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Kyron Cumby signs with Illinois

Illinois adds the tiny Texan.

Twitter: @KyronCumby2

And just like that, we’re done.

5-foot-7 tailback Kyron Cumby signed with Illinois during the Early Signing Period on Wednesday, concluding the Illini’s expected early signings.

A three-star back from Plano, Texas, Cumby originally committed to Illinois on June 21 after having an unofficial visit on June 15. He was recruited by wide receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker.

Cumby had other offers from BYU, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, and San Diego State among others.

With Mike Epstein an injury liability, Reggie Corbin potentially leaving for the NFL, and Ra’Von Bonner having only limited playing time, running back is certainly a position of need for Rod Smith and Illinois’ offense.

Cumby is smaller in size at 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, but he shows good vision and an ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

Cumby was on campus again earlier in December with other members and recruit in the 2019 class.

It may be a stretch early on, but if Cumby can be anything like the Chicago Bears’ young back Tarik Cohen — who is also small in stature — then Illinois is getting another steal from Lovie Smith’s home state of Texas.

According to 247, Cumby run a 40-yard dash of 4.36 seconds. He rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and accounted for 22 total touchdowns as a junior at Plano High School in 2017.

Cumby did provide Illinois fans with a scare toward the Early Signing Period, tweeting out a set of photos in Texas Tech garb on Monday night.

But he did pull back on Tuesday afternoon, announcing his intentions to still follow through on his commitment and sign with the Illini.

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