Illinois Football Recruiting Thread (February-April 2021)

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#301      
I think there's a misunderstanding here. Nobody was complaining about the rating for the nearly completed class of 2021 (or at least not blaming Bielema). The guy was asking about 2022, which has 0 Lovie commits and so far one BB commit.
Exactly. I saw on Twitter that the new signing had moved the Illini’s ranking for 2021 up one spot and out of the cellar. That got me wondering how this class (Lovie’s last) compared to his other classes, which led me to Lovie’s highest average recruit rating for a class. I like most if not all people on here expect recruiting under BB to improve and my question was meant to learn how quickly it would be before we saw that improvement. So what do people think is a reasonable expectation for “BB’s first real class” — fully understanding and I thought clearly indicating that 2021 class was not a class BB should be judged upon. I mentioned the highest average recruit rating that a Lovie class had to get an indication how steep the improvement in recruiting would be under BB, or would it take several years to see that improvement based upon how low recruiting had sunk under Lovie. Believe me I was not holding up Lovie’s “best class” as some beacon of success.

I honestly thought all this was pretty clear from my original post and the follow up, and, indeed, most of the subsequent posts seemed to understand what I was asking. I apologize if some thought I was asking about bank robberies and hotel rooms.
 
#302      
Exactly. I saw on Twitter that the new signing had moved the Illini’s ranking for 2021 up one spot and out of the cellar. That got me wondering how this class (Lovie’s last) compared to his other classes, which led me to Lovie’s highest average recruit rating for a class. I like most if not all people on here expect recruiting under BB to improve and my question was meant to learn how quickly it would be before we saw that improvement. So what do people think is a reasonable expectation for “BB’s first real class” — fully understanding and I thought clearly indicating that 2021 class was not a class BB should be judged upon. I mentioned the highest average recruit rating that a Lovie class had to get an indication how steep the improvement in recruiting would be under BB, or would it take several years to see that improvement based upon how low recruiting had sunk under Lovie. Believe me I was not holding up Lovie’s “best class” as some beacon of success.

I honestly thought all this was pretty clear from my original post and the follow up, and, indeed, most of the subsequent posts seemed to understand what I was asking. I apologize if some thought I was asking about bank robberies and hotel rooms.
To answer your original question, for me I think success would be to move up in relation to other Big 10 teams. If we could bring in a class ranked somewhere towards the middle of the conference, that would be a very successful start.
 
#303      

Deleted member 747671

D
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To answer your original question, for me I think success would be to move up in relation to other Big 10 teams. If we could bring in a class ranked somewhere towards the middle of the conference, that would be a very successful start.
Agree. Average rating is tricky and can be "gamed" by the number of recruits you bring in. Lovie's highest average was also a small class. Overall team rankings are an inexact science but they at least give you an idea of how you stack up against your peers. Jumping into the middle of the conference would actually be a huge improvement but I think it's a good goal. Hell anything higher than 13th is an improvement over the last coaching staff.
 
#304      
Exactly. I saw on Twitter that the new signing had moved the Illini’s ranking for 2021 up one spot and out of the cellar. That got me wondering how this class (Lovie’s last) compared to his other classes, which led me to Lovie’s highest average recruit rating for a class. I like most if not all people on here expect recruiting under BB to improve and my question was meant to learn how quickly it would be before we saw that improvement. So what do people think is a reasonable expectation for “BB’s first real class” — fully understanding and I thought clearly indicating that 2021 class was not a class BB should be judged upon. I mentioned the highest average recruit rating that a Lovie class had to get an indication how steep the improvement in recruiting would be under BB, or would it take several years to see that improvement based upon how low recruiting had sunk under Lovie. Believe me I was not holding up Lovie’s “best class” as some beacon of success.

I honestly thought all this was pretty clear from my original post and the follow up, and, indeed, most of the subsequent posts seemed to understand what I was asking. I apologize if some thought I was asking about bank robberies and hotel rooms.
I think your original post/question was pretty clear, unless one was working really hard to misunderstand it.
 
#305      
Just saw on Twitter that BB’s first 2022 recruit Joey Okla now has a rating from 24/7 — .8588. I believe that would have made him the second highest recruit in the 2021 class. Hard not to like getting an OL from WI, but like it even more now. Nice start for BB and his first class.
 
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#306      
When you look at the first few years of a new hire there seems to be a dip in record about year 3. That’s probably because the recruiting class a coach inherits are juniors.
 
#307      
Just saw on Twitter that BB’s first 2022 recruit Joey Okla now has a rating from 24/7 — .8588. I believe that would have made him the second highest recruit in the 2021 class. Hard not to like getting an OL from WI, but like it even more now. Nice start for BB and his first class.
I'm personally way too hung up on recruiting rankings but I blindly trusted the staff when they reeled him in, despite the N/A ranking. It didn't feel deflating for some odd reason. Now I know why. This staff recruits with intention. It's so refreshing.

He would also be our #4 recruit in 2020. I-L-L.
 
#308      
I'm personally way too hung up on recruiting rankings but I blindly trusted the staff when they reeled him in, despite the N/A ranking. It didn't feel deflating for some odd reason. Now I know why. This staff recruits with intention. It's so refreshing.

He would also be our #4 recruit in 2020. I-L-L.
I think Lovie's staff recruited with intention too, I think maybe too much so, they were always chasing numbers at the end. They had a type and a process and they stuck to it, by and large, but they didn't get enough recruits into their recruiting orbit to have a deep enough class left by the time signing day rolled around, at least that's my read.
 
