Illinois and Bret Bielema have continued their hot streak in the 2026 recruitment window, after earning the commitment of a 4-star wide receiver prospect, Nasir Rankin, according to reports from On3 Sports.
Rankin, who attended Morgan Park High School in Chicago, also had offers from top D1 programs like Nebraska, Michigan State, USC, and Indiana, but ultimately chose to join Bret Bielema at Illinois.
Bret Bielema, Illinois Secure Commitment From 2-Sport, 4-Star WR Nasir Rankin
Nasir Rankin, who is 6’0″ and 170 pounds, looks set to follow the blueprint left by last year’s Heisman Winner and 2025 second overall NFL Draft Pick, Travis Hunter, with the Chicago native looking to play on both sides of the ball for Illinois.
However, Rankin is not looking to stop at just playing both sides of the ball, with the new Illinois recruit also planning on playing NCAA Basketball for the school alongside his football career, according to ON3’s Hayes Fawcett.
BREAKING: Four-Star ATH Nasir Rankin has Committed to Illinois, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’1 177 ATH from Chicago, IL chose the Fighting Illini over USC, North Carolina, & Nebraska
Will play basketball for Illinois as wellhttps://t.co/TS0QjceuaA pic.twitter.com/1Wyc6X6188
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 21, 2025
“My dream as a kid was to play basketball and football in college. Everyone told me I couldn’t do it, and everybody told me it’s hard. The basketball staff offered me. This is my opportunity to chase my dreams.” Rankin explained, also detailing why he chose to commit to Illinois, citing Head Coach Bret Bielema as one of the main reasons.
“I see what he did to the program and his past programs. For example, in Wisconsin, he was able to change that program around. He had JJ Watt and Russell Wilson. I believe in him as a coach. There is a whole lot of trust baked in with me and my family. He always kept it real with me.”
Speaking to ON3 Sports, Rankin also revealed another one of the reasons he chose to commit to Illinois was the apparent strength of their incoming recruitment class.
“It seems like it’s been progressing in Illinois every year since Coach [Bielema]’s been up there, I see the type of class they have right now. Only adding me and trying to get a few others, that’s what matters most to me. I can see it’s progressing to be one of the best programs.”
According to ON3’s Industry Rankings, Illinois has had one of the best recruitment cycles in the Big Ten conference going into 2026, with four-star recruit ATH Cam Thomas being the highlight of the class.
RELATED: Forget What You Knew About Illinois Football—Fan Interest Hints at New Era Under Bret Bielema
“Not many teams have landed more commitments than Illinois this calendar year, as all but one of its 13 commits have pledged in the last four months,” ON3 explained in their industry rankings, with Nasir Ranking becoming their 16th recruit.
With Nasir Ranking choosing to join Bret Bielema at Illinois, the Fighting Illini are building a stacked class of recruits going into 2026, with the Head Coach at the forefront of it all, the University could become a serious contender in the years to come.
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