The spring is coming, and that means there are some huge official visits coming down the pipeline for the Illinois football program.
It has been a pretty incredible start for the Illini when it comes to the class of 2026. A national ranking of No. 7 in the country is an impressive beginning to what could be a special recruiting class. Finishing in the top 10, let alone top seven, would be the best any Illinois fan has ever seen.
More talent is needed to sustain the great national ranking. That is why landing someone like Tony Williams would be huge for the program.
On Friday, Williams took to social media to announce that he has scheduled an official visit to Illinois. He will be visiting Champaign on the weekend of April 11.
Locked in OV to Illinois 🔵🟠@coacharchiemac @BretBielema @AaronHenry7 @JohnGarcia_Jr @Andrew_Ivins @ChadSimmons_ @TheUCReport @rainesfootball @RainesTrack pic.twitter.com/11W79EnxnK
— Tony “Ducie” Williams 4⭐️ (@3kDucie) February 28, 2025
This is a big recruitment for the Orange and Blue. Williams is a 5-foot-10.5, 215-pound linebacker out of Raines High School in Florida. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 443 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 37 linebacker in the country and the No. 68 player coming out of Florida.
Illinois football could use Tony Williams in multiple ways if he joined the program
When you look at Williams’ recruiting profile, he is listed as a linebacker. While there are multiple linebacker positions on the field, I could see this kid playing more of an EDGE role than a traditional linebacker role.
Williams has incredible burst from the second level of the defense. When he sees the ball carrier, he attacks with a fun ferocity. He is a nightmare for opposing offenses.
Illinois uses EDGE players to rush, which Williams is good at doing, but they can also drop back into coverage. Williams has the ability to keep up with tight ends and running backs out of the backfield.
I love the opportunity for Illinois to snag this unique player. Williams could come into the program and fill in multiple spots on the field. He is a player I could also see moving up to four-star status by the time his high school career is complete. Hopefully, when he does reach that status, he is already committed to Illinois.