Fighting Illini take over Chicago, landing stars from Illinois' biggest city

The Fighting Illini had a HUGE day of recruiting dominance as two blue-chip prospects announced their commitments. Chicago natives Nasir Rankin, a four-star athlete, and King Liggins, a three-star defensive lineman, both shared their decisions with the nation, solidifying Illinois's ownership of the state's biggest city.

Liggins had narrowed his list of schools down to just two programs, including the Illinois Fighting Illini and fellow Big Ten team the Wisconsin Badgers.

Streaming live on 247Sports' Ultimate College Football Show, Liggins announced his decision, and the Fighting Illini were on the right track for their decisive day of commitments.

"First, I'd like to thank God, also I'd like to thank my family, my friends, and my coaches" Liggins said. "For the next three to four years, I'll be taking my football play to the University of Illinois."

An hour later, it would be Rankin's turn to share his decision with the college football world. The two-way player (both a wide receiver and defensive back) had narrowed his list down to five programs: North Carolina, USC, Illinois, Nebraska, and Duke.

"They were the first school to offer me, they always show love," Rankin said. "They're close to home."

Just before his commitment, Rankin had the five schools' hats lined up in front of him, with his mother to his left and his father to his right.

"First of all, I want to thank God for blessing me to be here. I wouldn't be here without God," Rankin said, echoing the message that Liggins shared earlier in the day.

Rankin started by tossing the Illinois hat to the side. Then he pretended to put on the Duke, North Carolina, Nebraska, and USC hats. Last but not least, the two-way prospect pulled out a second Illinois hat and committed to the Fighting Illini.

Just like that, Illinois had clenched two of the most attractive recruits out of the state, and the Fighting Illini were trending in the right direction for their class of 2026 prospects.

While neither blue-chip recruit included the Northwestern Wildcats in their list of final schools under consideration, being able to go into a team's city and poach two of the top prospects is always satisfying, especially when said program is in the same conference.