EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 09: Illinois head coach Lovie Smith watches his team warm up prior to a college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 9, 2019 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Illinois football is trying to get into the mix for a rising in-state defensive talent.
I posted the early top priorities for the Illini class of 2022 on Thursday. These are five players I want to see Lovie Smith and the Illinois coaching staff put resources into for the upcoming recruiting class.