Illinois secured a dual-sport commitment from Chicago’s Nasir Rankin on Thursday. The Morgan Park High School standout will play both football and basketball for the Fighting Illini.
Rankin, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior, plays wide receiver and defensive back in football while competing as a guard in basketball.
According to Maxpreps, he recorded 991 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last season while also intercepting six passes.
On the basketball court, Rankin averaged 23.2 points per game during his junior season.
On3 ranks Rankin as the No. 7 athlete in Illinois for the 2026 football recruiting class.
The commitment represents a significant recruiting victory for Illinois, as Rankin chose the Fighting Illini over several programs including North Carolina.
Football coach Bret Bielema and basketball coach Brad Underwood will need to coordinate scheduling for their two-sport athlete.
Securing talented multi-sport athletes presents unique challenges in collegiate recruiting, making Rankin’s commitment particularly valuable for the Illinois athletics program.
