Massive News As Illinois football flips homegrown class of 2025 recruit from North Carolina
Keeping big-time recruits home is important, and the Illinois football program has landed a huge flip in a recruitment.
Illinois Football Team’s 2025 Class Update
The Illinois football team hasn’t had the strongest start for the class of 2025. As of Monday, the Illini held 14 commitments and were ranked No. 66 nationally. While this ranking may not lead to significant success in the future, there’s still ample time to attract top recruits.
Despite many players already committed elsewhere, Illinois is actively working to sway some high-profile recruits. One notable example is Logan Farrell, whom the Illini aimed to bring back to his home state.
On Monday night, Hayes Fawcett from On3.com reported that Farrell has chosen to change his commitment from North Carolina to Illinois. This was confirmed by Farrell himself, who shared Fawcett’s post with the comment, “Staying HOME.”
Staying HOME 🏠 @BretBielema @RobbyDischer @CoachEmbleton @Coach_BMiller @IlliniFootball https://t.co/jWy8MwHLSp
— Logan Farrell (@LoganFarrell87) October 22, 2024
Illinois Football: Exciting Recruitment Flip for the Orange and Blue
This is a significant commitment for the Orange and Blue. Farrell, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound tight end from John Hersey High School in Illinois, is a three-star recruit ranked as the No. 703 player in the class of 2025. He is also the No. 36 tight end nationally and the No. 17 player from Illinois.
Illinois football aims to strengthen its tight end position with the 2025 class and beyond. Farrell is precisely what the Illinois offense needs—he’s a dual-threat tight end capable of making catches and excelling in blocking. His skill set aligns perfectly with Barry Lunney’s offensive style.
I also appreciate Illinois’s strategy of targeting talented tight ends. As a top 1,000 recruit, Farrell is likely to make an early impact. However, he isn’t the only tight end Illinois is after.
In addition to securing Farrell, Illinois hosted two notable 2026 tight-end recruits during the Michigan game. Mack Sutter, from Dunlap, Illinois, is a four-star recruit ranked No. 107 in the class of 2026. The other prospect is JC Anderson from Mt. Zion, Illinois, also a four-star recruit, ranked No. 125 in the class of 2026.
Acquiring Farrell is significant not only for his talent but also because he’s an in-state recruit choosing to stay home. Illinois is also focused on keeping two more high-profile tight ends in-state for 2026. I love this trend and hope it continues in future recruiting classes!