Let me tell you, I look foolish for ever doubting what Bret Bielema could do with the Illinois football class of 2025.

The Illini are bringing in a solid haul of freshmen, but to put the icing on the cake, the transfer portal group coming into the program is exactly what we need.

Coming into Thursday, Illinois had seven transfer portal players signed up for next season. That is a good haul as it is, but the additions didn’t stop. Bielema didn’t just add another transfer portal player. We had three players sign up on Thursday.

• TE Davis Stoffel – South Dakota State Jackrabbits

The Illini should have a pretty solid tight end room entering 2025, but adding Davis Stoffel gives us depth and some impressive size.

Stoffel had one reception for 20 yards in the Final 4 loss to North Dakota State. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound, freshman from Mosinee, Wisconsin, did have a good first season in the college ranks. He finished with 14 receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown.

• OT Ayden Knapik – Idaho Vandals

Illinois is always in need of depth on the front lines. All of our year-end starters will be returning in 2025, but we don’t have much quality depth.

I love the addition of Knapik because of the depth he adds. Out of all of the offensive tackles at every level of college football, Knapik ranked No. 209 in the country.

• P Keelan Crimmins – Purdue Boilermakers

A surprising departure in the transfer portal was Illinois punter Hugh Robertson. He leaves a void in the special teams, but on Thursday, Illinois helped fix that void.

The Illini signed Keelan Crimmins from Purdue. He led the Big Ten in punt yards and was in the top seven in punt yard average, punts of 50+ yards, and punts inside the 20-yard line. Illinois got a very experienced punter due to Purdue being so bad.

The Illinois football transfer portal additions aren’t flashy, but they are crucial to the success of this program

There are so many transfer portal players who are finding new homes. Some of these players play notable positions like quarterback, running back, or wide receiver.

While Illinois’ newest additions aren’t in those positions, I think they are just as important.

Without a good offensive line, Luke Altmyer is going to struggle. Every offensive lineman can’t play every snap. Having Knapik come in with his experience will help solidify the second unit on the offensive line.

Altmyer will have time to throw the ball, and now Illinois has a young massive talent in Stoffel. He could have a breakout year as a sophomore.

And all three phases matter in the game of football. Having a great punter is huge, and now Illinois can say we have one of the top punters in the Big Ten.

I love these additions and think they will be huge entering 2025. Illinois solidified some crucial positions on the roster through the transfer portal on Thursday.