Illinois Football Focus
@illinifb.bsky.social
Unlock Illini Football like never before. Deep dives into analysis, stats, and game film. Plus live game video and a little bit of fun as well. My real name is Storm.
🏡 St Louis
🔗 illinifb.substack.com
🏡 St Louis
🔗 illinifb.substack.com
Pinned
Here’s my current #Illini Starter Pack of Bluesky accounts covering Illinois sports.
If someone joins Bluesky in the future or if I’ve missed an account that should be included, let me know in the comments or DMs so I can add them.
Let’s keep growing the Illini community on Bluesky!
If someone joins Bluesky in the future or if I’ve missed an account that should be included, let me know in the comments or DMs so I can add them.
Let’s keep growing the Illini community on Bluesky!
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
New on the substack: Where'd the explosives go?
cfbgraphs.substack.com/p/footballno...
cfbgraphs.substack.com/p/footballno...
January 30, 2026 at 3:41 PM
New on the substack: Where'd the explosives go?
cfbgraphs.substack.com/p/footballno...
cfbgraphs.substack.com/p/footballno...
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
NEWS: The College Sports Commission has opened an investigation into LSU over potential unreported NIL deal(s). The Tigers are the first known program under an inquiry from the new enforcement body.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
LSU becomes first major target of College Sports Commission investigation
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:11 PM
NEWS: The College Sports Commission has opened an investigation into LSU over potential unreported NIL deal(s). The Tigers are the first known program under an inquiry from the new enforcement body.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Illini fans will like the notes on “the best Day 1 showing of any player” from the Senior Bowl
👇
👇
Senior Bowl Day 1 Scouting Notes and NFL Draft Risers: American Team edition #NFLDraft #TheDraftStartsInMobile #SeniorBowl
Gabe Jacas 📈
Derrick Moore 📈
Zion Young 📈
Logan Taylor 📈
James Brockermeyer 📈
Sam Roush📈
Max Iheanachor📉
Caleb Banks📉
Read: sportstalk.substack.com/p/senior-bow...
Gabe Jacas 📈
Derrick Moore 📈
Zion Young 📈
Logan Taylor 📈
James Brockermeyer 📈
Sam Roush📈
Max Iheanachor📉
Caleb Banks📉
Read: sportstalk.substack.com/p/senior-bow...
Senior Bowl 2026 American Team Day 1 Scouting: Notes and NFL Draft Risers
The American Team practiced until the sun went down and temperatures hit freezing
sportstalk.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Illini fans will like the notes on “the best Day 1 showing of any player” from the Senior Bowl
👇
👇
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Illinois’ Gabe Jacas is a human wrecking ball, and he flashed the goods on Day 1 of the Senior Bowl. Lines up inside and wins with a chop-rip.
Jacas had 19 sacks the past two seasons.
Jacas had 19 sacks the past two seasons.
January 28, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Illinois’ Gabe Jacas is a human wrecking ball, and he flashed the goods on Day 1 of the Senior Bowl. Lines up inside and wins with a chop-rip.
Jacas had 19 sacks the past two seasons.
Jacas had 19 sacks the past two seasons.
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
For my money, Illinois' Gabe Jacas was the most dominant player at the Senior Bowl today. Instant win vs. Florida's Jake Slaughter here. #NFLDraft #TheDraftStartsInMobile #SeniorBowl
January 28, 2026 at 3:48 AM
For my money, Illinois' Gabe Jacas was the most dominant player at the Senior Bowl today. Instant win vs. Florida's Jake Slaughter here. #NFLDraft #TheDraftStartsInMobile #SeniorBowl
Illinois Fighting Illini Football
2026 Schedule
2026 Schedule
January 28, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Illinois Fighting Illini Football
2026 Schedule
2026 Schedule
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
The big highlight from the last Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl:
a blue and white shark costume is standing on a stage
Alt: Left shark GIF
media.tenor.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:55 AM
The big highlight from the last Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl:
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Witherspoon breaks it up on fourth down to keep the Seahawks in the lead.
January 26, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Witherspoon breaks it up on fourth down to keep the Seahawks in the lead.
