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Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said he was in close contact with former Wisconsin coaches Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhard during the recent winter transfer window.
Meeting with the media on Sunday, Bielema elaborated on his pursuit of three key former Wisconsin transfers: defensive linemen James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal, and outside linebacker Leon Lowery. All three committed to Illinois after gauging other transfer interest
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Both Neal and Thompson Jr. were Chryst recruits in the class of 2022 and 2020, respectively. Each played under the longtime Wisconsin head coach before electing to remain with the program for the first two years of the Luke Fickell era. They each then entered the portal after the 2024 campaign concluded.
Neal was arguably the Badgers’ best defensive lineman over the last few seasons, totaling 42 tackles, five for loss and 1/2 sack. Thompson Jr., meanwhile, held that title in 2023 before missing most of the 2024 season with an injury.
Each figure to now lead an Illinois defense coached by defensive coordinator Aaron Henry (Wisconsin DB from 2007-11) and defensive line coach Terrance Jamison (former Wisconsin DL).
#illini Bret Bielema called Jim Leonhard and Paul Chryst about transfer additions from Wisconsin.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) January 26, 2025
Leonhard just wrapped up the 2024 NFL season as the Denver Broncos’ secondary coach. Chryst, meanwhile, was out of coaching this past season after spending 2023 as an offensive analyst at Texas.
The Wisconsin connection still exists for Bielema, Chryst and Leonhard, as well as those two former Badgers on the Illinois staff. The Fighting Illini prioritizing several former Badgers in the portal shows that reality. As the years pass, Bielema’s Illinois program resembles Wisconsin, where he coached from 2006-12, more and more.
Luke Fickell and Wisconsin will…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/illinois-head-coach-spoke-paul-182938566.html
Author : Badgers Wire
Publish date : 2025-01-26 18:29:00
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