Gee, I'd be pretty happy with two BCS bowls in the next 20 years, let alone two BCS bowls in one decade like we did between 2000 and 2009.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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Gee, I'd be pretty happy with two BCS bowls in the next 20 years, let alone two BCS bowls in one decade like we did between 2000 and 2009.
DrewD007
- Woodridge, IL
The Class of 2020 would've been born in 2001-2002. None of them would remember the Sugar Bowl. Even counting the 2001 season we're 86-144 in that time frame. The only Big Ten team with fewer wins in that time period is Indiana with 85. Everyone else has at least 100. The fact that we're second to last in wins despite playing in 2 BCS bowl games shows how bad we were in the 17 other years.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
If you want to run with that analysis then have at it. That would take a lot of work. That said, there's obviously more that goes into it than that, such as player development, coaching, meaningful playing experience, strength coach, etc. Aside from recruiting, all of that obviously helps separate the better programs from the rest. If we can be better than our B1G West peers in those other aspects then we can still compete even if we are a little bit at the lower end on recruiting. It seems like we are on the right track, though in upgrading average talent level so hopefully we are even a little better than "the lower end".
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I never understood how the program was never able to leverage the Sugar and Rose Bowl appearances into better recruiting and results on the field. If memory serves me correctly the record was remarkably worse the year following both bowl trips which led to several-year declines leading to the demise of both Turner and Zook.
I firmly believe that this 2021 class will be the scale we can judge true momentum on. Illinois football has momentum with the two huge wins and some National attention. We also have a good amount of instate kids this year. We have a lot of players this year who I would consider “attainable”. If we snatch 6-8 instate top 1000 kids then that is huge. If we get 2 then we know that we don’t have traction still in the state.
DrewD007
- Woodridge, IL
Both went 5-7 the following year and Turner then went 1-11 and Zook 3-9.
Zook actually did leverage it into better recruiting. He had the 22nd ranked class in 2008 and 28th in 2009. However, for a variety of reasons it didn't translate to sustained success on the field.
Zook was not the greatest of in game coaches but, IMO he should not have been fired until a replacement was in our pocket. Abysmal AD hire = an abysmal HC hire.
you say that, but that’s what we had and you don’t like it. That has been the history of Illinois football in the modern era. We Have been inconsistent, but mostly bad.. There aren’t other ways to Slice it. Right now, I want to trend up and be better. I want to qualify for bowl games consistently. After 3, I want to set my sights higher.
I think you mean Scheelhaase. Pretty sure he was from KC. Not sure why we should not have taken him. He was a well thought of QB and Missouri State Champion.
Krombopulos_Michael
- Aurora, Illinois (that’s a suburb of Chicago)
Referring to Jon Beutjer (transfer from Iowa)
He was RZ.
He's talking about Jon Beutjer, the QB transfer from Iowa.
The one area of the state that we need to hit better is central Illinois. Look at the central state 8 conference. In the last 10 years that middle sized conference has pumped out tons of players and Illinois only has gotten like 3. And those schools are only about 2 hours from Champaign.
Daniel Helm- Tennessee (in the NFL)
Wes Lunt- obviously
Albert O- mizzou TE going to the NFL
Malik Turner- obviously
Jacardia Wright- S at Kansas State
Blake Hance- starting northwestern LT
Garrett Dooley- Wisconsin sacks leader
Nick Broeker- freshman all American this season at Ole Miss
Zach Grant- obviously
Sean Robinson- Purdue starting OLB
Gabe Megginson- obviously
Quinn Oseland- Minnesota OT
Riley Mcminn- Iowa starting DE
20+ others who went FCS.
Just saying that’s a middle Sized local conference and there’s no way we should have missed on those guys at the rate we have. But local coaches don’t push us. Rochesters Derek Leonard is one of the only ones who does.
Daniel Helm- Tennessee (in the NFL)
Wes Lunt- obviously
Albert O- mizzou TE going to the NFL
Malik Turner- obviously
Jacardia Wright- S at Kansas State
Blake Hance- starting northwestern LT
Garrett Dooley- Wisconsin sacks leader
Nick Broeker- freshman all American this season at Ole Miss
Zach Grant- obviously
Sean Robinson- Purdue starting OLB
Gabe Megginson- obviously
Quinn Oseland- Minnesota OT
Riley Mcminn- Iowa starting DE
20+ others who went FCS.
Just saying that’s a middle Sized local conference and there’s no way we should have missed on those guys at the rate we have. But local coaches don’t push us. Rochesters Derek Leonard is one of the only ones who does.
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Deleted member 654622
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I just want talent. Don't care where it comes from. Average star rating of .87 min to much to ask? What Nebraska hauled in this year, level of class.
Deleted member 654622
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I am very interested to know how the St. Louis coaches feel about IL now that we have Corey and Lovie. Sunkett posted on twitter a few months back that he was publicly supporting Lovie Smith and the University of Illinois. Which is great and all, but then the tweet about Powell and losing out on AJ. Carl Reed makes post about Corey. I just wonder if they still would rather their players go to programs with bigger names. Probably will not ever know the answer to that, but it is a question in my mind
I am not sure where Central Illinois ends in your opinion, but Southern Illinois especially near St Louis has produced some good to great recruits such as Ezekial Elliot, the Iowa DE who was the number one player in Illinois his year and others. These areas always produce a few gems for Power 5 conferences. Illinois has to own Central and Southern Illinois. Luke Ford is from Southern Illinois, we wiffed on him, but got him back through the portal.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Upgrading our talent is the key. .87 is a great target. Understand what you're saying about not caring where they hail from, but that target is more attainable if we're getting our "fair share" of top in-state talent (theoretically, anyway). Hopefully, we can start making some headway. The idea of locking down our borders is a complete pipe dream, IMO.
Deleted member 654622
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Edwardsville pumps out some pretty good talent. Missed on the QB/RB last year? Epenesa played at Edwardsville but his dad went to Iowa. And they have another talented senior RB this year
That is literally just one conference that I mentioned. All of my contacts are from central Illinois about 1 hour around Springfield.
Would you be happy with 86 and 144? I would not. The flash in the pan years are very nice but I would rather be a consistently competitive team every year...Iowa Level. If we get there, then shoot for higher.
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
I think this is misguided. Beutjer was #3 in the conference in passing (both yardage and efficiency) in 2002, despite missing two games to injury and not starting the opener. The talent level around him fell apart the next two seasons, and more injuries took their toll. That set off the exploits of Dustin Ward/Brad Bower/Chris Pazan/Tim Brasic/et al and Turner's demise.
You need to care.
Deleted member 654622
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eh. We are nowhere near the program for me to be picky about where the talent is coming from. Right now, I just care about talent
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