Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[TDCumm16]

The results on the field aren't there yet, but, given our dramatically improving recruiting of late, our in-state status [insert joke here] should dramatically improve too [nowhere to go but up, amirite?]. It will be nice to no longer be the default safety school of many top recruits. It will be also be very nice to substantially reduce the ABI faction.

In the big scheme of things, where Illini players hail from doesn't much matter (compared to results), but in-state recruiting has been horrible lately. Our program will be stronger if that's rectified.

I’m not sure how I feel about in state recruiting - we certainly haven’t done well but how important is it? In a good year Illinois and Missouri combined will put out 15ish 4* plus players. The big southern hotbed states will turn out 40-50 each. If Lovie’s strategy is really to focus on a few key schools - Trinity, Phillips, now see it turning to ESL that may be the right move. Plug in the recruiters to pull talent from Texas or Florida you are fishing from bigger ponds.

Chasing the random 4-6 4*s+ from ILL each year will never be a given due to the competion from the similar schools (Iowa, Wisc, Minn) as well as the big names that move in on our key talent. The ABI fallback status really hurts us then.

Winning is the only way we cure ABI fallback so that we aren’t “outbranded” when the big names come calling the 4*+ from schools we don’t have deep relations with. To your point, that will take some consistent success on and off the field to rebuild image

 

[Deleted member 656517]

I think everyone is freaking out a little too much about this waiver stuff man. Illini Paranoia I would call it. Luke was duuped. He's getting the waiver and so is Jeff...

We are in really good standing with the NCAA waiver dept. We're gonna be fine guys. Just let the process play out before freaking out please.

If Justin Field's to get a waiver to play right away, I would think we have nothing to worry about with our current transfers and their legit reasons to come back home and represent. Then again it's the NCAA so...

 

[SescIllini]

If Justin Field's to get a waiver to play right away, I would think we have nothing to worry about with our current transfers and their legit reasons to come back home and represent. Then again it's the NCAA so...

Cut and paste Justin Fields application. Illinois case stronger because Jeff Thomas lost his coach. He could say he knew he was going to retire. Ford can say they mismanaged his RS year by playing him in minor roles despite being a top 75 recruit. Both players have proximity and family concerns.

Illinois also is in a competitive imbalance to Georgia and Miami. I think our lawyer AD will find the correct verbiage. Likely an AD to AD conversion will follow.

 

[SescIllini]

Would Ayodele even need to request a waiver since he technically had a redshirt year already?

Not sure Illinois would turn down a veteran grad transfer QB. Not convinced we are done at that position.

 

[Deleted member 633632]

Man scec, I see your point. Imagine, knowing what we know now, if Tate would have kept his name on the transfer market

 

[Joel Goodson]

Man scec, I see your point. Imagine, knowing what we know now, if Tate would have kept his name on the transfer market

Tate didn't have a choice (he isn't in line to graduate by May or August).

 

[Twangers]

Tate didn't have a choice (he isn't in line to graduate by May or August).

Correct. A lot of plugged in UA guys don’t think he’ll get there by August, to go even further.

 

[Title]

I’m not sure how I feel about in state recruiting - we certainly haven’t done well but how important is it? In a good year Illinois and Missouri combined will put out 15ish 4* plus players. The big southern hotbed states will turn out 40-50 each. If Lovie’s strategy is really to focus on a few key schools - Trinity, Phillips, now see it turning to ESL that may be the right move. Plug in the recruiters to pull talent from Texas or Florida you are fishing from bigger ponds.

Chasing the random 4-6 4*s+ from ILL each year will never be a given due to the competion from the similar schools (Iowa, Wisc, Minn) as well as the big names that move in on our key talent. The ABI fallback status really hurts us then.

Winning is the only way we cure ABI fallback so that we aren’t “outbranded” when the big names come calling the 4*+ from schools we don’t have deep relations with. To your point, that will take some consistent success on and off the field to rebuild image

Stars are irrelevant. Talented football players that are willing to give their all to the University is what’s important.

