Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[illiniwil]

There's a lot of recruits, HS coaches and fans waiting and wondering if this team can turn it around this year.
My gut tells me its do or die for 5 or 6 wins at the bare minimum. I'm not sure 5 wins will be good enough
unless 2 or 3 of those losses are nail biters with good big ten competition. I.E. Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan
or Northwestern. Top recruits want to see some results.

 

[thunderwear]

There's a lot of recruits, HS coaches and fans waiting and wondering if this team can turn it around this year.
My gut tells me its do or die for 5 or 6 wins at the bare minimum. I'm not sure 5 wins will be good enough
unless 2 or 3 of those losses are nail biters with good big ten competition. I.E. Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan
or Northwestern. Top recruits want to see some results.

I think that what the recruit sees is different than record. I think they are hearing narratives and deciding which narrative they want to believe. Shammond is a prime example. You can't tell me that he was looking at the record or on field product when he committed. Because neither were impressive. There were narratives that he bought into. Most recruits will still believe that Lovie is turning the program around in 2021, especially with a contract extension. Some people are watching the record, but I wouldn't count on record being the indicator that most recruits look for.

 

[pvaughn8]

Sort by average and you get a different order. Minny is #5 on the list because they took a butt load of 3 stars. Quantity vs quality. Yes, our numbers are low, so you need both, but its a flawed ranking model.

And if you take their top 3, Minny average beats Illinois. There are a lot of ways to spin the rankings, but you don't need advanced metrics to tell you 3 guys is not ideal.

 

[KnoxIllini2]

3 guys is not ideal.

Certainly not a dagger to the heart. There's time, but the bottom of the hour glass is filling up.

 

[thunderwear]

Certainly not a dagger to the heart. There's time, but the bottom of the hour glass is filling up.

And it is pretty consistent with the way Lovie has recruited to this point.

 

[pvaughn8]

And it is pretty consistent with the way Lovie has recruited to this point.

You're right. I'm confident the class will be filled. I just feel that the longer this draws out, the lower the class ceiling becomes. It also makes me wonder what will happen the next time we need a large class

 

[Deleted member 29907]

And if you take their top 3, Minny average beats Illinois. There are a lot of ways to spin the rankings, but you don't need advanced metrics to tell you 3 guys is not ideal.

A difference in .0064 in a subjective high school athlete scoring system is not significant - and so, by your comparison - we should be closer to #5 than number #14.

Clearly its a point in time and I'd suggest we'll end up with more than 3 recruits while I am not certain Minny has much room for moving up given they have a pretty large number. And of course my original post mentioned that 3 of course is not good - so not trying to "spin" anything - rather point out that its early and the end scoring points total can be misleading

 

[pvaughn8]

A difference in .0064 in a subjective high school athlete scoring system is not significant - and so, by your comparison - we should be closer to #5 than number #14.

Clearly its a point in time and I'd suggest we'll end up with more than 3 recruits while I am not certain Minny has much room for moving up given they have a pretty large number. And of course my original post mentioned that 3 of course is not good - so not trying to "spin" anything - rather point out that its early and the end scoring points total can be misleading

I would agree with you that the rankings is pointless at this moment and I don't think you are trying to spin anything right now. It just feels a lot like last year's recruiting cycle which resulted in #13 class in B10 (which I agree with).

 

[LHIllinis]

I would agree with you that the rankings is pointless at this moment and I don't think you are trying to spin anything right now. It just feels a lot like last year's recruiting cycle which resulted in #13 class in B10 (which I agree with).

And how many recruits were in that class?

 

[KnoxIllini2]

You're right. I'm confident the class will be filled. I just feel that the longer this draws out, the lower the class ceiling becomes. It also makes me wonder what will happen the next time we need a large class

We started this class with a very loud and clear bang and then it has very much fizzled, and almost immediately with Harper decommitting within a week of his commitment. I couldn't agree with you more about the ceiling becoming lower and lower.
Even with our small class last year we still had 7 commits at this stage a year ago. We closed strong-ish, but results are lacking, especially with Lovie being extended through 2023. Sure, there might be some "wait and see" approaches happening, but we need to close on those middle tier guys because that's how a program builds depth.

 

[pvaughn8]

And how many recruits were in that class?

In case you haven't already, look at this post.
Good comparison of classes and I agree with his conclusion that the 247 rankings pretty much align with how the data looks.

