Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
#176      

illini80

Forgottonia
Personal opinion: Art can be accurate and has sufficient arm strength. His 45 yard pass to Deuce Spann is proof. But, his existing injury hampered him last year.

Hopefully, the surgery for the existing injury as well as the surgery for the game injury are fully successful and Art can have 5 or 6 Deuce Spann like passes for every WTF pass.

That said, I'm not predicting him to be the starter. Just hoping that he is fully healthy.
Ugh. I hate that we lost Deuce Spann.
 
#177      
To me that experience doesn't mean much and I don't think Art has the arm to stretch the field nor the decision making to know when to stretch it and when to check it down. We are definitely going to still have a ground and pound offense, but BLJ wants to stretch the field and scheme guys like I. Williams open. Art played here because Peters was hurt not because he won the job. Now a shoulder surgery removed being in a new system when he is on equal footing with other players and DeVito brought in by BLJ I was very surprised to see he didn't transfer again.
Devito came prior to BLJ, but IMO I think next offseason we will see another transfer at QB come in. Sort of dependent on Devito's success.
 
#178      
Devito came prior to BLJ, but IMO I think next offseason we will see another transfer at QB come in. Sort of dependent on Devito's success.
Devito only has this year left. We will definitely be taking a transfer next year (preferably one with multiple years left)
 
#179      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
Not to get too far ahead here, but my guess is Sitkowski at QB in 2023 (barring any transfers). I think Collier transfers out after this year. Then I'd guess 2024 is between Leary and Swanson. I love some of the other talent in the QB room, but they flat out won't get the opportunities that the scholarship guys get. The only name that you might keep an eye out for is Michaux from what I've heard.

I’ll set the over/under at 35 career passing attempts for Leary or Swanson. Combination of constantly changing OCs + likely dependence on the transfer portal for QBs moving forward. I’ll feel the same for all future prep QBs unless the quality of QB recruits improves substantially.
 
#180      
I’ll set the over/under at 35 career passing attempts for Leary or Swanson. Combination of constantly changing OCs + likely dependence on the transfer portal for QBs moving forward. I’ll feel the same for all future prep QBs unless the quality of QB recruits improves substantially.
That’s disappointing to hear. What are your thoughts on michaux?
 
#185      
I’ll set the over/under at 35 career passing attempts for Leary or Swanson. Combination of constantly changing OCs + likely dependence on the transfer portal for QBs moving forward. I’ll feel the same for all future prep QBs unless the quality of QB recruits improves substantially.
Exactly. Rankings don't mean everything but Leary and Swanson have a LONG road before they will see the field (hopefully they don't play because of others getting injured). That is the only reason I say Art has that spot locked up for 2023, IF (big if) no transfers come in. But hey it's still not even 2022 season yet, so I'll focus on that. I just hope our QBs stay healthy and we can get to a bowl game. ILL
 
#186      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
That’s disappointing to hear. What are your thoughts on michaux?

You can throw him in that same over/under but the under is juiced (this might be too obscure of gambling lingo for the general population).
 
#187      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
Until you get into the Scheelhaase/Whitmer level of QB pedigree (other P5 offers/interest), I'm always going to believe the program is going to find their future starting QB in the transfer portal. Illinois has only had one year where their leading passer was someone who signed with the program out of HS in the past eight seasons (Jeff George Jr in 2017) and this will extend to 1 out of the last 10 seasons before there's a chance the streak is broken (barring significant injuries).
 
#188      
If Illinois for some reason couldn't bring in a transfer portal QB after this season than I would go with the over in 2023 for the younger guys. Sitkowski would definitely be the favorite to start in 2023. Same time between performance/injuries as a track record I wouldn't see him staying on the field the whole season.

I am not saying Illinois hasn't landed a hidden gem, won't land a transfer portal QB next season or even a decent 2023 or 2024 QB recruit. That being said I think BB has to land a higher notch QB recruit in the 2025 class. Guys get recruited earlier and earlier these days. Top notch QBs for 2023 and 2024 were recruited way before BB even landed the Illinois job. Time to see if the staff can develop a hidden gem, otherwise Illinois will have to rely on the transfer portal a few more years.

Almost surprised there isn't a NIL QB deal for Illinois. Look at what Texas Tech is putting in play alone now. Any high performing QB that can take Illinois to the next level would be a legend forever.
 
Last edited:
#189      
Until you get into the Scheelhaase/Whitmer level of QB pedigree (other P5 offers/interest), I'm always going to believe the program is going to find their future starting QB in the transfer portal. Illinois has only had one year where their leading passer was someone who signed with the program out of HS in the past eight seasons (Jeff George Jr in 2017) and this will extend to 1 out of the last 10 seasons before there's a chance the streak is broken (barring significant injuries).
Agreed, I want to believe in Collier/Leary/Swanson, but the fact of the matter is that none of these guys were ever projected to be starters at the P5 level. A transfer will definitely be starting in '23 and '24 and hopefully BLJ is able to land a solid QB prospect to break the streak by '25
 
#190      
I’ll set the over/under at 35 career passing attempts for Leary or Swanson. Combination of constantly changing OCs + likely dependence on the transfer portal for QBs moving forward. I’ll feel the same for all future prep QBs unless the quality of QB recruits improves substantially.
With qb there’s so many ins and outs to learn of an entire offensive system that I wonder where the break even point is for “3 star guy who stuck it out and developed in your system for 4 years” vs “talented transfer looking for a fresh start.”
 
#192      
With qb there’s so many ins and outs to learn of an entire offensive system that I wonder where the break even point is for “3 star guy who stuck it out and developed in your system for 4 years” vs “talented transfer looking for a fresh start.”
QB is the hardest position to project, for college and pros. I think the strategy is get as many guys in the QB room as you can, and see if one of them breaks out. If no one rises up, look in the portal.
 
#195      
QB is the hardest position to project, for college and pros. I think the strategy is get as many guys in the QB room as you can, and see if one of them breaks out. If no one rises up, look in the portal.
This is exactly right! Drew Brees had 2 scholarship offers coming out of high school......Aaron Rodgers had NO scholarship offers coming out of high school

Rodgers always hits hard because he wanted to play at Illinois. That being said not one school offered him a scholarship, yet Illinois did offer him a walk on spot to which he declined. Old time read and what if...

 
#197      
With qb there’s so many ins and outs to learn of an entire offensive system that I wonder where the break even point is for “3 star guy who stuck it out and developed in your system for 4 years” vs “talented transfer looking for a fresh start.”
I wouldn't be so quick to condemn our younger QB commits. 18 year old 3 star kids can blossom into good/great players by the time they are 20. We expect that from other positions. Why not QB?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.