Texas Misses Out on Elite 4-Star In-State Talent as Bret Bielema’s Recruiting Hot Streak Continues

Bret Bielema is building something in Champaign, and the rest of the country is starting to take notice. Fresh off a 10-win season and a Citrus Bowl victory, Illinois is no longer content with being a feel-good underdog in the Big Ten. “I’m really excited about all the guys we have returning,” Bielema said. “Anywhere between 17, 18 or 22, whatever it is, we got a lot of guys coming back.” Not just returners; there’s a bunch of hot talents coming in too, often at the expense of bigger-name schools. Soon after, Illini Nation landed the highest-ranked prep recruit of the Bielema era over the weekend with four-star defensive back Victor Singleton. This time, they’ve struck gold again, in one of the most talent-rich states in America, pulling a key defensive piece straight from under Texas’ nose.

The Fighting Illini linebacker room has gotten a heck of a lot better this week. As 247Sports recruiting reporter said of Bret’s latest LB commit. “Their second linebacker commit in as many days, the #illini are getting a twitchy, athletic, and tenacious defender from the Lone Star State.” That piece is Kaedyn Cobbs, a four-star linebacker out of Denton Guyer in Texas who announced his commitment to Illinois on Friday. Further solidifying Bret Bielema’s push to build a formidable unit for the future.

247Sports Composite rankings value Cobbs as the No. 32 linebacker in the Class of 2026. He had plenty of options; Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Baylor, SMU, and Texas Tech were all in the mix, but it was Illinois that won out—a testament to the recruiting efforts of linebackers coach Archie McDaniel. A Texas native himself, McDaniel played a crucial role in luring Cobbs away from the Lone Star State, selling him on the Illini’s vision and the opportunity to play in a system that fits his skill set. Cobbs’ versatility is what makes him such an intriguing prospect.

At 6 feet and 205 pounds, he’s a bit undersized for a traditional linebacker, but his athleticism more than makes up for it. He clocked an impressive 11.2-second 100-meter dash, which translates to elite sideline-to-sideline range. His background as a safety has allowed him to develop strong coverage skills, giving him the ability to match up against tight ends and slot receivers. Just like Malachi Hood.

Last season at Guyer, Cobbs showcased his playmaking ability, racking up 43 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles, all while contributing as a running back with 359 rushing yards and six touchdowns. That type of versatility is exactly what Bret Bielema and his staff look for in their defensive players—smart, fast, and aggressive.

Illinois’ recruiting momentum isn’t stopping with Cobbs. Just before his commitment, the Illini landed another elite defender in Victor Singleton, a four-star defensive back who chose Illinois over Texas A&M. Singleton ranked No. 3 at his position. With these additions, Illinois now boasts 10 commitments in the 2026 class, tied for second-most in the Big Ten, a sign that the program’s recruiting ceiling continues to rise.

For Texas, missing out on in-state talent like Cobbs and Singleton stings.

Bret Bielema’s retention win

Illinois had a recruiting hot streak this week, adding Cobbs, Singleton, 2025 linebacker Jack Paris, and 2026 four-star linebacker Cam Thomas. In an era where the transfer portal feels like a Black Friday sale for college football rosters, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has pulled off something impressive—keeping his squad intact.

From starting quarterback Luke Altmyer to key defensive playmakers, Bielema managed to hold onto talent that could’ve easily been NFL-bound or lured away by other programs. “I had to wait on the NFL draft grades to come back,” Bielema said, emphasizing just how close some players were to leaving. Among the biggest decisions? Xavier Scott and Gabe Jacas—two defensive studs who opted to run it back with the Illini.

And to be real: poaching players is basically a sport of its own in the NIL era. Bielema acknowledged that “several other guys” were approached by other teams, but Illinois managed to keep most of them in orange and blue.