Illinois added another defensive piece to its already star-studded 2026 recruiting class Monday morning. Three-star linebacker Tony Williams joined Cam Thomas and Kaedyn Cobbs as the third linebacker in the 2026 class.
The 5-foot-10.5, 215-pound Williams comes to Champaign from Jacksonville, Florida, where he is the No. 68 prospect in the state. The linebacker had 27 offers before committing to Illinois. Some of those included UCF, Miami and Louisville, all in close proximity to his home state and major programs. However, Williams chose to join the No. 7 2026 composite class in the country at Illinois.
Linebackers coach Archie McDaniel has much to look forward to in the coming years for this program. The addition of Williams to the solid Illinois defense gives McDaniel another young talent to develop and use in the defensive scheme. Williams’ size and agility make him an ideal fit for McDaniel and head coach Bret Bielema.
Williams is now the 13th hard commit in Illinois’ 2026 class. Bielema and his staff have done an excellent job of recruiting a talented class, adding depth to the Illini roster on both sides of the ball. As players leave Illinois for various reasons, the coaching staff has players to fill those roles and perform successfully. The high potential of the 2026 class should provide a lot of excitement at Memorial Stadium.
