Illinois Lands Four-Star Wide Receiver Over Big Ten Rivals

Illinois continued its recent momentum on the recruiting cycle on Tuesday by landing a commitment from four-star wide receiver Bennett Konkey from Geneva. Konkey is one of the fastest risers in the Midwest and his announcement re-emphasizes head coach Bret Bielema's insistence on keeping in-state talent at the in-state school.

Konkey is listed at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds. According to 24/7 Sports, he is the No. 238 player in the 2027 class, as well as the No. 12 player in the state of Illinois. Konkey has been a varsity contributor since early in his high school career and also competes in track, which is a combination that college coaches love to see every year.

Last season, Konkey caught 41 passes for 739 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games. His breakout season came when he was a sophomore, when he posted 29 receptions for 548 yards and six scores. Konkey showed early that he could be a viable target in his high school's passing attack. 

What separates Konkey on film is his breakaway verified speed. He has posted elite times on the track, including a 100-meter dash in 10.25 seconds and a 200-meter time of 21.15, marks that ranked him among the best in Illinois and in the top 20 nationally. 

The speed isn't just isolated to the track, however. It translates very well to the football field, as he is very quick to accelerate off the line. His 18 yards per catch last season reflect his big-play profile.

Konkey's recruitment surged this spring, with a flurry of Power Four offers coming in the months of May and June. During that time, he added scholarships from Indiana, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa, among others. 

Illinois was early and persistent in their pursuit of Konkey. They had him visit campus multiple times in order to continue building that relationship, including an official visit in early June. He made official stops at Northwestern on June 2, Iowa State on June 8 and then Illinois on June 12 before officially making his announcement that he was Champaign-bound on June 16. 

Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and wide receivers coach Justin Stepp were the ones responsible to pursue Konkey. With the recent success of the Illinois offense, it appears the sell they made on how he could fit into a role worked.

For Illinois, getting another in-state victory will help the perception of a program that has won 19 games in the past two seasons. For Konkey, playing for Illinois represents an opportunity to play not too far from home and for a Big Ten school coming off back-to-back bowl wins over SEC opponents. Konkey will get an opportunity to use his strongest traits inside an offensive system that craves those same traits. 

Illinois' 2027 recruiting class was off to a slow start, but now with the commitment of Konkey, they have risen to No. 56 in the country. In the previous season, they were ranked No. 24, and so the hope is that this commitment can start fast-tracking other potential four-stars to follow suit.