Illinois Football loses Canada and Sledge to the transfer portal

Illinois football lost two players to the transfer portal in the midst of signing 21 prep prospects from their class of 2025. Defensive lineman Enyce Sledge and defensive back Chase Canada both announced on their social media pages that they will move on from Illinois in hopes of entering the transfer portal. Sledge and Canada make three total Illini in the transfer portal since the end of the regular season, joining redshirt freshman, Nate Guinn. All three players rarely saw the field this past season.

Sledge and Canada were offseason additions from the Spring of 2024. Enyce Sledge came over as a transfer from Auburn. Chase Canada signed in the class of 2024 as a junior college prospect

Thankyou Illini nation 🙏🏾

6’3 325 Nose/Dtackle

I will be entering the transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility remaining plus medical shirt if needed pic.twitter.com/8b1vX8zRKt

— Enyce Sledge (@The_RealAPE) December 4, 2024

What it means

With football, it comes as no surprise that players that are buried on the depth chart decide to look elsewhere. With Te’rah Edwards and Dennis Briggs Jr. moving on from Illinois football this offseason, the Illini need to add depth to the defensive line. Sledge could have offered that, however, the Illini will certainly look to add an impact lineman and outside linebacker in the transfer portal. They have quite the sell after the performances of Te’Rah Edwards, Jer’zhan Newton, Briggs Jr and more.

Canada seemed to be fighting an uphill battle in a defensive backroom filled with young talent. Xavier Scott was an All-Big Ten team selection and may return for another season. Also, Illinois football has some exceptional young prospects like Saboor Karriem and Vernon Woodward waiting in the ranks.

To Illini Nation, thank you for the experience. I will be entering the transfer portal on December 9th with 3 years to play two. pic.twitter.com/D9xIV0tWOK

— Chase “Zero” Canada⚜️ (@ccanada9) December 5, 2024

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