June started off with a bang for Bret Bielema and the Illinois football coaching staff as they were able to secure four commitments after a successful first official weekend for the 2023 recruiting class. Alongside these four commitments were a mixture of highly sought after players and already committed in-state products who would help build camaraderie within the group and serve as another group of leaders for Bielema and his staff.

The recruiting class connected with players, coaches, toured the facilities and posed for photos. Offensive linemen posed with pancakes, Kankakee’s Jyaire Suga Hill cradled bags of sugar, all in front of a graffiti style wall with ‘Illinois’ bolded overhead and ‘FamILLy’, Illinois’ main recruiting theme, sharing space on the vibrant artwork.

Each visitor flooded to social media to share their photoshoot results, highlighting Illinois’ hospitality and commitment to a family environment.

Here are the players which attended this first weekend, the battle for their commitment and their fit at Illinois.

Kaden Feagin

Kaden Feagin on Twitter: “110% Committed‼️ @IlliniFootball @Coach_CPatt @BretBielema @ALAHFootball #FamILLy23 #DHBG pic.twitter.com/Chv0MLQPS8 / Twitter”

110% Committed‼️ @IlliniFootball @Coach_CPatt @BretBielema @ALAHFootball #FamILLy23 #DHBG pic.twitter.com/Chv0MLQPS8

The first class of 2023 commit served as a kickstarter for Bielema’s recruiting efforts. Feagin committed in late March as a four-star recruit out of Arthur, Ill., further exemplifying Bielema’s promise to fight hard for in-state recruits. Feagin received 12 other Power Five offers from schools like Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa and Miami. However, the thing that helped Illinois gain the edge was the fact that Illinois was his first offer, giving the coaching staff ample time to push their pitch hard way before Feagin’s recruiting blew up in the summer of 2021. The 6-foot-3-inch, 221-pound played running back and free safety for Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond High School and received an All-State Honorable mention in the 2021–2022 season. Feagin was recruited as a true athlete due to his versatility on the football field. As Bielema begins to put his stamp on the team composition, he was very quick to emphasize the need for bigger bodies and increased physicality on the team. Feagin’s film shows exactly that, towering over most players on the field and leaving a trail of players on the ground after feeble attempts at tackling him. His recruitment and commitment also continues the variety of running backs that Bielema seems to be looking for, with the first two running backs he added to the roster in the class of 2022, Aidan Laughery and Jordan Anderson, providing a contrast of speedy elusiveness (Laughery) and ground and pound running (Anderson) style, which Bielema is well known for. With both junior Chase Brown and sophomore Josh McCray still leading the Illini running game, it gives time for Feagin to develop into the role that will benefit the team the best.

Malik Elzy

Elzy has been one of Illinois’ top targets this recruiting season. The 6-foot-3-inch wide receiver out of Chicago, Ill., is highly sought after with Illinois competing heavily with Cincinnati. Besides Illinois and Cincinnati, Elzy holds 24 Division I offers from programs across the country. The four-star wide out would immediately improve the position outlook for Illinois. Although Bielema addressed the position in his 2022 recruiting class, it is unclear how immediate of an impact both freshmen Shawn Miller and Eian Pugh will bring. Adding a compliment to junior Casey Washington and sophomore Isaiah Williams and eventual successor is on the top of Bielema’s list and it’s apparent in his staff’s relentless pursuit of the coveted wide receiver. His film shows strong route running and an ability to get physical and open against opposing defensive backs. Ranked the fourth best recruit of the state by 247Sports, he has heavily considered staying in state and is appreciative of Illinois’ plan for him being on the team. Cincinnati is his next stop in his official visit trail and it may take some time for the rising senior out of Simeon Career Academy to make his decision.

Jyaire Hill

Another top prospect for Bielema’s 2023 recruiting class is Jyaire Hill out of Kankakee, Ill. The 6-foot-1-inch, 170-pound defensive back helped the Kankakee Kays to a 14-1 record and a 5A state championship appearance, losing to Fenwick (Oak Park). Hill earned a First-Team All-State honor and only is projected to continue improving. Hill was seen in a variety of roles including running back, kick return and defensive back, collecting almost 500-yards rushing, 56 tackles and 7 interceptions in his junior season. In addition to football, Hill also is a major contributor to Kankakee track and field, placing first at the IHSA 2A state final for the 4×100 relay. Hill is another highly recruited player out of Illinois, ranking 5th in the state by 247Sports as a four-star recruit with a total of 24 Division I offers and is being heavily recruited by Michigan and other programs. Hill would provide some future stability to the Illinois defensive back room, with senior safety Sydney Brown’s eligibility decreasing and the defensive back rotation bound to see major changes this upcoming season with departures of Tony Adams and Kerby Joseph, locking up a major in-state talent would help stabilize the position group for Bielema, defensive coordinator Ryan Walters and defensive backs coach Aaron Henry.

