What Top Prospects are Committing or Nearing Commitments?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What is the latest with the top 2026 football prospects in the state of Illinois?&nbsp; A lot of decisions are being made or are nearing announcement dates.&nbsp; Here Prep Redzone Illinois looks back at a very busy week!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Commitments</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='801878' first='McHale' last='Blade'] (Simeon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The elite edge rusher from Simeon has made his commitment picking Michigan over a host of big time blue blood programs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1585113' first='Max' last='Carmicle'] (Hillcrest)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It had long been assumed that Carmicle would flip his commitment as it seemed the minute he committed to Northern Illinois the P4 offers poured in.&nbsp; On Thursday he made it official by flipping his commitment to Purdue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='801991' first='Owen' last='Fors'] (Barrington)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fors was one of the top remaining offensive line targets on the board.&nbsp; Northwestern got his commitment on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1669549' first='Kortez' last='Rupert'] (East St. Louis)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rupert is a fast rising wide receiver out of the metro east that received quite a bit of interest.&nbsp; In the end though Indiana was his choice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1623276' first='Will' last='Vala'] (Downers Grove North)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vala is the fourth ranked tight end in a super strong class.&nbsp; Illinois secured the commitment of the tight end with helium heading into his senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Decision Dates/Finalists Set</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Claude Mpouma (Carmel)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's top offensive tackle and uncommitted prospect announced that he is down to Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, Florida, and Auburn.&nbsp; Recently took an official visit to Auburn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='801700' first='Mack' last='Sutter'] (Dunlap)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunlap star tight end did not make his trip to Penn State and will now choose from a final four of Illinois, Ole Miss, Ohio State, and Alabama.&nbsp; He will be back at Illinois for a camp and then an official to Alabama on the 20^th.&nbsp; Could be on commitment watch soon after.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1585119' first='Nick' last='Hankins'] (Belleville West)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hankins is the top corner in the class.&nbsp; Belleville West product has taken his official visits and narrowed his choices down to Illinois or Mizzou.&nbsp; He will make his decision on June 19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1669545' first='Messiah' last='Tilson'] (Rockford Guilford)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>State's top safety is a big-time player on the back end.&nbsp; Wisconsin, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Rutgers are the finalists he will decide between on June 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->