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Illinois trying to Cash in with highly touted Colorado transfer portal lineman

The transfer portal is still heating up, and the Illinois football team is looking to add some pieces for 2025.
ByRees Woodcock|
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos offensive lineman Cash Cleveland (52) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos offensive lineman Cash Cleveland (52) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bret Bielema is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to the Illinois football program and the transfer portal.

In the past week, the Illini head coach has mentioned his strategy for landing players at this point in time. He wants players who can fill a need. Bielema isn’t necessarily going after the top player in the transfer portal.

An intriguing option that has popped up on the radar in recent days is Cash Cleveland. On Tuesday, Pete Nakos of On3.com reported that Cleveland is now in the transfer portal and is visiting numerous programs.

Cleveland is currently visiting Texas Tech, but there are other teams in the mix, according to Nakos. One of the teams mentioned is indeed Illinois.

Coming out of IMG Academy in 2024, Cleveland wasn’t rated or ranked by 247Sports. He ended up landing with Colorado, though. In his first season with the Buffaloes, the 6-foot-3, 290-pound center started in four games and played in six. He was also a freshman All-American by multiple outlets.

Illinois football might be a long shot to win the Cash Cleveland sweepstakes

I love the thought of a solid offensive lineman like Cleveland coming into the Illinois program and starting. But here is the thing. Illinois is pretty good on the offensive line right now. We don’t need a starter, and that is what Cleveland is likely looking for at his next stop.

You aren’t moving Josh Kreutz off the starting center job. He has started 24 consecutive games for the Illini, and he will be our starting center in 2025.

Illinois is also going to go into next season with a starting offensive line of Melvin Priestley and JC Davis at tackle and Josh Gesky and Brandon Henderson at guard. There are a lot of starts on that offensive line.

Unless Cleveland is okay with being a primary backup for this season and then starting in 2026, I have a hard time seeing Illinois winning this recruitment. Let me tell you, if this does happen, Illinois’ offensive line is going to be insanely good.

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