Yale transfer lineman decommits from Illinois

Just weeks after committing to Illinois, Yale transfer defensive lineman Clay Patterson is reopening his recruitment.

Patterson made the announcement Monday night on X, writing, “The Illinois program and their interest in me was so impressive and exciting that it led to me making a decision in haste.”

Patterson, a First-Team All-Ivy League selection this season, chose Illinois over several other Power Five programs, including Houston and Colorado.

“What I was looking for in my next school was two things, really,” Patterson told TCR this month. “First, a place that’s going to develop me as a player. And then the second thing, a place that’s going to put me in the best spot for my future at the next level.”

There are several big holes to fill on the line in 2024 with the departures of Keith Randolph and Johnny Newton. Luckily, the Illini are already filling some of them, with commitments from Auburn’s Enyce Sledge and Youngstown State’s Anthony Johnson…