Signing Day 2016

#101      

GameOfThrows

G
GameOfThrows
CUWPC said:
Overall I would say that I'm pleased with this class. They've added some speed, size and depth to positions of need. Still a bit thin at the DL, but adding four quality OL gives some flexibility (ie Bain). Another thing that jumps out is a lot of these kids came from winning programs. Not only winning programs, perennial winning programs. To take it a step further programs that win in football states. The kids from Texas, Alabama, Florida and Maryland.
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Great point. I really like the potential of this class and the importance for the Illini program moving forward.

IF, key word, "if", if these players succeed at Illinois and we have some success on the field, student-athletes from these high school programs may come here in the future

This class also contains 3 TE, 2 ILB, 2 OLB, K, and a power RB which this roster desperately needs. Looks like we have 8 total linemen which is a minimum that each class should have for us to have success in the BIG so that is a positive.

While this class isn't highly ranked, it is balanced and not much worse than our competitors in the BIG West. Nebraska has the most elite players, but after that there isn't much difference. All in all I am impressed with this coaching staff thus far.

Looks like we might be playing Merrick Jackson in the future. ESPN has him going to Minnesota (not sure how credible ESPN is) Would have been nice to have him on our D Line.
 
#104      

unimaroon

U
Baja Ontario
unimaroon
HDawgg2005 said:
I agree we should try to emulate this little know Alabama program. There must be a few simply changes that we can make to copy their success
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Perhaps the coaching staff isn't aware of the correlation between highly rated high schoolers and successful college players. maybe someone should send him a note.
 
#105      

CUWPC

C
Geneva, IL
CUWPC
Second and Chalmers said:
Alabama signed five 5-star recruits today: OL, OL, LB, LB, DE

That's how it's done, folks.
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Just to start there's a huge discrepancy in state talent.

State of Alabama-Three 5 star and eight 4 star
State of Illinois- 0 5 Star and eight 4 star
 
#111      

HDawgg2005

H
HDawgg2005
Second and Chalmers said:
I wasn't making any reference to Illinois, I was just making a general signing day point about building the strength of your program in the trenches. Carry on.
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I got ya. Just giving you a hard time.

That is a good point, while not flashy, the lineman and linebackers are the backbone of any quality program. While we didn't get any 5 Stars I think we did our best of addressing that today.
 
#112      

BigStan97

B
Cincinnati OH
BigStan97
Thinking hypothetically. If I was a HC in the BigTen. What I would do to get 1 ***** OL and 1 ***** DL per class. Hahaha
 
#113      

FT35

FT35
Naperville
FT35
Any guesses on how many of these commits can crack the two-deep this year? I'm guessing all of the OL will be redshirted.
 
#115      

Jacob

J
Jacob
My guess is McGriff will be our return man for the next 4 years, one of Holcombe and Trainor plays and the other redshirts. I like Holcombe more long term but I think Trainor is more physically ready and will play alot early. With some of the defections from the receiving Corp Theiman could play as well. I think Kenyon Jackson plays as well. I think they turn Pulley and Oliver into DT and redshirt them with Jones. Dele Harding may be starting by the UNC game. I think Abercrombie may play depending on health and whether they move Crawford to Safety. Hopefully the secondary can be redshirted but Trenard Davis will play as a corner
 
#116      

Jacob

J
Jacob
Btw all guesses. I don't know what I am talking about most of the time
 
#119      

HDawgg2005

H
HDawgg2005
Bomb Squad 217 said:
Im likely in the minority but I like Cubit and I am rooting for him to succeed and hopefully bring success back to our program.
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I am for Illinois being successful as soon as possible. And right now that makes me root for Bill Cubit.

I will say this, he has done well in spite of everything. Not great, but given the situation he we thrust into, it is easy to imagine things being a lot worse.

Hey, at least we aren't Purdue

:shield:
 
#120      

IlliniHimey

I
IlliniHimey
Not that signing day is over, would love for Cubit to talk about his handling of Loves Park Harlem's Josh Brown. What a royal cluster EFF. Whatever his plan was certainly backfired, as he ended up settling for DE/DT talent much further down the food chain from Brown.
 
#121      

molinefan

molinefan
molinefan
Does anyone here know why Doug Kramer is not listed as having signed with Illinois today with the list of 22. According to the scout site he did sign with Illinois today.
 
#122      

Jacob

J
Jacob
molinefan said:
Does anyone here know why Doug Kramer is not listed as having signed with Illinois today with the list of 22. According to the scout site he did sign with Illinois today.
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Scout is wrong. He is a greyshirt and will take classes part-time this semester, then register for the spring as a full time student and join the program on a football scholarship
 
#123      

PaytonHighstep

PaytonHighstep
Downers Grove, IL
PaytonHighstep
Bomb Squad 217 said:
Im likely in the minority but I like Cubit and I am rooting for him to succeed and hopefully bring success back to our program.
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I like him and his message. I'm not a fan of how he has called a game as OC the last 2 years. I think he has done a fine job in the situation he's in, but I fail to see him as the long term HC solution at Illinois.
 
#124      

BZuppke

BZuppke
Plainfield
BZuppke
HDawgg2005 said:
I am for Illinois being successful as soon as possible. And right now that makes me root for Bill Cubit.

I will say this, he has done well in spite of everything. Not great, but given the situation he we thrust into, it is easy to imagine things being a lot worse.

Hey, at least we aren't Purdue

:shield:
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Yeah, wow - Purdue. They pretty much say they're only keeping Hazell because of the expensive buyout, recruiting tanks and he'll likely be fired at the end of this year. Doesn't make me feel much better about our situation but it could be worse.
 
#125      

Jacob

J
Jacob
BZuppke said:
Yeah, wow - Purdue. They pretty much say they're only keeping Hazell because of the expensive buyout, recruiting tanks and he'll likely be fired at the end of this year. Doesn't make me feel much better about our situation but it could be worse.
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Brock Spack most likely will be Purdue's coach in 2017 after his kid graduates ISU. Just another Big Ten coach with Illinois roots