There are talented players all over the country, but the Illinois football team is now targeting a huge player out of Mississippi.
The Illini are well on track to finish with a top 30 recruiting class for 2026. This group was once in the top 10, but when things shake out, a top 30 group is still great.
Bret Bielema and the coaching staff are also focusing on building another top 30 group in 2027. The first domino has fallen with quarterback Kamden Lopati committing. The four-star talent has the ability to keep rising in the recruiting rankings the next couple of seasons, and Illinois must get some players to put around him, especially when it comes to the offensive line.
That is why Illinois is not targeting DJ Dotson. On Thursday, Dotson took to social media to announce that he had received a scholarship offer from the Illini.
Blessed to receive an offer from The University of Illinois!@Eddie__Simpkins @BretBielema @Coach_BMiller @On3sports @Rivals_HS @MacCorleone74 pic.twitter.com/9akD9LQALc
— Dj Dotson (@DjDotson58) August 22, 2025
When you look at Dotson’s recruiting profile, this offer will be a head scratcher. He isn’t rated or ranked by 247Sports, so what tips you off about him being so talented? Well, the offensive tackle stands at 6-foot-7, 320 pounds. That is a mountain.
On top of the physical size of Dotson, Illinois wasn’t the first to the party. He has three other scholarship offers. USF and Mississippi State were two of the other offers. The other one, Georgia.
If Georgia is already offering a player who is not rated or ranked by a recruiting site, you know the kid is going to be somewhere in the top 300 nationally when it is all said and done.
Illinois has a clear strategy when it comes to recruiting on the offensive line
Dotson would be a great addition to the program in 2027. He would be able to come in and play some meaningful snaps in year one. With that size, I would be fascinated to see what Bielema could do with his development.
Bielema also has a trend right now when it comes to recruiting on the offensive line. He doesn’t rely on the transfer portal completely, but he isn’t just going with whatever is on the roster. Bielema knows the weaknesses and will fill holes through the transfer portal when needed.
Illinois’ offensive line heading into 2025 is a nice mix. Both of our tackles are transfer players in JC Davis and Melvin Priestly. Our center, Josh Kreutz, and both guards, Josh Gesky and Brandon Henderson, were all recruited to the program from high school.