Illinois has been on the right side of the football portal throughout the offseason. Now, Lovie Smith‘s crew finds themselves on the wrong end.
First reported by Rivals.com, Joseph Thompson has entered his name into the NCAA transfer database. 247Sports.com subsequently confirmed that the defensive back is intent on leaving the Illinois football program.
Now, for what’s seemingly becoming a daily disclaimer when it comes to transfers.
As we’ve stated myriad times in the past, a player can remove his name from the portal and remain at the same school. At this point, though, other programs are permitted to contact a player without receiving permission from his current football program.
NCAA bylaws also permit schools to pull a portal entrant’s scholarship at the end of the semester in which he entered it.
Thompson was a three-star member of the Illinois football Class of 2019. The Chicago native was rated as the No. 27 recruit regardless of position in the state of Illinois. As a true freshman, Thompson didn’t appear in any games and took a redshirt.
On the positive side for the Illini? Illinois has added seven transfers to its football roster this offseason. Five of those have come from Power Five programs.
In mid-March, ex-Alabama linebacker Christian Bell tweeted that he was moving on to the Illini. Shortly thereafter, we noted that an FCS All-American offensive lineman had opted to transfer into the Illinois football program. New Mexico State wide receiver Desmond Dan did the same. As did Miami wide receiver Brian Hightower. And Mississippi State offensive lineman Brevyn Jones as well in early May And Louisville defensive back TreSean Smith last week mid-May. And Cal defensive tackle Chinedu Udeogu that same month.