Illinois football is playing with the big boys when it comes to an elite recruit.
Since Bret Bielema took over the Illini program, we have done a good job bringing in talent. The class of 2022 was the first group he brought in, and the freshmen group ranked No. 46 in the country.
Illinois has continued to land solid recruiting classes since. In 2023, we logged the No. 38 freshman class. The class of 2024 freshman group ranked No. 49 in the country. And for the class of 2025, Illinois has the No. 42 freshman class in the country.
Bielema has already started to land talent for the class of 2026. Illinois has three commitments, and these three commits have a national ranking of No. 32 in the nation. That number could continue to grow if the Illini lands a player like Victor Singleton.
Singleton is a 6-foot, 160-pound cornerback from Central Catholic High School in Ohio. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 45 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 3 cornerback in the country and the best player coming out of Ohio.
On Wednesday, the star defensive back decided to narrow the scope of his recruitment. He cut his list down to just five teams. The five programs to make the cut include Oregon, Michigan, Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Illinois.
#AGTG🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/wQnF3cOblk
— Victor singleton (@victorsin__) January 8, 2025
Illinois football has the right development for Victor Singleton, but can we compete in the NIL game
Singleton is one of those game-changing instant-impact defensive backs. He has incredible instincts for the ball. Singleton reads the quarterback’s eyes well, and he can jump routes amazingly well. This kid flies to the ball. He is one of those players you can leave on an island, and he is going to be okay.
It is obvious why Singleton is rated so highly. This kid is special. But what program is he going to pick at the end of the day?
If Singleton wants defensive back development and the ability to get to the next level, Illinois is right in the mix for his commitment.
Since Bielema took over the Illinois football program, we have put numerous defensive backs in the NFL. Devon Witherspoon was the No. 5 overall pick in the NFL Draft, and he has made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons in the league.
Quan Martin and Sydney Brown are both talked about every time they suit up for the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively. Both players have helped those defenses greatly.
The Detroit Lions are having one of the best seasons in franchise history. Kerby Joseph is leading the way on defense. He led the NFL this season with nine interceptions. Joseph made the All-Pro Team this season, which means he is the best at his position.
But here is the thing, in today’s college football world, NIL also matters. Illinois is basketball-driven, so that is where most of the NIL dollars are going. We are going up against four programs for Singleton’s commitment that all focus on football. They will have deeper pockets when it comes to NIL dollars.
It will be interesting to see who wins this recruitment. Ohio State is favored right now, as they are in the National Championship, are the in-state program, and have incredibly deep pockets. But let’s see if Illinois can make some waves. This one could be tough, though.