While most of us were either asleep or getting the sparklers and Roman candles ready, Bret Bielema and his staff continued to bolster the 2022 recruiting class.
Three-star linebacker Jared Badie announced his commitment to the Fighting Illini early Sunday morning.
The Oswego East product committed to Illinois over Big Ten rivals Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Purdue. Badie also had power-five offers from Iowa State, Tennessee & Texas Tech, among others. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound linebacker is a top-15 recruit in the state according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, and still has another season to help boost his profile.