Illinois Football Maintains Early Top-10 Recruiting Ranking for 2026

Momentum continues to surge for Illinois Football, as the program builds upon its best season in over two decades.

Under the leadership of fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, Illinois has maintained remarkable staff retention following the Illini’s Citrus Bowl victory, keeping all but one positional coach from last season (OLB coach Clint Sintim). In an era of constant staff turnover—especially for a program that has long struggled for consistency—this level of continuity is certainly crucial. Beyond the recent on-field success, Bielema’s staff’s ability to build and maintain strong, consistent relationships with recruits has been a game-changer. This stability is evident in Illinois’ 2026 recruiting efforts, as the program continues to gain traction with high-level talent.

The impact of that momentum is already evident in the 2026 recruiting class, which ranks the Fighting Illini #6 nationally in the 247 Sports Team Rankings. To put this in perspective, Illinois is currently ahead of traditional powerhouses (at least for the time being, thus far) and finds itself competing with the likes of:

247 Sports 2026 Recruiting Football Team Rankings

1. USC
2. Oregon
3. Texas A&M
4. Penn State
5. Kansas
6. Tennessee
7. Illinois 
8. Notre Dame 
9. Arkansas 
10. LSU

Undoubtedly, this is a position few would have predicted just a few years ago. Yet, through highly impressive program-building efforts, relentless recruiting, and a clear vision for sustained success, the Illini have solidified themselves as a rising force on the national stage.

While it remains to be seen whether the Illini can maintain this top-10 standing as the recruiting cycle unfolds, their presence in the top tier of national rankings signals a significant step forward for the Illinois Football program under Bret Bielema and AD Josh Whitman.

Let’s check in on the Illini’s nine current commits in the class of 2026, who have propelled them into the #7 spot in the early team recruiting rankings.

Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

Current Illinois Football 2026 Class, Per 247 Sports (As of 2/24/25)

Victor Singleton: (4-star), CB – 6-0, 160-pounds, Central Catholic HS, (Toledo, Ohio) –

Cam Thomas: (3-star), LB – 6-2, 217-pounds, Lakota West HS (West Chester, Ohio) –

Jacob Alexander: (3-star), EDGE – 6-4, 240-pounds Lincoln-Way East HS (Frankfort, Illinois) –

Davon Grant: (3-star), WR – 6-4, 200-pounds, DeKalb HS (DeKalb, Illinois) – 

Kaedyn Cobbs: (3-star), LB – 6-1, 190-pounds, Guyer HS (Denton, Texas) –

Michael Clayton: (3-star) QB –  6-3.5, 200-pounds, Seminole HS (Orlando, Florida) –

Kingston Shaw: (3-star), EDGE – 6-4, 225-pounds, Apopka HS (Apopka, Florida) –

Kenyon Alston: (3-star) WR – 6-2, 190-pounds, Bishop Moore Catholic HS (Orlando, Florida) –

Landen Von Seggern: (3-star) OL – 6-3, 279-pounds, Millard South HS (Omaha, Nebraska)

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