Illinois 2026s Blowing up Early on the Recruiting Trail
Hello, PrepRedzoneIL readers! Missed you guys. Don’t fret though, I was keeping an eye on the state and its action both on gridirons throughout the state this fall and on the recruiting trail so far this offseason. After an exciting…
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Continue ReadingHello, PrepRedzoneIL readers! Missed you guys. Don’t fret though, I was keeping an eye on the state and its action both on gridirons throughout the state this fall and on the recruiting trail so far this offseason. After an exciting and fruitful season, the Land of Lincoln 2025s and 2026s have exploded into the recruiting scene in a big way. Right now, it’s open season for the class of 2025, who are firmly holding the top spot in the recruiting spotlight and reaping the rewards of their hard work since the offseason and new year got going. However, 2026s and 2027s are still hearing from P5 programs as well, but with the juniors holding the majority of the spotlight, it’s important to note that sophomores and freshmen earning offers right now are generally the cream of the crop whose talent cannot be ignored by the FBS and P5 programs who recruit talent-rich Illinois. Up-and-coming Illinois underclassmen set to take the recruiting world by storm? How could PRzIL not get in on this? Let’s take a look at the future superstars of the Midwest’s 2026 recruiting class below.
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Hillcrest has yet another recruiting superstar on their hands and his name is McHale Blade! Starting the offseason with zero offers, Blade has now earned a whopping seven FBS or P5 offers in a little more than a month from ACC, B1G, Big12, and SEC competitors. Starting with a banger of a conversation with Miami Hurricanes WR coach Kevin Beard that led to Blade’s first offer rolling in from the U, the likes of Florida, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Indiana, Toledo, and Boston College have joined the picture for who is maybe the top 2026 offseason stock-riser in Illinois. The speed at 6’5, 230 lb. is quite a sight on tape, and Blade uses his big hands, solid first punch, and good hand placement to beat blocks in straight-up physical, get-out-my-way fashion. He’s also a strong tackler at the contact point and optimally uses his size when tackling and is comfortable in space as well, and displays a good get-off, the skills to split doubles and zone-blocking schemes, and a little bit of twitch to beat blockers to their inside shoulder. What’s really exciting is the fact that the 6’5, 230 lber. is still raw and has a lot of room to utilize defensive line technique and improve in the technical and pass-rushing department, so with some good coaching from the talented Hillcrest staff, Blade is going to be a nightmare to handle on the edge thanks to his hard-to-find combination of size, power, and speed as a sophomore. All the tools are there, and you don’t find 6’5, 230 lb. sophomores with this kind of already-present athleticism, so hang on tight, this recruiting rollercoaster is far from finished. Bucky Irving, Lamont Bishop, Corey Crooms, Cam Mattox, and Blade has the chance to be more popular than all of the recent Hawks recruits. In fact, 20 minutes after I wrote this, Blade was offered by the home state Illini! Congrats, young buck!
Gabriel Hill
Gabriel Hill
Naperville North’s Gabriel Hill is going to make for a high-octane top newcomer to the upcoming PRzIL 2026 rankings, and the rich get richer, as the Naperville North Huskies have yet another P5-worthy prospect on their current roster. Hill’s recruitment got going in B1G fashion this December, as the Iowa Hawkeyes became the defensive lineman’s first offer on the 11th, and Illinois, Iowa State, and Kent State have since followed, with the last two suitors offering up in the last 24ish hours. Three P5 offers, one from the home state program is a heckuva start to a sophomores recruiting journey, and Hill’s offer sheet seems far from finished, as the 6’2, 250 lber. recorded 14 TFLs, 6 sacks, and 2 FFs in 2023 to earn All-Conference status. He found a ton of success thanks to his great get-off for his size, which allows him to win most of his reps on film at the snap of the ball, as his opponents can barely get their eyes up in time to react to Hill’s first step, and he penetrates the backfield with pace and diagnoses & finds the ball quickly. In fact, Hill gets into the backfield so fast that ball carriers barely have time to react, resulting in explosive and violent collisions behind the LOS, and he put a hurtin’ on QBs and RBs all of 2023. Able to line up all over the DL, from the traditional 5T to sliding inside to the 3T spot, the 250 lber. can beat blockers to either shoulder, shows a little bit of bend around the top of the arch, can execute stunts and twists well, and looks impressively controlled when he gets out in space to set the edge, as he does a good job of mirroring ball carriers paths and breaking down in space to make a tough 1-on-1 tackle. Also able to execute power rushes or beat you with quickness, the 250 lber. is extremely versatile in all aspects of his game and skillset and is only getting bigger, stronger, and more experienced now that his sophomore campaign is finished. Depending on how he continues to grow or develop, I could see him staying as a traditional, hand-in-the-dirt 5T or sliding inside if he puts on some mass, but the versatility allows Hill to potentially blend into multiple different defensive fronts and find success. Big-time addition to the 2026 class.
