Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[Deleted member 631370]

Why? Because it would be very hard? Would it be easy? Hell No. But can it happen? Yes. And no I do not think it is fine. I would like this team to be great. And I am fine with them reaching for that goal.

Okay, fine. From a purely mathematical perspective, there is indeed a chance that Illinois can become an elite, top-10 program.

The probability is so minute, however, as to render even the debate meaningless, IMO. But that's just my opinion.

The reasons why we won't? The enormous overhead involved. Rags-to-riches stories can happen in college football, but they're the exception rather than the rule. And even then, those programs rarely rise to Ohio State or Michigan's level. VA Tech and K-State are the best examples, and neither of those are really even top-20 programs. Wisconsin is probably the closest......but they're nowhere near Ohio State's level as a program.

To become OSU, Michigan, or Penn State, you need to win repeatedly and then begin recruiting at an elite level and keep the gravy train rolling. Think Miami's ascendance in the early 1980s. But Miami is a talent hotbed, and once they got that train rolling, it was much easier to keep it going.

Can we become Kansas State or Iowa? Sure. But Ohio State? Programs like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Alabama, USC, Notre Dame, etc. have been winning for 50+ years. They have national titles that span many decades and many coaches. That kind of tradition takes generations to build.

 

[mhuml32]

Let me ask this question. Would anyone here want to be in Clemson's shoes right now? I think the answer is hell yes. It is not like Clemson was a power house program before Dabo got there. But look at what he has done around all those BIG BOY football programs.
Now before anyone starts dismissing this post due to Lovie's age, let me just say the purpose of this was to show a program can be built! Yes people, a program can build themselves into a national powerhouse.

This post made me realize how much I miss ThaKid.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

Yep. Clemson won a national title in the 80s, and consistently won 8-9 games during the Tommy Bowden era. Historically, they're probably comparable to a program like Michigan State or Texas A&M. Not one of the elites, but pretty respectable. In large part because (1) football is a religion in the south, and (2) there's a whole lot of talent in South Carolina, GA, and Florida from where schools like Clemson and South Carolina and get recruits.

Come on guys. 1. They did not win 8-9 games consistently under Bowden. He won 6, 9, 7, 7, 9, 6, 8, 8, 9 and 3-3 the year he was canned with wins over The Citadel, NC State and SC State. They won 7-8....Does that really matter?
But again I was not comparing the situations. I specifically said the post was just pointing out a program can be built into a national power. I don't care what their history was/is. They are a national power right now and no reason to think they are not going to be a top 5 team while Dabo is there.
What kind of record would Jim Harbaugh have if he stayed at Stanford? I would say pretty damn good. But that again is not the point.
If you add the right people, it can happen. Josh Whitman could actually be that guy for us.
There is nothing wrong with striving to be second tier if that is what you want to do. That ain't me

 

[lexwaldez]

This post made me realize how much I miss ThaKid.

ThaKid didn't drink orange koolaid; that dude swam nekkid in an orange koolaid hot tub while hitting the built in orange koolaid bar.

And we can too aspire to be an OSU or a Michigan if our coaches and donors can hire the right attorneys to fill the stands, get the tv contracts, cheat, and pay for the right recruits in the right ways that skirt the rules but can't get you in any trouble. It just takes a couple hundred thousand under the right tables and you're in business. Unfortunately we appear to have taken the "work hard, build a foundation, takes years, getting our kids, higher than NCAA standard, we're doing it the right way" program that takes 3-4 years. The Michigans, North Carolina's, OSU's, that win championships, get caught cheating, but already have the success so it doesn't matter... that's not us. Dammitz. On the bright side, we have our souls.

 

[FiveStar]

ThaKid didn't drink orange koolaid; that dude swam nekkid in an orange koolaid hot tub while hitting the built in orange koolaid bar.

This almost made me spit out my orange kool aid

 

[Illinell]

This post made me realize how much I miss ThaKid.

