The Illinois football team hasn’t had too hard of a time with the transfer portal just yet.
Since the season ended, and the Illini clinched eight wins in back-to-back seasons, we have only lost three players to the transfer portal. Those three players will be missed, and they join their fourth, who transferred out midseason.
So, going into Sunday, Illinois only had four players who were currently in the transfer portal. That all changed, though. The Illini can now add a fifth to the party.
Wide receiver Mario Sanders II took to social media to announce that he, too, was entering the transfer portal.
— Mario Sanders II (@mariosanders_1) December 15, 2025
Sanders, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound soon-to-be senior, was never able to get his career off the ground at Illinois. After spending a couple of seasons at Iowa Central Community College, Illinois was able to land him in 2024.
I thought Sanders may have a chance to make a mark on the Illini wide receivers corps, as he was the No. 45 JUCO player that year and the No. 9 JUCO wide receiver. That didn’t end up being the case, though.
Sanders didn’t record any stats in year one. While he was rated as Illinois’ best wide receiver in 2025, Sanders only took six snaps. He finished his junior year with two receptions for 32 yards.
Illinois football still has plenty of weapons returning for the 2026 season
No one likes to lose a player. Sanders will be missed, and I wish him nothing but the best. But at the end of the day, this doesn’t affect the roster in the least bit.
Illinois has plenty of talent coming back next season, which is probably why Sanders hit the transfer portal.
Justin Bowick has another year of eligibility, and he will be our big target. Collin Dixon will only be a junior for the Illini, and he was arguably our best wide receiver this season. A name to keep an eye on will be Brayden Trimble. I believe he took a redshirt this season, and he was one of our best recruits from the class of 2025. Trimble will be a massive part of the Illinois offense.