Illinois hosted transfer wide receiver Eddie Kasper on Tuesday and offered him during the visit.
Kasper, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound redshirt junior, started two seasons at Illinois State, accumulating 137 career receptions for 1,198 yards and three touchdowns.
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At Illinois, offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and wide receivers coach Justin Stepp were an integral part of the visit.
“What stood out to me about Illinois, honestly, was being able to talk to Coach Lunney and Coach Stepp and get to know them,” Kasper said. “I really like Coach Stepp as a receiver coach. Coach puts out talent. That’s for sure. He’s proven that over the last however-many years, Coach Lunney’s got the offense rolling.”
Kasper got to spend time with head coach Bret Bielema and be around the team as well.
“You know how Coach Bielema handles the program and handles the players. I got to go for one of their workouts this morning and be around that and just see how the whole dynamic works,” Kasper said. “It’s pretty special to see that, and I can see why he’s really turned this program around over the past five or so years. It’s pretty special.”
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Kasper said Illinois did talk to him about playing their slot position, special teams and even being a holder.
Another part of Kasper’s ultimate decision will also be that he wants to coach after his playing days are done.
“I do want to coach. I would love to coach football,” he said. “And it does, “You know that is the reason I transferred, was to get a new experience somewhere else for my last year. I felt it would be beneficial for me as a coach in the future. So it plays a large role. And Coach Bielema mentioned the amount of players he’s brought back to coach, and we talked about it, and talked about different opportunities within the game.”
Kasper prepped at Wheaton Academy in West Chicago.
His uncle Kevin Kasper played at Iowa then in the NFL from 2001-2008. His brother Brett Kasper plays at Illinois State and cousin Kyler Kasper is at Oregon.
