The Illinois football team has been fighting tooth and nail to rebuild a roster that was decimated with departures through graduation and the transfer portal.
Bret Bielema and the rest of the Illini staff have been actively calling around to top targets in the transfer portal with the hope of bringing them to the program. It has been an embarrassment of riches as of late, with the likes of quarterback Katin Houser and center Jake Renfro committing to the program.
But Illinois still needs more before the transfer portal closes on January 16, especially at the wide receiver position. The Illinois football team has seen a lot of departures over the past couple of months, with four of their top five receivers, including tight end Cole Rusk, leaving the team for various reasons.
Thankfully, their quest to get Houser more targets to throw to continued on Thursday with the addition of former Florida International wideout Alex Perry.
Illinois has signed former FIU star wide receiver Alex Perry, @chris_hummer and I have learned.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 8, 2026
The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder, who is repped by @bnm_nil, finished this season with 56 catches, 840 yards and nine touchdowns. Was first-team all-conference. pic.twitter.com/HdMEndTp9P
Perry, who has one year of eligibility left, was a three-star recruit and the No. 188 wide receiver in the country coming out of high school. The Port Charlotte, Florida, product began his collegiate career with the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors from 2022 to 2024, where he only recorded 48 receptions, 491 yards, and three touchdowns.
It was a rough tenure for Perry in the Aloha State, but his fortunes changed for the better after transferring to Florida International University. In 13 games with the Panthers, Perry led the team with 56 receptions, 840 yards, and nine touchdowns. This performance led Perry to be named to the 2025 All-CUSA First Team Offense.
Does this transfer portal wide receiver have what it takes to be a top dog in Champaign?
As of writing this, 247sports has Alex Perry ranked as the No. 101 wide receiver in this year's transfer portal. With only one quality year of play under his belt, the former Panther is not being seen as a big get by the media in this year's cycle.
It's a bit of a shame, however, as Perry proved that he can be the leading man in a Division 1 offense. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound pass-catcher has all of the makings of a legit red-zone threat for Illinois. His large frame and uncanny ability to come down with contested catches will make him a perfect target for Houser to throw to next season.
Last season wasn't a fluke at FIU. Perry is the real deal and has a chance to continue his rise to the top in Champaign. The only question that remains is: can he take the next step and compete in the Big Ten after a year in Conference USA? If so, the sky is the limit for this young man.