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Early Signing Day primer: What you need to know about Illinois’ 2023 class
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Note: All star ratings and all rankings are based on 247Sports and its composite rankings as of Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, unless otherwise indicated.
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Not everything is cheerful this holiday season in Champaign. Illinois faces some challenges despite a breakthrough season under 2nd-year coach Bret Bielema.
When programs impress, coordinators are coveted. That was evident when B1G West rival Purdue made Illini defensive coordinator Ryan Walters a deal he couldn’t refuse to become its next head coach.
But Illinois will continue to progress under Bielema, as will its recruiting. Last season, the Illini ranked 46th on the 247Sports recruiting rankings. An 8-4 win season later, they enter the Early Signing Period ranked 42nd.
No, it’s not a crazy jump, but steady improvement is welcomed after a decade of desolate football. In 2021, Illinois’ class ranked 73rd in the country and 13th in the B1G, so Bielema is making a difference.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Illini’s next crop of talent.
By the numbers
Overall rank: 42nd
B1G rank: 9th
5-stars: 0
4-stars: 2
Highest-rated player: Kaden Feagin, ATH, 4-star
Bielema likely has a plan in motion for Feagin whenever he arrives on campus, but the do-it-all playmaker from Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond might be best suited in the backfield as Chase Brown’s long-term replacement. Fast, physical and a bit of a showman, Feagin was the “It” man for the Knights, taking reps at running back, quarterback and defensive back.
Oh, did you know he was effective in the return game, too? In 2021, Feagin totaled 4 kickoff returns and 3 punt returns, and scored a touchdown in each formation.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Feagin finished his Knights’ career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and registered over 100 tackles and an interception. He chose to stay close to home with the in-state program over schools like Iowa, Notre Dame, Miami, Michigan, Minnesota, Purdue, Wisconsin and others.
Did Illinois bolster the QB room?: Yes and no
Cal Swanson at least adds a gunslinger to the class, right? A 3-star recruit out from Ardmore (OK), Swanson chose Bielema’s more pro-style offense over programs like Houston Christian, Tarleton State and Central Oklahoma.
The expectation was never for the Illini to find their future star passer on the recruiting trail. Illinois has been heavy in the transfer portal, trying to find Tommy DeVito’s replacement if he doesn’t ask for or get an NCAA waiver for a 7th year in college.
The top name on the list? NC State quarterback Devin Leary.
Leary, who once was considered a 1st-round draft pick, suffered a season-ending injury in October. In 2021, the junior became a household name en route to leading the Wolfpack to a 9-3 record. He threw for 35 touchdowns with just 5 interceptions and bested Philip Rivers’ single-season TD passing record (34) set in 2003.
Illinois might not be the top destination for most high-profile transfer quarterbacks, but it does have a perfect pitch for Leary: his brother, Donovan. The youngest of the Leary family, Donovan was a member of the 2022 recruiting class, and still might need a season or 2 to develop. Devin would be an additional coach for his little brother while potentially improving the Illini’s 97th-ranked passing offense.
Best position group: Safety
Walters transformed Illnois’ pass defense into one of the nation’s more consistent secondaries. That will be the standard in 2023 under new DC Aaron Henry. The good news? Illinois targeted ample production at the safety position this cycle, led by 4-star Saboor Karriem.
A native of West Orange, N.J., Karriem should compete for starting reps. He could play cornerback due to his 6-foot-3 frame and lanky arms that’ll be used to create turnovers.
The 35th-ranked safety for 2023, Karriem is built similarly to Feagin. He took reps at both cornerback and safety in 2022 and has the frame to potentially slide inside as a nickel blitzer. It’ll be interesting to see if Karriem has a change of heart now that Walters will be on the Boliermakers’ sidelines come September.
Karriem is a hybrid who can play all of the defensive back spots. Kenari Wilcher, a 3-star from Clewiston, Fla., chose the Illini over B1G foe Indiana, along with several Sunshine State programs. Zachary Tobe, another 3-star prospect from Florida, elected to head to the Midwest over playing in the SEC with Sam Pittman and Arkansas. Jaheim Clarke rounds out the position, though there’s rumbling that he could be switching to wide receiver once he arrives on campus.
Sydney Brown and Kendall Smith are off to their next chapters. Matthew Bailey is expected to slide into 1 of the starting spots, but there’s little depth at the position. There’s no telling which of the prospects could fill the void on the back end, but the Illini have options.
Something that in years past couldn’t be said.
Biggest need filled: Pass rushing depth
Defense, defense, defense was the approach for this recruiting cycle. Of the 20 current recruits, 10 have been recruited for the side of the ball that prevents points instead of scoring them. And while Illinois has 4 safety prospects coming in 2023, it also has 4 edge rushers ready to ruin a quarterback’s day come Saturdays.
Calvin Smith, a 3-star from Florida, is the highest-rated pass-rusher. Pat Ferrell will head over from Chicago after pledging his commitment to the in-state college over programs like Army and Air Force. Mason Muragin was also sought after by the military schools, but elected to stay closer to Wisconsin for his next step. Alex Bray, a 3-star from Maryland, currently only has 1 Power 5 offer, making his decision easy on paper.
The Illini totaled 28 sacks this season, tied for 48th nationally. Both Keith Randolph and Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton could elect to declare for the draft, leaving a significant drop-off in terms of productive pass-rushers. Combined, the duo was credited with 10 of the 28 takedowns. The next closet defensive lineman in that category? Northwestern transfer TeRah Edwards with 1.
Biggest potential flip: Malik Elzy, WR, 3-star
Based on 247Sports’ crystal ball projections, the Illini aren’t in the running to flip a prospect committed to another program. That said, landing a playmaking receiver like Elzy is probably the top priority heading into Wednesday.
A native of Chicago, the 6-foot-3 pass-catcher totaled 45 catches for 1,025 yards and scored 11 touchdowns during his final year at Simeon High School. He currently holds offers from Cincinnati, Auburn, Houston, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and multiple other B1G programs. Cincinnati and Auburn seem to be the other 2 front-runners, but with new staffs taking over at both programs, does that boost Illinois’ chances of adding in another receiver?
Illinois hasn’t featured a 1,000-yard receiver since Mike Dudek in 2014. This isn’t to say that Elzy will be the 2nd reincarnation of the 1K pass-catcher, but with 1 receiver currently committed, adding in another weapon is critical to the class’s final ranking.
Final takeaways
Illinois isn’t a program 5-stars are begging to call home. Even 4-stars are hesitant to join the squad due to the long losing history. Still, since Bielema was hired, change has been coming.
The Illini added depth on defense to replace proven talent leaving for the NFL. Last season, teams were in hell facing Illinois on Saturdays due to the consistency of Walters’ play design. With Henry’s promotion, little should change in terms of formation and personnel, meaning players should be at ease knowing their roles are secured.
Adding a transfer quarterback is essential now. Leary is the top option, but prospects like Coastal Carolina’s Greyson McCall, Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong, Georiga Tech’s Jeff Sims and Pitt’s Kedon Slovis are excellent consolation prizes. Even if DeVito returns, there’s a need for competition under center after the late-season collapse.
Illinois was never going to be in the running for a top class in the B1G, but the improvements made should benefit in the long run. And fans are starting to see it unfold on the recruiting trail as well.
Cole Thompson is a freelance writer for Saturday Tradition who has covered college football and the NFL for multiple websites. Thompson is currently based in Houston, Texas, and also can be heard daily on SportsMap National Radio's 'Just Sayin It' from 3am-6am.