By the numbers: Illinois’ 2026 football recruiting | Sports

Illinois added to its Class of 2026 recruiting haul this week with

commitments from Downers Grove North tight end Will Vala and Millard South (Neb.) running back Nelsyn Wheeler. Beat writer Scott Richey takes a look at some numbers to know from that growing group:

1

One quarterback per class is the typical norm — even if Illinois took two in the Class of 2025 in Carson Boyd and versatile athlete Jershaun Newton. The Illini got their 2026 quarterback early, with Michael Clayton II committing last November. The Miami Edison (Fla.) product has a different profile than the recent quarterback additions, checking in at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds as more of a traditional pocket passer. A productive one, too, throwing for 3,644 yards and 39 touchdowns in three years at Seminole (Fla.) before his transfer to Edison.

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Bret Bielema made in-state recruiting a clear priority when he took the Illinois job in December 2020. It was an easy — and important — avenue to pursue given his predecessor, Lovie Smith, took the opposite approach. Morgan Park’s four-star, two-way standout Nasir Rankin leads the group of seven committed 2026 prospects from Illinois, and the Illini are pursuing several others. Belleville West defensive back Nick Hankins and Barrington offensive lineman Owen Fors were among last weekend’s uncommitted official visitors.

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Illinois got a quick start to its 2026 class with eight commitments before March and 10 more since. Those early commitments pushed the Illini into the top 10 classes nationally, and it’s a status that’s mostly held even as other programs caught up in terms of total commitments. Landing back-to-back commitments this week has Illinois ranked fifth in the Big Ten and 11th nationally, per 247Sports, with high-level targets like in-state tight ends Mack Sutter and JC Anderson and New Jersey offensive lineman Kai Pritchard still on the board.

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Some of central Illinois’ best have opted to stay close to home and picked the Illini during Bielema’s tenure as coach. Gibson City’s Aidan Laughery. Atwood’s Kaden Feagin. Rochester’s Hank Beatty. Mount Zion’s Brayden Trimble. Next up is Anderson, who, like Trimble, plays just 57 miles from Memorial Stadium at Mount Zion. The four-star tight end is a top 200 prospect nationally — only Rankin among the Illini’s commits ranks higher — and proved why last fall catching 47 passes for 535 yards and seven touchdowns for the Braves.