Hits like a B1G linebacker. Runs about a 4.9 according to ESPN, and if he can get that to around a 4.85 while bulking up 15 pounds we've got ourselves a run stuffer. I like it. Keep in mind, Jonathan Brown only ran a 5 at the combine so speed isn't everything. Love his physicality in the highlight tape. Doubt he can cover, but again a good run stuffing MLB.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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Also, whoever hasn't seen the Amir Watts hudl tape... do yourself a favor. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3206915/highlights/216419378/v2
Man is a freak. Hope we can pull him in using Jones. I like the way this staff establishes pipelines at powerhouse schools where it will pay off in the future with potentially even better commits.
Man is a freak. Hope we can pull him in using Jones. I like the way this staff establishes pipelines at powerhouse schools where it will pay off in the future with potentially even better commits.
RHITIllini
- Chicago, IL
It's definitely possible he isn't the only one this weekend.. no real inside info, but some good visitors, and some who are diggin' Illinois right now.
But agreed on Watts.. not sure he ends up at DE. Physically built in HS like Chunky Clements.. could be a similar player.
But agreed on Watts.. not sure he ends up at DE. Physically built in HS like Chunky Clements.. could be a similar player.
IlliniRocketFan
- Rochester, IL
I was at this game and that second hit was a monster. Even all us Rochester fans admired the good hard play of this kid and cringed whenever he got close to the ball.
As of now, I do too. However, I think he would be a HUGE matchup issue with his combination of speed and size if you put him at DE in some situations. 5-tech pass rusher of about 275 pounds? I'll take that all day. Would be a huge, program building commitment to get that type of player, even though is he only an upper level 3-star on some sites.
I don't blame him. He's going to get the chance to play in some huge games. But at least he is going to be out of our division. If things keep happening like this and we recruit at the level we did last year we have a chance to crawl into the better teams in the west. That is really all I can hope for.
It definitely makes you appreciate the players with "bigger" offers, who want to help build a winner as opposed to joining a winner....Gabe, Vaughn, Milan, Moran, Jihad, Geronimo, P. James, Mosely, Day, Neal, Clements, Teko
PastorJ
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Anyone think there will be a commit today? I get the feeling Emmanuelle R from Naperville might though that's just my gut thoughts?
PastorJ
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Sorry I must have misread that I thought he was visiting us my bad
When a player with a B10 offer goes to the MAC it is 99% of the time a dead giveaway to a grades issue.
Also, isn't the WMU coach a good recruiter/coach? Isn't he going to be a hot commodity after this year in the coaching carousel?
I bet that if there are grade issues, it wasn't hard for Watts to choose an up and comer like P.J. Fleck.
If we do have to fire TB this year, that might be a place to look. (hopefully we don't, I feel like TB has been doing good things!)
strange for him to commit so early in the process & choose WMU
PJ Fleck is the real deal. It hurts to lose a recruit to any MAC school, but it being Fleck makes it a little more okay since he is such a energetic and effective recruiter.
RHITIllini
- Chicago, IL
Fleck has a habit of taking a "now or never" approach with recruits to squeeze commitments out of them.. And from what I hear, that was the case with Watts too. And to whoever mentioned grades, it definitely played a part in him not giving Illinois a commitment.
Just out of my own morbid curiosity, was it NCAA grades or Illinois grades he couldn't make?
Did WMU take him because he can get in to some schools but not Illinois? Or are they taking a chance that might not pay off when he doesn't make it past the clearinghouse?
Gotta be carful with the now or never pressure, especially at a school like WMU. I foresee more and more kids, if they yield to the pressure, in turn making it more of a reservation.
Fleck may be the real deal, but I find it hard to believe a legit prospect would choose the MAC over the Big Ten this early in the game.
Fleck may be the real deal, but I find it hard to believe a legit prospect would choose the MAC over the Big Ten this early in the game.
Just look at the classes Fleck as put together the last few years.....He isn't recruiting MAC type players.....What I mean by that is a lot of these kids are higher tier kids....More like on the fringe of MAC and BIG or another bigger conference.
He has just done a great job with that program to make it his own and to get good quality kids into his program.
He won't be at WMU for much longer
He has just done a great job with that program to make it his own and to get good quality kids into his program.
He won't be at WMU for much longer
I think he was a pretty hot commodity last year and IIRC he got a nice extention based on it. Things change, so he could be again or the window may have closed.
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