 

[ivwilsoniv]

The Henning news kind of sucks, but if we can get Mookie in this class to pair with Thompson and maybe a couple other 3 star type guys, that should be fine. Are the USC guys around for more than just 1 year?

 

[KnoxIllini2]

Are the USC guys around for more than just 1 year?

They're here for 2, so a major plus.

 

[FiveStar]

Sort by average and you get a different order. Minny is #5 on the list because they took a butt load of 3 stars. Quantity vs quality. Yes, our numbers are low, so you need both, but its a flawed ranking model.

How would one do this? Nothing I’m pressing is organizing in a different way.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

Sort by average and you get a different order. Minny is #5 on the list because they took a butt load of 3 stars. Quantity vs quality. Yes, our numbers are low, so you need both, but its a flawed ranking model.

I agree. But I don't look at that list and see where we add up with others. I looked at that list and see the fact that a large number of our targets are not comfortable enough to commit to IL at this point. Even Minn top two guys are in line with our top two, Jayden and Reggie.
I am not altering my course on my feelings about the direction of the program. But that list indicates to me at least, a lot of doubt still lingers with recruits at this point.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

I think that what the recruit sees is different than record. I think they are hearing narratives and deciding which narrative they want to believe. Shammond is a prime example. You can't tell me that he was looking at the record or on field product when he committed. Because neither were impressive. There were narratives that he bought into. Most recruits will still believe that Lovie is turning the program around in 2021, especially with a contract extension. Some people are watching the record, but I wouldn't count on record being the indicator that most recruits look for.

I think its all about the "relationship" right? You know every single recruit is hearing negative news about Lovie's tenure and how he will be fired next year. Those that have a strong relationship with the coaching staff (mostly trinity kids), trust in our coaches and are willing to make the leap with Corey and crew. Anyone else is going to have to end up looking at the record at least a little after hearing it over and over again.

There's a lot of recruits, HS coaches and fans waiting and wondering if this team can turn it around this year.
My gut tells me its do or die for 5 or 6 wins at the bare minimum. I'm not sure 5 wins will be good enough
unless 2 or 3 of those losses are nail biters with good big ten competition. I.E. Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan
or Northwestern. Top recruits want to see some results.

If we don't hit at least 5 wins with competitive loses, I am afraid we will lose all hope in selling hope...

 

[illini0440]

Btw I forget who always posts it but the U is not in Mookies top 2.

 

[Takeittothehoop]

If the Illini can make a bowl game this year, which I believe they can. This class could really pick-up by the first signing day. With that said we do need a a couple more 4 stars and a few 3 star lineman soon. I would feel a lot better with 8 to 10 commits prior to the season.

 

[Deleted member 29907]

How would one do this? Nothing I’m pressing is organizing in a different way.

I didn't re: website - just mentally looking at the average ratings...

 

[illiniwil]

If we can say healthy, our QB position can stabilize and if our O an D
lines stay competitive we have a shot at 6 wins, but that is a lot of if's.
There's another 3 or 4 more if's I'm too lazy to type.....

 

[illiniwil]

AS far as narratives go, you can only spin a narrative if here are results that point to some sort of progress.
another 4-8 doesn't do that.

 

[Deleted member 656517]

We should hold off freaking out until we know what’s going on with Mookie, Moore, and Arinze(need to land 2/3). However it’s a little concerning we’re not making much surface progress with our OL recruits

 

[ktal]

I would agree with you that the rankings is pointless at this moment and I don't think you are trying to spin anything right now. It just feels a lot like last year's recruiting cycle which resulted in #13 class in B10 (which I agree with).

I'm guessing Lovie has learned he can continue to recruit his own way, and fill the gaps with transfers. The world's a changin'. Having a bust H.S. recruiting class no longer means that year's haul of talent will be a bust.

 

[ILL_INI]

I'm guessing Lovie has learned he can continue to recruit his own way, and fill the gaps with transfers. The world's a changin'. Having a bust H.S. recruiting class no longer means that year's haul of talent will be a bust.

You might need to give Lovie some instruction because the OL needs a lot more filling. And with only one year of eligibility, Petitbon's more of a stopgap anyway.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

You might need to give Lovie some instruction because the OL needs a lot more filling. And with only one year of eligibility, Petitbon's more of a stopgap anyway.

Doesn't sound like Lovie gets much involved in the O recruiting.
And with an unproven Power 5 O-line coach, the boys are going to need to see results.