It is that time of season again, when you are constantly updating social media to see if an illinois football player has hit the transfer portal.
Last season wasn’t too bad.Bret Bielema has done a great job building relationships and keeping Illini players on the roster. There will always be some detractors, but for the most part, this program is great at keeping talent home.
Wiht that being said, as I look up and down the roster, it wouldn’t shock me to see certain players depart the program. Please note, I don’t want them to leave. But honestly, I wouldn’t blame them if they did enter the transfer portal.
Here are five Illinois football players I wouldn’t blame if they hit the transfer portal
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Illinois went into the junior college ranks in 2023 to snag talented pass-catcher Mario Sanders II. As he joined the program, he hasn’t been able to make much of an impact.
The 2025 campaign is the first time Sanders has caught a pass at Illinois. He has two receptions for 32 yards this season.
Sanders will be entering his senior year in the college ranks. There is no starting job waiting, and he likely won’t see much more playing time in 2026. This might be a case were the stage is a little too big for him, and heading to a smaller school for one final season wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Illinois always needs weapons, but the arsenal might be a little too deep. I wouldn’t blame Sanders if he transferred to get some playing time for his final season.
3. Kaden Feagin – Running Back (Junior)
This one might shock some peopel. I loved it when Illinois landed Kaden Feagin. I tho
4. Kaleb Patterson – Cornerback (Junior)
Illinois started the season with a certain group of players at each position, and as time went on, the coaching staff adjusted the depth chart to help the team succeed on the field.
A player like Kaleb Patterson was one of the Illini’s big-time players early on in the season.He was seeing at least 25 snaps in each of the first four games. But after that point,his playing time started to plummet.
Patterson is going to be entering his senior year. Illinois is starting to address the cornerback issue from this past season with the addition of elite junior college cornerback Jakwon Morris. I believe Xavier Scott will take a medical redshirt, too.
Even with Scott being out for much of the season, Patterson lost his playing time as the season progressed. He seems like he is out of favor in Champaign. It might not be a bad idea for a fresh start, and I wouldn’t blame him one bit if he hit the transfer portal.
Illinois Safety Resetich May seek Transfer Amidst Roster Competition
illinois utilized a safety duo of Miles Scott (731 snaps) and Matthew Bailey (693 snaps) as primary starters during the 2024 season. However, safety Prather Resetich saw limited playing time, appearing in just 197 snaps, primarily within the first four weeks of the season. According to reports, Resetich received the lowest grade of any safety who played a snap for the Illini in 2024.
With several young safeties developing within the program, and head coach bret Bielema likely to pursue additions through the transfer portal and the 2026 recruiting class, Resetich’s path to significant playing time appears challenging as he enters his senior season.Given the competitive landscape, a potential transfer for Resetich is considered understandable if he seeks more opportunities on the field.
It is important to note that snap counts and player grades are often used as indicators of performance and playing time opportunities,but do not provide a complete picture of a player’s potential contribution to a team.
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