Transfer portal takes Illinois football DB, as overhaul of defense continues

It is wild to think that the Illinois football team can win nine games in a season, and I am not satisfied with the roster.

Just five years ago, if the Illini had won nine games, there would have been celebrations in the streets. Now, with the winning mentality, we can win nine games, and I want massive changes to a defense that potentially cost us a College Football Playoff spot.

Those changes are starting to trickle in via the transfer portal. Illinois has already lost a couple of defensive players, and on Thursday, another one decided to depart.

According to Carson Bounds of On3.com, Illinois cornerback Kaleb Patterson is entering the transfer portal.

Patterson started out his time in the junior college ranks at Pearl River Community College. In 2023, he committed to Illinois as the No. 38 JUCO recruit in the country and the No. 7 JUCO cornerback in the class of 2023.

I thought Illinois was getting some much-needed help in the secondary after the departure of NFL talent, but that didn’t end up being the case. In year one, Patterson redshirted. He then had 32 tackles, three pass deflections, and one forced fumble in 2024. This past season, Patterson took a step backward. He only had 15 tackles and one pass deflection.

Illinois football is hitting the upgrade button when it comes to the defense and the transfer portal

I am pretty disappointed in how Patterson’s career went at Illinois. I fully expected him to be elite, but he just didn’t get traction in Champaign. In 2025, he only ended up taking 216 snaps and ranked No. 820 out of just over 900 defensive backs at the FBS level, and he was the lowest-rated cornerback on the Illinois roster.

Honestly, this is what Illinois’ defense needs. The overhaul of the defense, and specifically the secondary, was a must this offseason.

There isn’t a single cornerback by season’s end that I was pleased with. Losing Xavier Scott at the beginning of the 2025 campaign was brutal, and it showed our weaknesses.

Bret Bielema has already started the revamp of the cornerback group, too. Nick Hankins is only a freshman, but he is a top 130 recruit in 2026. The four-star will be able to step into a starting job from day one. We also have the top JUCO cornerback coming into the program in Jakwon Morris. He will be an instant-impact guy.

There is still plenty of work to do for the Illinois football program. Getting multiple cornerbacks in the transfer portal is key. While losing Patterson is never fun, I wish him the best, and this decision is going to be best for both parties.