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Offensive standouts from Day 2 of East-West Shrine Bowl:
Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Wake Forest
Kaden Wetjen/Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin
Eric Rivers, Ga. Tech
Garrett DiGiorgio, UCLA
Jack Endries, Texas
Nolan Rucci, Penn St
Josh Gesky, Illinois
Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, TAMU
Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Wake Forest
Kaden Wetjen/Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin
Eric Rivers, Ga. Tech
Garrett DiGiorgio, UCLA
Jack Endries, Texas
Nolan Rucci, Penn St
Josh Gesky, Illinois
Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, TAMU
January 24, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Offensive standouts from Day 2 of East-West Shrine Bowl:
Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Wake Forest
Kaden Wetjen/Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin
Eric Rivers, Ga. Tech
Garrett DiGiorgio, UCLA
Jack Endries, Texas
Nolan Rucci, Penn St
Josh Gesky, Illinois
Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, TAMU
Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Wake Forest
Kaden Wetjen/Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin
Eric Rivers, Ga. Tech
Garrett DiGiorgio, UCLA
Jack Endries, Texas
Nolan Rucci, Penn St
Josh Gesky, Illinois
Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, TAMU
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Defensive standouts from Day 1 of East-West Shrine Bowl:
James Thompson Jr., Illinois
Kaleb Proctor, SELU
Darrell Jackson Jr., FSU
Devon Marshall, NC St
Avery Smith, Toledo
Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
Ceyair Wright, Nebraska
Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH)
Taurean York, Texas A&M
James Thompson Jr., Illinois
Kaleb Proctor, SELU
Darrell Jackson Jr., FSU
Devon Marshall, NC St
Avery Smith, Toledo
Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
Ceyair Wright, Nebraska
Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH)
Taurean York, Texas A&M
January 24, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Defensive standouts from Day 1 of East-West Shrine Bowl:
James Thompson Jr., Illinois
Kaleb Proctor, SELU
Darrell Jackson Jr., FSU
Devon Marshall, NC St
Avery Smith, Toledo
Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
Ceyair Wright, Nebraska
Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH)
Taurean York, Texas A&M
James Thompson Jr., Illinois
Kaleb Proctor, SELU
Darrell Jackson Jr., FSU
Devon Marshall, NC St
Avery Smith, Toledo
Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
Ceyair Wright, Nebraska
Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH)
Taurean York, Texas A&M
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Illinois’ James Thompson Jr. flashing his fluidity at 6’5, 300+lbs. One of my favorite prospects at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
He was top 10 in the Big Ten in run stops among IDL this past season (19).
He was top 10 in the Big Ten in run stops among IDL this past season (19).
January 24, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Illinois’ James Thompson Jr. flashing his fluidity at 6’5, 300+lbs. One of my favorite prospects at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
He was top 10 in the Big Ten in run stops among IDL this past season (19).
He was top 10 in the Big Ten in run stops among IDL this past season (19).
Illinois Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer has been named the next Athletic Director of Oklahoma.
The University of Oklahoma has named Roger Denny to lead new era of OU Athletics.
🔗 https://link.ou.edu/4r5amyw
🔗 https://link.ou.edu/4r5amyw
January 24, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Illinois Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer has been named the next Athletic Director of Oklahoma.
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Now official from Oklahoma: Roger Denny has been named the Sooners' next athletics director, coming to OU from Illinois, where he was deputy AD/COO.
OU prez Joseph Harroz: "In Roger we have the next natural leader who understands both the complexity of the moment and the opportunities it presents."
OU prez Joseph Harroz: "In Roger we have the next natural leader who understands both the complexity of the moment and the opportunities it presents."
Oklahoma names Illinois' Roger Denny as next athletics director
Illinois senior associate athletics director and chief operating officer Roger Denny has been named Oklahoma's next athletics director, succeeding longtime Sooners AD Joe Castiglione.
247sports.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Now official from Oklahoma: Roger Denny has been named the Sooners' next athletics director, coming to OU from Illinois, where he was deputy AD/COO.
OU prez Joseph Harroz: "In Roger we have the next natural leader who understands both the complexity of the moment and the opportunities it presents."
OU prez Joseph Harroz: "In Roger we have the next natural leader who understands both the complexity of the moment and the opportunities it presents."
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
📊🏈COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S MOST EFFICIENT TEAMS
2025 FULL SEASON
↗️🟢: Good Offense, Good Defense
↖️🔵: Good Offense, Defense Needs Work
↘️🟡: Good Defense, Offense Needs Work
↙️🔴: We're Trying Our Best!
2025 FULL SEASON
↗️🟢: Good Offense, Good Defense
↖️🔵: Good Offense, Defense Needs Work
↘️🟡: Good Defense, Offense Needs Work
↙️🔴: We're Trying Our Best!
January 23, 2026 at 8:44 PM
📊🏈COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S MOST EFFICIENT TEAMS
2025 FULL SEASON
↗️🟢: Good Offense, Good Defense
↖️🔵: Good Offense, Defense Needs Work
↘️🟡: Good Defense, Offense Needs Work
↙️🔴: We're Trying Our Best!
