{"id":158227,"date":"2022-12-15T04:35:24","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T04:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/illini-land-transfer-te-tanner-arkin\/"},"modified":"2022-12-15T04:35:24","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T04:35:24","slug":"illini-land-transfer-te-tanner-arkin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/illini-land-transfer-te-tanner-arkin\/","title":{"rendered":"Illini land transfer TE Tanner Arkin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Colorado State transfer tight end <\/span>Tanner Arkin<\/b> committed to Illinois on Wednesday after<\/span> an official visit this weekend. He has three years of eligibility remaining and is expected to enroll at Illinois in January.<\/p>\n

Since entering <\/span>the transfer portal, Arkin had reported scholarship offers from Illinois, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma State, Sam Houston State, New Mexico State and UConn.<\/p>\n

As a redshirt freshman, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end from Fort Collins (Colo.) had 14 receptions for 116 yards. As a true freshman, he had one reception for nine yards.<\/p>\n

Arkin was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2021, choosing Colorado State over offers from Wyoming and Penn.<\/p>\n

Arkin told Illini Inquirer on Wednesday night: <\/strong>\u201cThey showed heavy interest in me. I went there for a visit, and they have all the tools for success. I just saw myself there and decided to commit. I didn’t want to wait around for anything else when it felt right and felt like the place to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had multiple conversations with Coach Bielema and the OC Coach Lunney and the tight ends coach and just their plan for me and the plan for their offense and how I can be used. As well as the facilities, they really have everything they need as well as the strength staff. And I just met some of the dudes and just saw myself fitting in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

What it means: <\/span><\/b>The Illini fill what has been a priority need for them in the transfer portal as Illinois had offered several transfers at the position. The Illini will lose <\/span>Michael Marchese<\/b> <\/span>(seven receptions, 132 yards, 2 TDs) and are expected to lose <\/span>Luke Ford<\/b> <\/span>(10 receptions, 88 yards), who went through senior day festivities. Arkin gives Illinois an experienced option to complement <\/span>Type Reiman<\/b> <\/span>(17 receptions, 156 yards, 1 TD) as the current group of three freshmen tight ends develop: Henry Boyer<\/b>, Naivyan Cargill<\/b> and Owen Anderson<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The Illini have filled three needs already via the transfer portal: Arkin at tight end, Louisville transfer Nicario Harper<\/b> at safety and ECU transfer Avery Jones<\/b> horse centre. Two of the biggest needs remaining are at quarterback and cornerback.<\/p>\n

What’s next: <\/strong>This weekend is the final weekend Illinois can host official visitors this month and then the early signing period for prep and JUCO prospects runs from Dec. 21-23.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n