Illini Football 2019

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#577      
QB Matt Fink transferring to Illinois Football

Wait, this guy?

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#581      

ivwilsoniv

Aurora, IL
Here's the only sure thing about this transfer - it's good for depth. Anything other than that is TBD, since there's little information on Fink as a D1 starter. Illinois has the roster space for him, so why not bring him on board? Maybe it would've been better to add Stevens, but as many said, there's more of a connection for him at Mississippi State. And as a few others said, Illinois was going to take whoever committed first. Obviously would be ideal to somehow snag Khalil Tate this summer, but the staff can't know whether that's going to happen.

With Robinson, Williams, and now Fink, there are options. Fink got downgraded in the rankings as a high school senior and was never going to start at USC simply due to the talent they bring in on a yearly basis, but I would assume that he's improved over the last 2-3 years by being in the USC program. Give him a chance to win the job and see how it all shakes out. That's about all to gather from this Fink thing.
 
#586      
Not really. Here's a write up about him from a Rivals article:

https://n.rivals.com/news/transfer-portal-five-high-profile-qbs-make-the-move

Stevens is obviously better. You can see how much attention and interest Stevens is getting as opposed to Fink. However, this is better than nothing. There's a good chance that Fink will be the starter against Akron if he's healthy and then we'll see what happens after that.

I hope this is a package deal with Josh Imatorbhebhe. We're still only projected to have 81 scholarship players this Fall even if Fink shows up so hopefully we can add a couple more transfers.
He has three years in a strength and conditioning program, and has live action in seven games...at USC. We have three guys whose combined resume doesn't match those totals.

Fink doesn't have to light the world on fire, he just needs to run plays without hurting us. I don't care if 75% of passes are dump offs to Ford, Crumby and Epstein three yards over the LOS, those athletes can make things happen. I just don't want to see him tuck and run unless that's the play called.

Btw, those are things I expect Williams will be able to do reliably by about game four. But I think he needs more weight to take the hits and remain healthy. That's where Fink really comes in. I worry that Williams will struggle to stay healthy until his body matures a bit more. That's why I highlighted it up above...its a difference maker for this kind of offense.
 
#587      

Deleted member 590820

D
Guest
Can we just go with a guy that’s been here since he was a Freshman? Even if he’s currently a true Freshman? Or will be in the fall? I’m tired of these hack grad transfers that aren’t even stop gaps. If it was Tate it’d be different. But it’s not. If we’re gonna be 5-7, 6-6, let’s go with a guy who may be here for a few years and watch him grow. Rather than watch him transfer.
 
#588      
Can we just go with a guy that’s been here since he was a Freshman? Even if he’s currently a true Freshman? Or will be in the fall? I’m tired of these hack grad transfers that aren’t even stop gaps. If it was Tate it’d be different. But it’s not. If we’re gonna be 5-7, 6-6, let’s go with a guy who may be here for a few years and watch him grow. Rather than watch him transfer.

If you watched the Spring Game I'm not sure you would have this take. Before Fink, we did not have a BIG Ten ready qb on the roster. Robinson and Taylor simply are not there yet. If you want to give IW the best chance to succeed you cannot just give him 3 weeks to learn a complex play book and throw him to the wolves. At worst, absolute worst, Fink is a stopgap for half the season until IW is ready to go, and then provides solid depth as IW is really slight and will be carrying the ball a lot. At medium, he provides a year of solid play and gives IW some real competition next year for the job. At best, he really plays well, solidifies Lovie's status by getting us to 6 wins and we have 2 solid qbs on the roster to compliment a pretty loaded roster in 2020. Honestly don't see the downside here.
 
#589      
Can we just go with a guy that’s been here since he was a Freshman? Even if he’s currently a true Freshman? Or will be in the fall? I’m tired of these hack grad transfers that aren’t even stop gaps. If it was Tate it’d be different. But it’s not. If we’re gonna be 5-7, 6-6, let’s go with a guy who may be here for a few years and watch him grow. Rather than watch him transfer.

The key to this season is winning the first 3 games. We need a qb that has the ability and that can execute. If fink can’t beat Nebraska and Minnesota, the coaches will make changes.

