Purdue 2025 football recruiting: Top Illinois targets

Yes, Purdue hasn’t even signed its 2024 class yet. But, like all schools, it is deep into wooing 2025 targets.

The staff already played host to many 2025 recruits this spring and summer. And, no doubt, Purdue would like to net its share of talent from neighboring state Illinois from the 2025 class. Many current staffers were just working in the Land of Lincoln as Illini assistants, so many connections persist.

Here’s a look at what’s believed to be some of the Boilermakers’ top 2025 recruiting targets from Illinois. Each player holds an offer from Purdue.

MORE: Top 2025 Indiana targets

Pos. Player (On3 stars)High school (City)CB C.J. Bass (4)East St. Louis (East St. Louis)EDGE Christopher Burgess (4)Simeon (Chicago)LB Dominick Hulak (3)Immaculate Conception (Chicago)EDGE Gabe Kaminski (4)Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park)ATH Andre Lovett (3)Eisenhower (Blue Island)DL Nathaniel Marshall (4)Fenwick (Oak Park)IOL Michael McDonoughVictor J. Andrew (Tinley Park)LB Christian Pierce (3)Brother Rice (Chicago)DE Joseph Reiff (3)York Community (Elmhurst)WR Talyn Taylor (4)Geneva Community (Geneva)DL Jaylen Williams (4)Palatine (Palatine)

NOTES:

• Christian Pierce is a sawed off linebacker who can run and hit. He has offers from the likes of Texas, Iowa and Wisconsin.

• Nathaniel Marshall is the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 168 overall player, No. 20 defensive lineman and No. 4 prospect in Illinois. Notre Dame, Alabama, Illinois and Iowa are among his offers.

• C.J. Bass is another top prospect from powerhouse East St. Louis High. Missouri, Michigan State, Nebraska and Illinois are among the schools who have offered.

• Christopher Burgess had one of the fastest-rising recruitments in the offseason, as dozens of Power 5 schools wooed him. He witnessed an exponential increase in the amount of offers collected during the spring evaluation period with schools like Michigan State, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas A&M, USC, Miami, Oregon and Florida entering the mix.

• Edge Joseph Reiff is a fast-riser who holds scholarship offers from Iowa and Purdue with interest from several other Power Five programs.

• Jaylen Williams is the No. 223 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking and No. 24 defensive lineman. He has earned interest from a handful of blue blood programs already, including Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee and has landed more than half a dozen offers in 2023.

• Talyn Taylor is ranked as the No. 10 wide receiver and No. 57 overall prospect nationally in 2025, per the On3 Industry Ranking. Georgia, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State are among his offers.

• O-lineman Michael McDonough has offers from Colorado and Illinois, among others. He projects on the interior.

• Dominik Hulak is the No. 380 overall player, No. 36 linebacker and No. 10 prospect in Illinois in the 2025 class in the On3 rankings. He’s also the No. 42 linebacker and No. 11 prospect in Illinois.

• Gabe Kaminski is a four-star recruit and the No. 306 overall player, No. 23 EDGE and No. 8 prospect in Illinois, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He reports offers from 13 Power Five programs, including Michigan, Oklahoma and Southern California.

• Athlete Andre Lovett holds offers from Iowa, Tennessee, Missouri, Syracuse, Louisville, Ball State and Akron.

The post Purdue 2025 football recruiting: Top Illinois targets appeared first on On3.