Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#278      
Agree. Football is king in the South. There are far more competing sports that are big in the North .
With all due respect. Sports that I enjoy or care about are the big 3. For us to be competitive we need to recruit outside just our state. Basketball if we owned our state we would be ok.
But this is football and for Illinois to be good at football we need to recruit the south and our state. Unfortunately the best football players usually are from the south not our state. Who is the best player from the state in the last 50 years from Illinois? McNabb? I love illinois football and I want it to be great again. Mike White did it with juco guys from California. When little states like Mississippi and Louisiana produce the all time greats they have had and still have that says a lot. IThere is so much more talent there it's not even close. Im fine with lovie doing all he can here in our state and excited about St Louis big time but he needs to recruit anywhere he can and for now the best majority is south of I 74 if he can only get em here.
 
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#279      
It's amazing how fast the staff turned the biggest weakness into a strength in under a year. After RB on OL, WR has to be the strongest position of talent and depth. It's impressive. AND there is still potential to add more! I think it says more about Rod Smith than anything else. Players want to play for him and believe in him despite not hitting the preverbial mark of a bowl game.
 
#280      
It's amazing how fast the staff turned the biggest weakness into a strength in under a year. After RB on OL, WR has to be the strongest position of talent and depth. It's impressive. AND there is still potential to add more! I think it says more about Rod Smith than anything else. Players want to play for him and believe in him despite not hitting the preverbial mark of a bowl game.


I like Rod Smith, but I promise you that people take our calls because of Lovie. Most of the players had no idea who Rod Smith was before the recruiting process and in the St. Louis area, most are picking up the phone for CP and gush at the opportunity for playing for Lovie. Bellamy has said numerous times that because Lovie is our coach, some HS coaches are interested. Before that, they wouldn't give him the time of day.
 
#281      
You need to re-read my post. I was disagreeing with Twangers post and agreeing with RockfordIllini. Florida and Texas (South) are particularly fertile football recruiting grounds and it makes sense for us to spend quite a bit of our effort recruiting there. Many high schools in Texas have football stadiums that would make colleges blush. I offer as the reason for this the fact that football dominates fan interest compared with the North where sports teams compete for athletes in many different sports - the sports climate is NOT dominated by football alone. I agree that we should find talent wherever we can find it including Illinois. Our best players are likely to come from elsewhere. I'm not sure where you are disagreeing with me?
 
#282      

Deleted member 649710

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It's amazing how fast the staff turned the biggest weakness into a strength in under a year. After RB on OL, WR has to be the strongest position of talent and depth. It's impressive.
I’m going to reserve judgment until I see whether these guys can get consistent separation and hold onto the ball in a few actual games.
 
#283      
You need to re-read my post. I was disagreeing with Twangers post and agreeing with RockfordIllini. Florida and Texas (South) are particularly fertile football recruiting grounds and it makes sense for us to spend quite a bit of our effort recruiting there. Many high schools in Texas have football stadiums that would make colleges blush. I offer as the reason for this the fact that football dominates fan interest compared with the North where sports teams compete for athletes in many different sports - the sports climate is NOT dominated by football alone. I agree that we should find talent wherever we can find it including Illinois. Our best players are likely to come from elsewhere. I'm not sure where you are disagreeing with me?
My little brother teaches in Brandon Mississippi. His daughter played high school and now collegiate tennis. They have all the sports that Urbana High has. More kids may play soccer now but I think less play tennis or other sports I dont feel that is a regional thing. I wish we recruited those states too. I mean little Louisana came up here with players the SEC didnt want and clobbered us. I was there. That's frustrating to me.. Could have got some of those guys? That RB is in the NFL now. What did Miss St just have drafted 3 guys from Mississippi In the first round? I think we could compete recruiting there with Lovie . We must recruit the south. I know you agree. The main reason the southern teams have won 12 out of the last 13 titles is due to talent. I dont feel it's because its spread around up north more than down south. It may be economic. Basketball and football are cheaper to play as young boys growing up but te high schools offer the same sports there as here and I dont recall any stud football player going out for another fall sport. Maybe very few choose hockey up here . I just dont buy that happening often.. let's go get them regardless n Go Illini!
 
