Which wide receiver will step up for Illinois in 2025?

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Last season, the Illini wide receiver room was arguably the top strength of the offense. With veteran guys like Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin, they helped take QB Luke Altmyer’s game to the next level. Now, with both players moving on to their professional careers, Altmyer is going to need to find new targets to build chemistry with. Let’s dive into the wide receiver room as a whole and look at who could have a breakout season and take their game to the next level.

Illinois football wide receiver room returners

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The Illinois wide receiver room

looks vastly different than it did a season ago, especially at the top of the depth chart. The Illini are returning seven players from last year’s group.

Illinois’ top returner based on production is slot receiver Hank Beatty. We saw last season that Beatty could come up with clutch catches when the Illini needed him most. He also finished the season on a high note, catching four balls for 90 yards against South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl win.

The second returner I want to mention is Collin Dixon, who is a very intriguing player. He took a big leap in his redshirt freshman season for the Illini. He was on the field a lot and even became a starter alongside Bryant and Franklin.

His production was modest, with just 18 catches on the season; however, Dixon has big-play upside. He caught a 27-yard pass in the Citrus Bowl in a huge spot and also had a 38-yard reception in the Northwestern game. Dixon also had at least one catch in 11 of his 12 games.

Perhaps the player with the most upside returning is Malik Elzy. The former four-star recruit has had a quiet start to his Illini career, recording just nine catches in his first two years. But this is the first season Elzy truly has a chance to make a significant impact.

Other returners include Alexander Capka-Jones, Ashton Hollins, Mario Sanders, and Tysean Griffin. I do not expect those guys to make a huge impact outside of rotational snaps and special teams duties.

Illinois Football wide receiver transfers

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The Illinois wide receiver room looks vastly different than it did a season ago. Bret Bielema and his staff brought in two transfers this offseason who are expected to make an impact.

Hudson Clement comes over from the West Virginia Mountaineers as a redshirt-junior. This kid can play and has already made an impact in a Power Four conference. Last season, Clement caught 51 passes for 741 yards and five touchdowns. He offers solid versatility, being able to line up both outside and in the slot.

The second transfer is Justin Bowick from Ball State. Bowick is a massive presence at the wide receiver position, listed at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds. He had some explosive performances for Ball State despite only playing in four games.

In a game against Miami (Ohio), he caught eight passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. Then, in the final game he played before redshirting, Bowick finished with seven catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Two massive games from the wide receiver.

Who makes the most impact in the wide receiver room?

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This is the most intriguing position group heading into the season, in my opinion. The offensive coordinator will likely rotate his receivers quite a bit, but Illinois already has two solidified starters in Hudson Clement and Collin Dixon, in my view.

Then you have Justin Bowick and Malik Elzy battling for the third wide receiver spot in three-receiver sets. Plus, we will see Hank Beatty rotate in with slot snaps while also making an impact as a punt returner.

While I believe Clement will lead this team in catches and receiving yards this season, I think Dixon could make the biggest overall impact in the wide receiver room. He has taken a massive step over the past year, and that progress will continue this season.

Dixon brings great versatility in my eyes — someone who can block well, play outside, and even take snaps in the slot. I see him making a Casey Washington-type impact, similar to Washington’s senior season. Luke Altmyer and John Paddock trusted Washington, and he caught 49 passes for 670 yards and four touchdowns.

With Altmyer having built-in chemistry from last season with Dixon, he is primed for a breakout year. I believe he’s on his way to a great career and becoming a fan favorite for the Illini.