Illinois football transfer portal tracker: who is joining & leaving the Illini

(WAND) - The transfer portal is officially open and Illinois football has been active in both players leaving and players joining the program via the portal. 

WAND Sports will continue to update this list as announcements are made. The deadline to enter the portal is Jan. 16, 2026. 

Below is a list of players that Illinois has acquired from the portal via Illinois football X page. (new additions marked with *) 

*Defensive Lineman Darrell Prater coming from Jacksonville State

*Defensive Lineman Isaiah Thomison coming from Bowling Green

*Kicker Ethan Moczulski coming from Washington

*Defensive Lineman Connor Sullivan coming from Washington State

Linebacker Robert Edmonson coming from Colorado State

Defensive Back Deuce Fillmore coming from Georgia State

Outside Linebacker Will Holmes coming from Utah State

Wide Receiver Ty Robinson coming from Ball State

Wide Receiver Alex Perry coming from Florida International

Long Snapper Zach Haber coming from Arkansas

Offensive Tackle Christian Martin coming from Colorado State

Wide Receiver Jayshon Platt coming from Florida Atlantic University

Center Jake Renfro coming from Wisconsin

Maurice Smith Jr. coming from Chowan University

Defensive Lineman Carter Janki coming from Penn

Safety Lavon Williams coming from East Texas A&M

Quarterback Katin Houser coming from East Carolina

Below is a list of players that have entered the portal via player social media accounts or 247sports. 

Defensive Lineback Angelo McCullom according to his X page

Tight End Cole Rusk who has committed to Arizona

Corner Back Kaleb Patterson who has committed to Kansas State 

Kicker David Olano who has committed to Texas A&M

Defensive Lineman Tomiwa Durojaiye who has commited to South Carolina

Defensive Lineman Curt Neal who has committed to Purdue

Defensive Lineman Eli Coenen who has committed to Michigan State

Wide Reciever Ashton Hollins who has committed to Georgia Southern

Wide Reciever Justin Bowick who has committed to Oklahoma State

Safety Tyson Rooks who has committed to FAU

Linebacker Malachi Hood who has committed to West Virginia

Linebacker Jojo Hayden who has committed to Purdue

Offensive Tackle Kellen Francis who has committed to to Southern Illinois Carbondale

Defensive Lineman Jeremiah Warren according to his X page

Quarterback Trey Petty who has committed to Western Michigan

Quarterback Ethan Hampton who has committed to Southern Mississippi

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.