Illinois announced the signing of redshirt senior linebacker Leon Lowery Jr. Tuesday evening via a post on the team’s X page. The 6-foot-3 veteran transfer from Wisconsin is the Illini’s first portal addition of the offseason.
The linebacker finished the 2024 season with 29 tackles and recorded one sack for the Badgers. He announced his decision to enter the transfer portal on the afternoon of Dec. 1 via X with one year of eligibility remaining.
“It’s just that they’re choosing on going in a different direction of how they want to run the defense,” Lowery said to The Athletic, “I just feel like it doesn’t fit my style of play.”
He previously spent four seasons at Syracuse, including a redshirt year in 2020. He totaled 77 tackles, 14 for loss and five sacks across those four years with the Orange.
Lowery brings Big Ten and Power Four starting experience to the table. With three-year starter and team captain Seth Coleman graduating in the spring, the veteran addition of Lowery gives the Illinois linebacker room a huge boost, especially if junior linebacker Gabe Jacas returns for his senior season.
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Jacas is considering entering his name into the NFL draft. If he returns, the Illini will have a solid linebacker room headlined by Jacas, Lowery and junior Alec Bryant.
