Many on here seem to be leaning more toward "Jesus rebuilt the temple in 3 days"-type expectations. Gotta have faith, man!
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
- Status
Many on here seem to be leaning more toward "Jesus rebuilt the temple in 3 days"-type expectations. Gotta have faith, man!
I have not be a big fan of Becks, but the the most positive thing about him is that he has been able to recruit solid (many not the best, but solid) players. For the vast majority of guys to sign under Becks are still with the program. (One of Zook's many faults were getting guys who would not last long with the program.) Becks may be an oddball, he may not be the best with handling the media, he may not be the best Xs & Os coach. but he has been able recruit solid players to come and stay with the program.
Becks also does not have great facilities to sell recruits on. We currently have decent facilities, but Memorial Stadium desperately needs a facelift in the end zone to give the team much needed facilities. I'm hopeful that the school is just waiting for the SC investigation to conclude before releasing some drawings of the end zone and added facilities.
It's been slow on this thread. Any recruiting news?
How guys are going to be in this class?
I don't if this was posted, but in this video, Kentrail Moran talks about enrolling in January.
http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1554434-video-moran-on-illini
Are there any other guys who will enroll early as well?
Are there any updates on Tate Leavitt, the JUCO OL? Based on his Scout profile, his final 3 are Us, Kentucky, & Oklahoma. These 3 schools are "medium" interest. Every other school is "low" or "none" interest. He seems like he could be the best player in this class IF he commits to us. He has a very good offer list.
http://www.scout.com/player/8328439n-tate-leavitt?s=169
How guys are going to be in this class?
I don't if this was posted, but in this video, Kentrail Moran talks about enrolling in January.
http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1554434-video-moran-on-illini
Are there any other guys who will enroll early as well?
Are there any updates on Tate Leavitt, the JUCO OL? Based on his Scout profile, his final 3 are Us, Kentucky, & Oklahoma. These 3 schools are "medium" interest. Every other school is "low" or "none" interest. He seems like he could be the best player in this class IF he commits to us. He has a very good offer list.
http://www.scout.com/player/8328439n-tate-leavitt?s=169
Article on Jerod Alton
http://recruiting.scout.com/story/1559161-st-louis-athlete-names-top-three?s=169
we are in his top 3
http://recruiting.scout.com/story/1559161-st-louis-athlete-names-top-three?s=169
we are in his top 3
"They would be my top school hands down if the coaching staff was a bit safer and more secure."
If that is a problem for a two-star recruit, I've got to believe that it is a huge issue for most three and fours as well. I didn't realize how negative of an impact the Simon debacle has had. Unfortunate.
If that is a problem for a two-star recruit, I've got to believe that it is a huge issue for most three and fours as well. I didn't realize how negative of an impact the Simon debacle has had. Unfortunate.
I don't think he was referring to the S.C. situation.
I believe he was referring to the long term job stability situation due to W-L's and how this year is a make or break year.
Obviously, the SC thing does not help.
Yes, it's hard to know which has more impact, but understandable either way. All else being equal, Illinois is going to be at a disadvantage in most cases due to that instability regardless of the reason for it.
also Beckman's contract is up after this season. It is awfully hard to recruit against that type of negative recruiting
Yes, his contract is just part of the "safe and secure" issue which is just part of the "win or go home" issue.
RHITIllini
- Chicago, IL
Beckman can't say with 100% confidence that he will be here next year.. and that's from a contractual standpoint. That is the biggest issue right now. Does he believe he will do enough to earn an extension? I sure hope so, because if he doesn't, his current players won't.
But you better believe other schools are planting that seed in recruits' ears.
But you better believe other schools are planting that seed in recruits' ears.
On the other hand, we can't let that excuse prevent us from finishing ahead of teams like Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, etc. as they have the same problems, and I'm sure they face similar negative recruiting. I realize we had better classes than them all last year, but we need to again, and we can't keep losing individual recruiting battles to NW on key players.
RHITIllini
- Chicago, IL
I'm not so sure about that.. yes fans should expect to be competitive against Northwestern, Purdue, Indiana, etc.. but Northwestern (wisely or not) inked Fitzy into a pretty solid deal.. same with Iowa (Ferentz' contract is idiotically ironclad), and Purdue beat Illinois last year, so...
Just gotta close in a similar way as last year.
Looks like there is some mutual interest from 2-star DL Ken Mclaurin from Texas. He will be visiting soon.
https://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1780333
https://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1780333
We definitely have a spot for him...23tfl & 12sacks very impressive from the DT position
Many of our coaches are on vacation at this time, so there won't be much recruiting news coming out for a couple of weeks
That's not to say someone won't/can't commit thougha little bit of info for some people who might not know:
I have a guy working for me who is 25 years old. He played OL at an Illinois JUCO. He says that there is essentially ZERO testing of PED in juco, and that in his opinion, 95% (including him) were on the old fashioned juice or something similar to build mass. this is one reason many juco OL have a hard time transitioning to power 5 ncaa programs.
We are probably better off getting highly rated 2 and 3 star hs guys and just let them redshirt than waste time on juco ol. when was the last time we or someone else in the B1G had a guy come in on the ol from juco and do something ?
I have a guy working for me who is 25 years old. He played OL at an Illinois JUCO. He says that there is essentially ZERO testing of PED in juco, and that in his opinion, 95% (including him) were on the old fashioned juice or something similar to build mass. this is one reason many juco OL have a hard time transitioning to power 5 ncaa programs.
We are probably better off getting highly rated 2 and 3 star hs guys and just let them redshirt than waste time on juco ol. when was the last time we or someone else in the B1G had a guy come in on the ol from juco and do something ?
That is not just for football. Juco doesn't test for PEDs for any sport
Nothing whatsoever to do with Simon, everything to do with the lack of a contract extension for Beckman. A stupid, stupid blunder by MT. The extra $750,000 in buyout or whatever would have been worth every penny in presenting Beckman's successor with a better recruiting class to work with.
How many schools have had the same coach over the last 5 years? Way, way less than half of FBS.
There is a very good chance your coach is not going to be there for your entire career if you're a college football recruit. That's just a fact of life. Tim Beckman is on perhaps the single hottest seat in the nation, he's certainly among the top 5 most likely to be fired this year in the major conferences (Kevin Wilson, Paul Rhoads, Al Golden and Mike London probably the other 4) but to make that the decisive factor in your decision to go to Iowa or Syracuse isn't real smart.
In some ways, having the coach fired or take another job earlier rather than later is good, because at least it gives you a chance to transfer and have a significant amount of eligibility left. If Kirk Ferentz is coaching the Atlanta Falcons or the Bowling Green Falcons in three years and you just finished your redshirt sophomore season, what, are you going to just burn a year of eligibility? You're kinda stuck.
Dan
Admin
#Illini pick up a commitment from Lincoln-Way East offensive lineman Kurt Gavin
https://twitter.com/IllinoisRivals
I'm very excited to announce that I have verbally committed to play football and further my education at the University of Illinois! #OSKEE
https://twitter.com/KurtGavin
https://twitter.com/IllinoisRivals
I'm very excited to announce that I have verbally committed to play football and further my education at the University of Illinois! #OSKEE
https://twitter.com/KurtGavin
Dan
Admin
RT @JonStyf
Lincoln-Way East's @KurtGavin explains why he committed to Illinois. Plans to play OG for Illini.
http://shawurl.com/206j
Lincoln-Way East's @KurtGavin explains why he committed to Illinois. Plans to play OG for Illini.
http://shawurl.com/206j
sweet!!
Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
- Status