Nathan Cichy’s decision was made and his bags were packed.
The Prospect receiver was committed to Harvard and was ready to head east after competing in the IHSA boys track state meet.
But then Illinois came calling.
After some late comings and goings, the Fighting Illini were looking to add to their receiver room heading into this fall. Cichy flipped his commitment to Illinois in late May and two weeks later he was moving into his dorm room and participating in team meetings.
“It was definitely a whirlwind,” Cichy told the Sun-Times. “That same week [coach Bret Bielema] offered me, we went down for a visit and there’s a lot going through the mind.”
Including academics, a big priority for someone with six Ivy League offers who was on the 26-member IHSA Academic All-State team for all sports.
Illinois’ business school has a 3% acceptance rate, but Cichy made the cut.
“That’s a huge factor, too,” he said. “The business school is going to be great. I’ll still get into finance, I’ll still make a ton of connections and also get the connections within a Big Ten football program. Because a lot of these guys, they all have the work ethic to become very successful people. And that’s the type of people I want to surround myself with.”
Cichy’s football credentials are impressive as well. Last fall, the 6-1, 190-pounder caught 50 passes for more than 800 yards with 11 touchdowns to bring his career totals to 142 receptions, 2,213 yards and 28 TDs.
He won a Class 3A state medal in the 100-meter hurdles last month and also -anchored three Prospect relays at state.
Now he’s ready to compete for playing time with the Illini.
“They’re going to put the best guys out there,” he said. “It’s really on me. If I work hard enough and get to that skill [level], I’m going to be playing.”
Halliman to Illini
Another local player heading to Illinois, but in the 2027 cycle, is Lincoln-Way East offensive lineman Mason Halliman.
The state’s No. 18 player in his class in the 247Sports composite rankings had a variety of options with more than 15 Power Four offers, including Michigan, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
But the Fighting Illini were an easy choice for the 6-5, 280-pounder, whose brother -attended the school.
“I’ve been around Illinois a large part of my life,” Halliman told the Sun-Times. “I fell in love . . . with the people there and the culture.”
Since last season, Halliman has been working hard at his craft.
“I want to polish my footwork and make it the best,” he said. “I’m a smaller offensive lineman in general. Footwork and technique is going to take me a long way.”
He came to football later than some players.
“I started playing in seventh grade, but I was hurt that year and didn’t play a full season,” Halliman said. “In eighth grade, I broke my leg. I wasn’t a guy who got injured a lot. Those two injuries came out of nowhere.”
But since he arrived at Lincoln-Way East, he has been on the rise.
“It’s moved really fast,” Halliman said. “I was just praying about being recruited and getting an offer. Now I’m living my dream.”
