ACJ is next.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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Kid just needs reps … Willing blocker … That’s the major key …
Long as The Shark is here … I spend zero minutes worrying about the WR room … We will always have dudes …
His few reps seemed to disappear as the season went on. I thought he was a senior.
I mean Luka Modric would be 41 after the 2026 World Cup and there's been rumors of retirement... 4 years of eligibility and would probably be lights out from anywhere within 60yds with the way he puts the ball through the eye of a needle...
Personally I'd rather see Feagin playing Defense..Hello has no chance at TE or RB at the next level ...Now as a safety or that roaming LB,At the next level somebody will give the rlacher sized player a shot to make a roster...The RB thing is over.He doesn't hit the hole with enough force,maybe it's hard to make a hole big enough for a lineman sized RB...
Also can’t overlook Braden Trimble….
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
Thanks for the update. And yeah, losing both Olano and Duley before they became upperclassman is indeed really frustrating. While it makes sense as you said, really hurts to lose what basically amounts to a 5star kicker/punter tandem out of high school. Yeah you can get replacements but it's a likely downgrade.
That said we have a ton of holes to fill and a budget, so if Olano doesn't fit in the budget with what he's being offered, not much we can do.
Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Think professional sports - there is no cap on endorsements by athletes. The difference is that the NFL has absolute power granted by the team owners to enforce the league rules. You don’t see any lawsuits by the players challenging NFL rules unlike the revolving door of lawsuits hamstringing the NCAA. In some ways the NFL and the NCAA are very alike - member run/owned institutions with a set of agreed upon rules. The significant difference between the two is the labor agreements between the NFL and the NFLPA which outlines how disagreements are adjudicated. This difference will end if/when the NCAA and athletes evolve into a true professional relationship with a CBA and employer/employee contracts.
At which point I will no longer be a college sports fan, sad to say.
Oh well. Let's see what happens after the portal opens.
I hope some players that are considering the portal have some patience and wait and see who Bret brings in, and especially who the QB ends up being. And I hope it doesn’t take too long to get said QB.
As great as the last two years were, we have a lot of questions going into next year.
As great as the last two years were, we have a lot of questions going into next year.
Expected Hood to enter…Didn’t take a big leap this year…
We will add from the portal.
We will add from the portal.
blackdog
- Champaign
Really not too torn up about any of the older LBs transferring out besides losing the depth. LB was definitely a weak link on the defense all year.
Agreed. Some younger guys can match the production.
Looks like Beerman and freshman Cam Thomas time at linebacker.
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
They are going to bring in 10+ transfers on defense.
I’d imagine we’ll also hit the portal (?) Likely need an established third reviewer behind the obvious big two (Dixon and clement).
Which will be a good thing- I’m a big fan of playing your most talented players and letting them Figure it out
Linebacker was a big weakness. Have to consider some of these entries might very well be what I’d call “upgrade transfers.”
I'd rather lose both Laughery and Feagin than lose Valentine if it came to it. I won't go so far as to say losing Valentine would be devastating, but a huge loss, yeah, absolutely. I honestly think if he stays healthy next year he's going to be All Conference. He's that good when healthy in my opinion.
Bret's a smart dude and he knows how to keep kids, but yeah if he wants over 50% of the snaps as RB1 I'd say yes to that in a heartbeat
And IMO it won't be too hard to find another kicker NOT limited to 50 yards, (probably not as accurate or clutch obviously) but who can boom them out of the end zone. Smart move for Olano to get his possibly last payday as a kicker. Hope he got his valuable UIUC degree, I'm sure glad I got mine (chemistry '79).
Isn't he a senior?
We need some serious upgrading with our LB....assuming the young guys aren't ready yet.
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