#284      
My little brother teaches in Brandon Mississippi. His daughter played high school and now collegiate tennis. They have all the sports that Urbana High has. More kids may play soccer now but I think less play tennis or other sports I dont feel that is a regional thing. I wish we recruited those states too. I mean little Louisana came up here with players the SEC didnt want and clobbered us. I was there. That's frustrating to me.. Could have got some of those guys? That RB is in the NFL now. What did Miss St just have drafted 3 guys from Mississippi In the first round? I think we could compete recruiting there with Lovie . We must recruit the south. I know you agree. The main reason the southern teams have won 12 out of the last 13 titles is due to talent. I dont feel it's because its spread around up north more than down south. It may be economic. Basketball and football are cheaper to play as young boys growing up but te high schools offer the same sports there as here and I dont recall any stud football player going out for another fall sport. Maybe very few choose hockey up here . I just dont buy that happening often.. let's go get them regardless n Go Illini!

Lots of southern states also offer athletic periods. Instead of PE you go to practice all school year long. Weights, skills, agility, plyo, technique. Full on development, year long. In Texas they also give us 8 hours of strength and conditioning and 2 hours of actual practice per week (so 10 hours total development) for 10 weeks. We basically work our kids out 48-50 weeks per year. This doesn’t include spring leagues, fall leagues, summer leagues, 7 on 7s for football, camps, etc. Athletics are prioritized, athletes are developed, and opportunities are created.

Even basketball recruiting is picking up in the south because kids who specialize in basketball reap the same benefits of time+development.
 
#286      

BananaShampoo

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Phoenix, AZ
Lots of southern states also offer athletic periods. Instead of PE you go to practice all school year long. Weights, skills, agility, plyo, technique. Full on development, year long. In Texas they also give us 8 hours of strength and conditioning and 2 hours of actual practice per week (so 10 hours total development) for 10 weeks. We basically work our kids out 48-50 weeks per year. This doesn’t include spring leagues, fall leagues, summer leagues, 7 on 7s for football, camps, etc. Athletics are prioritized, athletes are developed, and opportunities are created.

Even basketball recruiting is picking up in the south because kids who specialize in basketball reap the same benefits of time+development.
I see why you teach down in Texas.
 
#287      
Lots of southern states also offer athletic periods. Instead of PE you go to practice all school year long. Weights, skills, agility, plyo, technique. Full on development, year long. In Texas they also give us 8 hours of strength and conditioning and 2 hours of actual practice per week (so 10 hours total development) for 10 weeks. We basically work our kids out 48-50 weeks per year. This doesn’t include spring leagues, fall leagues, summer leagues, 7 on 7s for football, camps, etc. Athletics are prioritized, athletes are developed, and opportunities are created.

Even basketball recruiting is picking up in the south because kids who specialize in basketball reap the same benefits of time+development.
There are kids consumed by sports all over this country. They do the same everywhere. My cousins kids dont do anything different than mine did. Your right about the fact that what kids want to invest time in they will be good at. Thats not a regional concept. here are the same numbenot aminutes in the day for them all. The kids I coached when I lived in the south just spent much more time playing than the ones I coached in illinois and they were better because of it as young kids and growing up.
 
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#288      

Deleted member 656517

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With football being the clear #1 sport down south kids parents are way more willing to sign their kids up for pee we football. As a whole the south develops better players at younger ages.
 
