Will Vala III holds the TE · Depth spot in Illinois Fighting Illini’s tight end room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Will Vala III is a tight end from Downers Grove, Illinois, where he attended Downers Grove North High School under head coach Joe Horeni. A three-star recruit by recruiting services, Vala recorded 57 receptions for 851 yards and eight touchdowns in high school. He earned 2025 all-state honors and was a two-time all-conference selection. Vala also participated in basketball and baseball for two years and was named Academic All-State. He received offers from Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, and Wisconsin before committing to Illinois as a member of the 2026 class.

Illinois2026 — present