Bowl prep also means setting 2025 foundation

CHAMPAIGN Bret Bielema has emphasized how many of Illinois 14 players that earned some level of All-Big Ten recognition could return in 2025 since those honors were announced.

Its a talking point the Illini coach mentioned when discussing the 21 players signed in the Class of 2025.

Then repeated when discussing No.

21 Illinois acceptance of a Citrus Bowl invitation to play South Carolina on New Years Eve.

Mostly because 11 of those 14 players can return next season.

Only wide receiver Pat Bryant, offensive lineman J.C.

Davis and defensive lineman TeRah Edwards cant.

Theyll exhaust their eligibility when this season officially ends in Orlando, Fla., later this month.

But quarterback Luke Altmyer can return.

So can a trio of offensive linemen in Josh Kreutz, Josh Gesky and Melvin Priestly.

Not to mention defensive backs Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey, linebacker Dylan Rosiek, outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, kicker David Olano, long snapper Lane Hansen and wide receiver/returner Hank Beatty.

We have a lot of really good young players coming back, Bielema said.

Fourteen of Illinois 22 starters for the regular-season finale against Northwestern can return in 2025.

There are a bunch of really good players coming back that get me excited.

This game is going to be big to build momentum for that.

That doesnt mean Illinois is going to stand pat from a roster-building standpoint.

The returning players are the foundation of next years team, but the Illini are going to be active in the transfer portal to complement the 21 players 20 high school recruits and one junior college transfer that signed last week.

Finishing the regular season 9-3 with a shot at a program record-tying 10th win in the Citrus Bowl should aid in those portal pursuits.

The perception of Illinois is changing, and Bielema said hes getting a definitive sense of that in recruiting.

To flip nine kids (in the Class of 2025), Ive never had that in my career, the Illinois coach said.

Ill tell you whats happening right now in the portal world is its kids we were in on that really liked us but we werent winning enough for them, which I totally understand.

Thats not the case now.

Youve got a guy like Luke Altmyer who really could be one of the best quarterbacks in college football next year.

Could be a Heisman candidate.

What do good receivers want? They want a good quarterback.

Were not going to go portal crazy, but I could see us taking 5-6 guys on both sides of the ball that fit immediate places.

Retaining Altmyer among other key players is a priority.

Bielema said Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman has aided administratively to help make that happen.

While that process plays out, preparation continues both for South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl and for 2025.

Illinois will practice three times this week, three times next week and then have a full week of practice in Orlando before the game.

Well keep it fun, Bielema said.

Well keep it light.

Well get it short, crisp, clean.

Give a chance for a couple of our guys to get healthy.

The added benefit of bowl practices, which provide more than the typical number of work days ahead of a game, is providing more time to work with the younger players on the roster.

Ill probably have 2-4 periods a day that will strictly be (developmental) guys, Bielema said.

Our guys like coaching them and seeing them, and it kind of gives you a built-in break.

...

It allows you to really focus on specific things, and it also allows me to teach the game..

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