Football recruiting season

[FightingIllinut]

Recruiting season is in full swing...3 new commits today unfortunately all carry 1 star ratings. Of course that doesnt mean they arent good athletes but it does show that Zook may be losing credibility with prospects after only 1 year at the helm


WR 1star Keith Houston
(Dr. Michael M. Krop HS)Miami, FL 6-0/190/ 12/06/2005

DE 1star Clay Nurse
(High Point HS)Beltsville, MD 6-3/235 12/06/2005

S 1star Dere Hicks
(Valley Forge Military Academy)Wayne, PA 5-10/170 12/06/2005

the cream of the crop is QB Isiah Williams, a 4 star recruit from Chicago Vocational HS and in his class there are three 3 star WR led by Decatur McArthurs Marques Wilkins

Zook's 2005 recruiting class seemed to have higher star power but was not listed as a top 25 recruiting class and although the 2006 class seems to lack the star power it is ranked 25th at scout.com

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=9&c=14&yr=2006

[illini4everjp]

Recruiting season is in full swing...3 new commits today unfortunately all carry 1 star ratings. Of course that doesnt mean they arent good athletes but it does show that Zook may be losing credibility with prospects after only 1 year at the helm


WR 1star Keith Houston
(Dr. Michael M. Krop HS)Miami, FL 6-0/190/ 12/06/2005

DE 1star Clay Nurse
(High Point HS)Beltsville, MD 6-3/235 12/06/2005

S 1star Dere Hicks
(Valley Forge Military Academy)Wayne, PA 5-10/170 12/06/2005

the cream of the crop is QB Isiah Williams, a 4 star recruit from Chicago Vocational HS and in his class there are three 3 star WR led by Decatur McArthurs Marques Wilkins

Zook's 2005 recruiting class seemed to have higher star power but was not listed as a top 25 recruiting class and although the 2006 class seems to lack the star power it is ranked 25th at scout.com

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=9&c=14&yr=2006
Haha, you said football :)

[Idothis4]

There is no comparison. Last year's class was a last second copy and paste job by Zook that was in the 50's nationally and barely ahead of NIU. This year is going to be a deep class at every position, and ranked in the top 20 nationally.....with plenty of GAME CHANGING players (what a new concept)!

Still not sure if Zook can coach, but wow he sure can recruit.

[FightingIllinut]

This is Zook's time to shine. The next two months are going to be a time where he and his staff will go out and sell recruits on the future of Illinois football. They will convince them to be the ones who help turn this program around. They will persuade these recruits to be `builders' instead of `maintainers.'

interesting article that includes a perspective/breakdown of Illini basketball games and players to date

http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120705aad.html

[FightingIllinut]

the class of 2006 continues to get better ... 3 new commits this week and the team ranking has climbed to #21 at scout.com (ahead of USC, Cal, PennSt & Nebraska)

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=9&c=14&yr=2006

[illini4everjp]

the class of 2006 continues to get better ... 3 new commits this week and the team ranking has climbed to #21 at scout.com (ahead of USC, Cal, PennSt & Nebraska)

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=9&c=14&yr=2006
After last season, I putting the Illini right at the level of Kyle Orton - I need to see results, not potential.

[FightingIllinut]

2 new DB's and a Safety committed today...the 2 DB's are both juco standouts...Zook's 2006 recruiting class continues to be ranked in the top 25

http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/122105aad.html

University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook announces the signing of two junior college standouts, Justin Sanders of Northeast Mississippi Community College and Antonio Steele of Long Beach City College, to letters of intent during the December junior college signing period. Both athletes will be joining the Illini in January to begin school and go through spring workouts with the returning squad.

[JCJP]

zook; smook.......... time for the web man to show how well he can recruit; and for ZOOK-O to actually try and coach a single game.

[illini4everjp]

zook; smook.......... time for the web man to show how well he can recruit; and for ZOOK-O to actually try and coach a single game.
1. Bruce Weber can't recruit football players, I don't care if you were joking or not - either way, no.
2. Zook has, is, and will continue to recruit prime talent, so come August, look for this team to have some skills.
3. !!!! coaching + !!!! talent = !!!!; Great coaching + !!!! talent = !!!!. Get it? probably not, but let Zook get the kids he needs and see what happens.

That is all.

[JCJP]

well ok i get it this time Jp; i think for once; you have made a better statement than I.......

[illini4everjp]

well ok i get it this time Jp; i think for once; you have made a better statement than I.......
Victory is Mine!!!!!

[JCJP]

yes........... it is..........

i have taken my attention away from this to something else............. something hot..........

[orange100]

i think the 1 star ratings on those players are because they are simply not rated yet.

[FightingIllinut]

Sports Illustrated NCAA Football guru Stewart Mandel lists IL Offensive Coordinator Mike Locksley as one of the top 20 recruiters in college football.
While the aforementioned Top 10 work for fairly high-profile programs, some of the most respected recruiters are the ones who face a tougher sell. Here are 10 more of the best in the business, many of whom often fall into the "under the radar" category:Mike Locksley, offensive coordinator/tight ends coach, Illinoishttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/stewart_mandel/12/22/best.recruiters/index.html

[Dan]

They must have changed the link...this one works-

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/stewart_mandel/12/22/best.recruiters/index.html

[CentralMaroons]

This class is better then any of Turners without a dout but im a little dissapointed that Zook couldnt follow up the signing Isiah "Juice" Williams with more talent especially on the line.

[goillini]

since you guys really like rankings and all were still in the running for 4 star OL Ray Ray, 4 star JUCO OL Brandon Walker, and 4 star JUCO DE Chris Bradwell

[FightingIllinut]

since you guys really like rankings and all were still in the running for 4 star OL Ray Ray, 4 star JUCO OL Brandon Walker, and 4 star JUCO DE Chris Bradwell
AWESOME some solid anchors on the O Line will help Issaih Williams flourish at QB...you take a stud QB and give him a crap line and he isnt going to be able to make plays

[ChampaignO&B]

AWESOME some solid anchors on the O Line will help Issaih Williams flourish at QB...you take a stud QB and give him a crap line and he isnt going to be able to make plays

with Akim Millington transferring, and Ray Ray down to us and Tennessee, that help looks like its on the way.