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Illinois Football Offers Three-Star In-State Offensive Tackle
Nov 16, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini players face their fans after a 38-16 win over the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois Football Offers Three-Star In-State Offensive Tackle

Originally posted on Illinois Fighting Illini on SI
By Jared Shlensky  |  Last updated May 21, 2025 11:13 AM ET

Illinois high school football powerhouse Lincoln-Way East had another strong season in 2025 finishing 12-1 and falling only to eventual IHSA 8A state champs Loyola Academy in a nail-biter in the state semifinals.

One of the drivers of the Griffins' success was offensive tackle Mason Halliman. A 6-foot-5, 280-pound lineman and a junior-to-be, Halliman already has 11 scholarship offers – 10 of them from Power 4 programs. On Tuesday, Illinois became the latest program – and fifth among Big Ten schools (Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue and Nebraska are the others) – to offer Halliman.

Halliman, a three-star recruit according to On3, has already visited Purdue and Iowa (twice). He also visited Illinois last fall, and should be expected to drop into Champaign again sometime between now and December.

Illinois returns all five of its starting offensive linemen from last season's 10-win team, but with Halliman being only a junior, he could help build the foundation of the Illini's next-generation front five.

Halliman should receive more offers – probably out of the Big 12 and SEC – before the fall.

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Top Three NBA Landing Spots for Illinois Forward Will Riley

Illinois Basketball's Best of the Century: No. 10 Malcolm Hill

Surprising Stat Highlights Underrated Impact of Illinois' Tomislav Ivisic

This article first appeared on Illinois Fighting Illini on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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