#289      
With football being the clear #1 sport down south kids parents are way more willing to sign their kids up for pee we football. As a whole the south develops better players at younger ages.
That and its warmer outside and they play more. Many dont have a PS4. Those same things were true back in the day with Rice, Walter Payton, Farve, McNair, and many many others or in Louisiana too. Its just if not more true today. When a states like Mississippi of 2.8 million has more great and good players than more than one 4x that size thats gotta be something to look at into and we should certainly be recruiting there. Who's our states best player in the last 50 years? We need to recruit here for sure but we need to elsewhere to compete with the top programs. Regardless of why I dont think that's really debatable when it comes to the facts regarding football today. Go Illini. I love that Lovie us doing just that in texas and Florida. I hope he continues to expand that search
 
#290      
High school classmate of mine was a HS counselor in Texas for decades and she said it is like day and night compared to the rest of the country. Athletic periods, 7 on 7 statewide tournaments, spring ball, high school stadiums with luxury suites, (Katy Texas spent 60-70 million on their HS stadium, serves I believe 4 HS) and if you are really good in football and wasting part of your year on other sports, you will be told to "stop wasting your time".
 
#291      
That and its warmer outside and they play more. Many dont have a PS4. Those same things were true back in the day with Rice, Walter Payton, Farve, McNair, and many many others or in Louisiana too. Its just if not more true today. When a states like Mississippi of 2.8 million has more great and good players than more than one 4x that size thats gotta be something to look at into and we should certainly be recruiting there. Who's our states best player in the last 50 years? We need to recruit here for sure but we need to elsewhere to compete with the top programs. Regardless of why I dont think that's really debatable when it comes to the facts regarding football today. Go Illini. I love that Lovie us doing just that in texas and Florida. I hope he continues to expand that search

Bingo. The weather plays a huge factor in football development. The state championship in Texas is played the Saturday before Christmas. Imagine doing that in Illinois. Tough for us in basketball if we share important guys, but football is king.

Also, most schools use track as a speed/athleticism development tool for football (as in, you better run track if you wanna keep playing football). I don’t start my track appointment until after basketball in early March, but for kids who don’t play a winter sport, practice starts in mid JANUARY, meets start mid February and the season rolls until mid May. 4 months of speed work if you’re a football/track guy.

Schools also get 15 (I believe) spring football practices that often end in a spring game (like college). Like @RIVERCITYCHIEF said, the difference isn’t that the kids love sports any different, it’s the amount of time they’re given to work.
 
#292      
Bingo. The weather plays a huge factor in football development. The state championship in Texas is played the Saturday before Christmas. Imagine doing that in Illinois. Tough for us in basketball if we share important guys, but football is king.

Also, most schools use track as a speed/athleticism development tool for football (as in, you better run track if you wanna keep playing football). I don’t start my track appointment until after basketball in early March, but for kids who don’t play a winter sport, practice starts in mid JANUARY, meets start mid February and the season rolls until mid May. 4 months of speed work if you’re a football/track guy.

Schools also get 15 (I believe) spring football practices that often end in a spring game (like college). Like @RIVERCITYCHIEF said, the difference isn’t that the kids love sports any different, it’s the amount of time they’re given to work.
From one perspective this sounds brilliant. But for kids without...athletic dispositions, let's say...this sounds like hell on earth. Can those kids seek their opportunities equally in music or arts programs? Because the right-brain people might actually provide more entertainment than sports do, (i.e. think of how many hours of music that young people listen to everyday vs. time watching ADS and a game), and helping them develop those skills can reap tremendous rewards for communities.
 
#293      

Deleted member 16340

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I can't help but wonder if the transfer windfall is in part due to players realizing that the glitz that attracts them as high schoolers doesn't mean that they get the training that improves their chances at the next level. High schoolers as a lot may be more prone to that glitz due to their inexperience.
 
#296      
Alright, alright.....who do we think is next? Happy to hear from one and all but kinda looking your way Illini0440
 
#300      
Probably Donovan McNabb, right? Simeon Rice is not far off.

If we’re talking college impact Randle El was pretty good. Responsible for about 11500 combined yards, 86 touchdowns.

Also returned 16 punts his senior year.
 
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