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Bret Bielema looking local to build out the Illinois football offensive line

Tapping into the local market for recruits has been a priority, and the Illinois football team is looking to add a big-time in-state offensive lineman.
ByRees Woodcock|
Dec 30, 2019; Santa Clara, California, USA; General view of the Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second quarter against California Golden Bears at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Dec 30, 2019; Santa Clara, California, USA; General view of the Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second quarter against California Golden Bears at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

The offensive line has always been a priority for the Illinois football program since Bret Bielema took over.

Over the past five years, the Illini offensive line has improved immensely. We are sending players to the NFL, and our quarterbacks have had time to throw the football. I don’t want that to stop anytime soon either.

Adding talent on the offensive line is crucial. Depth was always an issue before Bielema, and now that isn’t the case nearly as much. That is why I love the fact that Illinois is targeting a big-time in-state offensive lineman.

Just over a week ago, Mason Halliman took to social media to announce that Illinois has extended him a scholarship offer.

Halliman is a 6-foot-5, 265-pound offensive tackle from Lincoln-Way East High School in Illinois. He isn’t rated or ranked yet, but the 2027 recruit is starting to pick up some steam on the recruiting trail.

It is early in the recruitment, but Halliman already has roughly eight scholarship offers from big programs like Arizona State, Iowa, and Iowa State, to name a few.

In-state recruiting has been a top priority for Bret Bielema in Champaign

Halliman is a really talented offensive line recruit. He has great size at 6-foot-5, and he can move well. Honestly, with his size and athletic ability, I would want to move him to guard, but that is something to talk about down the road.

Illinois is after Halliman, and he is a big-time in-state recruit. This is what Bielema was wanting as soon as he arrived in Champaign. He wanted to do better with in-state recruiting, and that is starting to come to fruition.

Bielema has already been able to pull in four-star recruits from the state of Illinois like Malik Elzy and Kaden Feagin. For the class of 2026, six out of the 16 commitments are from the state of Illinois, and our top commitment, Nasir Rankin, is a top 100 recruit in the country.

Halliman will hopefully be next in line of great in-state commitments. Illinois always needs more offensive line help, and he would be the perfect option.

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