Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#2,778      
Speaking of de-commits, what's the latest on Childress?
Ultimately, if Illinois gets only Isaiah and Shammond from Trinity this year, I'd still call that a big win. Ira Henry would be a great get - always good to add talent on the OL and beat out schools like Missouri, Alabama, and FSU - but Williams and Cooper were always the two top targets.

How did Missouri make it in the same sentence as the other two?
 
#2,780      
The same could be said for us.

The same should be said about us. We aren’t FSU or Alabama when it comes to football. But no one is comparing us to those programs. Id be happy with an Iowa caliber program, right now.
 
#2,781      
The same should be said about us. We aren’t FSU or Alabama when it comes to football. But no one is comparing us to those programs. Id be happy with an Iowa caliber program, right now.
Oh I didn't take it like the OP was comparing those three programs. Just that those three programs are all recruiting Ira Henry.
 
#2,782      
This isn't new. College football coaches are paid a lot of money to handle these situations. The situation is sketchy on both sides: Schools have started to bail on verbal commitments very late in the process (see example). Schools also immediately fire assistant coaches after signing day. Don't complain about the actions of prospective athletes without feeling slimy about decisions made by the program that are just as/more harmful.
I know all this. But it continues to baffle me. And I wasn't complaining. I said it is remarkable. I get the process and the reasons. I don't see why recruits go so hard on their commitment if it is such a soft commitment. Just don't say anything publicly until it's time to sign if you aren't sure.

Who thinks he's going to go visit Miami (he's obviously very excited by it) and not switch up his commitment?
 
#2,785      
So according to Twitter we are supposed to hear a commitment today. I am guessing Dru Mathis (as most of you are as well) is the one to commit. But judging from Thad Ward’s most recent tweet we could also see someone like Isaiah Hookfin, or he might just be saying he’s coming back home from Dallas😂. Either way I’m excited.
 
#2,787      
Yeah, sign me up for Tariq Cohen-lite, Love, instead of Childress. Hope we have room. Highly doubt he'd accept a PWO offer.

Seriously. What can we do to get this kid an offer? Setup a gofundme to cover the scholarship cost?

Maybe with Cumby and IW the staff hit their quota of undersized shifty playmakers
 
#2,792      

FT35

Naperville
So according to Twitter we are supposed to hear a commitment today. I am guessing Dru Mathis (as most of you are as well) is the one to commit. But judging from Thad Ward’s most recent tweet we could also see someone like Isaiah Hookfin, or he might just be saying he’s coming back home from Dallas😂. Either way I’m excited.

Mathis just tweeted that he got an offer from UCLA. I'd be pleasantly surprised if it was him considering all of the offers he has been picking up.
 
#2,793      

FT35

Naperville
Lol.. Epstein is showing up in Jakai’s Twitter feed now. Good to see him preaching the FL>IL move

Especially nice since I've heard some rumblings that Epstein may not be back next year.

He may never have a major impact because of injuries but he sounds like he's all in on the Illini.
 
#2,795      
Especially nice since I've heard some rumblings that Epstein may not be back next year.

He may never have a major impact because of injuries but he sounds like he's all in on the Illini.

I understand what you are saying, but I'd say he already has had a major impact on the program. He's averaging 6.5 yards per carry and 10.4 yards per reception combining for about 900 yards of offense and 7 touchdowns in two years. Hopefully he makes a similar or even bigger contribution in some meaningful games going forward.
 
#2,796      

FT35

Naperville
Why would he leave. Setting up nicely for him

It has more to do with injuries as opposed to leaving the team from what I heard. It would be an Andrew Carter situation where he's put on a medical scholarship.

He wasn't at the end of the year sports banquet from what I heard and Thad Ward tweeted out a picture of him (Thad) with the players "he coaches" and Epstein is absent from it:


This is what led people to start speculating whether or not he was still part of the team.
 
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#2,800      
Yeah, I'm worried he's going to decommit from his commitment to commit, whoever he is!

Apparently it may take a while to announce due to remaining hurdles to cover.... speculation that may be release (eg Ford)

On a separate transfer note... how likely do we think Tate is? I spent some time browsing Twitter and the internet consensus seems to be he will transfer. In addition to the Illinois base, Oklahoma and Auburn fans seem to be confident they can lure him. Seems like there will be some heavy competition for his services
 
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