Illinois Football Recruiting News: 3 Transfer Portal Needs for 2025

As Illinois Football prepares for the Citrus Bowl, the coaching staff has begun shifting gears to transfer portal recruiting. Fortunately for the Illini, there won’t be many guys to replace, but the production lost is undoubtedly a hefty load.

The Fighting Illini’s current list of transfer needs is certainly subject to change as the season progresses. However, as it stands, here are the three most important priorities for Illinois football in the transfer portal, ranked by importance.

This list may evolve as the transfer portal season continues to unfold.

Priority #1: Defensive Front (Interior/EDGE Rushers)

Defensive Line Depth Chart: Per Ourlads.com

Note: This depth chart left off Senior Interior DL #92 Gentle Hunt.

The defensive front is the biggest position of need for Illinois football by far, as the unit arguably bears the heaviest turnover burden. Fortunately for the Illini, the portal is full of talent on the defensive front, and with a sell of success at the position, and with the future of the program, in their back pocket, Terrance Jamison and Aaron Henry have a big test ahead to capitalize. 

Interior

With Dennis Briggs Jr. and Te’Rah Edwards taking a bow on their college careers after the Citrus Bowl, there is a desperate need for the Illini to stack some talent on the interior D-line. Sophomore Alex Bray is certainly a guy who can step up and start as a junior, but, there is definitely a need for more depth. One dominant interior run stuffer could get the job done. However, coach Terrance Jamison may want to add another rotational piece as well.

OLB/Edge

 Senior EDGE Seth Coleman of course will finish out his college days in Orlando as well, in hopeful pursuit of an NFL career. In addition, there is surely some hard work currently being done in NIL efforts to pitch edge rusher Gabe Jacas for a return in 2025. The NFL is certainly going to be an option for the talented pass rusher, as well as other schools who may step in looking to pull him away (as they did in 2024).  If Jacas stays, the Illini are still in need of another pass rusher, plus some dominant interior players. However, if Jacas and Coleman are NFL-bound, there is going to have to be some serious work done to get two quality starters on the Edge, plus a productive starter (or two) on the inside.

Priority #2: A Veteran WR 

Wide Receiver Depth Chart: Per Ourlads.com

Note: underclassmen Tysean Griffin, Carlos Orr, and Mario Sanders should also be listed.

Pending Factor(s): Cole Rusk’s Return in 2025? 

A veteran leader is needed to fill the void of experience and talent left by Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin. The Illini will possess talented young depth within the unit in 2025, but, who will step up as a productive leader? 

 2025 offers a great opportunity for a similar progression to the 2024 season. Last season, Illinois added a talented veteran in Zakhari Franklin to the room from Ole Miss, which furthermore allowed developmental senior Pat Bryant to have a record-breaking break season for the Illini. The Fighting Illini certainly will not rely on any of these young guns to break records in 2025, but, adding an experienced veteran to the likes of Kenari Whilcher, Hank Beatty, Alex Kapka Jones, Collin Dixon, etc,  could allow one of these dudes to have a breakout season in 2025.

The Illini must target a field-stretching, home-run-hitting presence, who can beat secondaries over the top for big plays and chunk yardage. 

Priority #3: Left Tackle

Offensive Line Depth Chart: Per Ourlads.com

The offensive line isn’t necessarily a major position of need. Nevertheless, with starting left tackle JC Davis headed to the NFL after the bowl game, Illinois could use a reliable big man to cover Luke Altmyer’s blind side.

With plenty of talent on the market already, there is an opportunity to load up the 2025 offensive front with veteran maulers, who can blaze the path for a very deep, talented, and experienced running back unit. Most of the line is seemingly locked in for next season, but, why not add more competition to, possibly, the most important position for “Bielema Ball”.

The unit underwhelmed in 2024, but with an added boost, they could pull it all together for a big 2025. 

Could Alabama transfer (East St. Louis Native) Miles McVay be the answer for Bart Miller? 

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