Brace yourselves: the transfer portal is heating up, and Illinois is in the thick of it as the off-season unfolds. Illini Inquirer has put together a running tally of players who have signaled their intention to depart the program this spring and summer.
CHAMPAIGN — Across college football, the transfer window is opening, and Illinois is expected to be active on both ends: sending players out and bringing in new faces. After an eight-win regular season, Illinois faces substantial roster turnover, with several starters at high-profile positions potentially moving on. The program is preparing to retool in the era of new revenue-sharing and NIL dynamics, which typically means more churn, especially among players lower on the depth chart during January.
A key rule change from the NCAA consolidates transfer activity into a single window, running from January 2 to January 16. Players must enter the portal within this window, but they’re not obligated to commit to a new school right away. Many will still aim to secure a destination before winter workouts and spring practices align with class schedules at their future programs.
Seasonal activity often begins well before the window opens. For example, Malik Elzy, Illinois’ wide receiver, announced his transfer intentions back in September, illustrating how players often signal plans early in the process.
This year, there is no separate spring transfer window.
If a program undergoes a coaching change after January 2, players become eligible to enter the portal five days after a new coach is hired.
Illini Inquirer maintains a continually updated list of Illini players who have entered the transfer portal or indicated they will depart the program.
Years of eligibility remaining: 3
Notable stats and notes:
- Trey Petty: Did not see game action in his two seasons and did not dress for most of the 2025 campaign. Petty ranked as the 784th overall prospect in the Class of 2024 and the 51st-best quarterback nationally. He chose Illinois over offers from Georgia Tech, Indiana, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss.
- What it means: Petty represented a solid quarterback recruit for Illinois in 2024, strengthening the program’s depth at the position. Nevertheless, Illinois continues to add quarterbacks, with freshman Carson Boyd surpassing Petty on the depth chart last spring and the 2026 prospect Michael Clayton entering the room. Petty should have opportunities somewhere in the portal as a dual-threat quarterback talent.
First reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel
Years of eligibility remaining: 2
Malik Elzy’s 2023-24 stats:
- In four games this season, Elzy posted a career-high seven receptions for 84 yards. He arrived at Illinois as a Chicago Simeon recruit, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 225 pounds, and ranked as a four-star prospect in the Class of 2023. He flipped his commitment from Cincinnati amid a crowded Power Five landscape.
What it means for Illinois: Elzy gave the Illini a physical, boundary-stretching option at wideout, but he wasn’t a consistent staple in the rotation this year. Illinois plans to lean on returning starters Justin Bowick, Hudson Clement, and Collin Dixon, while also drawing encouragement from freshman Brayden Trimble as they continue to build depth at receiver.
