Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[FT35]

Kendrick Green has jumped to #8 in the state in 247's composite rankings of the top recruits in Illinois, probably because of the bump he got from Scout.com. What a recruiting miss he'd be.

http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Fo...Rankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=IL

 

[StateFarmCenter]

I doubt it. Knight might commit as we are clearly his best offer. Thomas has said he will probably wait until closer to signing day before announcing his decision. This isn't even an official visit for any of the East St. Louis kids from what I understand.

Twitter says Thomas is deciding soon. Don't think he's waiting that long

 

[Illinimedic]

Yea I believe J. Thomas is wanting to decide very soon. Huge, huge weekend for the program.

 

[Illinijose]

Just looking at 247Sports, it seems like Iowa is taking a lot of top Illinois talent this year. Hoping for some flips to the Illini of players verbal elsewhere (unlikely), but next year we need to be a clear leader in the Illinois top 20. Getting Thomas and K Green would be great and much improved from years past.

 

[EJ33]

Just looking at 247Sports, it seems like Iowa is taking a lot of top Illinois talent this year. Hoping for some flips to the Illini of players verbal elsewhere (unlikely), but next year we need to be a clear leader in the Illinois top 20. Getting Thomas and K Green would be great and much improved from years past.

They've recruited well in Illinois at least since the Hayden Fry days. The big difference this year is that the #1 player in Illinois is the son of a former Iowa player and they got him.

 

[mhuml32]

An absolute monstrous recruiting weekend for Illinois

Visitors:
QB Reyondous Estes, East St. Louis, IL
WR Jeff Thomas, East St. Louis, IL
WR Carmoni Green, Miami, FL
OG Joshua Fedd-Jackson, Hammonton, NJ
OG Kendrick Green, Peoria, IL
DE Daniel Callender, Yuma, AZ
DE Owen Carney, Miami, FL
LB Delshawn Phillips, Detroit, MI (via Garden City (KS) CC
LB/S James Knight, East St. Louis, IL


...anyone that I missed?

I'm fairly certain Green is being recruited as a defensive tackle.

 

[Joel Goodson]

I'm fairly certain Green is being recruited as a defensive tackle.

For sure.

 

[blmillini]

Just looking at 247Sports, it seems like Iowa is taking a lot of top Illinois talent this year. Hoping for some flips to the Illini of players verbal elsewhere (unlikely), but next year we need to be a clear leader in the Illinois top 20. Getting Thomas and K Green would be great and much improved from years past.

When was the last time we were the clear leader in the state of Illinois? I really don't know but I wouldn't be surprised if it had been decades.

 

[EJ33]

When was the last time we were the clear leader in the state of Illinois? I really don't know but I wouldn't be surprised if it had been decades.

Maybe when that guy Zuppke was coach?

 

[SescIllini]

When was the last time we were the clear leader in the state of Illinois? I really don't know but I wouldn't be surprised if it had been decades.

That really needs to change. I understand Notre Dame is close and historically a great program. But we need to beat them for recruits and also keep many of the other programs (MSU, Wisconsin, Iowa) from eating our lunch.

Right now we are competitive with the lower Big Ten teams (Rutgers, Purdue, Indiana), need to get to the next level (Iowa, NU, Minny). Goal needs to get to where Wisconsin and MSU have been for the last decade. So we need to be at the recruiting level soon of those programs very soon.

 

[mhuml32]

Ricky Smalling upgraded to 4-star on Rivals.

 

[TownieMatt]

That really needs to change. I understand Notre Dame is close and historically a great program. But we need to beat them for recruits and also keep many of the other programs (MSU, Wisconsin, Iowa) from eating our lunch.

Right now we are competitive with the lower Big Ten teams (Rutgers, Purdue, Indiana), need to get to the next level (Iowa, NU, Minny). Goal needs to get to where Wisconsin and MSU have been for the last decade. So we need to be at the recruiting level soon of those programs very soon.

The key with this rebuild will be to start recruiting at a middle-of-the-pack B1G level and then overachieve with those players. We can't realistically expect to start reeling in all the top players in the state without winning first. Luckily, our position in the B1G West means we should be able to compete for the division with middle-of-the-pack B1G talent (e.g. Iowa).

