#79
TJ Taylor
Returning to Illinois for 2026
Santa Clarita, Calif. → Golden Valley
via fightingillini.com ↗TJ Taylor
Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.
Career Arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
—
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bret Bielema
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Offensive line · Illinois
Returning around him
- 21% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 3 Illinois players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -7 net (20 in / 27 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Illinois · Last season: 9-4 (AP #23) · Talent rank #64 · 2026 recruiting class #24
Background
2025 - College of the Canyons Three-star JUCO recruit by 247, ESPN, and Rivals No. 2 junior college offensive lineman in the nation by ESPN No. 9 junior college player in the nation by Rivals Southern California Football Association All-Central League First Team Helped College of the Canyons prod...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology