Coach Conversation: Illini WRs coach George McDonald discusses young group
Illini Inquirer caught up with Illinois wide receivers coach George McDonald to discuss his group and spring ball in-depth.
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What!?!?!? One of the most iconic jerseys in baseball history!!!
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
Kind of looks like it
Might have been early in camp where he hasn't quite built up arm strength yet. Not gunna be too worried yet. Though I still have the dark horse hope that Samari takes a leap and steals the starting job from the veteran transfers since footing is essentially even with the new offense and Lunney having a more mobile QB at UTSAKind of looks like it
I agree about Samari. I hope he doesn't sit another year and then we win and the year goes by and the staff wants another transfer. He looks good in what you see from some short videos. BB mentioned him. Got to give him some opportunities to play.
The fact he is still around has got me believing he knows he is the next QB up after Art/Tommy (both of whom I feel were more TP than BLJ QBs).
I think Lunney brings us back to the dual threat. Art is a pocket guy. DeVito is dual. I don’t remember collier being touted for his mobility, more so his arm strength.
I don’t think we’re qb running half the time like a zone read team, but I think it’s gonna be a little of more that mixed in to keep the defense honest or in RPO looks.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
Just saw something about a Raashaan Wilkins commiting.
He's a transfer DL from Vanderbilt.
247 has it, too: https://247sports.com/college/illin...ootball-defensive-line-recruiting--186084578/
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcOs0uYOlzJ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
He's a transfer DL from Vanderbilt.
247 has it, too: https://247sports.com/college/illin...ootball-defensive-line-recruiting--186084578/
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcOs0uYOlzJ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
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I think it's too early to read that much into it. While TDV has only one year of eligibility remaining, after this season he should be able to apply for and receive the same waiver that Marchese and Palczewski received for the 2020 season, where he played in only 4 games. Assuming the staff comes away from spring practice believing TDV will be the starter, will Collier stick around knowing it might be two years before he would be the starter?
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Wilkins: stop gap, but sorely needed. Good move.
My thing is it depends on how close it is. I just don't see TDV running away with that competition. I see him as a stop gap type of guy. His film at Syracuse didn't really impress me, and he was in an extremely QB friendly Dino Babers offense putting up BP in a less QB friendly offense.
I like Samari's arm and he has enough mobility to make BLJ's RPO up tempo system work really well.
What’s he got?
Well I honestly haven't seen him play. From mentions from others he has a cannon of an arm and has the athletic ability to make a play on his feet as well. Of course I would love it if we can get top level talent that beats him out for a starting spot next year. He seems to have a great attitude and is gonna work hard and be patient and ready when his number is called.
illini80
- Forgottonia
Or maybe what we as fans don’t know is what he’s missing? Accuracy? Decision making?
Unless he’s proving something in practice, he won’t see the field. Our margin for error is next to zero for making a bowl game, so no one’s stepping into the QB role just to see what he can do imo.
From his interview above, he has familiarity with the Lunney’s offense.
From his highlights, he has size, arm strength, mobility to run the offense, like utsa did against us, along with he utilized the TE quite a bit, a position of strength for us that could bode well.
I hope he has the other things to go with those tools, but he could be what we need in a year. He’s still a qb here for a reason.
Yeah by no means was I saying he will start or get a significant amount of snaps this season. I think we are in much better shape at the 3rd string spot than we were 2 years ago though.
Yes, depth really does seem to be improving across the board. Let’s see how this plays out in games and across seasons, the portal notwithstanding.
I'm a huge Samari fan as my posts will back up and think he does have all these strengths.
I will say from watching his HS tape his he has great pocket presence, a strong arm, and above average mobility. To bring things down to earth, I didn't see him make too many different throws. He has an elite deep ball and throws the TE Fade in the end zone very well. His tape lacks a lot of intermediate throws and when he does make them they are wide open. So we never see him really have to force anything into a tight window, but he has arm strength to do it. I like his arm strength and he utilizes body torque and throws with his legs well, but mechanically it isn't super smooth and time with a good QB coach could smooth that out and improve his accuracy.
I don't think he starts this year but I do think next year (RS So?) he has a chance to lead this offense and really open up Lunney's offense before he leaves us for a HC job.
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