 

[CUWPC]

Does it? I'm not sure locking down Illinois is what changes the program. In the states touching Illinois there are 11 (5 IL, 2 MO, 2 IN, 1 WI, 1 KY) recruits in the top 250 Rivals list. There are 115 (40 FL, 33 TX, 32 CA, and 10 OH) recruits on the top 250 in four states that I think make more of an impact to a program like Illinois. Yes, you need to get Illinois kids to round out the roster, but pulling kids from TX, FL, and CA build a stronger program.

 

[mhuml32]

Does it? I'm not sure locking down Illinois is what changes the program. In the states touching Illinois there are 11 (5 IL, 2 MO, 2 IN, 1 WI, 1 KY) recruits in the top 250 Rivals list. There are 115 (40 FL, 33 TX, 32 CA, and 10 OH) recruits on the top 250 in four states that I think make more of an impact to a program like Illinois. Yes, you need to get Illinois kids to round out the roster, but pulling kids from TX, FL, and CA build a stronger program.

I don't think they should be looked at as mutually exclusive entities. It's tough to think of a program that is able to "lock down their state" but also struggle to pull talent out of other states. It all goes back to being successful on the playing field. If you have a winning record, you will pull better talent regardless to their location. That said, I believe a random 4 or 5 star from Illinois is likely going to have more interest in University of Illinois than the random 4/5 star from another state.

 

[Title]

Does it? I'm not sure locking down Illinois is what changes the program. In the states touching Illinois there are 11 (5 IL, 2 MO, 2 IN, 1 WI, 1 KY) recruits in the top 250 Rivals list. There are 115 (40 FL, 33 TX, 32 CA, and 10 OH) recruits on the top 250 in four states that I think make more of an impact to a program like Illinois. Yes, you need to get Illinois kids to round out the roster, but pulling kids from TX, FL, and CA build a stronger program.

Illinois need to recruit football players. Stars are based more on size and not skill. Top programs build their teams on solid 3 stars to match with a couple of 4 and 5 star kids. Right now the ideal size is not what go for (Dana Howard, your Butkus winner) as much as hard nosed talented football player. Just like Illinois should have been the first to offer the QB from Prairie Ridge.

 

[MadSeason]

The key with this rebuild will be to start recruiting at a middle-of-the-pack B1G level and then overachieve with those players. We can't realistically expect to start reeling in all the top players in the state without winning first. Luckily, our position in the B1G West means we should be able to compete for the division with middle-of-the-pack B1G talent (e.g. Iowa).

That's the model when you brig in your run of the mill mid- major coach without much name recogmition nationally. I believe Lovie will be able to step over that process with more talented athletes ala Zook but with hopefully better results.

 

[FT35]

Illinois need to recruit football players. Stars are based more on size and not skill. Top programs build their teams on solid 3 stars to match with a couple of 4 and 5 star kids. Right now the ideal size is not what go for (Dana Howard, your Butkus winner) as much as hard nosed talented football player. Just like Illinois should have been the first to offer the QB from Prairie Ridge.

What this staff has done in state so far is rather disappointing. They should have offered a guy like Kendrick Green during the Summer yet waited until November. The old staff would have offered a guy like that back in the spring. I really hope they can do better with the Class of 2018.

I know you are close to the East Saint Louis program and it would be great if the pipeline to that program could be reopened. They always have talent and players who know how to play defense.

 

[TownieMatt]

That's the model when you brig in your run of the mill mid- major coach without much name recogmition nationally. I believe Lovie will be able to step over that process with more talented athletes ala Zook but with hopefully better results.

That sounds nice, but as well-known as Lovie is, I have a hard time believing we're going to leapfrog that top group of Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan St, Penn St, Nebraska. Maybe we can get closer (i.e. ahead of Iowa, Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin), but more than that without winning first? I don't see it.

 

[FiveStar]

Illinois need to recruit football players. Stars are based more on size and not skill. Top programs build their teams on solid 3 stars to match with a couple of 4 and 5 star kids. Right now the ideal size is not what go for (Dana Howard, your Butkus winner) as much as hard nosed talented football player. Just like Illinois should have been the first to offer the QB from Prairie Ridge.

