The Illinois football team's head coach has a working idea of which five players will start along the offensive line.
Illinois football coach Bret Bielema played along the defensive line during his college football days at the University of Iowa from 1989 to 1992 which appears to have given him insight on life in the trenches.
The Fighting Illini's offensive line has improved significantly over the last two seasons culminating in two bowl wins and a positive outlook for the fall 2026 season.
On Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, coach Bielema gave his honest thoughts on the players he believes have the best chance to start in the team's opening game vs. UAB, a group of five that could thrive this season in Champaign.
Sep 20, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA;IllinoisFighting Illini offensive linemanBrandonHenderson(94) scores a touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images Two Key Transfers Among Expected Starters
Bielema named two key transfers among his group of five including offensive tackle Christian Martin and guard Jake Renfro.
Martin is a three-star prospect and former member of the Colorado State Rams who is expected to start at left tackle, in charge of protecting QB Katin Houser's blind side.
"(He's) played a lot of football at Colorado State," Bielema said.
Renfro started at two programs before heading to Champaign this offseason, arriving as a three-star transfer from the Badgers.
"(He) started at Cincinnati and Wisconsin and has gotten a lot of reps even though it hasn't been at Illinois," Bielema said.
Henderson, Matelau Join Projected Group
Other projected starters include Brandon Henderson, Nathan Knapik, and Maika Matelau, according to Bielema.
Knapik transferred from the Idaho Vandals to Bielema's program in 2025 and appears ready to take a big step forward. At 6-foot-7, 300 pounds, he has good size for a right tackle and is ready to show what he can do.
Matelau is a native of Upland, Calif. who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 300 pounds adding to what should be an impressive offensive line physically this season.
Henderson is the key returnee having started 35 games with the Fighting Illini.
Bielema will need Henderson to lead by example, and perhaps vocally, as this group and their backups face waves of pressure vs. out-of-conference and Big Ten opponents this season.
Hand-picked by Bielema and his staff, they have the chance to be a strong contributing factor to another winning season in Champaign this season.
While most of the offensive line is new to Illinois, the collective unit has plenty of game experience heading into the 2026 season, as noted by Bielema at a press conference on Tuesday in Chicago.
