Four-Star Michigan Receiver Chad Willis Receives Offer from Illinois Football
On Sunday, Illinois extended an offer to four-star wide receiver Chad Willis from St. Mary’s (Michigan) Prep, marking another key recruiting move for the Illini.
This comes just days after Illinois secured a commitment from another highly-rated receiver, Nasir Rankin, one of the top in-state recruits. Willis, like Rankin, is also a standout basketball player, showcasing his athletic versatility.
As a sophomore, Willis recorded 19 catches for 283 yards and three touchdowns, playing a key role on a team that finished 11-3 and reached the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division II State Championship game. With more targets expected in his junior season, Willis’ stock is rising, and he now holds over 15 scholarship offers, including from SEC schools Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and several Big Ten programs such as Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
B L E S S E D TO RECEIVE AN OFFER FROM THE University of Illinois @CoachCParker @coachjstepp @BretBielema @CoachJGonz @coachdixon_OLSM @CoachBlackwell_ @MarcSutherland_ pic.twitter.com/ZLPzz4Rrq1
— Chad Willis (@_chadwillis1) June 1, 2025
Willis has already visited schools like LSU unofficially, and the next goal for Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and his staff is to bring him to Champaign for an official visit.
Landing a player like Willis would be a major win for Illinois’ recruiting efforts—not quite as big as Rankin’s commitment, but still a significant boost. Ranked No. 25 in the country for his position and No. 6 in Michigan, Willis would add considerable firepower to Illinois’ offense.
While Illinois’ recruiting efforts still lag behind the heavyweights of the Big Ten like Ohio State and Michigan, moves like this one show the Illini are making steady progress. Adding Willis would be another key step in elevating their recruiting class.
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