The coaches have seen Fink. They have practice tape on him. The usc coaches that came to Illinois have been watching him in practice. Plus he has experience in a great system with great coaches.

This idea that fink is not capable is a bit overblown. When a scout watches for usc players the bar is much higher than when they watch Illinois players.

And, the coaches are going to let the process play out. He will compete with Robinson. And both will have a shot. The best player will start.
 
#591      
Farrell’s take: Fink is an interesting one. Out of high school, his film was solid but after seeing him in person all week at the Under Armour All-America Game, it was clear that USC reached and he didn’t have the talent to compete there. We dropped him to our lowest three-star ranking after that week and it’s hard to explain how bad and out of place he was. He’ll end up at a smaller program and have success, maybe on the FCS level.

This guy doesn't know what he is talking about. Yes, he likely isn't the caliber starter that USC had but he was first off the bench which is significant as we now know with our own competition at QB. He is also older, experienced, and has three additional years of football at the highest level than any of our guys do. Think about that. He has learned from some of the best, played with talent, and he also battled to win second on a depth chart that I think we all would've pined for their number 3 or 4 coming out of high school not too long ago.

Suffice to say that he is a welcome addition in my book and so what if Stevens is more talented. He is looking for a guarantee to start...what coach should ever make that promise? That would be a culture crusher as .sure they have been harping on the fact that you earn playing time...not given it.
 
#592      
He has three years in a strength and conditioning program, and has live action in seven games...at USC. We have three guys whose combined resume doesn't match those totals.

Fink doesn't have to light the world on fire, he just needs to run plays without hurting us. I don't care if 75% of passes are dump offs to Ford, Crumby and Epstein three yards over the LOS, those athletes can make things happen. I just don't want to see him tuck and run unless that's the play called.

Btw, those are things I expect Williams will be able to do reliably by about game four. But I think he needs more weight to take the hits and remain healthy. That's where Fink really comes in. I worry that Williams will struggle to stay healthy until his body matures a bit more. That's why I highlighted it up above...its a difference maker for this kind of offense.
Definitely agree with this. Redshirt IW, play in part if 4 games, specific play calls, work on the body. Also work on the transition to college, instead of having to transfer after 1 year
 
#594      

ivwilsoniv

Aurora, IL
If you watched the Spring Game I'm not sure you would have this take. Before Fink, we did not have a BIG Ten ready qb on the roster. Robinson and Taylor simply are not there yet. If you want to give IW the best chance to succeed you cannot just give him 3 weeks to learn a complex play book and throw him to the wolves. At worst, absolute worst, Fink is a stopgap for half the season until IW is ready to go, and then provides solid depth as IW is really slight and will be carrying the ball a lot. At medium, he provides a year of solid play and gives IW some real competition next year for the job. At best, he really plays well, solidifies Lovie's status by getting us to 6 wins and we have 2 solid qbs on the roster to compliment a pretty loaded roster in 2020. Honestly don't see the downside here.
Do you think IW doesn't have the playbook already? I can almost guarantee you that he already has the playbook (or at least some version of it) and that Rod will have a good number of plays designed for him right away. Rod and Lovie are excited about getting IW as much play time as possible and making it easy to get IW on the field and succeed behind center from Day 1. He's a difference maker.
 
#597      
Tell me what your thinking about the USC PIPELINE... AND ADDITION OF FINK AT Q.B.
WILL HE START? WILL pr will I. W. Take the helm.... give me your thoughts..
 
#600      

FT35

Naperville
Is that potentially who this tweet was referring to after Fink chose Illinois? Speaking of which, was he looking at other schools as transfer destinations at all?


It probably is. He is the one who makes the most sense as far as a transfer target. I don't know if he's been linked to other schools but the connections here are rather obvious. He also has a brother who is listed as a TE but could be used as a Caleb Reams type of WR but he has not announced that he is transferring.

We are only projected to have 81 scholarship players at the moment so there is no reason why we should not be going after guys like this.

There's plenty of other WRs who would be immediately eligible who are out there. They all have issues but there is almost no downside to going after them at this point.

https://247sports.com/Season/2019-Football/TransferPortal/?eligibility=Immediate
 
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