The transfer portal has been awfully quiet for additions to the Illinois football program despite numerous players throughout the country deciding to find a new home.
So far, the Illini are -10 in the transfer portal. 10 players have decided to bolt the program for greener pastures. That is just the most recent number too, so there is likely to be a change in the coming hours and days.
On the surface, that sounds like a big number, but that is the college game today. Players transfer and want to get playing time right away. Illinois has been able to adapt to this change well, led by head coach Bret Bielema.
While there are a handful of players departing the Illini, Bielema is trying to fight back. On Wednesday, Rivals.com reported that tight end Micah Riley is going to take four official visits. The visits he has set up are to Texas A&M on December 11-12, Houston on December 13, Illinois on December 14, and Miami (FL) gets the final one on December 15.
Auburn TE transfer Micah Riley begins a series of visits tomorrow pic.twitter.com/szwCPHMY3r
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) December 11, 2024
Micah Riley should be a familiar name to anyone who follows Illinois football recruiting
This would be a great get for the Illini. Riley is a big-time player. Coming out of high school, the 6-foot-5, 266-pound tight end was rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 402 player in the class of 2022. He was also the No. 19 tight end in the country and the No. 4 player coming out of Nebraska.
Riley committed to Auburn, but his career never got off the ground. In two seasons, Riley had a combined three receptions for 43 yards and two touchdowns. With the hopes of starting fresh, Riley is now looking for a new home.
Illinois has familiarity with recruiting Riley. The first time around, the Illini were in the hunt. He took four official visits, one of which was to Champaign. No other team on the current visit list was on the first visit list besides for Illinois.
Riley will be needed next season too. Carson Goda is gone, and Cole Rusk is coming off an injury. Illinois doesn’t have much in the way of pass-catching tight ends. Pulling in someone like Riley would go a long way in making Illinois a more dangerous offensive unit.