Illini Football 2025
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Matthew Bailey’s neck is intimidating.
I’m sure coach Henry will eventually get a HC gig. When that happens makes CP and Jamo Co DC’s. Do that or just give him a bigger title to keep him
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
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TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
Mongolian warrior build, he will be the Genghis Khan of the B1G as he leads us to the play off
sbillini
- st petersburg, fl
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
that's my QB!
I'll take Luke all day long. Love our portal additions. I'm looking forward to freshman, Wyche form Florida. And absolutely love having Hawthorne back on campus. The staff assembled is phenomenal.
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
This tells me that things were happening with Tennessee and now that it is over, he's making it very clear that he is back.
PizzaHutParkingLot
- Vodice, Croatia
Tennessee may have reached out, but Like wasn’t leaving. We are a scarred fanbase always expecting the worst.
It's because those of us on here that are old enough remember all of the years of bad stuff happening to us. We have good reasons to be gun shy.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I didn't want to say it, but I think Luke's (not super great either way) NFL chances are definitely better here than at Tennessee for a variety of reasons.
And then there's the factor of his opportunity to be a folk hero here, as opposed to the likelihood of being a pariah at BOTH schools if he were to leave.
When he's already got a hefty bag here, to say nothing of great relationships and a top quality education, the amount of money it would take to make that kind of leap ought to have been colossal, not like an extra million on top. It never really made sense.
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't puff our chest out at winning this battle and look at it as a huge marker in the development of the program.
And then there's the factor of his opportunity to be a folk hero here, as opposed to the likelihood of being a pariah at BOTH schools if he were to leave.
When he's already got a hefty bag here, to say nothing of great relationships and a top quality education, the amount of money it would take to make that kind of leap ought to have been colossal, not like an extra million on top. It never really made sense.
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't puff our chest out at winning this battle and look at it as a huge marker in the development of the program.
Updated Big Ten football starting quarterback rankings: Where does Nico Iamaleava slot in?
The Big Ten is atop the college football headlines, as five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava finalizes his transfer from Tennessee to UCLA.
badgerswire.usatoday.com
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
Somewhat lucky circumstances with the Giants aside, what does Tommy DeVito have that Luke doesn't?
Oh trust me brother I am there. I borderline demand to see a spin-zone puff piece about how we heroically fent off the marauding Volunteers.
Are there any Balkans that Bret can get to play Offensive Line?
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Mainly lucky circumstances, but also TDV as a pretty elite quick release/accuracy combo.
Add in being a vocal leader type and he's a classic good vibes local kid training camp practice squad guy, and then a series of crazy events made him a media star.
I was shocked he made a roster because of his genuinely minus arm strength, something I figured was disqualifying. It's definitely why he'll never be a starter for any length of time, there are just a lot of throws an NFL QB has to have that he doesn't.
Luke's arm talent is average, playable. But like TDV he's pretty ordinary from a height/length/bulk perspective, and his low release point and slingshotty delivery tends to make those measurables play down. He's very fast in the open field but not very fluid, pretty average from an escapability/athleticism perspective.
I'm honest enough to admit I was a Luke hater a year ago, he just did not take care of the ball well enough for a B1G QB, let alone an NFL one in 2023. He improved a ton. If he makes yet another leap in terms of his decision making, accuracy, and physicality, hey, anything is possible.
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