Receiver Nathan Cichy flips Harvard commitment to Illinois

Prospect receiver Nathan Cichy, previously committed to Harvard, chose Illinois after a late May flip. He described it as a whirlwind—driven by academics, including a rare business-school acceptance, and the chance to develop within a Big Ten football program.

Nathan Cichy had his bags packed.

The Prospect receiver was committed to Harvard and was set to head east after competing at the IHSA boys track state meet. Then Illinois arrived, quickly and unexpectedly, and the plan changed.

After some late comings and goings, the Fighting Illini moved to add to their receiver room for this fall. Cichy flipped his commitment to Illinois in late May. Two weeks later, he was already moving into his dorm room and sitting 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.”

Academics were a major part of the decision. With six Ivy League offers and a spot on the 26-member IHSA Academic All-State team for all sports. Cichy said the academic side wasn’t a secondary concern. Illinois’ business school impressed him in a way that comes with real pressure—he noted its 3% acceptance rate—and he said he 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.”.

Football credentials, too, are already doing the heavy lifting. Last fall, the 6-1, 190-pounder caught 50 passes for more than 800 yards with 11 touchdowns. That brought his career totals to 142 receptions, 2,213 yards and 28 TDs.

He also won a Class 3A state medal in the 100-meter hurdles last month and anchored three Prospect relays at state.

Now he’s focused on earning 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

Illinois also landed another local prospect heading to the program in the 2027 cycle: Lincoln-Way East offensive lineman Mason Halliman.

The state’s No. 18 player in his class in the 247Sports composite rankings had 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 at his craft. He wants to refine the details that separate good from great, especially because he sees his size and style as something that demands clean technique.

“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.”

Halliman’s path to football hasn’t been perfectly linear. He started playing in seventh grade, but he was hurt that year and didn’t play a full season. In eighth grade, he broke his leg—injuries he said came out of nowhere.

“Those two injuries came out of nowhere,” Halliman said.

Still, once he arrived at Lincoln-Way East, his progress accelerated.

“It’s moved really fast,” Halliman said. “I was just praying about being recruited and getting an offer. Now I’m living my dream.”

Nathan Cichy Illinois football Harvard commitment Prospect IHSA Bret Bielema Big Ten recruiting Mason Halliman Lincoln-Way East