Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[IlliniNation1010]

Sorry any chance he makes an early splash?

doubtful, he'll have to put in the work...mostly due to the fact that almost all of our early DL offers are to 4*recruits. Some of the next level guys we're in on early from OH, we'll be battling UK along with the others who will be getting involved this spring. UK has really built a strong presence in OH

We definitely need to secure a couple of early DL commits

 

[JBtheTrill]

247 updated their 2016 rankings.

http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=IL

1. Josh King DE
2. Daniel Joseph DE
3. Tuf Borland OLB
4. Erik Swenson OL (Michigan commit)
5. Sean Foster OL
6. Naquan Jones DT
7. Justin Witt OL
8. Kentrail Moran RB
9. Noah Turner TE
10. Bryan Brokop OL (Nebraska commit)
11. Loudon Vollbrecht OL
12. Thomas Schaffer DE
13. Julian Love ATH
14. Albert Okwuegbunam TE
15. Steven Frank QB

 

[217sports]

Just wanted to post about Albert Okwuegbunam, a 2016 WR/DE from SHG in Springfield. He's about 6'5, 215 pounds, but has a ton of room to add weight if he plays D-line. He received an offer from Toledo this past Monday and got offered by Minnesota earlier today. He also took an unofficial visit to Minnesota a couple months ago (I think it was a week or two after SHG won a state title). He was at Illinois' junior day but didn't really get talked to by the staff. I've seen him play several times and he is really, really good and I hope that Illinois offers him soon. I would hate to see another downstate kid go to Minnesota instead of Illinois if they do extend him an offer.

Here's his Hudl if anyone's interested:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1413877/albert-okwuegbunam

He'll get an offer. Won't be playing DE in college. WR or TE. Lot of potential in him. Hope we get him so Minnesota doesn't start an SHG pipeline of their own

 

[Soxfreak64]

Not that it matters, but we got a Crystal Ball for Moran from a UM blog writer today.

 

[JBtheTrill]

He'll get an offer. Won't be playing DE in college. WR or TE. Lot of potential in him. Hope we get him so Minnesota doesn't start an SHG pipeline of their own

Agree with you on him playing WR or TE. I hope we offer him soon before he starts to get offered by other schools. I think Quinn will try to convince him to follow him to Minnesota, but hopefully Malik can sell him on U of I.

 

[illiniobserver22]

He'll get an offer. Won't be playing DE in college. WR or TE. Lot of potential in him. Hope we get him so Minnesota doesn't start an SHG pipeline of their own

I also don't believe he will play DE in college. I think his ceiling is higher there, but it takes a lot more work and comes with more risk. I doubt most coaches would try it.

Doesn't have the burst to be a great WR IMO so TE is where he likely ends up.

 

[Warriors1994]

Not that it matters, but we got a Crystal Ball for Moran from a UM blog writer today.

It doesn't mean much but it is interesting that a UM blog writer would flip his pick from UM. Wonder if any more will follow

 

[RHITIllini]

Not that it matters, but we got a Crystal Ball for Moran from a UM blog writer today.

UM probably thinks this whole Harbaugh Revolution will bring them a better back.

That being said, Illinois has done very well with Moran so far and he could be trimming his list soon.

 

[Illinifan180]

247 updated their 2016 rankings.

http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=IL

1. Josh King DE
2. Daniel Joseph DE
3. Tuf Borland OLB
4. Erik Swenson OL (Michigan commit)
5. Sean Foster OL
6. Naquan Jones DT
7. Justin Witt OL
8. Kentrail Moran RB
9. Noah Turner TE
10. Bryan Brokop OL (Nebraska commit)
11. Loudon Vollbrecht OL
12. Thomas Schaffer DE
13. Julian Love ATH
14. Albert Okwuegbunam TE
15. Steven Frank QB

Couple OL are committed, and I think I read that Foster's dad played at Iowa. Still, a good number of OL and DL kids in this class, and a chance to continue to build depth at those areas that are so critical.

 

[Bigcat13]

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3206915/highlights/216419378/v2

Anther good looking player out of Phillips in Chicago. I think he's worth an offer

 

[kyontz]

Any word on Borland's visit this weekend?

