Huge 4-star recruit keeps Illinois football alive for his commitment

Illinois football has a chance to have some special recruiting classes in the next couple of seasons.

The class of 2026 is already bringing in a top 30 group right now. The Illini still need to close that class, but it is looking pretty good. Bret Bielema is also setting his eyes on the 2027 class.

Kamden Lopati, the talented four-star quarterback from Utah, is Illinois’ first commitment for 2027. Looking to give Lopati some weapons, the Illini are now in the running for a top wide receiver as well.

On Monday, Jabari Watkins narrowed the scope of his recruitment down to just four teams. The four programs he kept alive for his commitment were California, Florida State, Nebraska, and Illinois.

Watkins is exactly who Illinois needs for 2027. He is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound wide receiver from Thomas County Central High School in Georgia. Watkins is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 203 player in the class of 2027. He is also the No. 29 wide receiver in the country and the No. 23 player coming out of Georgia.

Illinois football has a prime chance to add a big impact player in Jabari Watkins

I think a big part of Illinois’ offensive struggles in 2025 is that we don’t have big-time playmakers at wide receiver. We need more weapons on the outside, and that is what Watkins can provide.

With Lopati coming into the program, he will need some help. Surrounding him with four-star talent would only elevate the Illini.

Illinois seems to have a decent shot at this recruitment, too. Watkins has already visited both Florida State and Illinois. He is in that range of NIL money where we can compete for his commitment.

Honestly, at this point, I think Nebraska is Illinois’ biggest rival when it comes to recruiting Watkins. They already took a big-time in-state quarterback in 2027, and now they want one of our huge wide receiver targets. Let’s see if Bielema can win this big recruitment.