Signing Day 2017

[SixthandWhite]

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forums/picture.php?albumid=156&pictureid=1210

Figured I'd get in on the action.
Don't have Photoshop on my work computer, so I had to use Paint and Powerpoint, haha.

Hahaha this is great

 

[Jacob]

Linemen with multiple P5 offers. Those are the guys you want. We have several in this class.

Lowe, C Thomas, Hobbs, Knight, B Williams, and Mondesir are the only players without other P5 offers and they signed without P5 offers. But Lowe, Thomas, and Mondesir were early evaluations so they thought very highly of them

 

[Double Down]

More of a casual illini football fan here (a diehard basketball fan, which is disappointing these days).

From a product on the field standpoint, if we were to get 4-5 classes in a row like this one (and probably above average coaching from Lovie, but not at a Bo Ryan Wisky Bball level), what kind of record/ranking/bowl would we start to expect out of the group as the classes build?

A consistently competitive football team. Which is all I can ask for...

 

[aluma]

I'm excited about this class because this is how our coaches are recruiting without showing any major results on the field and with a generally horrible program perception around the country. Imagine what they will pull in if/when we start to show progress on the field and when we begin to get gain a presence in major recruiting circles.

 

[IlliniWood]

So this is class is done, Right?
with the exception of Lawson
and
If Robbins want to come here

Is there a list of high school preferred walk ons?

Don't know about high school, but I just started back to school after a 13 year hiatus, and I received an invitation to attend an informational meeting for students interested in walking on. I'm assuming an out-of-shape 35-year-old would be "preferred."

 

[ilphotog]

Is Mike Epstein a tailback or fullback ?

 

[mhuml32]

Is Mike Epstein a tailback or fullback ?

Definitely a tailback.

 

[CAIllini]

So who didn't we get that we were hoping for in this recruiting class for those who haven't followed as closely day to day. I saw that the JC QB didn't sign, and weren't we looking at a punter?

Who were the other big fish that got away?

 

[illinistar]

Epstein-McCaffrey Comparison

How does Mike Epstein compare in terms of style to Stanford star running back Christian McCaffrey?

 

[StateFarmCenter]

How does Mike Epstein compare in terms of style to Stanford star running back Christian McCaffrey?

They're white

 

[bigruss22]

They're white

Perfect response.

 

[LurkLongandProsper]

So who didn't we get that we were hoping for in this recruiting class for those who haven't followed as closely day to day. I saw that the JC QB didn't sign, and weren't we looking at a punter?

Who were the other big fish that got away?

Both punters (Tucker Day, Brad Robbins) went elsewhere - Miss St and Mich respectively.

Fedd Jackson (OG) went to NCSt

Antwan Collier (CB) went to UCF

Jeff Thomas (WR) went to Miami

Micah Awodiran (LB) went to Yale

Reggie Roberson (WR) went to WVU

Those are the big ones I recall, quite a few guys committed in the month or two after the staff settled in, but I don't count those, not really a fair field for staff to jump in that late

 

[StateFarmCenter]

Both punters (Tucker Day, Brad Robbins) went elsewhere - Miss St and Mich respectively.

Fedd Jackson (OG) went to NCSt

Antwan Collier (CB) went to UCF

Jeff Thomas (WR) went to Miami

Micah Awodiran (LB) went to Yale

Reggie Roberson (WR) went to WVU

Those are the big ones I recall, quite a few guys committed in the month or two after the staff settled in, but I don't count those, not really a fair field for staff to jump in that late

The closing rate of the staff was pretty insane for this class.

 

[OrangeAndBlues]

So who didn't we get that we were hoping for in this recruiting class for those who haven't followed as closely day to day. I saw that the JC QB didn't sign, and weren't we looking at a punter?

Who were the other big fish that got away?

He's coming, I believe he's getting his grades up over the summer? Is that right?

 

[StateFarmCenter]

He's coming, I believe he's getting his grades up over the summer? Is that right?

Some seem to have more faith then others that will happen. Let's hope. The QB position is definitely our biggest glaring need coming out of signing day.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

Is Mike Epstein a tailback or fullback ?

How does Mike Epstein compare in terms of style to Stanford star running back Christian McCaffrey?

Lol

 

[mhuml32]

So who didn't we get that we were hoping for in this recruiting class for those who haven't followed as closely day to day. I saw that the JC QB didn't sign, and weren't we looking at a punter?

Who were the other big fish that got away?

This situation was out of Lovie's control, as each of them committed before he got to Champaign or quickly after, but there were three really good TE prospects in Illinois this year and it was a big need that was only partially filled (Dorsey).

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Both punters (Tucker Day, Brad Robbins) went elsewhere - Miss St and Mich respectively.

Fedd Jackson (OG) went to NCSt

Antwan Collier (CB) went to UCF

Jeff Thomas (WR) went to Miami

Micah Awodiran (LB) went to Yale

Reggie Roberson (WR) went to WVU

Those are the big ones I recall, quite a few guys committed in the month or two after the staff settled in, but I don't count those, not really a fair field for staff to jump in that late

Debose likely to VT but that's not a huge miss since we got in on him late.

 

[blmillini]

More of a casual illini football fan here (a diehard basketball fan, which is disappointing these days).

From a product on the field standpoint, if we were to get 4-5 classes in a row like this one (and probably above average coaching from Lovie, but not at a Bo Ryan Wisky Bball level), what kind of record/ranking/bowl would we start to expect out of the group as the classes build?

I expect our classes to get better as we go. This class was a good start for the staff and continues to provide depth.

 

[MadSeason]

7 Florida commits, including the #42, 51 and 92nd best players in that State according to Rivals.

Very impressive debut from Lovie and company

 

[Lake Camelot]

Both punters (Tucker Day, Brad Robbins) went elsewhere - Miss St and Mich respectively.

Fedd Jackson (OG) went to NCSt

Antwan Collier (CB) went to UCF

Jeff Thomas (WR) went to Miami

Micah Awodiran (LB) went to Yale

Reggie Roberson (WR) went to WVU

Those are the big ones I recall, quite a few guys committed in the month or two after the staff settled in, but I don't count those, not really a fair field for staff to jump in that late

I don't even remember Awodiran. Was he an early miss?

I think Collier was our choice.

 

[LurkLongandProsper]

Debose likely to VT but that's not a huge miss since we got in on him late.

I don't really consider it a miss because we filled that spot with Roundtree. I would've considered it a miss had we not, though.

I don't even remember Awodiran. Was he an early miss?

I think Collier was our choice.

Awodiran was in August

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

I don't really consider it a miss because we filled that spot with Roundtree. I would've considered it a miss had we not, though.

The question was about those that "got away", not misses. And we'd still take him.

 

[CAHALL15]

Question for whomever, do 5th year guys/guys not signing until the summer (Lawson) count towards this spring recruiting class or are those separate? I'm just trying to figure out how many actual rides are potentially left.

 

[LurkLongandProsper]

The question was about those that "got away", not misses. And we'd still take him.

On the former, I interpreted "one getting away" and "missing out on" as the same thing, thus "miss". I don't feel my list is really off-base there. By that measure though, you can add Jalen Harris. There's also an argument for CJ Cotman, although we didn't recruit him for that long.

And the latter is true.