The recruiting game is fickle, and the Illinois football program knows this to be a fact.
Just in the past couple of weeks, the Illini lost our top commit for the class of 2026. It was tough losing a top 100 recruit, but Bret Bielema doesn’t back down from any challenge.
Despite that hiccup in the recruiting game, Bielema is still out there trying to build the 2026 class into a powerhouse. One new name on the radar is Daniel Howard.
On Tuesday, Howard took to social media to announce that he has received a scholarship offer from the Illini. This is an interesting offer considering where Howard is projected to land.
Blessed to receive an offer from @IlliniFootball after a great conversation with @CoachJamison!!
— Daniel Howard 2026 DL (@DanielHoward91) April 29, 2025
@LaneTechFB @PrepRedzoneIL @_Conz__ @AllenTrieu @RivalsFriedman @GregSmithRivals @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/hSntvO4RFx
Howard is a 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman from Lane Technical High School in Chicago. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 870 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 81 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 19 player coming out of the state of Illinois.
Illinois is trying to flip an in-state recruit who could be a building block for the future
There is a lot of power to Howard’s game. While he is only 270 pounds, he seems to fit the mold of a solid nose tackle in a nickel defense. He could come into the Illinois rotation and give us great snaps early on in his career.
The thing with Howard is that he isn’t technically available right now. Illinois offered him a scholarship, but back on April 8, he committed to Iowa State. He will also take an official visit to the Cyclones in June.
Illinois getting in Howard’s recruitment will be something to keep an eye on. If we can get a visit, I would argue that there could be a flip in the future. Let’s watch this recruitment.