Illinois Football: Illini projected to land 4-star transfer portal DB

Illinois football looks to be in the lead for a talented former four-star recruit in the transfer portal.

The Illini have done a pretty good job in the transfer portal so far. We have only lost seven players, the biggest departure coming in the backfield with Reggie Love III heading to Purdue.

Bret Bielema isn’t sitting idle, though. He has added four transfer portal players who will help the Illini win games in 2024. Bielema’s main focus has been in the trenches, as Michigan State transfer Kevin Wigenton and New Mexico transfer JC Davis both play on the offensive line. Youngstown State transfer Anthony Johnson and Auburn transfer Enyce Sledge will anchor the Illinois defense line.

Illinois isn’t done with the transfer portal. While we thankfully haven’t lost another player yet, Bielema is still vying for talent to come in and bolster the Illinois roster. One of the latest targets is someone who can help defend the pass in Myles Rowser.

Rowser is a 6-foot, 178-pound safety from Belleville High School in Michigan. He was a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 232 player in the class of 2022. Rowser picked Campbell to start his football journey. After one season with Campbell, he transferred to New Mexico State.

Illinois football would be getting an elite safety in Myles Rowser out of the transfer portal

This past Wednesday, Rowser officially entered the transfer portal. Immediately, Illinois jumped in the mix with a scholarship offer. On Friday, On3.com projected a new leader in the clubhouse for landing Rowser. That leader is Illinois.

Illinois has a 22.2% chance of landing Rowser with UConn coming in a close second at 19.4%. If the Illini can land this talented safety, we would be getting an incredibly talented player.

Rowser is in the transfer portal as a four-star, and he has earned every single one of those stars. With Campbell, Rowser was a Freshman All-American. He then took that talent to New Mexico State where he had a big year in 2023.

For the 2023 campaign, Rowser finished with 70 tackles, two pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble. He was a monster for an Aggies team that went 10-5 this season.

I think it is no secret that Illinois could use some help at safety or really any defensive back position. Rowser has played multiple roles in his two years at the college level. I believe he would come into the Illinois program and be inserted into the first string from day one. He would be a great addition to what is a building Illini defense.