Illinois has built a reputation under Bret Bielema that goes beyond recruiting rankings. The Illini may not regularly win battles for the biggest names on the trail, but they have become a program that turns overlooked players into legitimate pro prospects.
Bielema pointed to that reality on “The Illinois Script” just days before the 2026 season opener, using three defensive backs as the perfect example.
“It’s crazy, right? So in the middle of our defense will be Xavier Scott, Matt Bailey and Mac Resetich,” Bielema said.
“All three of those guys had one offer in college football - and it was the University of Illinois. And all of them were given to them [in] the last week of recruiting.
So no one wanted them, but I would tell you there’s a lot of teams that probably would love to have them now. They are three premier players.
“I think Xavier and Matt, obviously, this year do what they’re capable of doing, will be NFL players a year from now. And Mac Resetich, because of this new rule that’s allowing a fifth year to happen, Mac will have a decision to make, but he’s a guy that I know eventually will be playing in the NFL.”
The numbers on those three from 247 Sports back up the point that they were far from blue-chip prizes. Scott was ranked the No. 138 cornerback in his class, Bailey the No. 133 safety and Resetich the No. 148 safety.
That’s exactly what makes Illinois’ track record under Bielema so notable. Rankings can offer a snapshot of where a player stands as a teenager, but they don’t come close to telling the whole story. Illinois’ pitch is simpler than that: come to Champaign, commit to the system and give yourself a real shot to reach the NFL.
The proof is already on the roster and in the pipeline. Since Bielema arrived less than six years ago, Illinois has turned out a long list of secondary standouts, including Seattle Seahawks All-Pro Devon Witherspoon, the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.
And it’s not limited to defensive backs. Bielema and his staff have built a program that develops high-IQ, well-rounded players on both sides of the ball.
A striking number of Illini, no matter how many stars they carried out of high school, end up in the NFL. That kind of production is a strong sign that what Bielema is building in Champaign can last.
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