Where did ThaKid go? He was on here for ages. Wanted to play for the team first, then continued to follow (and drink Koolaid) for years. Was fun to read.

 

[IlliniCaboose]

I couldn't remember if ThaKid was on here or Scout (was on there for years and years before they changed their formatting around a few years back and discovered this place).

 

[Deleted member 649710]

How 'bout we string together two winning seasons before we start dreaming of becoming tOSU?

That said, there is nothing preventing us from becoming a consistent Top 25 program like Wisconsin other than commitment from the top of the University Administration to achieve it, money, and the right head coach. Unfortunately, we've never had the first item on my list, and until that changes, mediocrity is the best that can be expected.

 

[thunderwear]

How 'bout we string together two winning seasons before we start dreaming of becoming tOSU?

That said, there is nothing preventing us from becoming a consistent Top 25 program like Wisconsin other than commitment from the top of the University Administration to achieve it, money, and the right head coach. Unfortunately, we've never had the first item on my list, and until that changes, mediocrity is the best that can be expected.

Awhile back, I posted about a conversation I had with a prominent person in athletics at a big ten university. He said that it doesn’t matter who is coach at Illinois because administration is the problem hurdle. Without administration, the rest is irrelevant.

The general response here was that Whitman was softening the administrative hurdles. I know nothing about the administration, it’s above my pay grade. Is there more? What all administrative hurdles are there?

 

[Deleted member 590820]

I know this is old news but what happened with Jalen Green? He was coming here but went to Utah State.

 

[O&B drank]

Awhile back, I posted about a conversation I had with a prominent person in athletics at a big ten university. He said that it doesn’t matter who is coach at Illinois because administration is the problem hurdle. Without administration, the rest is irrelevant.

The general response here was that Whitman was softening the administrative hurdles. I know nothing about the administration, it’s above my pay grade. Is there more? What all administrative hurdles are there?

The U of I requires student athletes to have a higher SAT score & GPA than the NCAA requires. So we're just restricting ourselves. For students we definitely should have higher standards than the norm, but for scholarship athletes it makes no sense. They're not being asked to meet the requirements of a typical student for admission to the U of I. So why have higher standards for our athletes than the NCAA asks:huh:

 

[Chukwuwumba]

Money. That’s the biggest factor, I am guessing. Donations lead to facility upgrades, impress recruits, show them how much the community loves it football players. Consistent support through money. That’s how you level up. Clemson is always mentioned for latest feature, improvement, etc.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

They are a national power right now and no reason to think they are not going to be a top 5 team while Dabo is there.
What kind of record would Jim Harbaugh have if he stayed at Stanford? I would say pretty damn good. But that again is not the point.
If you add the right people, it can happen. Josh Whitman could actually be that guy for us.
There is nothing wrong with striving to be second tier if that is what you want to do. That ain't me

To lazy to insert the $20 Mil donation tweet here. You all know about it anyway. Just good timing

 

[ILL2010MJ]

The U of I requires student athletes to have a higher SAT score & GPA than the NCAA requires. So we're just restricting ourselves. For students we definitely should have higher standards than the norm, but for scholarship athletes it makes no sense. They're not being asked to meet the requirements of a typical student for admission to the U of I. So why have higher standards for our athletes than the NCAA asks:huh:

Wisconsin, UCLA, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Stanford, and some other schools all have higher standards too, and they win. Having higher standards is something a coaching staff can actually sell, especially packaged with the quality of a U of I education.

It also seems like we are more willing to make exceptions, under Whitman. I mean, Kievan Myers had to petition the NCAA Clearinghouse just to get an exception to meet the NCAA minimum. Verdis Brown has to sit this year because he's only a partial qualifier. Some universities don't even allow their teams to recruit JUCOs, we're obviously not that

 

[SampsonRelpenk]

Wisconsin, UCLA, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Stanford, and some other schools all have higher standards too, and they win. Having higher standards is something a coaching staff can actually sell, especially packaged with the quality of a U of I education.

