Illinois Football: A Key Transfer Addition is Standing Out Early

As Illinois Football moves through spring practices, the coaching staff has begun highlighting key positions and players making an early impact thus far.

Among those standing out are some of the team’s offseason transfer portal additions, who will step into some of the Illini’s few crucial roles left vacant from the 2024 roster. Looking ahead to a highly anticipated season, the success of Illinois’ portal additions will be crucial in helping the team reach its full potential and sustain success in 2025. (Most notably at WR, P & DL).

Apparently, some of these newcomers are already proving their worth.

Special Team Coordinator and Tight End’s coach Robby Discher met with the media following Saturday’s (3/29) practice and provided some positive insight on new punter Keelan Crimmins, who (so far) looks to be an upgrade.

After struggling at the punter position last season and losing both Hugh Robertson and Fabrizio Pinton to the portal, the Illini staff made a crucial addition by bringing in the Australian Native to fill one of the team’s most pressing needs.

As a sophomore at Purdue, Keelan booted 64 punts, averaging an impressive 44.9 yards per punt. For comparison, former Illinois standout Blake Hayes—considered an excellent punter—averaged 45.1 yards per punt on 68 attempts during his senior season in 2021. Before joining the Boilermakers, Crimmins spent his true freshman season in the SEC with Mississippi State. In his lone season in Starkville, he recorded 49 punts for a total of 2,003 yards, with only 9 being returned.

According to Coach Discher, the Aussie has looked the part thus far.

Punter Keelan Crimmins Standing Out Early for Illinois Football – Thoughts From Coach Robby Discher

“He’s (Crimmins) been really good… we like him,” Discher said enthusiastically.

“He’s been very good with hitting his field zone. I mean, it seems like a simple thing, but it’s not nearly as easy as you would think. It’s not as easy to punt right as it is to throw right, or punt left as easy as it is to throw left – he’s been really good with that.”

The Illini Special Teams coach continued, “And, He’s been an upgrade as far as hangtime, which is a big deal. That’s something that I feel like we’ve gotta get better at – is the hangtime, the location, stuff like that. He’s done a great job with that, and he’s got a big leg.” 

Discher concludes, “(Crimmins) He’s been good for us. He’s smooth, he’s quick operation…. he’s been really good for us. We’re really happy with Keelan.”

Sep 21, 2024. Corvallis, Oregon, USA. Purdue Boilermakers punter Keelan Crimmins. (30) Punts the ball during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers. Reser Stadium. Credit: Craig Strobeck. Imagn Images.

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