Illinois adds in-state LB Jack Paris to 2025 recruiting class

Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick linebacker Jack Paris has committed to Illinois, he announced on Monday.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was in Champaign for a visit over the weekend and is now a late addition to the Fighting Illini’s 2025 recruiting class. Paris was formerly committed to Air Force.

He is a three-star prospect on multiple recruiting services and is now the 22nd member of Illinois’ incoming class.

Paris is just the second listed linebacker in the mix for head coach Bret Bielema, flanking West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West three-star Grant Beerman, one of the top signees in the Illini’s class. Paris was an All-Conference selection in his senior season, playing for a Fenwick team that finished with an 8-3 record in 2024. The Friars ranked as the No. 11 team in the state, per the On3 Composite.

Illinois now has seven in-state commitments in the 2025 cycle. The class ranks No. 43 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

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Bielema and Co. have not signed a blue-chip prospect in the 2025 cycle. Headlining the class is JUCO EDGE Ismael Kante, a 6-foot-2 defender originally out of Brooklyn Park (Minn.) Park Center. He ranks as the No. 19 JUCO prospect in the cycle.

Mt. Zion (Ill.) three-star wide receiver Brayden Trimble is a top-500 recruit and the No. 11 high school prospect coming out of Illinois. Trimble, Beerman and Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas three-star running back Cedric Wyche are all in the top 600 of the On3 Industry Ranking.

The Illini made a splash on the Sunshine State recruiting trail, signing six prospects out of Florida back in December. Alongside Wyche, Miami Northwestern three-star safety Tywan Cox, Clearwater Central Catholic three-star athlete Jershaun Newton and Tampa Vero Beach three-star cornerback Robert Jones are among the Floridians also headed to Champaign.

Illinois is already on pace to sign an impressive 2026 class. Over the weekend, Toledo Central Catholic four-star CB Victor Singleton, a top-40 prospect in the On300, announced his commitment to the Illini after visiting. Singleton is one of seven early commits in the class, which currently ranks No. 21 in the nation and No. 8 in the Big Ten.

“The coaching staff and amazing people on the campus,” Singleton said of his interest in the program to On3’s Steve Wiltfong after the visit that came just before his commitment. “It was a great time.”