The PrepRedzoneNEXT Showcase MVP is a name you won’t forget anytime soon, both due to his awesome name, impressive skillset on the gridiron, and now recruiting prowess. Brother Rice’s 6’4, 260 lb. defensive lineman King Liggins has exploded on the recruiting trail after starting in the trenches for the CCL heavyweight and Midwest premier program, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. After reeling in three MAC offers from December 6th to January 22nd, which joined his already present Eastern Michigan offer from this past May, Liggins recently earned his first P5 offer last week as the Boston College Eagles pulled the trigger on the sophomore. Also a heavyweight wrestler who did well on the camp circuit last fall, effectively getting his name on his recruiting Big Boards, Liggins is big, strong, and patient, and is effective at not over-reaching or over-pursuing once he beats his opponent at the LOS or in the backfield, and I like how he keeps his feet active while keeping his blocker at bay before shocking, shedding, and making the tackle on a helpless RB or QB. The 260 lber. is strong enough to drop his anchor, split, and remain upright through double attempts as a 3T defender, make a clean tackle with a would-be blocker still engaged and attempting to drive the big fella, and can easily back down 1-on-1 blocking attempts with a bull rush. Still a bit raw, as he’s currently a big, powerful, and physical young buck who is beating blocking attempts on mostly sheer will and size, so the addition of some pass-rushing moves and technical ability is really going to add a new element and level to his game. However, if he wasn’t physically talented, Liggins wouldn’t have started for BR as a sophomore, as that ain’t easy to accomplish and should definitely not be under-appreciated. The Crusaders have yet another potential blue-chip DL on their hands!
Highlights
QB recruitment is almost its own unique entity compared to the other position groups on the gridiron, so it’s a big accolade to be able to rightly claim that we knew Downers Grove North gunslinger Owen Lansu’s time was coming, and coming soon. A LOT of people in the state and even regionally knew about Lansu’s talent the eventual acceleration of his college recruitment, and it seems we’re just starting the introduction. On the 24th of January, the Toledo Rockets became the 6’2, 190 lbers. first college football, and it’s a very good one to start at. The MAC school do an excellent job of getting in early with future high-profile prospects, especially in Illinois, and do an excellent job of evaluating, trusting their eyes, and pulling the trigger on young and sometimes still under-the-radar prospects. Lansu is another continuation of this recruiting theme, and we expect a lot more suitors to come a-knockin’ before Lansu’s eventual commitment is announced sometimes in the future. While leading the 7A state runner-ups in 2023, Lansu posted 2,100 yards through the air and 29 passing TDs, and he did so while showing off a rocket of a right arm that can put a ton of torque on the rock and get the ball to open, first and second running wideouts with plenty of zip. Lansu is pretty much the total package as a QB prospect, and his arm and game look developed far beyond what his age and grade would suggest. The 6’2, 190 lber. possesses touch, accuracy to all three levels of the field – which helped him fit the ball into some impressively tight windows and coverage scenarios in 2023 – and he reads, processes, and gets the ball out of his hand quickly and confidently. I like that he’s able to use his legs and athleticism to navigate and escape pressure around the pocket, but is first and foremost a pocket passer who likes to use his arm as the primary weapon to keep his offense humming, and when he’s on the move he does a good job of setting his feet and squaring up before hitting a WR in stride or right into a WRs hands in-between defenders in a zone defense. The accuracy and ball placement, as well as the quick release and skill to get it to the open receiver consistently, really stand out in Lansu’s sophomore tape and I think the P5 blowup is right around the corner for the young man. For now, great job by Toledo getting in there early.
Another CCL product starting in the trenches for one of the most competitive programs in the state as a young sophomore, Chicago Mount Carmel’s physically impressive 6’5, 245 DE Braeden Jones used that awesome frame to power him into a starting spot along the Caravan’s DL and took full advantage, so much so that Iowa State offered up three days ago and Nebraska followed two days later, making for an exciting pair of first P5 offers for the sophomore. I like what he does as a 3T, but he can slide to the 5 or 6T spot and create disruption and production from all over the defensive line. Jones has reps of him defeating multiple blocking attempts in a row and splitting doubles before making the tackle behind the LOS, can make tackles through contact and easily back down smaller blockers with his combination of length and strong hands, and possesses a powerful first punch and a pickup truck at the tackle point. The 6’5, 245 lber. stays home and remains patient and can rightly let the play develop and come to him to avoid getting out of his gap or over pursuing and is a strong edge defender who can hold a gap or defend the edge successfully, and when the time comes, he can disengage from solid blocking attempts and play opponents hands easily and effectively. Still a lot of work to be done to really get the most out of his game, but you can’t help but notice that Jones is a good athlete at his size who can find success against high-quality competition. No wonder B1G and Big12 suitors are already involved. Go Caravan!
