Illinois adds grad-transfer receiver from USC

Illinois needed help at receiver. Badly.

The Illini had just one receiver surpass 350 receiving yards in 2017, and with veteran Malik Turner gone, the group needed a lift.

It looks like it got just that on Thursday.

Graduate transfer Jalen Greene is leaving USC for Illinois, where he’ll be eligible to play immediately.

Greene made that announcement on Twitter:

Committed to the University of Illinois, excited to get around these group of men, lets get to work !!!! 🔸🔹

— Jalen Greene (@classicJG) March 22, 2018

Greene had 26 receptions for 318 yards in his career at USC, where he actually was a converted quarterback. The 6-2, 200-pound wideout started in five games and had eight catches for 95 yards as a junior in 2017.

The Gardena, Calif. native will also be able to contribute on special teams for the Illini.

Greene marked the second grad transfer to announce his intentions to enroll at Illinois. Appalachian State grad transfer Shaedon Meadows also joined the Illini and will be eligible to play in 2018.