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On3 4-star LB Tony Williams commits to Illinois

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by:Keegan Pope•04/14/25•

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(Billy Embody / On3)

Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines four-star linebacker Tony Williams has committed to Illinois, he announced on Monday.

Williams chose the Illini over offers from SMU, Miami, Iowa State, Missouri and more than a dozen other programs.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder is the No. 431 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 33 linebacker and No. 45 recruit in the Sunshine State.

On3, however, is slightly higher on him than other services. In the most recent rankings update, he was tabbed as a four-star prospect and the No. 28 linebacker nationally, just outside of the top 300 overall players.

Williams is coming off one of the most productive seasons for any linebacker in the state of Florida as a junior, totaling 101 tackles (16 TFLs), 6 sacks, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups in 13 games.

He is the first of two commitments on Monday morning for Bret Bielema and Co., as three-star cornerback Almirian Thomas also announced his pledge to the Illini. Their additions push the Illini up to 13 commitments midway through the month of April, the second-highest total of any Power 4 program behind USC.

Illinois has been on a major recruiting heater over the past few months, landing top-100 cornerback Victor Singleton and four-star athlete Cam Thomas in February, On3 four-star offensive tackle Casey Thomann in March, along with Williams and On3 four-star running back Javari Barnett in April.

Their class currently checks in at No. 17 nationally and No. 5 in the Big Ten, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.