‘Edgy’ Tim: Several local football recruits committing to colleges

Palatine junior defensive tackle Tony Balanganayi (6-foot-4, 260 pounds), ranked three stars by Rivals.com, recently gave Illinois his verbal commitment.

He is the fourth known in-state class of 2026 commitment for the Fighting Illini.

“I chose Illinois because of how Coach (Bret) Bielema has taken the team and made progress and is just upgrading every day,” Balanganayi said. “I'm just grateful to have the opportunity to play at Illinois.”

Balanganayi, who had scholarship offers from the likes of Auburn, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers and West Virginia, also pointed toward his relationship with Illinois defensive line coach Terrance Jamison as a key factor in his decision.

“He's a great person, just a really trustworthy person,” Balanganayi said. “Just getting to know him, it was a great time down there on the official visit. He showed that they care about you as a person. That made me 100% want to commit to Illinois.”

Balanganayi joins Lincoln Way East defensive end Jacob Alexander, Olney offensive tackle Casey Thomann and DeKalb wide receiver Davon Grant as in-state pledges to Illinois from the class of 2026.

Hinsdale Central junior offensive tackle Gene Riordan (6-foot-5, 280 pounds), a three-star recruit, recently gave the Iowa Hawkeyes his verbal commitment. Riordan, who narrowed his list of favorite schools to Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota and Oklahoma, had the Hawkeyes at the top of his list early in his recruiting process.

“I've always had a really special place in my heart for the Hawkeyes, and I have a lot of respect for the program,” he said. “Seeing that they have that mutual respect for me and that they want me as a football player, I think that really shows something to me.”

Stevenson junior tight end Zach Becker (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) recently gave Ball State his verbal commitment.

“Ball State just offers everything I was looking for in a school,” Becker said. “They always made me feel welcomed and they also just always made me a priority recruit for them. I looked hard at all of my options, then decided to commit to Ball State.”

Burlington Central junior offensive tackle Zach Hultgren (6-foot-5, 285 pounds) wrapped up his recruiting process and gave Miami of Ohio his verbal commitment.

“Overall I just found that Miami of Ohio has everything I was looking for in a school,” Hultgren said. “I looked hard at all of my options and offers and Miami is just the best overall fit so I decided to commit.”