Bret Bielema is coming off a huge week of recruiting wins, landing commitments from three-star defensive lineman King Liggins and four-star, two-way athlete Nasir Rankin. Now, the Illinois football head coach has found himself in the final five for a local three-star prospect.
Nick Hankins Jr., a three-star cornerback in the class of 2026 from Belleville, IL, included the Illinois Fighting Illini, alongside the Tennessee Volunteers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Ole Miss Rebels, and Missouri Tigers, on his list of schools still in contention for his commitment.
Hankins is ranked as the No. 10 prospect out of the state of Illinois and the No. 34 cornerback in the class. Before narrowing his possible future programs, Hankins received 19 Division I offers.
Where's home 👀 pic.twitter.com/7ayoF1XJey
— Nick Hankins Jr (@nickhankins113) May 23, 2025
Hankins has become a standout defensive back while also playing basketball for his school, Belleville West High School. At 6-foot-1 and just 175 pounds (despite listing himself at 190 pounds on social media), Hankins is still highly undersized for a collegiate cornerback, but he has another season of high school ball to pack on the pounds.
So far, Hankins has taken seven unofficial visits. The cornerback prospect has visited the Illini as well as the Volunteers, Tigers, Michigan State Spartans, Wisconsin Badgers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Purdue Boilermakers, and Missouri State Bears.
Over the summer, Hankins has official visits scheduled with Illinois (June 6), Missouri (May 30), and Tennessee (June 13).
Also read: 4-star Missouri athlete has Illinois as a top contender for commitment
Hankins has yet to share when he will make his decision. Currently, Bielema and the Fighting Illini have the No. 25 class of 2026 commits. The Volunteers have the No. 12 class, and the Tigers are currently unranked with just one commitment, four-star quarterback Gavin Sidwar.