Illinois 2025 Recruiting Hauls: FCS Programs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What FCS programs made a major impact recruiting in the state of Illinois in the 2025 class?&nbsp; These programs landed at least two prospects with several grabbing many more!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eastern Illinois</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trio of ranked prospects for Eastern Illinois.&nbsp; Kankakee linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='471479' first='Kennyan' last='Chandler'] and DePaul Prep linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1564036' first='Jet' last='Reese'] were steals as we believe both have Group of 5 talent.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='503737' first='Tyler' last='Fortis'] from Maine South is a tough defensive lineman that was a good get as well. State champion Le'Javier Payne brings athleticism on the back end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Illinois State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speed, speed, and more speed for the Redbirds in this class.&nbsp; They got three wide receivers, two defensive backs, a running back, and a quarterback from in-state.&nbsp; The wide receivers are [player_tooltip player_id='278900' first='Ian' last='Willis'] (Wheaton St. Francis), [player_tooltip player_id='1292095' first='Travis' last='Stramm'] (Lyons), and Mar'quan Gary (Normal Community).&nbsp; All three are productive players that we could have easily seen end up at a Group of 5 program.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='278899' first='Tyler' last='Lofton'] is a back worth monitoring out of Brother Rice.&nbsp; Couple of skilled defensive backs with size in Quincy 6'3” [player_tooltip player_id='1292113' first='Rico' last='Clay'] and Quincy Notre Dame 6'2” [player_tooltip player_id='830848' first='Wyatt' last='Mueller'].&nbsp; Also have quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1564100' first='Chase' last='Kwiatkowski'] from St. Laurence who if he doesn't work out at QB can move to a different position with his size and athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indiana State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sycamores got four commitments from Illinois led by Joliet West linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1292062' first='Micah' last='McNair'].&nbsp; Under recruited linebacker in our eyes with his athleticism, speed, and playmaking!&nbsp; Couple of offensive lineman in [player_tooltip player_id='1564097' first='Dominic' last='Fasano'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1292140' first='Cort' last='Leonard'] along with wide out [player_tooltip player_id='331560' first='Deshaun' last='Williams'] from Wheaton St. Francis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lindenwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindenwood did work landing a trio of East St. Louis products that we feel are potential P4 and for sure G5 level players in defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='830840' first='Ke'Andre' last='McClendon'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='179193' first='Larevious' last='Woods'] who should impact from day 1! Christopher Bennett is a bit undersized, but he has elite speed at the wide receiver spot and is a great gadget guy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northern Iowa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northern Iowa got a couple of athletic upside plays in Naperville North defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='830850' first='Kaiser' last='Williams'] along with Oswego wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1281456' first='Jeremiah' last='Cain'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Dakota State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four prospects for one of the best FCS programs in the country.&nbsp; De La Salle defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='833293' first='Myles' last='Green'] and Glenbrook South defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='299591' first='Tyrone' last='Cotton'] are absolute steals in our eyes.&nbsp; They are big defenders on the back end with athleticism and instincts.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='331577' first='Erimus' last='Wright'] is one of the most interesting prospects in the class who could end up blowing up at South Dakota State.&nbsp; Also have defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1292141' first='Connor' last='Sullivan'] out of Loyola.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southern Illinois</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Salukis have a pair of really nice athletes from the metro east coming their way in [player_tooltip player_id='1292245' first='Clayton' last='Lakatos'] of Edwardsville and [player_tooltip player_id='331483' first='Chase' last='Reynolds'] out of Collinsville.&nbsp; Lakatos is a safety that has range along with being a force in run support.&nbsp; Reynolds is a jack of all trades with his athleticism that can contribute on both sides.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->