The Illinois football team is entering a crucial season, and it needs to be all hands on deck.
There is doubt flowing through the national media about what the Illini can do this season, as the AP Top 25 preseason poll was released on Monday. With just nine votes to be in the top 25, Illinois wasn’t close to cracking the rankings.
Bret Bielema has put together a pretty good roster, though. Illinois has talent and depth, and unlike the previous tenure, the program can sustain a few injuries.
Just days ago, some of the worst news of fall camp took place. Incoming transfer portal addition Alex Perry is set to undergo surgery for an injury in the spring. The thought was that the injury would be better by now, but that isn’t the case.
Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. addressed the missing piece to the wide receiver corps.
“Obviously, it is very unfortunate for Alex and our football team and what he is battling. I wish him well. And obviously, there are still some things to be determined there in regards to what is going on with him.”
It was one of the stranger stories about an injury. According to Bielema, Perry pinched a nerve in his shoulder in his sleep. They have sent him to experts on the issue, but nothing has worked yet.
While it is disappointing that Perry won’t be able to go in 2026, Lunney is looking for the next big playmaker on the roster.
“It is a next man up mentality. It is opportunity for other people. That is why you have a bunch of guys, you have a bunch of depth and recruit a bunch of depth for moments like that across all positions.”
The Illinois football roster has multiple guys who can step into the Alex Perry role
It would have been nice to have Perry out wide. He was going to be a big part of this program in 2026. Thankfully, as Lunney says, Illinois has depth at wide receiver.
I think you are going to see a heavy dose of Jayshon Platt, Collin Dixon, and Hudson Clement this season. Those are the three guys who are going to be the stars of this position group.
The second group of playmakers at wide receiver could be pretty special, too. Nas Rankin, Ty Robinson, Brayden Trimble, and Eddie Kasper are four names to keep an eye on.
Robinson and Kasper are transfer portal additions, so they already have college experience. Trimble was a highly rated recruit who hasn’t taken off yet. Rankin is one of the best recruits in the Bielema era, and his freshman season could be big.
Illinois never used to have depth. Over the last five years, depth has become something we can count on. It is a nice feeling to be able to go to the bench and find talent when someone goes down with an injury.
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