Illinois Football: The 3 Most Impactful Transfer Portal Additions So Far

With the addition of South Dakota State tight end Davin Stoffel, the Illinois football staff appears to be nearing the end of a productive run on the portal recruiting trail. The roster appears nearly finalized, though roster building is always fluid, and there is room for additional changes if needed.

Illinois returns 18 of 22 starters from their Citrus Bowl victory, leaving few major gaps to fill as they prepare for 2025. However, with a young and talented roster in place, Bret Bielema’s staff has focused on selectively adding key pieces to strengthen specific positions in preparation for a highly anticipated season.

As the Illini transition gear up for 2025, who stands out as the most impactful newcomers?

Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images.

1. James Thompson Jr – DL, Wisconsin

2023 Stats: 29 Tackles, 3 Sacks

The defensive line was one of Illinois’ few areas in need of significant upgrades entering the offseason. While roster turnover has been minimal as a whole, key contributors to the defensive front like Ezekiel Holmes, TeRah Edwards, Dennis Briggs Jr., and Seth Coleman are moving on to pursue their next steps after graduation.

Additionally, despite the roster turnover, it was apparent throughout the 2024 season that an upgrade in talent to anchor the current depth was needed.

To help alleviate these gaps, the addition of Wisconsin transfer James Thompson Jr. was a home run by defensive line coach Terrance Jamison.

Despite missing the 2024 season due to injury, Thompson was a hot commodity in the portal thanks to his prior success and experience in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound mauler joins Illinois for his final season, after contributing two seasons as a starter for the Badgers. Thompson’s tenacious run-stuffing ability (great interior d-line size and strength), paired with his knack to cause chaos as a pass rusher, makes the experienced veteran invaluable for Illinois Football.

Alongside key returners like Gabe Jacas, and fellow Badger transfers Leon Lowry (EDGE) and Curt Neal (DL), Thompson Jr. is poised to significantly aid the Illini’s efforts in the trenches.

2.  Hudson Clement – WR, West Virginia

2024 stats: 741 Total Yards, 5 Touchdowns, 14.5 AVG.

Entering the offseason, Wide Receiver was arguably Illinois’ top position in need of experienced additions. Following Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin’s exits to prepare for the NFL, the Fighting Illini staff set out to replace their top-producing pass catchers from the past season.

Bryant’s 2024 stats: 984 total yards, 10 touchdowns, AVG 18.2 yards per play

Franklin’s 2024 stats: 652 total yards, 4 touchdowns, AVG 11.9 yards per play

Hudson Clement, a West Virginia transfer with two years of remaining eligibility, provides Illinois Football with the experience needed to uplift the Illini’s receiving corps to a high level. Clement’s presence certainly pushes the current developing wide receiver depth to improve, as the talented group competes for reps.

Alongside Ball State transfer Justin Bowick, Hudson should certainly have a heavy and important impact on the Illini in 2025, as a key target for senior QB Luke Altmyer.

3. Keelan Crimmins – P, Purdue

The addition of a punter is not always flashy. After the Citrus Bowl, however, it was apparent the position would be recruited in the portal.  Starter Hugh Robertson entered the portal after losing the job to junior Fabrizio Pinton, who punted 3 times for 37 yards in the Citrus Bowl. Furthermore, the need for a veteran addition was crucial.

The Fighting Illini staff went to work on the recruiting trail and closed top-30 punter (2024) Keelan Crimmins from border rival Purdue.

As a Sophomore, Keelan booted 64 punts, for an impressive average of 44.9 yards per punt en route to earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for the Boilermakers. In comparison, former Aussie Illini punter Blake Hayes averaged 45.1 yards per punt, on 68 total attempts in 2021 as a senior. The ability for Keelan to flip the field, and pin defenses deep in their own territory is a massive advantage for Illinois.

Undoubtedly, the Aussie is a big pickup for the Illinois Football staff and should plug in as the punter in 2025.

Honorable Mention: Justin Bowick, WR – Ball State

2024 Stats: 383 Yards, 3 Touchdowns, 19.1 AVG

Ball State Justin Bowick. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

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