No. 2 QB Locks in Visits to Five Major College Football Programs

Illinois quarterback Israel Abrams, rated the No. 2 passer in the 2027 cycle by 247Sports and No. 3 by On3/Rivals, has scheduled a five-stop tour that defies conventional blue-blood recruiting logic. The high four-star prospect, No. 44 nationally, will take official visits to Purdue, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida State and Tennessee, according to industry insider Steve Wiltfong.

Abrams will start at Purdue on May 22, followed by Auburn on June 5. Trips to Florida State and Kentucky are slated for the subsequent two weekends, with a still-undetermined date for Tennessee. On3’s prediction model currently lists Auburn as the lean, but the race appears fluid.

Each program offers a rebuilding narrative that appears to resonate with Abrams. Auburn, under first-year head coach Alex Golesh, is retooling after a regime change. Purdue, in year two of the Barry Odom era, is searching for a face-of-the-program passer. Kentucky, led by new offensive architect Will Stein, recently added Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey for 2026 yet continues to explore long-term quarterback solutions.

Even the comparatively traditional powers on the list arrive with question marks. Tennessee reached the 2024 College Football Playoff but slipped in 2025 and faces uncertainty surrounding Joey Aguilar’s eligibility. Florida State, 13-1 in 2023, has since stumbled to a 7-17 mark over the past two seasons while cycling through portal quarterbacks DJ Uiagalelei and Tommy Castellanos without finding consistency.

By prioritizing programs where a competitive culture is still being forged, Abrams is positioning himself as a potential catalyst rather than a final piece, a rarity for a prospect of his stature. With more than a year before national signing day, the 6-foot-3 signal-caller has ample time to evaluate each destination before announcing a commitment.