It also seems like we are more willing to make exceptions, under Whitman. I mean, Kievan Myers had to petition the NCAA Clearinghouse just to get an exception to meet the NCAA minimum. Verdis Brown has to sit this year because he's only a partial qualifier. Some universities don't even allow their teams to recruit JUCOs, we're obviously not that

Wait what? This is the first I'm hearing about this.

 

[mhuml32]

Money. That’s the biggest factor, I am guessing. Donations lead to facility upgrades, impress recruits, show them how much the community loves it football players. Consistent support through money. That’s how you level up. Clemson is always mentioned for latest feature, improvement, etc.

I'd caution pinning too much hope on recruiting improvements on facility upgrades, as a recent study found that, especially in football, they rarely lead to improved recruiting.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

I'd caution pinning too much hope on recruiting improvements on facility upgrades, as a recent study found that, especially in football, they rarely lead to improved recruiting.

Not disagreeing with your post. Just gonna point out Maryland got themselves a really nice jump in recruiting classes starting the year their new facility was finished.

 

[BananaShampoo]

I'd caution pinning too much hope on recruiting improvements on facility upgrades, as a recent study found that, especially in football, they rarely lead to improved recruiting.

Few programs have made as substantial a jump in facility improvements as we are about to make. We've been at a substantial recruiting disadvantage for too long because of it. Have you seen our facilities? I have, and "Yikes". We've been stuck in the Stone Age compared to what other programs have.

 

[Dren1]

Wisconsin, UCLA, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Stanford, and some other schools all have higher standards too, and they win. Having higher standards is something a coaching staff can actually sell, especially packaged with the quality of a U of I education.

It also seems like we are more willing to make exceptions, under Whitman. I mean, Kievan Myers had to petition the NCAA Clearinghouse just to get an exception to meet the NCAA minimum. Verdis Brown has to sit this year because he's only a partial qualifier. Some universities don't even allow their teams to recruit JUCOs, we're obviously not that

Wait what? This is the first I'm hearing about this.

Me too. I didn't think partial qualifier was still a thing for Division I, only for student-athletes at Division II schools.

 

[Chukwuwumba]

I'd caution pinning too much hope on recruiting improvements on facility upgrades, as a recent study found that, especially in football, they rarely lead to improved recruiting.

Having trouble opening the article right now....but money and support (great support leads to increased donations) leads to options. Whether it leads to better facilities, coaches salaries, morale, etc....definitely helps. I don’t think we can point to one item on the list, more of a cumulative effect.
Great timing on my post!!!! That donation is incredible!!!!

 

[FiveStar]

Me too. I didn't think partial qualifier was still a thing for Division I, only for student-athletes at Division II schools.

It is a thing. Academic redshirt for the athlete’s freshman year. There’s a list of required NCAA “core” classes. If athletes don’t have the right breakdown of “core” classes and right gpa within those classes, they have to redshirt.

My former PG just got his request to the NCAA denied (my previous school’s counselors and admin were infuriating as they refused to change his class) and he will be an academic redshirt for his freshman year.

 

[Dbell1981]

Just wanted to put it out there that a 3 star recruit out of high school just signed the biggest defensive contract in NFL history. Dont have to be a 5 star player to make it to the top!

 

[Dren1]

3-star OL/DL Dominic Moore is visiting for the game this weekend.
https://247sports.com/Player/Dominic-Moore-46056130

 

[Dbell1981]

3-star OL/DL Dominic Moore is visiting for the game this weekend.
https://247sports.com/Player/Dominic-Moore-46056130

Him and Okpala and we would have a pretty impressive looking D line with big Calvin and Verdis in the middle.

 

[IlliniNation1010]

3-star OL/DL Dominic Moore is visiting for the game this weekend.
https://247sports.com/Player/Dominic-Moore-46056130

Also 4-star DL Stephon Wright from Cal will be here on an OV