Top in-state recruiting target still a big priority for the Illinois football program

The Illinois football team is having a season to remember, which includes starting 4-1 with two wins over top 25 programs.

Now ranked in the AP Top 25 for the third straight week, the Illini are looking to continue their winning ways. The success on the field has started to help build the Illinois brand as well. We used to be a losing program, and now the Orange and Blue are starting to win on a more consistent basis.

This winning also helps in recruiting. While the class of 2025 still needs a bit of a jump, talent from future recruiting classes is keeping an eye on the Illini.

In a recent article by Allen Trieu of 247Sports, he talked with Nasir Rankin about his recruitment. You will have to click on the article and read the VIP content, but in Trieu’s social media post, he mentions that Illinois is one of the programs that is contacting Rankin the most, along with Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Illinois football landing a recruit like Nasir Rankin would take the program’s recruiting to another level

I have been impressed with Bret Bielema’s ability to recruit since coming to Illinois in December 2020. He has brought in a greater level of talent, and this has started to show on the football field.

The thing with Bielema’s recruiting classes is that Illinois hasn’t landed the top echelon recruits. We snag a couple of four-star players each year, but it is time to take recruiting to another level.

Rankin would help that cause. He isn’t just a standard recruit. Rankin is a 6-foot-1, 177-pound athlete from Morgan Park High School in Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 58 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 5 athlete in the country and the best player coming out of Illinois.

There is a lot to love about Rankin on the football field too. He is a dual-position athlete. The kid is extremely talented at both wide receiver and defensive back. Rankin has natural wide receiver skills with his route running and speed. He could dominate at the next level at this position.

I am also intrigued by Rankin’s defensive back skill. With that speed, he is going to be able to close on any pass catcher. Illinois is doing a great job developing defensive backs as well. Aaron Henry is probably drooling over this kid.

My hope is that Illinois continues to put time and resources into recruiting Rankin. He has all of the talent in the world on both sides of the ball.