A big part of the resurgence of the Illinois football team has been the ability to bring in talented players.
Since Bret Bielema took over the Illini, recruiting has seen an uptick. Illinois is on pace for a top 30 recruiting class in 2026, and it has been impressive what the coaching staff has done with the limited resources due to Illinois being more of a basketball school.
With success on the field, going to Illinois has been more palatable for recruits. The Illini now have one of the top players in the country coming for a visit.