CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois finalized its 2024 signing class with the addition of defensive back Tanner Heckel from Lyndon, Kansas.
Heckel led Lyndon to a 13-0 record and the program's first-ever Kansas Eight-Man Division I State Championship as a senior, while outscoring opponents 267-46 during five state playoff wins. Heckel was named the 2023 Kansas 8-Man Player of the Year after totaling 81 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior, while also adding 2,313 rushing yards, 1,062 passing yards, and 69 total touchdowns (50 rushing, 19 passing).
Heckel was a standout three-sport athlete during his prep career, starring in football, basketball, and track. He won the Kansas state title in the long jump (22' 11.5") and triple jump (45' 2.75"), finished second in the 100-meter dash (10' 96"), and third in the javelin. Heckel was also a three-time all-state selection in basketball.
| 2024 Signing Class |
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
High School/Previous School |
| Easton Baker |
DL |
6-0 |
210 |
Fr. |
Stansbury, Utah |
Stansbury |
| Joe Barna |
LB |
6-4 |
255 |
Fr. |
Wheaton, Ill. |
Wheaton North |
| Daniel Brown |
OLB |
6-1 |
240 |
Jr. |
Kansas City, Kan. |
Bishop Ward/Hutchinson CC |
| Chase Canada |
DB |
6-0 |
190 |
So. |
Hahnville, La. |
Foster (Texas)/Trinity Valley CC (Texas) |
| Andrew Dennis |
OL |
6-5 |
290 |
Fr. |
Mt. Pleasant, Mich. |
Mt. Pleasant |
| Tysean Griffin |
WR |
5-10 |
165 |
Fr. |
Chicago, Ill. |
Morgan Park |
| Brandon Hansen |
OL |
6-6 |
320 |
Fr. |
Mundelein, Ill. |
Mundelein |
| Tanner Heckel |
DB |
5-11 |
175 |
Fr. |
Lyndon, Kan. |
Lyndon |
| Tanner Hollinger |
TE |
6-5 |
240 |
Fr. |
Stromsburg, Neb. |
Cross County |
| Demetrius John |
DL |
6-3 |
250 |
Fr. |
Columbus, Ohio |
Dublin Coffman |
| Angelo McCullom |
DL |
6-3 |
285 |
Fr. |
Pickerington, Ohio |
Pickerington North |
| Carlos Orr |
WR |
6-4 |
180 |
Fr. |
Etowah, Tenn. |
Gatlinburg-Pittman |
| Trey Petty |
QB |
6-1 |
200 |
Fr. |
Starkville, Miss. |
Starkville |
| Amar Reynolds |
DB |
6-1 |
175 |
Fr. |
Fort Pierce, Fla. |
Vero Beach |
| Mario Sanders II |
WR |
5-10 |
190 |
So. |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
Minneapolis North/Iowa Central CC |
| Zafir Stewart |
OL |
6-5 |
315 |
Fr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
Imhotep Charter |
| Eddie Tuerk |
DL |
6-4 |
290 |
Fr. |
La Grange, Ill. |
Lyons Township |
| Ca'Lil Valentine |
RB |
6-0 |
180 |
Fr. |
Hayward, Calif. |
Chandler (Ariz.) |
| Vernon Woodward III |
DB |
6-2 |
180 |
Fr. |
DeLand, Fla. |
Winter Park |
