Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[Joel Goodson]

I'm curious as to why none of the scouting services have anything on this kid...

GW is almost always a heavily run-oriented team. Don't know how many camps he attended. Really emerged this season. The services aren't going to ignore him any longer.

As to 40 speed, guessing 4.5. at the worst. Hope to get the number soon.

 

[OldGreg]

If we're going to get Pierce, I want him as a TE not WR. He would be a phenomenal prospect at TE. Absolute matchup nightmare for opponents. As a WR, I think he's too slow out of his breaks and his technique at the line is awful. Obviously, that could be coached but I still think he would be best served going into college at TE

 

[qcillini13]

If we're going to get Pierce, I want him as a TE not WR. He would be a phenomenal prospect at TE. Absolute matchup nightmare for opponents. As a WR, I think he's too slow out of his breaks and his technique at the line is awful. Obviously, that could be coached but I still think he would be best served going into college at TE

I think I agree after watching the few individual highlights he had on his Hudl account. I don't think he gets in or out of his breaks fast enough to be a WR in the B1G. However, I thought he release when he was lined up as a true TE was very good and he can run straight ahead very well. His routes just remind me of a TE that can find a hole and will make every catch. He would really need to beef up to play TE and who knows what that would do to his straight ahead speed. Interesting guy to keep an eye on. Would need a ton of work to be a good TE in the B1G.

 

[robertgoulet]

I think I agree after watching the few individual highlights he had on his Hudl account. I don't think he gets in or out of his breaks fast enough to be a WR in the B1G. However, I thought he release when he was lined up as a true TE was very good and he can run straight ahead very well. His routes just remind me of a TE that can find a hole and will make every catch. He would really need to beef up to play TE and who knows what that would do to his straight ahead speed. Interesting guy to keep an eye on. Would need a ton of work to be a good TE in the B1G.

He'd have to be more of an H-Back than a prototypical TE due to his size, but physical attributes definitely warrant keeping an eye on him.

 

[ILL_INI]

For those of you viewing just on Tapatalk, there are a number of tweets from weekend visitors which Dan posted on the IL home page that, for some reason, aren't posted in this thread.

 

[calibear]

Apologies to all those waiting with bated breath for news about this past weekend's visits.

More insight on 2018 WR Alec Pierce (Glenbard West). 37" vertical. Working on getting his 40 time. Very smart kid (brother is Ivy Leaguer and had a 31 ACT). The real kicker is he plans on being an engineer (not the choo choo variety). old info: 6' 4" 205 lbs., great hands. Yeah, he's the punt returner. Jump reach is 11' 6".

This kid is not your garden variety HS athlete. Quite the opposite, actually. In middle school, he made an international (North American and Caribbean, including Jamaica) track and field meet in the 100 yard dash. Finished 4th.

Lovie needs to get after this kid.

Hudl page: http://www.hudl.com/profile/4304099/alec-pierce

Trying to figure out how to put a jpeg on here. Argh!

Joel made think of the things said about Zarrian Holcombe . He fits those description much better. Would be dangerous as a wide :thumbut but could be very special as a tight end. That clip of that block burying the told me all I needed to know about has a te.

 

[Joel Goodson]

If we're going to get Pierce, I want him as a TE not WR. He would be a phenomenal prospect at TE. Absolute matchup nightmare for opponents. As a WR, I think he's too slow out of his breaks and his technique at the line is awful. Obviously, that could be coached but I still think he would be best served going into college at TE

Respectfully, disagree. You don't turn a WR w/sub 4.5 speed into a TE. No way, no how. Sure, a ton of lanky kids (QBs and WRs) are turned into TEs in D1. Not sub 4.5 guys w/great hands. How many HS kids run D1 routes while in HS? Pretty much everyone needs polishing. Also, those ciips are of his junior year. Anyway, what you or I think is moot. We'll know soon enough. Don't think Pierce is going anywhere that plans to convert him to TE.

Side note: Pierce's dad played for Northwestern. They definitely have an in, but Pierce wants to study engineering.

Help, please: need to know how to post a JPEG (on my computer). Probably ridiculously obvious.

 

[mhuml32]

Respectfully, disagree. You don't turn a WR w/sub 4.5 speed into a TE. No way, no how. Sure, a ton of lanky kids (QBs and WRs) are turned into TEs in D1. Not sub 4.5 guys w/great hands. How many HS kids run D1 routes while in HS? Pretty much everyone needs polishing. Also, those ciips are of his junior year. Anyway, what you or I think is moot. We'll know soon enough. Don't think Pierce is going anywhere that plans to convert him to TE.

Side note: Pierce's dad played for Northwestern. They definitely have an in, but Pierce wants to study engineering.

Help, please: need to know how to post a JPEG (on my computer). Probably ridiculously obvious.

From watching his Hudl videos, I don't see sub-4.5 speed. His straight-away speed is okay, but I don't watch that video and think this kid is a burner.

 

[illini6212]

From watching his Hudl videos, I don't see sub-4.5 speed. His straight-away speed is okay, but I don't watch that video and think this kid is a burner.

If he was 6-6/230...I'd be impressed. He looks like a tweener with decent athleticism but not fast/quick enough to play WR or big enough to be a TE in Big 10. I'm sorry.

 

[OldGreg]

From watching his Hudl videos, I don't see sub-4.5 speed. His straight-away speed is okay, but I don't watch that video and think this kid is a burner.

