The 2022 recruiting cycle comes to an end Wednesday with National Signing Day going on across the country.

With it, Bret Bielema is completing a solid class for Illinois after a 5-7 finish to his first season in Champaign. As things currently stand, the Illini have the No. 45 ranked recruiting class in the country, nearly a 30-spot jump from last year’s No. 73 finish.

That group is headlined by 3-star ATH Aidan Laughery with a decided focus on in-state prospects and the offensive line. Bielema’s staff is adding 11 players from the state of Illinois and 7 recruits along the offensive line.

Following the action from Wednesday, here is what Bielema had to say at his National Signing Day press conference:

https://twitter.com/JWerner247/status/1489005188157431809?s=20&t=1fMEsgwc8BtfEWhiS–s3g