Last Friday, Indiana football rolled out the red carpet for one of the top wide receiver prospects in the country. Quentin Burrell, a four-star standout from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, made the trip down to Bloomington to get a firsthand look at the Hoosiers’ program-and by all accounts, it left a strong impression.
“The visit was good,” Burrell said. “I’m glad I finally had the chance to get to campus and visit with Coach Cignetti, Coach Shanahan and Coach Burk.
I liked the energy around the program and the time I got with the coaches. I’ll be back down for a spring practice.”
That’s not just a polite nod-Burrell’s planning a return trip, and that says a lot. Indiana’s staff, led by head coach Curt Cignetti, is clearly making him a priority, and Burrell’s interest seems to be growing.
And why wouldn’t it? The Hoosiers just capped off a dream season-undefeated and crowned national champions. That kind of success doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by a recruit who knows what it takes to win.
“They were the best team all year, so it was great to see them finish undefeated and win the National Championship,” Burrell said.
Burrell’s no stranger to winning himself. He’s coming off a dominant junior season where he helped lead Mount Carmel to a 14-0 record and their fourth straight state championship.
He was named All-Conference and First-Team All-State after racking up 67 receptions for 1,139 yards and 16 touchdowns-his second consecutive season with over 1,100 receiving yards and 15-plus scores. That’s not just production-it’s consistency at an elite level.
And that’s exactly what Indiana’s coaching staff keyed in on.
“The coaches talked about my consistency, production, and being part of winning programs,” Burrell said. “They like my size and feel confident in developing receivers for the next level. They’ve shown a lot of interest and want me back on campus more.”
At 6-foot-2 with a physical style and big-play ability, Burrell brings the kind of profile that fits right into the mold of the modern collegiate wideout-tough, polished, and explosive. Add in his championship pedigree, and it’s no surprise his recruitment has taken off.
Burrell holds offers from a who’s who of college football powerhouses. Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon-the list goes on. In total, more than 30 programs have extended offers, and he’s planning to narrow things down before taking official visits this summer.
“Indiana is a school I am considering,” he said. “I’ll be narrowing things down soon and plan to decide after I finish my official visits this summer.”
According to 247Sports, Burrell ranks as the No. 5 prospect in Illinois, the No. 13 wide receiver nationally, and the No. 92 overall player in the 2026 class. That’s elite company-and the Hoosiers are firmly in the mix.
For Indiana, landing a player like Burrell would be another major statement in the Cignetti era. For Burrell, the next few months will be about finding the right fit-on and off the field. But if this visit was any indication, Bloomington made a strong case.