There has been plenty of hand-wringing about Bret Bielema and his ability to recruit at Illinois.

The improvement in in-state recruiting is the biggest story of the bunch. And to be clear, that’s nothing to sneeze at.

Lovie Smith was better at pretty much every function of his job than he was at in-state recruiting. Some examples include:

• Scoring points against Iowa
• Naming defensive coordinators
• Avoiding nepotism hires
• Exuding youthful charisma on the sidelines
• Consistently going to bowl games

By the end of his tenure, Coach Smith had virtually abandoned the notion of keeping top talent in-state. He focused on Texas, Florida, and whatever Cory Patterson could bring in from St. Louis/East Metro.

But Lovie Smith did do one significant non-facial hair-related thing better than Coach Bielema. Lovie brought in high-end, highly effective talent from the transfer portal.

Lovie knew Illinois would never be the top choice for five-star prep prospects. But if those players got buried on Michigan’s depth chart or get forced out of the rotation at USC, perhaps Illinois could be their last stop on the road to recapturing their NFL value.

The Illini’s 2019 portal haul was largely responsible for the Illini making a bowl game. And no, we don’t need to discuss the bowl game. Not going to make you relive that.

But Brandon Peters, Oluwole Betiku, Richie Petitbon, Chase Brown, and Josh Imatorbhebhe all made massive contributions to an Illini bowl berth.

To exceed expectations in 2024, the Illini have to party like it’s 2019.

For the Illini to have a similar 2024, Bielema’s portal additions have to make a significant impact on a roster that has been gutted by draft and portal departures.

This staff has excelled in finding quarterback talent in the portal. That has been a clear area of success.

But the overwhelming majority of the non-QB portal acquisitions have been lackluster in terms of consistency and productivity. But this year’s class includes multiple true impact players.

I would go as far as to say the portal finds who will be healthy enough to play this season could be worth a win, which could mean the difference between 5-7 and 6-6.

Terrance Brooks

Brooks is a former all-conference Big 12 defender. And while nobody is Devon Witherspoon, he is a legitimate star defensive back from a top program. He projects as an immediate shutdown starter who can play on an island. His time with Aaron Henry and Corey Parker could determine how bright his NFL future can be.

Make no mistake: he’s an absolute necessity. Last year’s Illini secondary got torched by the likes of Indiana and Northwestern. It was the opposite of the triumphant 2022 campaign in which a secondary largely recruited by Lovie Smith’s staff clamped opposing receivers better than any group in the country.

Brooks represents a return to form for an Illini defensive backfield that enabled the Illini front to wreak havoc in opposing backfields. Brooks is not only the key in shutting down opposing air raid offenses, but he matters a great deal in enabling Gabe Jacas and Seth Coleman to get home more often.

All three could hear their names called in the NFL Draft.

Cole Rusk

Yes, he is missing this season with an injury. But he still has tremendous long-term potential as a weapon for Luke Altmyer/Donovan Leary/Trey Petty.

JC Davis

Bold prediction: he’s the most likely Illini player to find his way into the first two days of the 2025 draft. His PFF numbers last year were tremendous, and he has looked the part thus far.

Plug-and-play left tackles are rare finds. Davis could have stayed out west. But he took the challenge to pay for Bart Miller and Bret Bielema. His stabilizing presence enables the rest of the offensive line to settle into their more natural positions. Davis could wind up making the biggest overall impact of a stellar transfer portal haul.

Wait, you wanted to talk about another guy?

Zahkari Franklin

Barry Lunney Jr. achieved some of his best success as a coordinator with Zakhari Franklin as his top target.

In Champaign, Franklin doesn’t have to be a target monster. He doesn’t even have to be the guy.

He just has to be healthy. And with Luke Altmyer in year two, the sky for the receiving corps is the limit.

Franklin and Pat Bryant give Illinois two proven, productive pass catchers with the versatility to line up all over a wide variety of formations.

Add in the mouth-watering potential of Malik Elzy, the roof-tearing speed of Kenari Wilcher, the freakish measurables of Ashton Hollins, the wizardry of Hank Beaty, and the mystery of Alex Capka-Jones, and Justin Stepp has a full clip to deploy.

DOLTON, Ill. (WLS) — ABC7 is hearing from the Illinois Comptroller Susana Medoza about her decision to withhold tens of thousands of dollars from the Village of Dolton.

Medoza said it is because the village isn’t being transparent with its financial situation.

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“Until I see those reports properly filed the way, the law says they have to be, and until we see them show accountability for how they are spending taxpayer money, they will not see another penny of those offsets,” Medoza said.

