Illinois coach Bill Cubit spent five days while finalizing the 2016 recruiting class going across the state and getting more comfortable with the 2017 class.
Landing more Illinois high school players after only signing two — Lincoln-Way East offensive lineman Kurt Gavin and East St. Louis defensive back Stanley Green in his first recruiting class with Illinois — was a top priority.
His efforts were rewarded on Thursday with the first in-state commit for the Illini in the upcoming class.
Libertyville defensive tackle Ryan O’Malley committed to the Illini on Thursday, becoming the second recruit Illinois has landed in a class it won’t sign until Feb.