Pat Bryant is starting to look like one of the biggest camp stories in Denver, and the buzz around the former Illinois wideout keeps getting louder.
Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb has already given him a nickname - “Patty Ice.” Head coach Sean Payton had a little fun when Kay Adams asked, “How the hell are you going to keep [ Pat Bryant ] off the field?”
and Payton shot back, “We're not...” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix called Bryant “just a positive part of training camp,” while Broncos reporter Benjamin Allbright went as far as saying Bryant “is on the verge of becoming a league wide problem.”
The latest highlight that has people talking came from Saturday’s practice, when Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post said Bryant may have made the best play of Broncos camp. Gabriel wrote that Bryant jumped over two Denver defenders, “high-pointed the ball and toe-tapped near the back pylon for a touchdown.”
Vance Joseph said that wasn’t even an outlier. He said, “He made two [plays on Saturday] that were unbelievable, but that's been all camp.
That's what he can be. He's the guy in that room, in my opinion - he blocks, he catches the ball in traffic, he can track the ball vertically, he's great in the red zone.
He's the complete package. He's got great size, and he loves to play.
He's the same player every day.”
That kind of praise is a big deal for a rookie who posted 31 catches for 378 yards and a touchdown in 15 games last season, then added four receptions for 34 yards across the Broncos’ two playoff games. Bryant, a former All-Big Ten receiver and third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, missed two games with concussions.
But his role already looks real. According to The Athletic, from Week 9 through the end of the season, only Courtland Sutton was targeted more on third downs by Bo Nix than Bryant, 25 to 11.
Sutton and recently acquired Jaylen Waddle are expected to be the Broncos’ main options, but Bryant appears to be right in the mix while battling Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims for snaps.
“Pat is very, very savvy. Smart,” Webb told reporters.
“When he catches the ball, his feet are on the ground. Those are the things we were attracted to when he was coming out of Illinois.
It's really, really cool to see him take another jump this early into Year 2.”
Illinois also has a notable national ranking attached to one of its newest basketball additions. Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney ranked Stefan Vaaks as the No. 8 point guard in the country entering the 2026-27 season.
Vaaks, an Estonia native, is one of three Big Ten guards on Sweeney’s list, joining Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. at No. 1 and Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau. Sweeney also included Markus Burton of Indiana in his “10 more to watch.”
Vaaks arrives after a strong season at Providence, where he averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 40.3% from the field and 35.0% from three. He also had a pair of eye-catching games for Estonia in WC Qualifiers, combining for 39 points on 15-of-31 shooting with 12 assists.
Sweeney pointed to Illinois’ system as a fit for Vaaks, writing: “Vaaks couldn't have picked a better system to accentuate his strengths as an off-dribble shooter than the one that helped Keaton Wagler explode onto the scene last season. Defense and shot selection are reasonable fears with Vaaks, but surrounding him with incredible spacing and other high-level weapons should bring out the best in him.”
Illinois’ guard depth is already loaded, with Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley, Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell all in the NBA. Vaaks and five-star freshman Quentin Coleman give the Illini two more guards with NBA Draft pick potential to go with star forward David Mirkovic, star wing Andrej Stojakovic and 7-foot twins Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic.
On the football side, Illinois practice is closed to the media Tuesday and Wednesday, and there will be no interview availability. The Illini will hold their first fall scrimmage Wednesday night before Thursday evening’s local media day event, when the full roster will be available to local reporters.
In Other News...
Illinois Faces A Linebacker Question That Could Define Its New Defense
Illinois kept working through training camp with another practice open to local media, giving a clearer look at how the new defense is taking shape under the staff. Assistant coaches Corey Parker and Roger Cooper were among those available, along with players Pat Farrell, Mac Resetich and Ismael Kante, as the Illini continued installing the 3-3-5 scheme ahead of the season opener against UAB.
Coopers explanation of the system offered a useful window into what will matter most once the games start: linebackers who can react quickly, play on instinct and handle the improvisational demands of the front. In a defense built around speed and flexibility, that group could end up being the hinge point for how smoothly Illinois adjusts, and the next few weeks of camp should reveal whether the position is ready for that kind of responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Freshmen Could Force Their Way Into The Rotation Fast
Illinois footballs 2026 recruiting class arrives with a chance to do more than simply stock the cupboard. Several four-star freshmen are expected to give the Illini depth right away, and three names stand out as candidates to push for early roles: wide receiver Nas Rankin, cornerback Nick Hankins Jr. and offensive tackle Champ Smith. Each lands at a position where Illinois already has competition, but each also brings the kind of athletic profile that can change how quickly a staff is willing to trust a first-year player.
Rankin could fit into a receiver room looking for more juice, while Hankins Jr. enters a secondary where reps have to be earned and every bit of length and speed matters. Smith may have the steepest climb at offensive tackle, but linemen with his upside can move faster than expected if they show they can handle the physical demands. Even with depth in the way, Illinois has enough reason to believe this class can create pressure for playing time before long. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Need Much More From Zvonimir Ivisic Than Expected
Zvonimir Ivisic has spent most of his college career in a fairly defined lane, giving teams size, rim protection and rebounding in limited minutes while staying out of the center of the offense. For Illinois, though, that profile may suddenly matter a lot more as the roster starts to take shape for the 2026-27 season, especially with the frontcourt expected to need stability and another reliable interior presence.
The question is whether the Illini simply keep Ivisic in the role that has made him useful or ask him to do more if the rotation demands it. His value has long been tied to defense and finishing around the basket, but the coming season could force Illinois to test how much more he can handle if the team needs additional help on the glass, around the rim and in larger stretches on the floor. [Read more 🡒]