Gridiron Heroics
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • “He Reminds Me Of Like Josh Allen”: Minnesota Vikings Player Makes Stunning Comparison For J.J. McCarthy
    • “Man This Is Just Not Right”: Cleveland Browns Fans React To Heartfelt Message By Nick Chubb
    • “Smith Could Go No.1 In 2027”: Ohio State Buckeyes Wide Receiver Jeremiah Smith Could Be Number One Pick In 2027 NFL Draft (Report)
    • Las Vegas Raiders: Hidden Gem in Line to Start on Offensive Line in 2025
    • Buffalo Bills: Ink Defensive Back to Fully Guaranteed Contract
    • “Have Never Done That” Browns’ Joe Flacco Calls Out Shedeur Sanders And Rest Of QBs
    • “Sanders Can Start In the NFL”: NFL Analyst Believes Shedeur Sanders Can Start In Week 1 For the Cleveland Browns
    • “Be Better NHL”: NHL Fans React To Viral Photo Of Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce With Wayne Gretzky and Taylor Swift At Stanley Cup Final
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Writers
    • Write for Gridiron Heroics
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Gridiron Heroics
    SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
    • NFL
      • AFC East
        • AFC East
        • Buffalo Bills
        • Miami Dolphins
        • New England Patriots
        • New York Jets
      • AFC North
        • Baltimore Ravens
        • Cincinnati Bengals
        • Cleveland Browns
        • Pittsburgh Steelers
      • AFC South
        • Houston Texans
        • Indianapolis Colts
        • Jacksonville Jaguars
        • Tennessee Titans
      • AFC West
        • Denver Broncos
        • Kansas City Chiefs
        • Las Vegas Raiders
        • Los Angeles Chargers
      • NFC East
        • Dallas Cowboys
        • New York Giants
        • Philadelphia Eagles
        • Washington Commanders
      • NFC North
        • Chicago Bears
        • Detroit Lions
        • Green Bay Packers
        • Minnesota Vikings
      • NFC South
        • Atlanta Falcons
        • Carolina Panthers
        • New Orleans Saints
        • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
      • NFC West
        • Arizona Cardinals
        • Los Angeles Rams
        • San Francisco 49ers
        • Seattle Seahawks
    • Fantasy Football
    • College Football
    • NFL Draft
    • PODCAST
    Gridiron Heroics
    Home»College Football»Illinois Fighting Illini»Illinois flips UNC commit Three-Star DB Zachary Tobe
    Illinois Fighting Illini

    Illinois flips UNC commit Three-Star DB Zachary Tobe

    Michael TerrilBy Michael TerrilAugust 7, 2022Updated:January 17, 2024No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Illini Football Helmet
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The Fighting Illini have added another defensive back, in their 2023 recruiting cycle. With the DB being a position of need. Especially after the 2022 season ends. The Illini defensive staff is working hard to fortify the position group for the future. The Illini staff have flipped three-star defensive back Zachary Tobe from UNC. On Friday evening there were rumors surfacing that Tobe was on the verge of decommiting. On Saturday morning the rumors were confirmed. Making Tobe the 15th commit to the Illini in the 2023 recruiting cycle, making him the third highest-rated commit in the class.

    Surprise 😁 https://t.co/n1oS8KSN2j

    — Zachary Tobe (@OZtobe) August 6, 2022

    Tobe released the following via USAToday.com :

    Honestly, this decision did not come easy. It took a lot of thinking and time to figure out what the best decision for me is.

    Committing is fun and cool, but you also have to sit down and figure out that you have to live there and be there for four years. I knew I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t make the right choice for me.

    I’m very appreciative to the University of North Carolina staff and all they did for me from when they offered me in January. They became like family to me. They didn’t treat me wrong or anything like that, this is just me doing what is best for me. It didn’t have to do with the school or the coaching staff or anything like that. Having said that, I’m officially decommitting from the University of North Carolina.

    Tobe1

    Why this is so important

    With the Illini losing several defensive backs after the 2022 season. There is a need to build depth at the position. With senior leaders Sydney Brown and Quan Martin departing at the end of 2022. Other departing defensive backs include Kendall Smith and grad transfer Terrell Jennings. As well as the possibility of NFL prospect Devon Witherspoon leaving for the 2023 NFL Draft. Mention of senior special teams standout Talion Leitzsey (Wuerffel Trophy watch list) should be noted as well.

    Who are the Illini adding

    The Illini added five scholarship defensive backs in the 2022 cycle.

    Three-star defensive backs Elijah Mc-Cantos, Xavier Scott, TJ Griffin, Matthew Bailey, and transfer sophomore Solomon Turner according to 247/sports.com.

    To this point in the 2023 cycle, the Illini have added verbal commits from:

    Three-star DBs Kenari Wilcher, Zachary Tobe, and Jaheim Clarke are all from Florida. While Defensive Coordinator/ Safties coach Ryan Walters is heavily recruiting coveted in-state, 4-star defenderJyaire Hill  and three-star New Jersey DB Saboor Karriem.

    According to Ryan Easterling of IlliniInquirer,

    Tobe has enough versatility that he could probably line up either at the corner or at safety at the college level. Naturally, I think he fits best as a free safety where he can use his recognition, reaction, and range to make plays as a center-fielder of sorts.

    Defensive back Zachary Tobe, while not ultra-physical as a defender, is athletic and rangy. But his awareness and play recognition are what stand out the most on his tape, and those traits allow him to make frequent plays on the ball that impact the game and can turn the momentum in a hurry.

    Past Illini story: Five ILLINI Defensive Veterans look to continue success in 2022

     

     

    Get the latest Pro and College Football news, analysis, and breaking stories on the NFL, NCAA, Fantasy Football, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story from the football field.

    Bret Bielema Illinois Fighting Illini Mack Brown Ryan Walters Tar Heels Zachary Tobe
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Avatar of Michael Terril
    Michael Terril
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Michael is an avid fan of the Packers (Shareholder) and the ILLINI. Michael spends much of his free time reading anything that involves football. He has spent time as a youth and high school football coach. Coaching mainly defense. He is also known to be well-versed in college recruiting.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Minnesota Vikings

    “He Reminds Me Of Like Josh Allen”: Minnesota Vikings Player Makes Stunning Comparison For J.J. McCarthy

    By Glenn KaplanJune 13, 20250
    Cleveland Browns

    “Man This Is Just Not Right”: Cleveland Browns Fans React To Heartfelt Message By Nick Chubb

    By Glenn KaplanJune 13, 20250
    College Football

    “Smith Could Go No.1 In 2027”: Ohio State Buckeyes Wide Receiver Jeremiah Smith Could Be Number One Pick In 2027 NFL Draft (Report)

    By Glenn KaplanJune 13, 20250
    Las Vegas Raiders

    Las Vegas Raiders: Hidden Gem in Line to Start on Offensive Line in 2025

    By Jackson LoschkoJune 13, 20250
    Gridiron Heroics Writers
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    READ MORE
    2024 NFL Draft Aaron Rodgers Baltimore Ravens Bill Belichick Buffalo Bills Caleb Williams Chicago Bears Chiefs Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns College Football Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Deshaun Watson Detroit Lions Donald Trump Football Green Bay Packers Joe Burrow Josh Allen Justin Fields Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets NFL NFL Draft nfl news NFL Rumors Patrick Mahomes Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Russell Wilson San Francisco 49ers shedeur sanders Tampa Bay Buccaneers Taylor Swift Tom Brady Travis Kelce Washington Commanders
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Editorial Process
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate
    © 2025 Gridiron Heroics.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.