Illinois commit Bennett Konkey wasted no time making his senior season look explosive.
In Geneva’s opener against Libertyville on Friday, the four-star wide receiver and track star turned the first four minutes into a highlight reel. He sprinted 100 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of the season, then added receiving scores of 70 and 49 yards in the first eight minutes overall. Geneva rolled to a 28-14 win, and Konkey finished with 280 all-purpose yards.
Konkey, who won IHSA state titles in the 100m and 200m dashes in the spring, is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 237 overall prospect in the Class of 2027. The 6-foot-1 receiver chose Illinois over Northwestern, Iowa, Iowa State, Indiana and Wisconsin, among others. Illini wide receivers coach Justin Stepp was the lead recruiter in Illinois’ push for Konkey, who is the program’s highest-ranked commit in the Class of 2027, per 247Sports.
Other Illinois commits were in action over the weekend as well. Four-star defensive back commit Justin Johnson broke loose for a 78-yard kickoff return touchdown in Evanston’s 50-6 win over Chicago Phillips on Friday night.
Three-star running back commit Steven Alexis produced 13 carries for 85 yards, a 6.5 yards-per-carry average, plus three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown in St. Petersburg (Fla.)
Gibbs’ 41-26 loss to St. Petersburg Catholic on Friday.
On the line, three-star commit Mason Halliman and Lincoln-Way East edged Brother Rice 22-21 on Friday, while three-star commit Soren Fifer and Morton fell 33-15 at Mahomet-Seymour. Three-star commit Gavin Ericson-Staton and Montini Catholic posted a 48-0 rout of Hoopeston-Armstrong.
There were also close finishes for a couple more Illini pledges. Three-star linebacker commit Sean Rice and St.
Laurence lost 15-14 to King College Prep on Friday, and three-star kicker commit Ulysses Morales made a 38-yard field goal in Oak Forest’s 21-18 loss to Andrew. Three-star defensive back commit Tyrone Howard Jr. and Naples (Fla.)
St. John Neumann beat Monsignor Pace 24-14 on Friday.
Elsewhere, Illinois soccer stayed unbeaten but couldn’t find a breakthrough in a 0-0 draw with UC on Sunday at Demijian Park. The Illini (1-0-2) outshot the Flames 16-6, but only four of those attempts were on target, and UIC goalkeeper Sidney Lazenby stopped all four.
Illinois fifth-year goalkeeper Izzy Lee made three saves, while senior forward Hedda Ornberg led the Illini with six shots and accounted for three of the team’s four shots on goal. Through three matches, Illinois has scored two goals on 37 shots, including 10 on goal, while allowing just one goal, 21 shots and 10 shots on goal. Lee has nine saves.
The Illini host Saint Louis at 6 p.m. CT Thursday at Demirjian Park in Champaign. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Former Illinois players also kept busy in NFL preseason action over the weekend, with several turning in notable outings.
Tommy DeVito completed 8 of 15 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown and ran three times for 44 yards to lead the Patriots past the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 on Saturday. Gabe Jacas added four tackles for the Patriots, while TE Tanner Arkin played 27 snaps and earned a 44.2 PFF grade.
Casey Washington caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 34-17 win over the Jaguars on Friday.
J.C. Davis was on the field for 81 snaps for the New York Giants in a 26-3 win over the Miami Dolphins and earned an 89.3 PFF grade. Seth Coleman had four tackles and 0.5 sacks for the Dolphins.
Luke Altmyer went 9 of 13 for 86 yards in the Lions’ 17-13 win over the Washington Commanders on Saturday. Josh Dobbs, who backed him up, completed 7 of 12 passes for 74 yards and an interception and also ran for 53 yards and a touchdown on two carries. OL Melvin Priestly played 37 snaps for the Lions and received a 46.5 PFF grade, while Quan Martin recorded his second interception of the preseason for the Commanders.
Miles Scott had two tackles in the Broncos’ 33-13 loss to the Packers on Friday. Pat Bryant was targeted once and did not catch a pass. Alex Palczewski played 30 snaps and earned a 60.3 PFF grade, and OL Josh Gesky played 13 snaps for the Packers and earned a 94.3 PFF grade.
Isaiah Williams caught three passes for 17 yards on five targets in the Jets’ 17-0 win over the Steelers on Friday.
Sydney Brown had one tackle in the Falcons’ 34-6 win over the Colts on Saturday. OL Josh Kreutz played 34 snaps for the Colts and earned a 58.7 PFF grade.
James Thompson Jr. had one tackle in the 49ers’ 41-17 win over the Chargers on Thursday. OL Doug Kramer played 38 snaps for the 49ers and earned a 64.1 PFF grade. Del’Shawn Phillips and TeRah Edwards each finished with two tackles for the Chargers.
In Other News...
Illinois Freshman Is Fueling A New NBA Draft Buzz In Champaign
Quentin Coleman arrived in Champaign with the kind of recruiting buzz that usually follows a prospect for a while, but the conversation around him has only grown since then. ESPNs Jeremy Woo recently pointed to Coleman as one of the Illinois players already drawing NBA scout attention ahead of the 2027 draft, a notable sign for a freshman who climbed steadily in the recruiting rankings before committing to the program.
For Illinois, it fits a broader pattern that has been taking shape in recent years. The program has sent more players into the NBA draft than it once did, and that track record is helping reinforce the idea that Champaign can be more than a college stop, it can be a launch point. Coleman is now part of that next wave of talent, with the intrigue around his future only getting started. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Have Found A Freshman Ready To Help Right Away
Illinois spent the summer trying to figure out which newcomers might be able to help sooner rather than later, and freshman wing Zavier Zens has emerged as one of the more intriguing names in that mix. The highlight footage from live play shows a player who looks comfortable spotting up and letting it fly from deep, while also showing enough touch and creativity inside the arc to suggest he is more than just a stationary shooter.
Zens high school rsum points to a broader offensive package, with scoring, driving and some facilitation sprinkled in, which is the kind of foundation that can translate if the adjustment to college pace goes smoothly. The question now is how quickly he earns real playing time and how well he adapts to the next level, because the tools are there for him to carve out a role if Illinois can find the right lane for his game. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Receiving Corps Suddenly Has A Camp Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Training camp has put Illinois receiving group under a little more scrutiny than planned, and not just because it is still sorting out roles. Wide receivers coach Justin Stepp has had to manage a patchwork group as injuries have slowed several key names, leaving the Illini working through their passing-game plans with less continuity than they probably wanted this early in camp.
Alex Perrys shoulder surgery has put his season in doubt, while Jayshon Platt and Brayden Trimble have been limited in practice with non-contact designations. Hudson Clement and Collin Dixon have at least been healthy participants, though Clement is still wearing a non-contact jersey as a precaution after a concussion, and that leaves Illinois trying to build chemistry while the room remains far from full strength. [Read more 🡒]