2025 FULL SEASON
↗️🟢: Good Offense, Good Defense
↖️🔵: Good Offense, Defense Needs Work
↘️🟡: Good Defense, Offense Needs Work
↙️🔴: We're Trying Our Best!
Good episode. College football fans should check out phantomisland.show
I subscribed for a month last year just to test it out and I haven’t been able to quit it yet. I’m a happy paying subscriber.
I subscribed for a month last year just to test it out and I haven’t been able to quit it yet. I’m a happy paying subscriber.
For Phantom Island subscribers, I'm back on with Ryan Nanni talking about the roster-building lessons we can learn from Indiana and Miami this year. Enjoy.
January 23, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Good episode. College football fans should check out phantomisland.show
I subscribed for a month last year just to test it out and I haven’t been able to quit it yet. I’m a happy paying subscriber.
I subscribed for a month last year just to test it out and I haven’t been able to quit it yet. I’m a happy paying subscriber.
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
COMMIT: Jacksonville State transfer DL Darrell Prater signs with #Illini, @247SportsPortal has learned
What it means: 247sports.com/colleg...
What it means: 247sports.com/colleg...
January 21, 2026 at 2:33 AM
COMMIT: Jacksonville State transfer DL Darrell Prater signs with #Illini, @247SportsPortal has learned
What it means: 247sports.com/colleg...
What it means: 247sports.com/colleg...
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Indiana's TD's tonight:
FB blast
QB draw on 4th-and-5 in which the QB trucks a dude
Punt block
This is the most B1G trio of touchdowns you can possibly imagine
FB blast
QB draw on 4th-and-5 in which the QB trucks a dude
Punt block
This is the most B1G trio of touchdowns you can possibly imagine
January 20, 2026 at 5:18 AM
Indiana's TD's tonight:
FB blast
QB draw on 4th-and-5 in which the QB trucks a dude
Punt block
This is the most B1G trio of touchdowns you can possibly imagine
FB blast
QB draw on 4th-and-5 in which the QB trucks a dude
Punt block
This is the most B1G trio of touchdowns you can possibly imagine
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
We can't believe it. This team won the national championship
January 20, 2026 at 4:40 AM
We can't believe it. This team won the national championship
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
My alma mater won the fucking dickhead lottery by having Phil Knight go there when Eisenhower was President, and we have been trying to "buy" one for 25 years now. It takes more than just money. A lot more.
They did a wonderful job, top-to-bottom, with a great crew. Just....stop it.
Go Ducks.
They did a wonderful job, top-to-bottom, with a great crew. Just....stop it.
Go Ducks.
No it's not when you realize all it took was Mark Cuban buying the entire roster. College football has gone the way of MLB and the Premier League - you can just buy a championship.
January 20, 2026 at 4:43 AM
My alma mater won the fucking dickhead lottery by having Phil Knight go there when Eisenhower was President, and we have been trying to "buy" one for 25 years now. It takes more than just money. A lot more.
They did a wonderful job, top-to-bottom, with a great crew. Just....stop it.
Go Ducks.
They did a wonderful job, top-to-bottom, with a great crew. Just....stop it.
Go Ducks.
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Jamari Sharpe getting the game winning INT is very cool. One of the few holdovers from the Tom Allen era.
There’s zero chance he committed to Indiana in December 2021 thinking about a national championship. And now he clinches the title with an interception.
There’s zero chance he committed to Indiana in December 2021 thinking about a national championship. And now he clinches the title with an interception.
January 20, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Jamari Sharpe getting the game winning INT is very cool. One of the few holdovers from the Tom Allen era.
There’s zero chance he committed to Indiana in December 2021 thinking about a national championship. And now he clinches the title with an interception.
There’s zero chance he committed to Indiana in December 2021 thinking about a national championship. And now he clinches the title with an interception.
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
SEC: “It’s hard to win a title in the current college football environment.”
Indiana University [rollerskating backward]: “It’s not that hard.”
Indiana University [rollerskating backward]: “It’s not that hard.”
January 20, 2026 at 4:21 AM
SEC: “It’s hard to win a title in the current college football environment.”
Indiana University [rollerskating backward]: “It’s not that hard.”
Indiana University [rollerskating backward]: “It’s not that hard.”
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Miami lost three games this season and their last offensive play of each one of them was a Carson Beck interception
January 20, 2026 at 4:17 AM
Miami lost three games this season and their last offensive play of each one of them was a Carson Beck interception
Reposted by Illinois Football Focus
Honestly might be the most incredible story in college football history.
January 20, 2026 at 4:18 AM
Honestly might be the most incredible story in college football history.