CHAMPAIGN — Lovie Smith is riding a run of recruiting success in the St. Louis area, landing multiple prospects from both sides of the Mississippi River in his latest class. Trinity Catholic has been particularly good to the Illini. Four-star quarterback Isaiah Williams and four-star linebacker Shammond Cooper will arrive this summer, and Illinois has offered several of their teammates in subsequent classes.
Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood might be trying to cash in on that momentum, too, with a late Wednesday offer out to Class of 2020 big man Ryan Kalkbrenner. The 7-foot center helped the Titans to a 25-4 record this past season.