the OL is for sure being recruited over, and it should be. Guy like Lowe could RS this year if we land the right guys, and it would really help out down the road. Once we see who all we end up with and who all are here for spring ball I think we will have a better idea of what this team can be
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
- Status
the OL is for sure being recruited over, and it should be. Guy like Lowe could RS this year if we land the right guys, and it would really help out down the road. Once we see who all we end up with and who all are here for spring ball I think we will have a better idea of what this team can be
by this do you mean a juco or grad transfer? I am struggling to think another true freshman would take his spot, allowing for a redshirt.
FT35
- Naperville
I don't want to speak for him but he's probably referring to Reuben Unije who is visiting this weekend:
https://247sports.com/Player/Reuben-Unije-84039
He would be an early enrollee so there would be time for him to learn the offense and challenge for the starting spot at LT. This is not at all unreasonable since they started Lowe in spite of the fact that he missed all of training camp and most of September due to an injury. This is a selling point to Unije over other schools where he would almost certainly be red shirted.
I would like to see Lowe red shirted, as he should have been this year, but the lack of Tackles on the roster is alarming. Even if we were to land someone like Unije, Lowe would probably still be the primary back up.
I would hope we can red shirt Slaughter and Pearl obviously isn't an option for next year.
A graduate transfer would be nice if we can't land Unije.
Yeah he is who I meant, I also wouldnt mind seeing a Grad or JC guy for the OL. Slaughter I believe is a better pass blocker then anyone we have right now at OT, but the fact he will still be 17 when he gets here, a year just getting old could do him a world of good. Pearl I would not at all be shocked to see start off as a Blocking TE,but rs would be great for him as well
If we land V Brown it will be interesting to see if he plays DT or C I would think what ever he plays Green would play the other side. As things sit right now I will not at all be shocked to see a FR on the OL again next year, then in 19 we will have JR/Soph/RSFR all fighting for playing time
https://twitter.com/antwainwalker2/status/938163551520395264
Antwain Walker decommits
Antwain Walker decommits
Illini_1979
- Oregon
Wish him all the best.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Was this his decision or ours?
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Neither made the decision.
I have the same question...
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
So, now there are 11 spots to fill? This is going the wrong direction. Hopefully, we find an additional 11 quality players for the O&B.
Sorry f I am being obtuse, but are you implying grades?
That would be very strange. He was planning to enroll early
FT35
- Naperville
Yikes.
Trelin Adams becomes even more important now. We're really thin at CB and probably need to target someone else unless someone like Hardge moves over to CB.
Unije is very raw & still new to the game. His rankings are mostly based on his HUGE potential. I'd be shocked if he's starting in '18. But I do hope the staff can sell him on
FT35
- Naperville
He explains it (sort of) in this podcast:
https://247sports.com/college/illin...-recruiting-and-Illini-running-backs-74913045
Explanations starts at around 1:30.
FT35
- Naperville
Unije is very raw & still new to the game. His rankings are mostly based on his HUGE potential. I'd be shocked if he's starting in '18. But I do hope the staff can sell him on
How raw is he? From what I've read, he started playing organized football when he entered high school, which isn't all that unusual. Plus, he's been at the IMG Academy for a couple of years where they have top notch S+C and conditioning.
If he's an early enrollee then I was hoping we'd see him get a chance to start at LT next year. That's time extra time that three of our OL who got significant playing time this year did not have. Playing time is about all we have to offer him over a school like Oklahoma.
It's never an ideal situation when you have to start a True Freshman on the OL, but this staff obviously had no issues doing it this year. Lowe clearly was not ready and should have been red shirted and I'm not all that excited about seeing him out there in 10 months.
I'd rather see a graduate transfer but we're really at the mercy of the transfer market there. We'd have to identify guys who are transferring AND want to come here. Unless someone on the staff has established connections to that player then it's hard to imagine them convincing someone to come here.
Some recruits who have serious interest: as mentioned Unije, Craddieth, Branch
S - Coleman, Davis, Cisco
DE - Petersen, Bell, Mercier
WR - Jackson, Gaskin
CB - Adams(Juco), Ware
More names will surface
Refer to FT 35’s post.
However, the cliff notes version is this: “Lit” is a term used to describe something exciting, cool, and really hopping. Therefore, the term is being used to describe the football program as “Littyville” or a place that is really exciting.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
From my understanding "Lit" turned into "Litty" which Ward turned into "Littyville".
I'm not that old, and I still think it's dumb. But as long as recruits like it... :thumb:
Cool beans, thanks.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
I knew this. I must hip and with it.
FT35
- Naperville
Some recruits who have serious interest: as mentioned Unije, Craddieth, Branch
S - Coleman, Davis, Cisco
DE - Petersen, Bell, Mercier
WR - Jackson, Gaskin
CB - Adams(Juco), Ware
More names will surface
Thanks for the list! I didn't realize that they were still going after Ware.
Are we not going after Calvin Lockett anymore? I see he's visiting Iowa this weekend.
It will be interesting to see what other names surface. I believe Adams and Unije are visiting this weekend while Coleman, Bell and Craddieth are visiting the following weekend.
Petersen already visited, but it will be interesting to see when/if some of the other players on the above list will visit (Mercier, Gaskin, Coleman, Branch, Jackson etc.)? I believe Cisco visited back in October?
They are really swinging for the fences closing out this class.
Also, not that it matters that much, but I noticed that Slaughter and Coran Taylor got nice bumps in the most recent 247 Composite ratings:
https://247sports.com/Season/2018-F...Rankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=IL
Taylor moved up 16 spots in the state rankings while Slaughter moved up 13 spots.
FT35
- Naperville
I certainly didn't! I wasn't even sure I understood it even after I listened to Ward explain it on that podcast. I'm glad they asked follow up questions.
Cahall15's explanation helped as well.
- Status