Deakon Tonielli

Tonielli has been one of the more quiet top recruits in Illinois. While he has gotten a lot of Power Five offers, the 6-foot-6-inch, 225-pound tight end out of Oswego, Ill., has kept his opinions and thoughts on recruiting to a minimal level. For Illinois, securing another top in-state recruit would go leaps and bounds for the program. Bielema and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. will use their history of sending tight ends to the NFL along with the opportunity to become a hometown hero to entice Tonielli to commit to Illinois. Toniell shows some deceiving speed for someone who stands at 6 feet 6 inches tall, his obvious size advantage over most defenders allows him to get physical and fight for highly contested passes. Tonielli would fill in the gap of senior Luke Ford, who is soon to leave the program due to eligibility. With freshman Owen Anderson and sophomore Tip Reiman’s role on the team not yet determined, an addition like Tonielli would give him enough time to adapt to the speed of college football and improve as a blocker, something that Bielema often requires of his tight ends.

Saboor Karriem

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Karriem is a three-star cornerback out of West Orange, N.J., with 21 offers and a visit to Duke scheduled for June 24. Karriem is 6 feet 3 inches tall and follows Bielema’s overall goal of increasing the size of the team to better fit the Big Ten physicality. His willingness to use his first of his five official visits with the Illini shows a mutual interest in joining the program. Nicknamed ‘Prime Time,’ Karriem recorded 23 tackles and five interceptions during their junior season which, with the help of a growth spurt, pushed him to the next level. His size, athleticism and football instinct play a major role in his ability to read the quarterback and make plays against opposing receivers. It’ll take some time for the New Jersey product to make his decision, telling All Syracuse Fan Nation that it’ll most likely go into his senior year, but Illinois putting him on that priority list should put them in greater consideration when the time comes.

Fredrick Moore

https://twitter.com/FredrickMoore6_/status/1533608222778589184

Depth at wide receiver has been a major target for Illinois this recruiting season. While not completely in-state, the St. Louis area has been a hotbed for collegiate talent. One of those talented players is Fredrick Moore, a four-star wideout from Cardinal Ritter College Prep who’s put Illinois in a recruiting battle against Michigan, Michigan State and other top Division I schools for the 6-foot-1-inch, 159-pound playmaker. Moore started off his official visit season with Illinois, connecting with familiar faces and coaches who he’s comfortable with — receivers coach George McDonald, who’s played an active role in recruiting him, and running backs coach Cory Patterson, who spent a considerable amount of time coaching in the St. Louis area before joining the Illinois coaching staff. Moore’s strength lies in his speed and elusiveness, allowing him to gain massive amounts of yards after the catch as a wide receiver and returner. Paired alongside a high vertical jump and great ball tracking abilities, it is clear that Moore could make an immediate impact for Illinois. All that’s left to see is if Bielema and his staff can close the deal on a very talented player.

TJ McMillen

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McMillen committed to Illinois shortly before his official visit weekend, adding another recruiter to the rising senior group. McMillen held 32 Division I offers before choosing Illinois over Duke, Nebraska, Purdue, Penn State and many others. McMillen held down the St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.) offensive line at center, being voted 3x unanimous All-Conference since his freshman year on varsity. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and 270 pounds, McMillen often leaves the opposing defensive linemen either flat on the ground or 10+ yards away from the play. McMillen plays through the whistle and with further development has the potential to become a quality center for Illinois, adding onto an already menacing offensive line. He is also one of three committed offensive linemen in this class (as of the publication date), providing further players for offensive line coach Bart Miller to develop and continue the legacy of NFL draft quality linemen.

Jamarrion Harkless

https://twitter.com/JamarrionHarkl2/status/1533616411918143488

One of the biggest surprises to come out of Illinois’ first official visit weekend was the immediate commitment of three-star Jamarrion Harkless out of Lexington, Ky. The 6-foot-4-inch, 290-pound defensive lineman had received major offers from Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss and Michigan, but upon the conclusion of his first official visit, Harkless committed to Bielema and the Illini over these programs. Defensive line is one of the biggest question marks for Bret Bielema heading into the 2022 season. While they have some pieces in place, the need for further add to the rotation heading into the future was a pressing issue. With Big Ten offensive lines being notoriously tall, strong and physical, adding a player like Harkless who is so highly sought after is a major win in both the team’s future performance and in recruiting. And it’s easy to see on film why he was recruited by top college football programs such as Georgia, he’s quick to get off the line and with such a massive frame, he easily disrupts any offensive linemen who dares to get in his way, even in the face of double or triple teams, Harkless finds a way to make his presence felt on the field.