 

[Virtue4]

He seemed to be having a good time at the Basketball Game on Sunday Night. The family left at halftime to drive home but his Dad was chummy with the coaches throughout the game.

 

[Griffinator]

Agree with you on him playing WR or TE. I hope we offer him soon before he starts to get offered by other schools. I think Quinn will try to convince him to follow him to Minnesota, but hopefully Malik can sell him on U of I.

Interesting note on the Quinn Oselund recruitment. My brother ran into Quinn's father at a local health club recently. He said the Mr. Oselund was really surprised that his son chose Minny, he thought it was going to be Illinois all the way. It was totally Quinn's decision. However, the loss of the Illinois DL coach definitely played a part in the decision. It was not so much the loss itself, but the perceived loss of interest from the Illini. He said Quinn felt that "they" seemed to be more interested in the other line prospects. Remember that there was an awkward loss of contact between the loss and hiring of the coaches....some on staff apparently dropped the ball....enough to let the doubts and change of heart take place apparently.

 

[Griffinator]

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3206915/highlights/216419378/v2

Anther good looking player out of Phillips in Chicago. I think he's worth an offer

Absolutely.....what is not to like? Seems like he really loves to hit people, even on offense.

 

[Milootis]

Didn't Oselund commit to Minnesota back in August? That would be before DL coach Colby was let go, so that wouldn't have been a factor in his recruitment. Or maybe I am just confused and misreading the post?

 

[OrangeAndBlue217]

Didn't Oselund commit to Minnesota back in August? That would be before DL coach Colby was let go, so that wouldn't have been a factor in his recruitment. Or maybe I am just confused and misreading the post?

I was wondering the same thing. I thought he committed way before that.

 

[IlliniJim20]

Didn't Oselund commit to Minnesota back in August? That would be before DL coach Colby was let go, so that wouldn't have been a factor in his recruitment. Or maybe I am just confused and misreading the post?

I think he meant the OL coach who left for Mizzou

 

[OrangeAndBlue217]

I think he meant the OL coach who left for Mizzou

Ohhh, that would make sense.

 

[frankfortillini]

Really a shame if that rumor is true. Makes you wonder if it was intentional as dropping the ball with a recruit like him shouldn't be possible.

 

[Milootis]

Yeah, I should have caught that an offensive lineman wouldn't really care too much about the DL coach leaving.

 

[IlliniNation1010]

it was a quiet period when Ricker departed. No one from the staff could contact Oseland. If any other staff was in contact at that time, they were in violation. Oseland made comments at that time about no one contacting him about Ricker leaving. Seems to suggest some other schools were still making contact

 

[JBtheTrill]

When his recruitment was still going on, I also heard from a very close source that Quinn was indeed turned off by a lack of contact.

 

[Warriors1994]

Come on, these coaches may not be winning as much as we want but they didn't "accidentally" forget to call Oseland come on, they know how to recruit... they know who they want and who they don't.

EDIT: No inside information but come one they don't just forget to call Oseland

 

[IlliniNation1010]

just for the record, Quotes from Oseland in May 29th Rivals article: didn't sound like he was being neglected

"Illinois is probably recruiting me harder than most of the schools right now," Oseland said. "I think it's because I know their coaches the best

At Illinois, Coach Ricker and Coach Beckman - they do a great job when it comes to recruiting. They are always on me but don't pressure me and I like that."

June & July is quiet period.
1st 2 weeks of July is the dead period (when Ricker left)
He visited at the end of July & again about 10 days later, picked Minny mid Aug

I think some of these kids don't understand the different contact periods. He wasn't getting the attention from our coaches in June & July, that he got during the evaluation period. He probably mistook that for lack of interest, idk

 

[Hoppy2105]

I thought it was during a quiet period. That's too bad...but it could also be one of those, "Oh he REALLY wanted Illinois but thing X led to thing Y and that is why my son isn't playing for his state school" excuses.

Oh well. At least people have to give excuses. Maybe the recent influx of state pride (or dare I say statriotism?) has made it just a little harder to say no to UI and made kids a little more uncool for doing so. I'd say Gabe, Dre, and Jimmy would be big reasons for that if it is actually happening.