Mendoza said she is freezing $135,000 that would have been sent to Dolton after a preliminary report of the village finances by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot revealed questionable expenses under Mayor Tiffany Henyard, and a village that had a multi-million dollar surplus two years ago is now running millions of dollars in debt.

READ MORE | Lightfoot investigation found some Dolton police officers received staggering overtime pay

“Our action yesterday is to protect the people of Dolton, who she is disrespecting with her behavior every day,” Medoza said.

Mendoza says her office is poised to conduct a forced audit and levy fines if the Village of Dolton does not file past due audits. Village trustees are now demanding that the village finance department comply.

“It’s so sad. It’s sad, because the people who are being hurt are the poor people of Dolton,” Medoza said.

An attorney representing Henyard shared statement, saying in part, “She has never refused to comply with the Comptroller. She is simply trying to compel the accountant to comply.”

Meanwhile, on Thursday, there was more confusion over leadership at the Dolton Police Department after the trustees put Deputy Chief Lewis Lacey on administrative leave.

SEE ALSO | Dolton general fund $3.65M in debt, down from surplus of $5.6M when Henyard took office: Lightfoot

Lacey appeared in federal court on Thursday, pleading not guilty to charges of bankruptcy fraud and lying under oath. A judge ordered him to hand over his firearms and FOID card.

In a video obtained by ABC7, Lacey and Henyard were heard telling officers who is in charge on Thursday night.

“Now, from this point on, do what you want, but anything after this is insubordination,” Lacy said.

Attorney Burt Odelson represents village trustees.

“I’ve seen a lot of corruption and hijinks, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Odelson said.

Dolton trustees told ABC7 they will move to formally fire Lacey at the next village board meeting after they say he violated the terms of his administrative leave.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas men’s basketball is reportedly set to play Illinois at a “planned Thanksgiving event” at 3 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center.

Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman confirmed the game during an annual media roundtable, according to reports Thursday. Whitman reportedly said the game will be televised by CBS following the network’s NFL game that day between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, which would put it around 3 p.m..

CBS announced the game Friday.

“What a great opportunity CBS is giving Arkansas and Illinois. Thanksgiving is a day that gets all of America — whether you are a sports fan or not — watching sports on TV,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said in a release. “Playing in this time slot will provide tremendous exposure for both programs. … We have a great deal of respect for Coach [Brad] Underwood, and we know this game will be one the whole nation will be interested in seeing.”

“We are thrilled for this opportunity,” Underwood added in the release. “Playing in Kansas City — a tremendous basketball city that is near and dear to me — and taking on a great opponent in Arkansas, led by a Hall of Fame Coach in Coach Calipari, is a big test for our team.”

Arkansas will also reportedly face Arkansas-Little Rock on Nov. 22; go to Miami for the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 3; the Jimmy V. Classic against Michigan on Dec. 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York; a game against Central Arkansas on Dec. 14 in North Little Rock; host North Carolina A&T on Dec. 21; and a home game against Oakland on Dec. 30.

The Razorbacks will play Illinois for the second time in three seasons. Arkansas defeated the Fighting Illini 73-63 during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa. 

The teams were part of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City in November 2021 but did not play against each other. Illinois has a 5-1 lead in the all-time series against Arkansas. 

Like the Razorbacks, the Fighting Illini will have a new-look roster heading into the 2024-25 season, with Terrence Shannon and Marcus Damask both graduating and Coleman Hawkins (Kansas State) and Dain Dainja (Memphis) transferring. Illinois needed to replace production from its Elite Eight run and did so through the transfer portal.

Illinois lost to eventual champion Connecticut in the national quarterfinal.

Coach Brad Underwood added impact transfers. Kylan Boswell (Arizona) is the standout name, but Ben Humrichous (Evansville), Jake Davis (Mercer), Carey Booth (Notre Dame) and Tre Davis (Louisville) will be expected to contribute. Underwood also added freshman Tomislav Ivisic, the brother of Arkansas’ Zvonimir Ivisic.

Ty Rodgers is Illinois’ leading returner after starting in every game last season, averaging 6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He and sophomore Dra Gibbs-Lawthorn could be expected to take on larger roles.

Arkansas’ roster first roster under Calipari consists of returners Trevon Brazile and walk-on Lawson Blake, who will miss time with a ruptured Achillies; transfers Ivisic (Kentucky), Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee) Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic), Adou Thiero (Kentucky), DJ Wagner (Kentucky), Melo Sanchez(Hawaii Pacific) and walk-on Kareem Watkins (Kentucky); and freshmen Karter Knox, Johnuel “Boogie” Fland, Billy Richmond, Jaden Karuletwa, Ayden Kelly and Casmir Chavis.

This story was originally published on June 6 and was updated on Aug. 16 when CBS announced the game.