During their bye week, Illinois football is sending its coaches (including the head ball coach) on the trail.
They have been recruiting offensive line talent from the JuCo ranks and are reportedly looking
to flip late prep finds from their current commitments.
Over recent weeks, multiple JuCo prospects have been offered/visited.
The focus on offensive line talent is both expected and confusing. This season, the talent level along the offensive line has been frequently questioned. Does Illinois have a bunch of depth without the top end? How can the Illini reach their ceiling when their most experienced offensive unit had to shake off early-season malaise?
The Illini are slated to lose 80% of their starting offensive line this offseason. While Brandon Henderson and Brandon Hansen are expected to play heavy snaps, the rest of the unit leaves more future questions than answers.
Is TJ McMillen ready to start week one after his trial by fire this season?
Is Zafir Stewart a true left tackle?
If Zafir Stewart plays on the right side, is Ayden Knapik ready to protect the blindside?
Can Eddie Tuerk translate his prodigal physical gifts into early impact?
Can Dez Schuster stay healthy enough for his talent to match his impact?
There will undoubtedly be an expansive pool of talent available during the transfer portal window at season’s end. So why invest all of this time and energy into the JuCo ranks?
With finite resources, Illinois will have big budget expenditures on the horizon.
Let’s get the 2026 Illini big question out of the way now.
Who is going to trigger the offense?
Sure, this question could apply to Barry Lunney Jr., who could land a head coaching job this offseason. Would he take the pay cut?
How will the Illini replace Luke Altmyer?
Transfers have dominated the quarterback position during the Bret Bielema era.
- 2021 – Brandon Peters (Michigan)
- 2022 – Tommy DeVito (Syracuse)
- 2023-2025 – Luke Altmyer (University of Mississippi)
While 2026 commit Michael Clayton looks like a potential star, Illinois is likely to go into the spring with NIU transfer Ethan Hampton and true freshman Carson Boyd at the top of the depth chart.
Dollars to donuts, the 2026 starting quarterback is not likely on the roster. And that’s fine.
The crackhead speed of the coaching carousel opens even more doors for potential starting quarterbacks to seek new homes this offseason.
Personally, I see Mississippi quarterback Austin Simmons as the ideal potential candidate for the Illini.
Yes, he would be costly. And sure, coming from Lane Kiffin’s system in Oxford could put him in a premium position to pick the best fit possible.
Luke Altmyer : Jackson Dart :: Austin Simmons : Trinidad Chambliss
Both Simmons and Altmyer were highly-touted prep prospects who showed excellent flashes at Mississippi. Both were beaten out by quarterbacks who excelled, not because of some dramatic flaw in their own performances.
With the recent Larry Gies donation and the influx of revenue-sharing dollars, Illinois could be a school in a strong position to win a bidding war for a rental quarterback to bake while Illinois prepares for the enviable battle between Michael Clayton, Carson Boyd, and Kamden Lopati.
If Illinois won’t spend big on the offensive line, perhaps it will pony up to fix the defensive front.
Look, Angelo McCullom has been a late-season revelation. And players like Pat Farrell, Isaiah White, and Joe Barna could see larger roles next year. But losing #17 is massive. Not just in practice, but the simple idea of Gabe Jacas forces teams to change their game plan.
While Jacas hasn’t had the sheer quantity of explosive games in 2024, he is still firmly on day 1-2 NFL Draft radars due to his mix of technique, productivity, and strength. He likely projects as a 4-3 defensive in the NFL. Will he reclaim first-round status during the combine/pro day circuit?
Another big-time prospect who could find his way into the portal is rarely used five-star Chicago native DL Justin Scott from the University of Miami. Scott would look like the potential Miles McVay signing looked last offseason: betting on the potential of a player you have known for four years. Scott or a similar player along the defensive front could help ease the losses of James Thompson, Tomiwa Durojaiye, and Curt Neal. Can Illinois make the numbers work for the former top-20 prospect?
Illinois does not always thrive in the big budget range.
Prior signings like Terrance Brooks and Eddie Smith didn’t make the impact that was expected. But if there is one lesson this season has taught us, it’s that Illinois has all the development infrastructure in the world. They have all the work ethic.
But sometimes Carnell Tate and Denzel Boston show up, and you have to find ways to match talent. All the scheme adjustments in the world don’t stop elite talent from making big plays.
With players like Nick Hankins, Jacob Eberhart, and Nasir Rankin arriving for the 2026 season, Illinois has upgraded its athletic ceiling.
Supplementing that potential with win-now pieces could mean a lesser drop-off year-over-year.
