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Illinois football has had sparingly few days on the field worth chest-beating over in recent years, and it's safe to say the program hasn't had a day off the field like the one it enjoyed Wednesday ... maybe ever.It wasn't just the commitment of four-star recruit Nasir Rankin. It wasn't only that three-star defensive lineman King Liggins pledged himself to the Illini an hour before Rankin. It was that two potentially game-changing high school football recruits from Chicago's South Side chose to stay in state, picked coach Bret Bielema and Champaign, and did so over several more established (or at least currently trending) programs.Illinois, as it turns out, is trending, too.
Needless to say, Illini Nation was jazzed – and many of its members predictably hopped on to social media to express their excitement, joy and confidence in what now appears to be a near-limitless future of Illinois football.
Mind you, the 2025 Illini have yet to play a single down, and Rankin and Liggins (among others) are still high school students. But nothing hits quite like hope, and after Wednesday's bounty, Illini fans are positively brimming with it. Let's meet 'em where they're at:
The moment
The best in Illinois stay in Illinois‼️Nasir Rankin is an Illini. Now time to bring @jcanderson34 and @M4ckSutter home pic.twitter.com/xha7twdXIa
— Altmyer’s Mullet Muse (@ChiefamILLy) May 21, 2025
NASIR RANKIN ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK
— Illini Joe (@illini_joe) May 21, 2025
Nasir Rankin's story (as told by Ayo!)
— NASIR RANKIN (@The_Real_Nas1) May 22, 2025
A two-way baller
Just saw thisIllinois snags 4* 2026 Morgan Park 2026 PGNasir Rankin Averaged 23 ppgWill play football + Basketball pic.twitter.com/EAjdCuIFIk
— Dariush Takhtehchian, M.D (@takhtehchianmd) May 22, 2025
... and now lead recruiter
#Illini football landed two South Side Chicago commits in King Liggins and Nasir Rankin for 2026 today, and Rankin hopes more in-state guys follow. Mentions Mack Sutter, JC Anderson pic.twitter.com/9LWohQBRbz
— Tristan Thomas (@TristanThomasTV) May 21, 2025
Expert opinion
The Illinois fighting Illini are on a major roll landing one of the top athletes in the Midwest Nasir Rankin. This could be their best Recruiting class in years. https://t.co/5XwggzVlMc
— Tom Lemming (@LemmingReport) May 21, 2025
A recruiting feast fit for a King
Welcome to the Illini, Nasir Rankin and King Liggins. Quite a day for Bret Bielema & Co.!
— Dave Wischnowsky (@wischlist) May 21, 2025
Me when Liggins puts on that Orange and Blue hat pic.twitter.com/UGpW6tek6q
— The Kingfishovic (@TheKingfisher18) May 21, 2025
What a time to be alive
#Illini land 4️⃣⭐️ Nasir Rankin & 3️⃣⭐️ King Liggins@BretBielema @AaronHenry7 @BarryLunneyJr @CoachJamison @coachjstepp @The_Real_Nas1 @King_liggins1 @IlliniFootball#famILLy ️️ pic.twitter.com/hqHdljPnK5
— Chief Oskee (@ChiefOskee) May 21, 2025
BRET BIELEMA THE KING OF ILLINOIS♂️GO #ILLINI @IlliniFootball #ILL #ILLINOIS #HTTO pic.twitter.com/X6nJSayPwX
— DADLIFE DEON (@SO_SMOOVE_AARON) May 21, 2025
The Illini recruiting office today pic.twitter.com/6iSI0chwWE
— Bob Zuppke (@BobZuppke) May 21, 2025
After today, I think it’s appropriate I wear my favorite shirt for the recording of the next episode of @LO_Illini. #Illini. pic.twitter.com/rBwVlN0uKO
— Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) May 21, 2025
https://t.co/UWrCPm2QPa pic.twitter.com/pYCHZ8Xeu3
— Illini Break Down (@IlliniBreakDown) May 21, 2025
Alums and teammates represent
Former #Illini All-American Ayo Dosunmu stopped by his old high school Morgan Park for the commitment of four-star wide receiver Nasir Rankin. pic.twitter.com/35bY8CcVuJ
— Orange and Blue News (@IllinoisRivals) May 21, 2025
Illini on Fire!! Hottest School in America #FamILLY #HTTO Who’s Next https://t.co/VKBGB1Fpbp pic.twitter.com/U6IYjCTCNT
— Cam Thomas (@CamThomas2026_3) May 21, 2025
It's true
How #Illini writers and content creators are feeling after today’s non-stop action. pic.twitter.com/mVZHdSFA4U
— Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) May 21, 2025
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