 

[thunderwear]

Has anyone else been hearing about the Petitbon brothers? I'm hearing some rumblings on Richie as a transfer and his brother Luke for 2020. But only heard their names mentioned. anyone know anything?

 

[Joel Goodson]

Stars are irrelevant. Talented football players that are willing to give their all to the University is what’s important.

Stars are correlated with talent. Clearly, evaluations are in the eye of the beholders. So, subjective. And they don't measure heart/desire, a key component.

FWIW, my opinion is that our staff is damn good at prospect evaluation and targeting.

 

[illini0440]

Has anyone else been hearing about the Petitbon brothers? I'm hearing some rumblings on Richie as a transfer and his brother Luke for 2020. But only heard their names mentioned. anyone know anything?

They are in there and trying to get both.

 

[Joel Goodson]

They are in there and trying to get both.

Love your insight, thanks.

 

[Twangers]

They are in there and trying to get both.

Word is Maryland is where Richie is leaning.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

If it is Ayodele Adeoye that Ryan is speaking of, he played in 3 games this year. 6' 1" #250 That's a big LB for 6' 1"

Texas bio

https://texassports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8179

He tweeted a video of the Texas football team working out at the beginning of the year and about how much pure muscle he had put on already.

 

[illini0440]

Word is Maryland is where Richie is leaning.

They would appear to be the front runner but that doesn't mean the staff isn't working it hard.

 

[IllinifaninIL]

They would appear to be the front runner but that doesn't mean the staff isn't working it hard.

Would seemingly make sense since a quick google search shows that they're from DC area i think. On top of that, Locks going to Maryland as well. But man, if the staff could pull that off, that'd be INCREDIBLE. Would love it if Ayodele's name got into the transfer portal, but probably just a dream.

 

[ChiefGritty]

I wish there was somewhere I could bet against these waivers.

Regardless, I think their impact is a little overstated in terms of next year's chances. Especially Ford.

 

[illini0440]

Would seemingly make sense since a quick google search shows that they're from DC area i think. On top of that, Locks going to Maryland as well. But man, if the staff could pull that off, that'd be INCREDIBLE. Would love it if Ayodele's name got into the transfer portal, but probably just a dream.

I doubt Dele leaves but I'm sure someone on staff has inquired about it.

 

[MadSeason]

Regardless, I think their impact is a little overstated in terms of next year's chances. Especially Ford.

How so? I get it if they were a couple of backups transferring out of Georgia and Miami who we were projecting to be superstars when they hadn't really showed it.

Georgia did everything but handcuff Luke to the bleachers to keep him and Jeff has proven to be electric to say the least. Ford with his blocking capability should only make a very good run game better.

 

[ChiefGritty]

How so? I get it if they were a couple of backups transferring out of Georgia and Miami who we were projecting to be superstars when they hadn't really showed it.

Georgia did everything but handcuff Luke to the bleachers to keep him and Jeff has proven to be electric to say the least. Ford with his blocking capability should only make a very good run game better.

Thomas would really help at a position of need. Ford is pretty raw and probably a way's away from being a complete player. But regardless, it's just two guys.

Maybe I'm just projecting, but one gets a whiff of "well we didn't get the waivers so it's okay to be 3-9 next year and then wait until 2020 when Ford and Thomas are eligible". Those guys aren't the difference between being terrible again and being good, not by themselves.

The key switch we're flipping next year is not untalented to talented, it's inexperienced to experienced.

If we look like discombobulated hot garbage again next year, the Lovie era is over whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not.

 

[thunderwear]

Thomas would really help at a position of need. Ford is pretty raw and probably a way's away from being a complete player. But regardless, it's just two guys.

Maybe I'm just projecting, but one gets a whiff of "well we didn't get the waivers so it's okay to be 3-9 next year and then wait until 2020 when Ford and Thomas are eligible". Those guys aren't the difference between being terrible again and being good, not by themselves.

