Illinois football has gotten off to a great start when it comes to recruiting in 2026.
The Illini continue to bring in talent for the class of 2026 at a high rate. We have a top-15 group right now, and that could get much stronger this week, as a big decision is coming down the pipeline.
While the 2026 class is looking strong, the class of 2027 has yet to get off the ground. The first domino has yet to drop, as the biggest recruit we had on the board ended up picking Nebraska. Illinois is now trying to get into another huge recruitment.
On Thursday, Desmond Malpress took to social media to announce that he has received a scholarship offer from Illinois. He also mentioned that this was his first Big Ten offer, which is a shocker considering the talent this kid brings to the table.
Blessed to receive my first big 10 offer from The University of Illinois @ACHSRecruiting @CS904_ @adamgorney @JohnGarcia_Jr @TomLoy247 @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/winhKtX3E2
— Desmond Malpress 4⭐️edge (@babymalpress) May 15, 2025
Malpress is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound edge from Atlantic Coast High School in Florida. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 122 player in the class of 2027. He is also the No. 18 edge in the country and the No. 12 player coming out of Florida.
There are some big programs vying for Malpress’ commitment, though. Illinois joins teams like Louisville, Florida, and South Carolina, among others, in the pursuit of this talented defender.
Illinois has been able to develop the edge position, and more talent is on its way
The Illinois coaching staff under Bret Bielema has done a great job with the edge role. We usually turn those players into outside linebackers, but the progression has been impressive for the Orange and Blue.
Gabe Jacas is the biggest example. He was a Freshman All-American and was an All-Big Ten player last season. Jacas is going to be a 2026 NFL Draft pick, and I would argue that is almost a lock. It wouldn’t shock me to see him go in the top three rounds, too.
Illinois isn’t shy about bringing edge players into the program. The class of 2026 is loaded with edge talent. Two out of the top five commitments, Parker Crim and Jacob Alexander, for a top-15 class of 2026 are edge players.
Whatever the Illini are doing with the edge position is working. Players are developing, and more are joining the team. Now let’s land this massive fish and really take this program to new heights.