en-us SportSpyder - The Latest Illinois Fighting Illini Football News https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/news Smith deserves voter consideration Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:06:07 GMT BOB ASMUSSEN asmussen@news-gazette.com https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57023791 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57023791 false false The 6-foot-5 Southlake Carroll wideout has a final three of Illinois, TCU and Arkansas Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:04:29 GMT Jeremy Werner https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57022621 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57022621 true false By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst June 21, 2026 Illini fans are surely still smarting from the loss of 4* QB Kamden Lopati, but the good news about the timing of his decommitment was that the Illini still had time to grab another good quarterback. That QB is Sladen Shack. Shack is a 6'1, 210 pound pro-style player from Brandon, Mississippi who led his team to the 7A title game last year in a football-rich state. He put up 2,586 passing yards and 24 touchdowns against 6 interceptions and a 64.5 completion percentage, and though he didn't have that many rushing yards, he's also athletic enough to run when the opportunity arises. What does he bring to the Orange and Blue? Shack throws a really pretty ball. I wouldn't say he has a cannon, but at the same time there's no question that his ball gets to the target on time and with good velocity. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:01:20 GMT Steve https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57022611 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57022611 false false While all of the commotion about who the Illinois football team will snag next is going on, we sneak in and get a local specialist. The Illini have the No. 60 r Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:47:45 GMT Rees Woodcock https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57022571 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57022571 false false The Illinois football team is trying to land another big-time recruit to help bolster the class of 2027. Bret Bielema is doing a good job building the class of Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:31:27 GMT Rees Woodcock https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57022529 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57022529 false false A little more than a year ago, the Oak Forest kicker wasn't sure he had a meaningful football future. But he got a needed kick of confidence from his coach. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 01:10:26 GMT Jeremy Werner https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57021115 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57021115 true false Morales took an official visit to Illinois during the weekend Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:46:18 GMT Jeremy Werner https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57020657 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57020657 true false Ulysses Morales, a 6-foot and 170-pound kicker with a youth soccer background but currently rated as one of the best field goal kickers in Illinois, has committed to the Illini. By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst June 21,2026 Illinois used a Father’s Day verbal pledge to secure the future of its placekicker spot with a strong-legged prospect from the Chicagoland area. Ulysses Morales, a 6-foot and 170-pound kicker with more of a soccer background as a youth athlete but garnered very quick football recruiting momentum by showcasing a strong football kicking leg at both Oak Forest (Ill.) High School and the summer kicking camp scene, became the 12th verbal commitment to the Illini’s 2027 recruiting class on Sunday afternoon. Morales was completing his official visit to the Champaign-Urbana campus and gave his commitment to Illinois head coach Bret Bielema before leaving the Smith Center on Sunday morning. Sun, 21 Jun 2026 22:03:37 GMT larryilliniguys-com https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57019910 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57019910 false false Illinois has added 10 commitments in the Class of 2027 during the last six weeks but likely will add more in the next few weeks Sun, 21 Jun 2026 19:37:22 GMT Jeremy Werner https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57018942 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57018942 true false By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer June 21, 2026 After successful years in both football and men’s basketball, this offseason feels longer than most. As a way to try and make it go by smoother, IlliniGuys is looking to the past to reflect, pile up some nostalgia, and ask the question: “Where are they now?” For the first iteration, we’re going back to 2017. It’s head coach Brad Underwood’s first year in Champaign, fresh off a 20-13 season that ended with a trip to the NCAA Tournament with Oklahoma State. Underwood’s first Illini squad that year had ten players averaging more than 10 minutes per game, which contrasts with eight players playing double-digit minutes in the past three seasons. In the 2017-18 season, the Illini went 14-18, finishing tied for 11th in the Big Ten – the lowest- ever finish with Underwood at the helm. With the table set, here’s a look at where four of the most notable Illini from nine years ago are now. Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:39:02 GMT larryilliniguys-com https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57016657 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57016657 false false Texas QB in prime position Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:32:33 GMT BOB ASMUSSEN asmussen@news-gazette.com https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57016632 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57016632 false false Bret Bielema hasn’t exactly been the same coach style-wise with the Illinois football program that he was with the Wisconsin Badgers. Those old Wisconsin teams Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:20:29 GMT Rees Woodcock https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57016286 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57016286 false false McEntire is entering her fifth season at Illinois. Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:56:35 GMT Joey Wagner https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57015890 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57015890 true false Illini Inquirer broke down the top 20 most important Illini football players for the 2026 season. Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:57:03 GMT Joey Wagner https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57015892 https://sportspyder.com/cf/illinois-fighting-illini-football/articles/57015892 true false