Last year’s game was a big step for the Illini. They were able to snag four-star defensive tackle Calvin Avery from the state of Texas and four-star center turned defensive tackle Verdis Brown from the state of Florida. Brown is actually from Chicago, but he played his final season at IMG Academy.
Those two gets in 2018 were big for the Illinois football program. Both Avery and Brown played in the 2018 UA All-American Game, and now the Illini coaching staff was able to snag at least two more top recruits who are playing in the game this year.