CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) – Wednesday was an exciting day for Illinois football recruitment.

The Illini picked up a pair of commitments from the Chicago area. Both future Illini are in the class of 2026.

King Liggins, a three-star defensive lineman from Brother Rice, has committed to Illinois. He selected Illinois over other Big Ten schools, including finalists like Wisconsin.

Liggins is a top-20 rated player in the state for his class, according to 247 Sports.

Joining him is Nasir Rankin, ranked as the No. 2 prospect in Illinois for his class, who also committed to Bret Bielema’s squad. While most recruitment platforms list Rankin as an ‘athlete,’ he is anticipated to play as a wide receiver and/or defensive back in college. According to 247 Sports, the four-star Rankin is among the top 100 recruits nationally for the class of 2026.

Rankin chose Illinois over four other finalists: USC, Nebraska, Duke and North Carolina. He also reportedly holds an Illinois basketball offer.

These commitments in late May bring Illinois to 16 pledges for the 2026 class, propelling the Illini into the top ten of the national team recruitment rankings for 2026, as per 247 Sports.