Things are going well for the Illinois football team on the recruiting front, and now we have landed the future of our quarterback room.
For the class of 2026, the Illini are holding strong despite dropping a few spots in recent weeks. We still have 23 commits and a top 30 recruiting class. As we wait to see who signs up for 2026, the class of 2027 is now off the ground.
On Sunday night, Kamden Lopati took to social media to announce that he has committed to the Illini. This is a big-time commitment for the Orange and Blue and a great way to start the 2027 class.
I am grateful to all the coaches that have taken the time to recruit me at West High. I am humbled and honored to announce my Commitment to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. #famILLy @BretBielema @BarryLunneyJr @artursitkowski4 @coachsolovi @westpanthersfb @Andy_Pham1… pic.twitter.com/AaEtFZLvWG
— Kamden Lopati (@CowboyKamden) July 28, 2025
Lopati is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback from West High School in Utah. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 194 player in the class of 2027. He is also the No. 16 quarterback in the country and the No. 2 player coming out of Utah.
With roughly 15 scholarship offers and counting, Illinois managed to beat out teams like Oregon, Washington, and Arizona State, to name a few.
Bret Bielema era of Illinois football has done a great job landing quarterback recruits
This is such positive news for the Illinois football program. The 2026 class also led off with a big quarterback commit of Michael Clayton. He is a high-three-star recruit and someone who is going to compete for the starting job in the future.
In fact, the Bret Bielema era has actually been very competent when it comes to bringing in quarterbacks. It is extremely refreshing considering how incompetent the previous regime was in Champaign.
Bielema is adding Clayton in 2026. We added Carson Boyd and Jershaun Newton in 2025. Trey Petty came in from the class of 2024. There is always a stable of quarterbacks just waiting to get a shot. Illinois has done a great job building depth in a time in college football when a player can leave at the drop of a hat.
Lopati is next in line. He is a great quarterback who can really fling the ball around. Illinois got a great one on Sunday night.