy – Wide Receiver (Junior - Already transferring)
Let’s start this thing off with a layup. Malik Elzy decided to leave the team and enter the transfer portal midway through the 2025 campaign.
A once-promising four-star recruit, Elzy never lived up to the billing. In three seasons, he had a combined 16 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
Most of the time, I would blame Illinois’ lack of quarterback play on a wide receiver not living up to his potential, but that isn’t the case this time. Luke Altmyer was in town, and he is arguably the best quarterback we have had in decades.
Elzy will now take his talents elsewhere in hopes of getting his career restarted.
2. Mario Sanders II – Wide Receiver (Junior)
Illinois went into the junior college ranks in 2023 to snag talented pass-catcher Mario Sanders II. Since he joined the program, he hasn’t been able to make much of an impact.
The 2025 campaign is the first time Sanders has caught a pass at Illinois. He has two receptions for 32 yards this season.
Sanders will be entering his senior year in the college ranks. There is no starting job waiting, and he likely won’t see much more playing time in 2026. This might be a case where the stage is a little too big for him, and heading to a smaller school for one final season wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Illinois always needs weapons, but the arsenal might be a little too deep. I wouldn’t blame Sanders if he transferred to get some playing time for his final season.
3. Kaden Feagin – Running Back (Junior)
This one might shock some people. I loved it when Illinois landed Kaden Feagin. I thought he was the next great running back for the program.
Feagin has been a monster for the Illini. Through three seasons, he has 281 carries for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those are okay numbers, but due to injuries and the way the offense is set up, Feagin hasn’t been able to get going on the ground.
I do blame some of this on a poor offensive line, but when it comes down to it, I don’t think Feagin fits in with the Illinois offense. We are more of a passing unit now, and we need someone who is quick but can also pass block. Feagin is not strong in either of those areas. In fact, Pro Football Focus has a grade of 33.8 for Feagin in the pass blocking department.
Feagin is now entering his senior season. Illinois has some pretty talented running backs coming down the pike. He is more of a goal line ground-and-pound type of running back, and Illinois needs running backs who can block and fly through holes. I wouldn’t blame Feagin if he wanted to go to another in-state program, like Illinois State or Northern Illinois, and get a change of scenery.
4. Kaleb Patterson – Cornerback (Junior)
Illinois started the season with a certain group of players at each position, and as time went on, the coaching staff adjusted the depth chart to help the team succeed on the field.
A player like Kaleb Patterson was one of the Illini’s big-time players early on in the season. He was seeing at least 25 snaps in each of the first four games. But after that point, his playing time started to plummet.
Patterson is going to be entering his senior year. Illinois is starting to address the cornerback issue from this past season with the addition of elite junior college cornerback Jakwon Morris. I believe Xavier Scott will take a medical redshirt, too.
Even with Scott being out for much of the season, Patterson lost his playing time as the season progressed. He seems like he is out of favor in Champaign. It might not be a bad idea for a fresh start, and I wouldn’t blame him one bit if he hit the transfer portal.
5. Mac Resetich – Safety (Junior)
I thought Illinois might have a diamond in the rough when I saw Mac Resetich play in the Cheez-It Bowl last season. He looked good, and I was hoping that would spill over into 2025.
That didn’t end up being the case, though. Illinois went primarily with two safeties this season, as Miles Scott and Matthew Bailey both dominated the secondary. They each played 731 and 693 snaps, respectively, this season.
Resetich, on the other hand, only saw 197 snaps. Most of those snaps came in the first four weeks of the season. Out of all of the safeties who took a snap in 2025, Resetich logged the worst grade.
Illinois has a couple of young safeties coming up. Bielema is bound to add at least a safety in the transfer portal, and we have some good options in the class of 2026. Entering his senior season, Resetich might be buried on the roster. I can’t blame him if he wants playing time and wants to transfer out.