Highlights
Davon Grant
Davon Grant
You know an underclassmen is a baller when he starts receiving offers DURING the season, and DeKalb’s 6’4, 180 lber is an excellent example of that. Also, that size will obviously catch some attention as well, and WR/CB Davon Grant saw his play, size, and projection all pay off big-time with his first offer coming from the instate Illini halfway through September. Akron, Iowa, and Wisconsin all followed, and when you pop on the tape, you can see why he already has three B1G offers halfway through his sophomore year of high school. Grant’s sophomore film is a fun watch, and he’s doing some very impressive things as a two-way contributing sophomore. His acceleration shows up on both sides of the ball and is very impressive/first-rate and allows him to make splash, impact plays with the ball in-hand and as a CB. The second play of his tape is a real eye-catcher, as he accelerates and drops his shoulder pads anticipating contact but comes in with so much speed and force that a defender completely whiffs and he bursts past a couple additional tackle attempts like he just got shot out of a cannon. It’s hard to describe, but Grant is really good at using subtle, twitchy movements to step out of and avoid would-be defenders after the catch. Almost an innate and natural ability to create separation and space when reeling in a catch or attempting (usually successfully) to take the ball to the house. Basically, it’s body control and an innate body awareness, and with his absurd length, this can really create some nightmare situations for opponents. As a WR, his 6’4 frame is put to good use, and his speed is subtle but very potent, as he almost glides away from defenders with his long legs and steps. Grant can win contested catches over the top of DBs and plays the ball very well in the air, possesses a bit of twitch, good contact balance thanks to his long legs, the ability to effectively cut at top speed, and the use of angles to make would-be tacklers miss all over the field. Defensively, he can play safety or line up on the perimeter as a corner, demonstrates good range in coverage as an effective MOF defender, and is a ballhawk in coverage who can make plays on passes all around the gridiron. Plus, he pulls the trigger and closes in run support with impressive pace and will lay a heckuva stick at the contact point. Grant’s eye-popping body control and physical tools are, dare I say, special, and some of the things he did on the gridiron in 2023, as well as his overall skillset, are borderline freaky. I don’t use those words often, either. What a sophomore campaign the DeKalb product had this past fall. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Tony Balanganayi
Tony Balanganayi
I really like and have been enjoying the recent run of Palatine prospects heading to the D1 ranks of college football, and it’s hard not to be fired up about their 2024 season roster, especially in the trenches. With some already-established OL and DL talent, the Pirates have added a new name to the mix in 6’4, 260 lb. OT/DT Tony Balanganayi. A more-than-stellar sophomore campaign helped Balanganayi earn his first offer during the season from the Akron Zips, and if history has anything to tell us, early MAC offers generally equate future P5 attention, and with the number of coaches who will walk through Palatine’s halls to check in on their other scholarship prospects, I think Balanganayi’s time in the spotlight is coming soon. The varsity RT opens his tape with the perfect example of why a DL should NEVER leave their feet when attempting to knock down a pass, as 260 lb. Balanganayi catches a defender in mid-air and puts him back into the turf like a WWE highlight. The 260 lber. is obviously and naturally bendy and flexible, is violent when taking advantage of defenders being out of position, reaching or leaning, or making a technical mistake of some kind, and possesses a physical, no-quit motor between the whistles that will drive you thirty yards downfield once he gets engaged if it’s between the whistles (not an exaggeration, see the second play of his sophomore highlights). Balanganayi’s lean 260 lb. frame that is going to be able to add a lot more good weight and retain his mobility, and his functional movement skills are quite noteworthy for a sophomore as he’s a balanced and physical puller, functional in space when working and comboing to the second level of the defense, can complete harder reach blocks, and set the edge when the offense is working out to the sideline. Plus, his nonstop motor, natural strength, and well-built frame can absorb and can dish out contact well and runs his feet until you’re flat on your back. Looks like a P5 OL to me. Where the offers at??