The key switch we're flipping next year is not untalented to talented, it's inexperienced to experienced.

If we look like discombobulated hot garbage again next year, the Lovie era is over whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not.

I get it. You are making the case that an awful season marks the end of the lovie era. I agree. There is no reason to be worse next year. Most agree a bowl qualifies as improvement. 4 wins is most likely no improvement. I think, more likely, we are a five win team and the question is whether another year is warranted. And I think I depends. I could see 5 wins being not enough and I could see 5 wins being enough

 

[mattcoldagelli]

The key switch we're flipping next year is not untalented to talented, it's inexperienced to experienced.

If we look like discombobulated hot garbage again next year, the Lovie era is over whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not.

It's pretty tough to draw where the "talent" line is. If both of those guys are able to play, those are substantial talent boosts at two pretty important offensive positions, and in the case of Thomas, increases talent at the rest of the WR depth chart because the former #1 becomes the #2, and so on. This isn't even taking into account the positive impact a bump in the WR corps can have on a lightly experienced/young QB, which is not nothing. I'm not sure it's fair to knock Ford as "raw" just because he couldn't crack the rotation of a CFP-caliber team as a freshman.

That said, I think reading too much into this. I don't think anyone would argue that if we get a bunch more Iowa-esque games next year, the jig is up.

 

[mhuml32]

Thomas would really help at a position of need. Ford is pretty raw and probably a way's away from being a complete player. But regardless, it's just two guys.

Maybe I'm just projecting, but one gets a whiff of "well we didn't get the waivers so it's okay to be 3-9 next year and then wait until 2020 when Ford and Thomas are eligible". Those guys aren't the difference between being terrible again and being good, not by themselves.

The key switch we're flipping next year is not untalented to talented, it's inexperienced to experienced.

If we look like discombobulated hot garbage again next year, the Lovie era is over whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not.

People's excitement about one player is about the talent upgrade. I think we all (most of us?) understand that adding a great player in football is no where near as impactful as adding a greater player in basketball. My questions about Ford are not about his readiness but more of his fit in the offense. Can Illinois get the TE involved? Remains to be seen. Now, Thomas is as big of an upgrade you can make at one position (besides QB). Likely would have been preseason first-team All-ACC WR (maybe votes for All-American?) at the biggest position of need? Now, are there concerns on whether Illinois can get him the ball, especially downfield? Sure. But that's a macro-issue which will likely define the team's success.

 

[ChiefGritty]

I'm not sure it's fair to knock Ford as "raw" just because he couldn't crack the rotation of a CFP-caliber team as a freshman.

Certainly not. It's more that that was the book on him in high school, and he hasn't really played any football since.

It's still exciting to get a mountain of athleticism at that position whenever we get it. Jeff Cumberland springs to mind.

 

[NBB1979]

Thomas would really help at a position of need. Ford is pretty raw and probably a way's away from being a complete player. But regardless, it's just two guys.

Maybe I'm just projecting, but one gets a whiff of "well we didn't get the waivers so it's okay to be 3-9 next year and then wait until 2020 when Ford and Thomas are eligible". Those guys aren't the difference between being terrible again and being good, not by themselves.

The key switch we're flipping next year is not untalented to talented, it's inexperienced to experienced.

If we look like discombobulated hot garbage again next year, the Lovie era is over whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not.

Whoa! Jump off the ledge - I’m not used to optimism relating to Illinois Football - but ALAS here we are. You should read Shammond Coopers LLOUI on Illiniboard. According to recruiting rankings - 10 of our most talented 15 players next year haven’t played a down in an Illini uniform ... assuming 6 start (Thomas, Beason, Williams, Eifler, Ford, Brown?, Boyd?) that’s 27% of your talent level upgraded at your starting spots (which helps your depth as well)

This years team will me MUCH better than last years, imo. We still may not stop the best teams from scoring ... but other teams will have to stop us as well - and this offense will score a lot of points, especially if Thomas and Ford get waivers.