Illinois football adds pair of defensive players from transfer portal
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CHAMPAIGN — Illinois football added its first signees of the 2026 transfer portal cycle, bringing in a pair of defensive players.
Safety Lavon Williams of East Texas A&M and former Penn defensive lineman Carter Janki signed with the Illini on Sunday, according to multiple online reports.
As of Sunday, a total of 22 Illinois players are in the transfer portal, and three so far are headed to Illinois with more expected in the coming weeks. Follow along with our updated list at pjstar.com.
Williams, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound safety signed Sunday after a visit to Champaign, according to Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports. He has 129 tackles, nine for loss, four sacks and two interceptions. He has one season of eligibility remaining and is a “rangy centerfielder who has good instincts and ball skills, but he also can come up in run support and be a very physical and sound tackler,” according to Jeremy Werner of Illini Inquirer.
Janki, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior defensive lineman, signed on Sunday, according to On3.com and 247 Sports. The two-time all-Ivy League pick had 42 tackles, nine for loss, and four sacks in 2025. He has one season of eligibility remaining and should slide right into the line rotation, according to Werner.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois football signs two defensive players from transfer portal
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