PrepRedzoneIL is very high on north central Illinois product Mack Sutter, a 6’6, 220 lb. athlete out of Dunlap High School and Dunlap, IL who has erupted into the current recruiting climate and validating his debut #13 overall and #2 ATH ranking in last spring’s ranking update. After his first offer rolled in from Nebraska on January 24th, some nationally renowned and competitive programs have quickly followed suit, as Sutter has since heard from Iowa, Texas A&M, and Illinois, with Illinois offering just yesterday in their big instate effort as they try to lock down their highly-talented borders to outside recruiting forces. A two-way starter who primarily lines up as a QB/WR and OLB, Sutter brings, that size really catches the eye from the jump, and he’s conscious and aware of where his body is in relation to an opponent and can do a lot of different things on the gridiron thanks to his overall body control at 6’6, 220. Sutter can take the top off the defense, both as a QB or WR and holds a strong arm that can throw with accuracy when needed. He is a contested catch machine who makes big-time receptions through double coverage look routine and is quick & sudden when he sticks his cleat in the ground and works to make defenders miss. An EDGE defender is where he really makes his money, as his change of direction skills and ability to track, close, and tackle in space is very exciting for a mobile 6’6, 220 lb. sophomore. Plus, he owns a mean and effective bull rush and can shed blockers with seeming ease, has great ball skills and coordination that helps him easily reel in catches through contact and traffic, and is overall really fun to watch when getting after the QB or with the ball-in-hand as a WR or quarterback.
I’m sure P5s could see him playing potentially multiple different positions at the next level, and his overall outstanding dynamic ability for his size and age really equates to a high-ceiling and projection at the P5 level that bodes very well for his recruiting journey, and his potential success once he gets there. More offers are coming.
Highlights
Known for its high-profile alumni in the basketball and arts scenes, Whitney Young Magnet High School is really ramping it up in its football department, and the quality of its prep football prospects has been significantly increasing as of late. Things have really come to a head now with 2026 DB Nasir Rankin, who had a MAJOR day yesterday in the recruiting world after earning offers from Illinois and Indiana for his first two collegiate football offers. A classic multi-sport standout who is a big part of Whitney Young’s always-competitive and talent-rich basketball team, Rankin’s two-sport prowess manifests excitedly on the gridiron, where he’s explosive, excitingly sudden and quick laterally, and controlled when going backward and going up for the ball in the air. With noticeably long arms and play speed that is seriously dangerous and shows up on film in impressive fashion, this dude’s sophomore film is quite a fun watch. Rankin possesses multiple gears that allow him to pull away from pursuers, and when he shifts to top gear it shows up on tape, and if I had to boil things down to a handful of words I’d liken his game as speedy, instinctive, explosive, and controlled. As a WR, Rankin sports tons of burs and can go from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye and defenders dusted in his wake like a cartoon roadrunner. He’s very explosive with the ball in hand and can change direction at top speed, which combined with his eye-catching top speed produces a very hard-to-target to try and track and corral. Defensively, where he works primarily as a safety, the 6’1 sophomore is patient as the MOF defender and/or high safety and does a good job of allowing route concepts to develop before picking his spots to successfully jump routes and make plays on the ball. If you’re an opposing QB you need to look this kid off and pay attention to where he is at all times, and he’s easy and comfortable in coverage and can anticipate where the receiver is going. Plus, he has the top speed to basically stay in the pocket of the WR while looking at the QB the whole time, even in man coverage, and he demonstrates smooth body control and doesn’t get out of position when tracking, adjusting to, and playing the ball in the air or a man in his route. He’s always looking for the big play too, especially defensively, and is a threat to take the ball to the house every time he touches the ball. Whitney Young has quite the baller on their hands, and Rankin looks like he has the chance to be a potential blue-chipper.
Highlights
I’ve already said it once in this PRzIL feature, but the rich get richer, and somehow the Homewood-Flossmoor program has yet another P5-worthy prospect on their roster, this time in their 2026 class. Meet sophomore WR Myles Ellis, who is right at the genesis of his recruiting journey after the Akron Zips became his first offer on February 1st, and the young pass catcher has the chance to continue what is currently one of the more successful, talent-laden recruiting traditions in the Great State of Illinois, at least while I’ve been alive. Ellis posted 30 receptions for 697 yards and 10 TDs last fall with the Vikings, and boy does he open his sophomore tape with a bang, as the young buck opens his highlights by almost literally breaking a safeties ankles attempting to read him at the top of the route. It sets the tone for what is an impressive sophomore film, as the 5’9, 155 lber. is a big-time deep threat and especially impressive when going deep on fades, posts, post-corners, and other deeper-breaking routes. Ellis is a smooth and fluid route runner who can zoom by man coverage and take the top off the defense with ease and is silky at the top of the route and can really come out of his breaks, or even a dead stop, with pace and acceleration. He can line up at multiple WR positions and produce out on the perimeter or from the slot , breaks off his routes well, shows good hands, is shifty after the catch, and tracks the ball well in the air. There’s a lot going for him, and I want to note that he does his best work before the catch right now, as he’s a very collected and easy route runner who gives defensive backs loads and loads of noticeable trouble in his 2023 tape. You simply can’t leave him 1-on-1 in man coverage out on the edge, he made CBs and safeties look silly all season long. Akron made a great call getting in there early.
Highlights
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