Jake Furtney officially entered the transfer portal Wednesday, denting the Illini’s tight end depth
As of Tuesday, six Illinois football players had entered the transfer portal, and that figure rose to seven when tight end Jake Furtney shared on social media Wednesday that he had also decided to enter the portal.
I am entering the transfer portal🚨
6’5 240 Tight End
4 Years of eligibility
1 GP (Offense)
DM me for film! pic.twitter.com/1bB6N7HD4g— Jake Furtney (@JakeFurtney) April 23, 2025
Furtney, from St. Charles (Illinois) North, appeared in just one game last season and still has four years of eligibility left. His older brother, Ben Furtney, recently wrapped up his senior year as a fullback at Purdue, a Big Ten competitor.
Ultimately, Jake Furtney’s departure isn’t a major setback for Illinois on the field. As a former three-star recruit, he was unlikely to surpass Carson Goda, Tanner Arkin, and Cole Rusk in the depth chart as a sophomore.
While he might have secured more playing time on special teams this year or developed into a key player in the future, it’s difficult to say given his limited experience. With the constant changes in college football recruitment and player retention, it’s not surprising that some players look for new opportunities.
Although Illinois’ tight end depth has taken a hit, there isn’t much else to consider here. Coach Brett Bielema still has plenty to accomplish before fall, but the essential components seem to be in place for his team to compete for a Big Ten title – and maybe even more.
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