Top 10 Illinois HS football players in Class of 2026

9. Messiah Tilson, S, Guilford

A four-star recruit, Tilson led the Vikings to a 6-4 record and an appearance in the IHSA Class 7A playoffs last season. He excelled on both sides of the ball and proved his elite speed at the AAU Track & Field Nationals last summer, where he finished sixth in the 100-meter dash. Tilson committed to the Kentucky Wildcats over Wisconsin and Rutgers.

Kentucky landed one of the top FS prospects in the Midwest Messiah Tilson 6‘2“ 180 Rockford Gulliford HS, IL. Great length, 4.3 speed, great reactions, hard hitter and playmaker from the word goal. Runs a 10.6 100 m. Possesses all the tools. 4*+ rating.⁦@mini_sago11⁩ pic.twitter.com/KpbGwbY0NE

— Tom Lemming (@LemmingReport) June 17, 2025