Exactly. Thank you.

 

[illinoisfan11]

I haven't closely followed football recruiting in the past. Is it normal to have this many visitors in a weekend and this little news after?

 

[ILL_INI]

Help, please: need to know how to post a JPEG (on my computer). Probably ridiculously obvious.

If it is 4.88 MB or less, you should be able to upload it by clicking on the paper clip icon, then click the Choose File button and browse for the file on your computer and then click the Upload button. That said, I've never done it that way until now.

What I usually do is post it to a third party website that allows public viewing of the image. Those sites will give you a link which you can copy. Click the Insert Image icon on your reply and paste the link.

There are a lot of sites which will host your image for free. I like Imgur because I don't even need to create an account, but then I won't be able to delete it, if for some reason I would feel the need to do so.

 

[qcillini13]

From watching his Hudl videos, I don't see sub-4.5 speed. His straight-away speed is okay, but I don't watch that video and think this kid is a burner.

There are a couple clips where is just flat out running away from people. His major issue would be his 20 speed, not his 40 speed in my opinion.

 

[RHITIllini]

There are a couple clips where is just flat out running away from people. His major issue would be his 20 speed, not his 40 speed in my opinion.

Straight-line speed is good.

Footwork.. not so much. Change of direction is lacking and it affects his route running.

 

[qcillini13]

Respectfully, disagree. You don't turn a WR w/sub 4.5 speed into a TE. No way, no how. Sure, a ton of lanky kids (QBs and WRs) are turned into TEs in D1. Not sub 4.5 guys w/great hands. How many HS kids run D1 routes while in HS? Pretty much everyone needs polishing. Also, those ciips are of his junior year. Anyway, what you or I think is moot. We'll know soon enough. Don't think Pierce is going anywhere that plans to convert him to TE.

Side note: Pierce's dad played for Northwestern. They definitely have an in, but Pierce wants to study engineering.

Help, please: need to know how to post a JPEG (on my computer). Probably ridiculously obvious.

There have TE running sub 4.5 40s or that is what they clocked at in high school. His 10 and 20 Yard numbers would be more interesting to me. He is a strider and strikers tend to struggle to run good crisp clean routes. Just what I've seen in the past from numerous kids. The only thing this kid should be working on in the off-season, if he wants to be a WR, is foot quickness drills and route running. Some of the catches I saw, there were two out routes where I swear he took 4 steps to get out of his break, would not have been catches against a good high school DB who would play the route instead of just bailing because they are terrified to get beat deep. That could be a product of his straight line speed but his quickness does not impress at all.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Pierce getting up: http://imgur.com/a/hluoq

As to the doubters, we shall see, soon enough.

 

[BlueGuy27]

Pierce getting up: http://imgur.com/a/hluoq

As to the doubters, we shall see, soon enough.

He is the kind of player you would offer to fill a class. Not a priority target.

 

[CUWPC]

He is the kind of player you would offer to fill a class. Not a priority target.

Have to agree at this point. 2018 is the class they need to swing for the fences and land high profile athletes. They seem to be loading up on WR's this year so next year I see other positions being igher priority.

 

[LurkLongandProsper]

Pierce getting up: http://imgur.com/a/hluoq

As to the doubters, we shall see, soon enough.

Do you have a personal connection to this prospect, by chance?

 

[Joel Goodson]

Do you have a personal connection to this prospect, by chance?

Kind of. Just like Johnny Caspers.

Anywho, am done tooting Pierce's horn (for awhile, anyway). Will see how he fares in camp evals over the summer.

 

[jonnymo]

I can't believe no one on here has brought up the scholarship offer we made yesterday afternoon to Edgy Tim's Illinois high school player of the year Samson Evans!!

 

[Paignt It Orange]

I can't believe no one on here has brought up the scholarship offer we made yesterday afternoon to Edgy Tim's Illinois high school player of the year Samson Evans!!

I can't believe we're talking about next year's class after our biggest recruiting weekend of the year.

 

[IlliniFan85]

I can't believe no one on here has brought up the scholarship offer we made yesterday afternoon to Edgy Tim's Illinois high school player of the year Samson Evans!!

I can't believe we're talking about next year's class after our biggest recruiting weekend of the year.

I can't believe it's not butter. Oh, recruiting, right. My bad. When do we think someone from last weekend will announce? Doesn't Carney need to announce soon since he wants to early enroll?

 

[FT35]

I can't believe it's not butter. Oh, recruiting, right. My bad. When do we think someone from last weekend will announce? Doesn't Carney need to announce soon since he wants to early enroll?

Maybe, since he would have to go through admissions if he wants to enroll in January. He would not sign an NLI, however.

Hafiz will announce on the 19th.

I like the offer to Evans. I'm guessing we're recruiting him to play on the Defensive side of the ball.

 

[calibear]

If the given info on Pierce is correct 6'4 205 and he runs a 4.5 then as he look on tape he has very good speed. Not elite however slap 30 pounds on him and you should have a te with elite speed somewhere in the very low 4.6's . He did not show me a lot of refinement in route running, but at 6'4 he is a Alshon Jeffery type receiver. With a nasty attitude at near 240 lbs he becomes more elite as a receiver and able to throw some wicked nice blocks although he might be split out more than inline. Either way nice looking player, very nice.