#309      
Flying Illini I would agree with your assessment on Lovie's recruiting. I would see guys in ILL and with no push on getting them. It seemed he wasn't really focused on the upper-tier guys in ILL. I believe you will see a whole different philosophy of recruiting by BB and staff. His Div 1 experience and his record will help at ILL. I think the best class will be 23. But who knows with this Covid thing how it will all turn out. Let's hope he gets us back into the top 5 in the BT with recruits.
 
#310      
One could argue that COVID should have helped Lovie's recruiting & this was a MASSIVE missed opportunity. Hang with me here.

It is a fact that COVID drastically limited recruits/universities abilities to visit/meet. Because of that, there have been a lot of articles talking about national level recruits opting for local options (i.e. the devil that your know is better than the great unknown). I know this was very common in the Southeast, and I cannot imagine it being any different in the Midwest.

Now, this does elevate the need to have good talent evaluators & this was a glaring issue with Lovie's staff. In theory, with in-state recruits not having a lot of film and not blowing up local combines, the in-state schools would be in a better position to swoop in and land a commitment, due to their pre-existing ties with the high school coaches/evaluators. Clearly this did not happen.

If COVID continues to linger, this could be something that BB uses to his advantage. He has already made it very public that he is attempting to fix the high school connections in state and wants to land as many in-state kids as possible.

All I am saying is that this will be interesting to watch, so grab your popcorn.
 
#312      

MoCoMdIllini

Montgomery County, Maryland
#314      
Side note, but feel this somehow belongs somewhere: Trinity Catholic in St. Louis is closing. That’s the football powerhouse Trinity, right?

It is one of the STL football powers. My wife and her siblings attended Trinity. It's all they have been talking about today. They are sad, but related that the closing has been coming for years.
 
#315      
One could argue that COVID should have helped Lovie's recruiting & this was a MASSIVE missed opportunity. Hang with me here.

It is a fact that COVID drastically limited recruits/universities abilities to visit/meet. Because of that, there have been a lot of articles talking about national level recruits opting for local options (i.e. the devil that your know is better than the great unknown). I know this was very common in the Southeast, and I cannot imagine it being any different in the Midwest.

Now, this does elevate the need to have good talent evaluators & this was a glaring issue with Lovie's staff. In theory, with in-state recruits not having a lot of film and not blowing up local combines, the in-state schools would be in a better position to swoop in and land a commitment, due to their pre-existing ties with the high school coaches/evaluators. Clearly this did not happen.

If COVID continues to linger, this could be something that BB uses to his advantage. He has already made it very public that he is attempting to fix the high school connections in state and wants to land as many in-state kids as possible.

All I am saying is that this will be interesting to watch, so grab your popcorn.
I think BB sees it as exactly that - a unique opportunity to step into a program, keep the vets you'd normally lose, and make some inroads in the state with an opportunit you normally would not have. Really smart of Josh to make the move when he did, imho. BB's tearing it up. We won't know for a year or two what improvements have been made but to me he appears to be making all the right moves. I think we make actual progress over next two years. Call me crazy.
 
#316      
I think BB sees it as exactly that - a unique opportunity to step into a program, keep the vets you'd normally lose, and make some inroads in the state with an opportunit you normally would not have. Really smart of Josh to make the move when he did, imho. BB's tearing it up. We won't know for a year or two what improvements have been made but to me he appears to be making all the right moves. I think we make actual progress over next two years. Call me crazy.
Stacking days with workouts, coaches, recruiting offers, support staff. All good so far.
 
#319      
I know you don’t like to see Mizzou news...but my thoughts here are..what a great get, comments below saying ‘wyd’ or I’m guessing what you do??!!&&, and I guess Tyler Macon recruited over before setting foot on campus. Wonder if he would transfer, though I’m sure competition, have to work for it etc. And maybe HS coach not happy?
 
#321      

Sawicky

Chicago, IL
Think they only offered him about a week ago. Not sure if that is a good sign or not, but pretty decent list to be a part of.
I don't really care when we offer guys who have legit power 5 schools in their top 5. It's usually MAC or some other group of 5 schools. Progress!
 
#322      
I know you don’t like to see Mizzou news...but my thoughts here are..what a great get, comments below saying ‘wyd’ or I’m guessing what you do??!!&&, and I guess Tyler Macon recruited over before setting foot on campus. Wonder if he would transfer, though I’m sure competition, have to work for it etc. And maybe HS coach not happy?
Macon hasn’t even thrown a pass on campus yet. He’ll be a yr ahead of Horn so I doubt the ESL head coach’s even worried at this point. Looking at his commitment tweet he was probably just as sold on being the next the Max Scherzer vs the next Drew Lock
 
#323      
Macon hasn’t even thrown a pass on campus yet. He’ll be a yr ahead of Horn so I doubt the ESL head coach’s even worried at this point. Looking at his commitment tweet he was probably just as sold on being the next the Max Scherzer vs the next Drew Lock
ESL coaches will never be worried. They teach their kids that it’s not about who is currently on the roster, it’s about who will be recruited next. There will always be another you in the next class. There will also be another you in the class after that. You better learn how to compete early or you won’t make it later. The transfer portal is considered a sign of failure to that staff.

Drink was up front and told Macon that he will always try to find someone better! Based on what I have seen so far BB is moving the same way. I believe things are headed in the right direction for The Fighting Illini.
 
#324      
Drink did this all the time with QBs at NCSU. Honestly, it is smart. Look at Wisconsin getting all the way down to frat boys playing flag football last year.

QB, RB, OL, & DL.... can never have too many schollies there, you take a beating or are in high pressure situations
 
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