Illinois football fans are flying high right now, as the class of 2026 is one of the best in the country.
I never thought the Illini could pull in an elite recruiting class. Right now, we have 23 commitments and a national recruiting ranking of No. 11 in the nation. To retain that high of a class ranking, we are going to need to land a few more big-time recruits.
Most players are going to commit sometime in the coming month, but there are also players who will still be available as they head into their senior season in high school. Illinois has quite a few targets still on the board, though.
Here are the top 5 Illinois football recruiting targets still left on the board
1. JC Anderson (TE) - 4-star, #147 overall
Illinois has a couple of top options still on the board, and I would say JC Anderson is the best bet when it comes to landing another four-star recruit.
Anderson is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound tight end out of Mt. Zion High School in Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 147 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 8 tight end in the country and the No. 3 player coming out of Illinois.
Auburn and Ole Miss have been hot and heavy for Anderson, and they are going to come at him with some deep pockets. But it does seem that Illinois is all-in for one of the two big targets. We have a better chance competing with an Auburn and Ole Miss. At the end of the day, my guess is that Illinois will be the landing spot.
2. Mack Sutter (TE) - 4-star, #80 overall
The second of the two massive options is Mack Sutter. He is one of the highest-rated recruits left for the class of 2026.
Sutter is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end from Dunlap High School in Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 80 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 6 tight end in the country and the best player in the state of Illinois.
Ole Miss, Ohio State, Alabama, and Illinois are the final four for Sutter. I think it comes down to Illinois and Alabama. My guess I that the Crimson Tide comes at Sutter with a massive offer that he can’t turn down. I would venture to say he lands with Alabama, but I am not counting Illinois out by any means.
3. Tucker Ashford (EDGE) - 3-star, #444 overall
Illinois got some good news this past week when Tucker Ashford kept us alive for his commitment. Now, the Illini are going to have to put on the full-court press.
Ashford is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound edge from Fort Worth Christian High School in Texas. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 444 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 41 edge in the country and the No. 60 player coming out of Texas.
Kansas State, Vanderbilt, Houston, and Illinois are Ashford’s top four. A decision is coming on July 4, and Illinois has a legitimate chance to take home the big-time recruit. There isn’t a Crystal Ball Prediction yet, so there are no perceived leaders. I think the Illini can win this recruitment and add another big-time defensive player. My guess is that Houston is the biggest competition at this point.
4. AJ Marks (CB) - 3-star, #1168 overall
The secondary has gotten a huge boost for 2026, and Illinois is hopefully not done yet. AJ Marks would be a nice addition to the depth chart.
Marks is a 5-foot-9, 160-pound cornerback from IMG Academy in Florida. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 1168 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 100 cornerback in the country and the No. 139 player coming out of Florida.
At one time, I would have said Illinois is the favorite to land Marks. He has taken multiple official visits in June, and now I believe the competition for his commitment is down to Wake Forest and Illinois. I think the Illini can still reel this kid in, but the Deamon Deacons will be tough.
5. Camaul King (S) - 3-star, NR
There are a number of underrated recruits in the class of 2026, and I believe Camaul King is one of those players who is being overlooked.
King is a 6-foot, 170-pound safety from True North Classical Academy in Florida. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 37 safety in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 81 player coming out of Florida.
Illinois has already received a visit from King, and in the last couple of weeks, he took an official visit to Champaign as well. It seems that the Illini are a favorite to land this kid, and I am honestly shocked he hasn’t committed yet.
Outside Looking In
Jacob Eberhart (WR) - 4-star, #330 overall
Illinois is in the top seven for Jacob Eberhart, but it seems that his recruitment might be slipping away. While the Illini have the recruiting chip of his dad playing here, it seems that Missouri, Oklahoma, and possibly Nebraska might be ahead of us right now.
Marlen Bright (OT) - 3-star, #561 overall
A decision for Marlen Bright is coming on July 5. Illinois received an official visit from him in mid-April, but he has since visited both Stanford and Penn State. Right now, the Nittany Lions have a Crystal Ball Prediction. Being on the East Coast, it is going to be hard to beat Penn State.
Owen Cabell (WR) - 3-star, #965 overall
Bret Bielema has Illinois right in the mix for Owen Cabell, but Alabama has come on strong in this recruitment. The Illini got an official visit in early June, and at one time, we were probably the favorites in this recruitment. Alabama came in with an offer and set Cabell up with an official visit. It seems they have all of the recruiting momentum in the world right now.