Illinois football wants to build a powerhouse program, and it was a great step forward in 2024.
The Illini managed to hit the 10-win mark in 2024. It was an incredible run that had us in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. I don’t want that to end. In fact, entering the 2025 season, Illinois is still in that conversation, as we are a near lock to be ranked inside the top 25 to start the season.
To keep winning, Illinois needs to land the right players. We have a great start to the class of 2026, as 10 players are committed and we have a national ranking of No. 12 in the country. While that class builds, Bret Bielema is laying the groundwork for future recruiting classes.
This past Friday, Jameer Henry took to social media to announce that he has received a scholarship offer from Illinois.
I’m blessed to receive an offer from the University of Illinois!! thank you @CoachCParker @Coach_BMiller for the opportunity @CoachBlackwell_@KC_CoachTP@ryanobleness @AllenTrieu @SamWebb77
— Jameer Henry (@Valiid00) March 28, 2025
@Rivalsdotcom@247Sports @On3sports@RivalsWardlaw pic.twitter.com/2HtqF3Swa8
Henry is a 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive lineman from Martin Luther King High School in Michigan. He isn’t rated or ranked yet because it is early in the recruiting process, but the recruiting attention Henry has garnered is quite impressive.
In addition to the Illinois offer, Henry has offers from teams like Michigan, Ole Miss, and USC, to name a few. So, he is clearly a four-star recruit.
Whatever Illinois football is doing on the recruiting trail is working to perfection
It is quite impressive what Bielema has already put together for 2026. Illinois is legitimately sniffing around the top 15 nationally. We also have a top 60 recruit in the country, which is extremely rare.
I think Illinois can finish the class of 2026 in the top 20 nationally. That would be an accomplishment that hasn’t been seen since the Ron Zook era.
Illinois needs to build on that recruiting momentum, too. We can’t have a great 2026 class and then sign a sub-40 recruiting class for 2027. Bielema has been able to get players in the door and is securing their commitments. I don’t expect that to slow down anytime soon.