Top programs build their teams with top talent. 3 stars don't match that. A lot easier to turn an athlete into a player than a player into an athlete. True for most sports

 

[Firet92]

What this staff has done in state so far is rather disappointing. They should have offered a guy like Kendrick Green during the Summer yet waited until November. The old staff would have offered a guy like that back in the spring. I really hope they can do better with the Class of 2018.

I know you are close to the East Saint Louis program and it would be great if the pipeline to that program could be reopened. They always have talent and players who know how to play defense.

I would Kendrick is the only disappointment by the staff in state. I think they've done well given their timeline. Specifically looking at quality and quantity of the in state commits

 

[FiveStar]

What this staff has done in state so far is rather disappointing. They should have offered a guy like Kendrick Green during the Summer yet waited until November. The old staff would have offered a guy like that back in the spring. I really hope they can do better with the Class of 2018.

We should really go back to doing things the way the old staff did.

 

[MadSeason]

That sounds nice, but as well-known as Lovie is, I have a hard time believing we're going to leapfrog that top group of Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan St, Penn St, Nebraska. Maybe we can get closer (i.e. ahead of Iowa, Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin), but more than that without winning first? I don't see it.

We aren't going to leapfrog OSU, Michigan or Penn St. Michigan St. Nebraska on down I certainly think we can.

The biggest thing is we wont be getting laughed out of living rooms anymore. There is a credibility to Lovie that hiring a Beckman, Babers, Fleck, etc just cant bring. Those guys have to win before people will listen. I dont think thats the case with Lovie

 

[GameOfThrows]

Coaching trumps recruiting. Please read this and repeat to yourself. Coaching trumps recruiting.

Patterson built TCU on 3 stars. Alvarez built Wisconsin on 3 stars. Dantonio built MSU on 3 stars. Peterson built Boise St. on 3 stars

Great coaching can take a 3 star roster and turn it into a winner and THEN the coach and program can recruit 4 star players more consistently.

We have the coaching that will get us to where we want to be. As fans our only duty is to remain patient and supportive.

 

[ChiefIllini]

Coaching trumps recruiting. Please read this and repeat to yourself. Coaching trumps recruiting.

Patterson built TCU on 3 stars. Alvarez built Wisconsin on 3 stars. Dantonio built MSU on 3 stars. Peterson built Boise St. on 3 stars

Great coaching can take a 3 star roster and turn it into a winner and THEN the coach and program can recruit 4 star players more consistently.

We have the coaching that will get us to where we want to be. As fans our only duty is to remain patient and supportive.

This is exactly why we hired Lovie. Of course he isn't a known commodity when it comes to being a good recruiter. He definitely doesn't have that rah rah spirit I associate with a good recruiting coach. I'd rather build a Wisconsin style 3 star team thats coached well than try to land 5 star kids that get busted every other week for some random charge.

If Lovie can teach these kids football (and if he can't I dont know many others who would come to Illinois that could), then we will have a top B1G team with a roster full of 3 star guys.

Tangent Time:
I personally would give Lovie 4 years to get to a bowl game. I think year 3 is when we make a splash. lots of younger guys on the roster now with potential. next year might be as brutal as this one, but unlike basketball, football needs to be cultivated. Its gonna be frustrating but given the fact that we've had 3 different coachs in the past 5 years we need time to at least settle down. I would rather see us not win more than 5 games a year Lovie's first 5 years than to fire him after three because we've done nothing. At this point, tradition does us nothing. We have to build something. Lovie will do that. Will it be 10 win seasons? Sadly I dont think so, though the University could certainly support that. I do think, if we keep Lovie for 6+ years, theres gonna be a year we are at least a win away from playing for the B1G ship. I think after year 4 you'll have to take a look at our team offensively and defensively. If our offense is performing well, McGee keeps his job, if not, its time to move on. If defense is an issue... then we have a problem. Again, optimistically we are winning bowl games in year 3 onward. Realistically, we're a team that will have 8 wins seasons followed by 5 or 6 win season. Pessimistically, we remain a doormat. Only place from here is up.

 

[FT35]

We should really go back to doing things the way the old staff did.

Creating and establishing relationships with the instate programs is one thing this staff should do. I guess you disagree.