Crystal Ball Prediction has Illinois football bolstering defense through JUCO route

The Illinois football team is trying to stack as much talent as possible and finish with a top class of 2025.

So far, the Illini have 17 commits and are knocking on the door of the top 50. There aren’t a ton of options left out there, but Bret Bielema seems to be working on a couple of potential additions.

Illinois is currently projected to flip Purdue commit, Grant Beerman. He is a four-star linebacker from Ohio who could come into the program and make an instant impact. Beerman feels like one of those defensive players Bielema molds into a first round NFL Draft pick.

Another player Bielema is working on landing is Ismael Kante. He is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound edge rusher out of Iowa Central Community College. He isn’t rated or ranked by 247Sports, but Kante does have solid scholarship offers.

As of right now, Kante has taken two official visits. He visited Eastern Michigan last week, and this week, he took in Champaign for an official visit. Since that official visit, Illinois has gained a lot of momentum in the Kante recruitment. On Tuesday, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports came in with a Crystal Ball Prediction. With a confidence of seven out of 10, which is high, he thinks Kante is going to land with the Illini.

Illinois clearly sees potential in Kante. The fact he has already been playing at a higher than high school level is always intriguing. Illinois could always use more talent on the edge too. We are losing some key players like Seth Coleman, so the more depth the better.

Over the years, the junior college route has been great to the Illinois football program

Throughout the Bielema era of Illinois football, we have been able to recruit pretty well. That hasn’t always been the case, though. Illinois has had some stinker recruiting classes in the past.

No matter the coach, one thing has always been true. Illinois has always been able to land key junior college players.

On the current roster, Illinois has received some big snaps from cornerback Kaleb Patterson. He came into the program from Pearl River CC back in 2023. Illinois starting offensive lineman Zy Crisler joined the program in 2022 from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC. In that same class, now-NFL offensive lineman, Isaiah Adams picked Illinois after spending time at Garden City CC.

The success from the JUCO route doesn’t end with Bielema, though. It goes back much further. Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips came from Garden City CC, defensive lineman Jihad Ward came from Globe Institute of Technology, and wide receiver Geronimo Allison came from Iowa Western CC.

JUCO players have been a part of Illinois football for a long time. Shoot, you can go back to the early 1980s and find quarterback Tony Eason. He was a gunslinger for the Illini, and he came to Champaign from American River College.

The JUCO route is something that helps Illinois fill gaps on the roster with experienced players. Kante would hopefully be the next in line of great JUCO talent to come through the program.