Pat Farrell

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Chicago Catholic League is one of the most competitive conferences in the state of Illinois, each year producing Division I talent. Defensive edge rusher Pat Farrell joins the Illini from that conference, after suiting up for St. Rita and imposing his will on opposing offenses. At 6 feet 5 inches tall and 220 pounds, it is easy for the rising senior to breeze past offensive lines, shown by his 40 tackles in his junior season. He adds great length and athleticism to the Illinois defensive line and will have some time to develop and build even more in size. Farrell marks the fourth in-state commitment, furthering Bret Bielema’s goal of building from within the state.

Zachary Aamland

Zachary Aamland on Twitter: “Thank you for an awesome OV! Had a great time bonding with my future coaches & teammates. The atmosphere is exciting! Too many to tag but thank you everyone for a great time! @BretBielema @Coach_BMiller @UofIllinoisABuh @BarryLunneyJr @Coacher_King @CoachKleffner @Red_Zone75 pic.twitter.com/63LA7wNUkz / Twitter”

Thank you for an awesome OV! Had a great time bonding with my future coaches & teammates. The atmosphere is exciting! Too many to tag but thank you everyone for a great time! @BretBielema @Coach_BMiller @UofIllinoisABuh @BarryLunneyJr @Coacher_King @CoachKleffner @Red_Zone75 pic.twitter.com/63LA7wNUkz

Aamland marks another recruit from the Hun School (Princeton, N.J.), an increasingly popular pot of players for Bielema, having taken freshman tight end Owen Anderson and kicker Will McManus in last year’s recruiting class. While Aamland had two other official visits scheduled, Pittsburgh and West Virginia, he jumped on with the Illini ahead of his own official visit to Champaign. The three-star offensive tackle specializes in pancakes, using his 6-foot-6-inch, 290-pound frame, to engage with opponents and keep his quarterback clean. Aamland has experience at both guard and tackle, a trait that Miller and Bielema both value greatly when evaluating linemen. With a lot of talented upperclassmen ahead of him it may take some time before he sees any time on the field, but with the right coaching he has the potential to help continue anchoring the Illinois line. 

Rico Jackson

The 6-foot-6-inch, 300-pound offensive lineman from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is another big body built for Big Ten football. Despite holding offers from Michigan, Syracuse, Miami and Cincinnati, Jackson wasted no time in committing to the Illinois football program. Jackson is a very anchored blocker who has every intuition to play through the whistle and like many of the other committed offensive linemen in this recruiting class, creates moments similar to those from ‘The Blind Side’ on every down. Given time and development, Jackson’s upside provides great stability for the future of the Illinois offensive line.

Cal Swanson

https://twitter.com/_calswanson_/status/1533856368821772288

Swanson is the first quarterback who Lunney Jr. has offered a scholarship to during his time at Illinois, traveling down to Oklahoma to scout the player and eventually closed the deal with a fishing trip during Swanson’s official visit. Shortly after picking up an offer from Illinois, Swanson scheduled his visit with his first and only Power Five offer. Swanson has great pocket awareness, a decent arm and great ability to stay in the pocket and withstand pressure, scrambling if need be, using his feet as a failsafe. The sheer speed of the evaluation and commitment process shows that Illinois found something in Swanson that they felt like they needed to secure as quickly as possible, before other schools found him. Swanson has plenty of time to develop into the system that Lunney Jr. wants to run, with a few years behind other quarterbacks in the locker room, it should give him enough time to mature his game and it gives enough time for Illinois to evaluate him further.

Brandon Henderson

https://twitter.com/B_Henderson77/status/1533934669095489537

Adding Henderson to the list of commitments for Illinois would probably put the icing on the cake for the Class of 2023 offensive line. Henderson comes from a great program in the state and the opportunity to break into the East St. Louis talent pool and picking up a great talent with mass amounts of upside would be huge for Illinois heading into the future. Henderson massively helped East St. Louis return to the State Championship game, holding down the left tackle spot throughout the season.

@JonathanAlday7

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