Signing Day Central

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois football team signed two high school student-athletes during the February signing period, totaling 16 National Letter of Intent signees for the class. The Illini will welcome the signees to campus for the 2021 season. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema will hold his Signing Day press conference Wednesday at 12 p.m. CT via Zoom. The press conference will be streamed live on FightingIllini.com and Facebook Live. 

Bielema will also appear live on Big Ten Network at 2:10 p.m. CT and live on SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Channel 372) at 4:30 p.m. CT. 

Bielema Signing Day Press Conference

Position Breakdown
DB: 5
OL: 4
LB: 3
DL: 1
QB: 1
RB: 1
WR: 1

February 2021 Signees

Dwayne Johnson 
LB | 6-3 | 230
Snellville, Ga. | South Gwinnett 
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks: #89 (247), #171 (ESPN)
• State ranks: #114 (247), #184 (ESPN)
• 2018 South Gwinnett MVP
• 2017 and 2019 South Gwinnett Defensive MVP
• 2018 and 2020 all-county and all-region first team 
• 48 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, four PBUs, one blocked punt in eight games as a senior
• Florida vs. Georgia All-Star Game invite 
• Played for head coach Steve Davenport at South Gwinnett 
• 2018 and 2019 South Gwinnett Academic Award
• Also ran track for two years in high school 
• Committed to Illinois on January 18, 2021
• Offers included Army, Appalachian State, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Louisiana, Memphis, and Temple 
• Son of Camille Johnson
• Two brothers, Savon and Brandon, and three sisters, Dayana, Sanai, and Kaya
• Cousin, Jordan Burch, plays football at South Carolina 
• Nickname is "DJ"
• Plans to major in food science 
• Plans to become a chef and open his own restaurant following his playing career 
• Life experiences include being chased by a bear, driving from Alaska to Atlanta with his grandma, and climbing a mountain with no rope
• Chose Illinois because, "I just loved the school. It has a great atmosphere, all the coaches really genuinely care about the players, and it is the #2 college town in the nation."

Josh McCray 
RB | 6-1 | 210
Enterprise, Ala. | Enterprise 
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks: #103 (247), #125 (ESPN)
• State ranks: #35 (Rivals), #75 (ESPN), #81 (247)
• 2020 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A All-State first team 
• 2018 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A All-State second team 
• Three-time Southeast Sun Player of the Year
• Rushed for 774 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior, averaging 7.0 yards per carry (111 carries), and caught 28 passes for 440 yards and six touchdowns as a senior
• Returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a senior 
• Rushed for 604 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior
• Started games at running back, safety, linebacker and wide receiver for Enterprise 
• Played for head coach Rick Darlington at Enterprise 
• Helped Enterprise reach the 2020 Alabama 7A state playoffs 
• Under Armor All-America Camp Series invite 
• ESPN300 Elite Underclassmen Camp invite 
• Rivals Camp Series invite 
• Also played basketball in high school
• Committed to Illinois on January 5, 2021
• Offers included Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington State

February 2020 Signees

Zachary Barlev
OL | 6-4 | 285
Bolingbrook, Ill. | Plainfield East
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN
• Two-star recruit by Rivals
• Position ranks: #84 (247), #107 (ESPN)
• State ranks: #44 (ESPN), #46 (247)
• Also competed in wrestling, baseball, track and field, and golf in high school
• Committed to Illinois on July 24, 2020
• Offers included Bowling Green, Columbia and Harvard
• Chose Illinois because, "It is my state's school."
• Plans to major in mathematics

Patrick Bryant
WR | 6-3 | 190
Jacksonville, Fla. | Atlantic Coast
•  Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
•  Position ranks: #146 (247), #149 (ESPN)
•  State ranks:  #104 (247), #132 (ESPN)
•  44 receptions for 942 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior
•  45 receptions for 684 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior
•  128 receptions, 2261 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns during his high school career
•  Committed to Illinois on June 14, 2020
•  Offers include Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Miami, Minnesota, Penn State, Florida State, Virginia and Virginia Tech

Samari Collier
QB | 6-3 | 220
DeSoto, Texas | DeSoto
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks (dual-threat QB): #31 (247), #33 (ESPN)
• State ranks: #139 (247), #242 (ESPN)
• 2019 First Team All-District
• Completed 104-of-178 passes, 1,661 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns and 349 rushing yards as a senior
• Completed 164-of-291 passes, 2,641 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns and 482 rushing yards as a junior
• Committed to Illinois on December 7, 2019, becoming the first commit to the Illini's class
• Offers included New Mexico State and Toledo

Daniel Edwards                                                         
DB | 6-0 | 160
Winter Park, Fla. | Winter Park 
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
•  Position ranks: #68 (ESPN), #108 (247)
•  State ranks: #124 (ESPN), #144 (247)
•  40 tackles, four interceptions, 89 interception return yards, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 21 pass deflections as a sophomore
•  Competed in track and field in high school, finishing fifth at the 2019 state championships in the 4x100
•  Committed to Illinois on May 21, 2020
•  Offers included Auburn, Louisville, Miami, Ole Miss, and Florida State
•  Chose Illinois because he, "Felt like it's the best way to get me to my goal."
•  Plans to major in business

Joshua Gesky
OL | 6-5 |  285
Manteno, Ill. | Manteno
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks: #163 (ESPN), #207 (247Sports)
• State Rank: #32 (Rivals), #48 (ESPN), #59 (247)
• Two time Academic All-State 
• Two-time Interstate 8 All-Conference team
• All-Area 
• All-Conference in track and field as a junior and senior
• Committed to Illinois on August 9, 2020
• Offers included Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Southern Illinois, and Syracuse
• Chose Illinois because, "It is a close Big Ten school and it has amazing academics."
• Plans to major in business

