Illinois Football News: Illini Add West Virginia WR From the Transfer Portal

NEWS: Illinois Football has officially landed thier second wide receiver in the 2025 transfer portal cycle, helping to alleviate the production lost by NFL departures Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin.

According to Matt Zenitz, a national college football reporter for 247Sports and CBS Sports, West Virginia wide receiver Hudson Clement has pledged his commitment to the Fighting Illini.

Former West Virginia wide receiver Hudson Clement is expected to transfer to Illinois, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @cbssports/@247sports.

Posted 51 catches, 741 yards and five touchdowns this season.https://t.co/10Sz3YxlzO pic.twitter.com/PUXmGwfRQO

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 2, 2025

What to Know

The former walk-on has had an impressive and storied early career.

His remarkable senior season in 2022 saw him rack up 87 receptions for 1,709 yards and 23 touchdowns, including 8 touchdowns in the 2022 state championship game for Martinsburg HS. Despite receiving no Division I offers, Hudson quickly became a key contributor to West Virginia’s offense as a walk-on.

As a redshirt freshman, Hudson emerged as a surprising spark in the Mountaineers’ receiving corps, racking up 4 touchdowns and 480 receiving yards on the season. Three of Clements’ four receiving scores in 2023 came during West Virginia’s dominant 56-17 victory over Duquesne in the second game of the season. Remarkably, receivers coach Bilal Marshall informed Hudson just five minutes before kickoff that he would be making a surprise start due to a late-game health decision. Clement seized the opportunity, scoring three times, in addition to racking up 177 receiving yards vs the Dukes. Hudson earned game MVP honors, as well as securing a full-ride scholarship. Clement impressively went on to finish second in total production among all receivers in 2023, leading in receiving touchdowns (4), ranking second in receiving yards (480), and fourth in receptions for West Virginia.

Fast forward, and Hudson has certainly continued the upward trajectory of his career. The Martinsburg, WV native totaled 741 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in 2024, leading all receivers as the top producer for the Mountaineers.

Illinois Football fans wanted to see a proven producer added to the rotation, and the Illini staff delivered. Clemente will enter with two years of remaining eligibility.

Thoughts – Impact for Illinois Football?

Proven production and vocal leadership were an essential need in the portal for Justin Stepp’s unit, following the departures of Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin for the next steps in their respective careers. Both extremely important factors are gained with the addition of Clement, giving Illinois a great option to slide him in as an immediate impact starter.

Hudson has a promising combination of size (6’1 – 200 lbs.), and athleticism. The unique skillset not only helps him beat secondaries over the top but furthermore allows him to make “go up and get it” plays in coverage as well, making him a vertical threat – similar to Pat Bryant’s game. The young man plays with a chip on his shoulder (see video above), undoubtedly fitting Bret Bielema’s player model/motto of tough, smart, and dependable.

In other news:

Paired with other new transfer portal wideout addition Justin Bowick of Ball State, as well as quality returning depth and the Illini should be set on receiver additions. Of course, any further portal attrition for the Illini remain a major factor.

Impactful Returners: Hank Beatty, Malik Elzy, Alex Kapka Jones, Collin Dixon, Ashton Hollins.

In the current fluid world of the transfer portal and NIL, another addition at receiver certainly isn’t on the table. However, with the current outlook of depth, it seems unlikely. I would expect the staff to set their sights on other positions of need to address.

Where will the Illini go next? Offensively, look for them to add depth at the Offensive line and Tight End.

Oct 19, 2024. Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Hudson Clement (3) celebrates. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

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