Illinois football looking the JUCO route for offensive line help in 2025

Illinois football is focusing on building the offensive line for the 2025 campaign.

This season has been great for the Illini. We are currently 6-2 overall and have an outside chance of making the College Football Playoff for the first time ever.

While there is plenty of good to talk about with the Orange and Blue, there are a few weak points with this program. One of the issues I have had is with the offensive line.

Sure, the Illinois offensive line can run block well. Illinois’ running backs have been able to get yards at a high rate in 2024. But the pass blocking is where I take the biggest issue. The Illini needs better pass-blocking offensive linemen.

Someone like Matthew Lefeau would help solidify the Illinois offensive line next season. He is a 6-foot-5, 350-pound guard from Shasta College in Washington. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 41 junior college player in the class of 2025. He is also the No. 2 JUCO interior lineman in the country and the No. 4 JUCO recruit coming out of Washington.

Numerous big-time programs are after Lefeau, and Illinois joined the mix recently. On Wednesday, Lefeau took to social media to announce that he had indeed received a scholarship offer from the Illini.

Matthew Lefeau would fit seamlessly into the Illinois football offensive line in 2025

Over the past couple of seasons, Bret Bielema has built up a nice stockpile of offensive linemen. He has built the front lines with a combination of freshmen and transfer talent.

After the 2024 season concludes, Illinois will only be losing two of the five starting offensive linemen. Zy Crisler and JC Davis are both seniors and will be moving on.

That leaves the door wide open for Lefeau to come into the program and not only see snaps from day one, but he would slip into a starting role and help the Illini win games from the start.

I don’t think it is wise to build an entire team from the transfer portal or from the JUCO ranks, but filling holes with this type of talent is a good idea. Illinois is going to need microwave talent on the offensive line in 2025, and Lefeau would be a great option.