Prince Green
DB | 6-2 | 190
Griffin, Ga. | Griffin
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks (wide receiver): #203 (ESPN), #234 (247)
• State ranks: #130 (247), #133 (ESPN)
• 17 receptions, 324 reception yards, four receiving touchdowns, 33 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, one fumble recovery returned for a touchdowns, and six interceptions with one returned for a touchdown as a senior
•  Committed to Illinois on May 3, 2020
•  Offers included Akron, Coastal Carolina, Kentucky, Liberty,  Minnesota, and Purdue

Joshua Kreutz
OL | 6-2 | 260
Bannockburn, Ill. | Loyola Academy
• Three-star recruit by 274Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks: #11 (ESPN), #12 (247)
• State ranks: #22 (ESPN), #25 (247), #35 (Rivals)
• Led Loyola to the 2018 Illinois Class 8A state title at Illinois' Memorial Stadium
• Committed to Illinois on July 9, 2020
• Offers included Ball State, Central Michigan, Memphis and Northern Illinois
• Father, Olin Kreutz, was a six-time Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears

Sed McConnell
DL | 6-3 | 255
Atlanta, Ga. | Westlake
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks: #72 (247), #124 (ESPN)
• State ranks: #101 (247), #114 (ESPN)
• Also played basketball and lacrosse in high school
• Committed to Illinois on May 20, 2020
• Offers included Akron, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Liberty, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest and West Virginia
• Plans to major in mechanical engineering

Dylan Rosiek
LB | 6-0 | 220
East Lake, Fla. | East Lake
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN
• Two-star recruit by Rivals
• Position ranks: #51 (ESPN), #64 (247)
• State ranks: #188 (247), #215 (ESPN)
• Voted team MVP as a junior
• 2018 ATH All-State third team
• Also wrestled in high school
• Committed to Illinois on June 17, 2020
• Offers included Air Force, Army, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale
• Chose Illinois because "I felt that this would put me in the best place to succeed and achieve my dream of playing at the next level."
• Plans to major in kinesiology

DD Snyder
S | 6-0 | 175
Tampa, Fla. | Tampa Catholic
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks:  #59 (ESPN), #148 (247)
• State ranks: #120 (ESPN),  #229 (247)
• 2019 Defensive Coaches Award
• 2019 Best Defensive Back 
• 2018 Coaches Award 
• 43 tackles, 3.0 TFL, four interceptions, 78 interception return yards, two pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries as a senior
• 55 tackles, five interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and six pass deflections during his high school career
• Committed to Illinois on July 6, 2020
• Offers included Bowling Green, Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, Duke, FLorida Atlantic,Indiana, NC State, UCF, USF, and Washington State
• Chose Illinois because "I feel like it's a place I'm ready to call home."
• Plans to major in communications

Tyler Strain
DB | 5-11 | 175
Fort Worth, Texas | Pace
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN
• Two-star recruit by Rivals
• Position ranks:  #114 (ESPN), #122 (247)
• State ranks: #173 (247), #188 (ESPN)
• 109 tackles, 3.0 TFL, three interceptions, nine pass deflections,  two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his high school career
• 27 rush attempts, 339 rushing yards, 18 receptions for 401 yards, one receiving touchdown and three rushing touchdowns during his high school career
• Also competed in track and field in high school
• Committed to Illinois on July 24, 2020
• Offers included South Alabama, Tulane, and USF
• Chose Illinois because, "I felt home."
• Plans to major in business and management

Kalen Villanueva
LB | 6-2 | 215
Falls Church, Va. | Justice 
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN
• Two-star recruit by Rivals
• Position ranks: #126 (247), #169 (ESPN)
• State rank: #51 (247), #52 (ESPN)
• Committed to Illinois on July 8, 2020
• Offers included Army, Campbell, Navy, Pennsylvania, and William & Mary
• Plans to major in psychology

Joriell Washington
DB | 6-3 | 195
Fort Myers, Fla. | Fort Myers Senior
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals
• Position ranks: #81 (ESPN), #109 (247)
• State ranks: #148 (247), #150 (ESPN)
• 2020 News-Press Big 15
• 2019 All-Area team
• 2020 First-Team safety
• Led Fort Myers to back-to-back conference championships in 2019 and 2018
• Also competed in track and field, winning Rookie of the Year in 2018
• His Uncle, Jammi German, played for the Atlanta Falcons (three years) and Cleveland Browns (two years)
• Committed to Illinois on June 19, 2020
• Offers included Boston College, Florida Atlantic, Iowa State, Oregon, South Mississippi, Toledo, and USF

Brody Wisecarver
OL | 6-5 | 290
Chesterfield, Mo. | Osage 
• Four-star recruit by ESPN
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals
• Position ranks: #28 (ESPN), #30 (247), #51 (Rivals)
• State ranks: #4 (ESPN), #8 (Rivals), #10 (247) 
• 2018, 2019, and 2020 All-Conference and All-District 
• 2019 All-State
• 2019 Gateway Sports Venue Top 11 O-Lineman
• 2019 STL HS Sports All-Metro first team
• 2019 6A Missouri state champions
• Committed to Illinois on May 23, 2020
• Offers included Arizona, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State and West Virginia
• Chose Illinois because, "For the biochemistry program, the football program and a chance to go to the NFL."
• Plans to major in biochemistry