Illinois football taps back into the transfer portal for defensive line help

Illinois football continues adding pieces to what should be a talented team in 2025.

Much of the recruiting talk is coming in the form of the class of 2026. This is a class that is building into one of the best groups we have seen in years, but the Illini are still putting the finishing touches on the 2025 class.

On Friday afternoon, Illinois added another piece to the puzzle. Eli Coenen took to social media to announce that he has committed to the Orange and Blue.

Coenen is a 6-foot-7, 275-pound defensive end who is transferring in from Bemidji State. He entered the Beavers’ program back in 2023 and took a redshirt that season. This past season, Coenen played in 13 contests and started in one game. For his career, he has 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 1.0 pass deflection, and 1.0 fumble recoveries.

I look at Coenen and see a ton of potential. Illinois is getting this kid with three years of eligibility remaining. He already has some post-high school experience, which is a big plus.

Bret Bielema is getting some much-needed defensive line depth with the addition of Eli Coenen

Will the addition of Coenen be the thing that gets Illinois over the hump and into the College Football Playoff? The answer is likely, no.

But this is a good addition to the program because the Illini needed more depth. The defensive line has some question marks in it for the 2025 season, and having more options and bodies on the front lines will only increase competition and progression at this position.

I think there is a lot of untapped potential with Coenen, too. He had good numbers as a redshirt freshman, and with the coaching staff at Illinois, I think he could take a step forward in 2025. I fully expect him to be a solid primary backup who gets snaps in year one. He fits what Illinois needed perfectly.