Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

Dan · Feb 3, 2016

Joel Goodson · Feb 3, 2016

OK, roster-oligists. How many '17s can we take? (as a baseline, not figuring for attrition)

Jacob · Feb 3, 2016

CUWPC · Feb 3, 2016

Jacob said:
25

Looks like we could take on three early enrollees next year.

Jacob · Feb 3, 2016

CUWPC said:
Looks like we could take on three early enrollees next year.

Doug Kramer is a greyshirt and will be a 2017 early enrollee

orangeswarm76 · Feb 5, 2016

Anybody have any insight if we are pursuing any other commits for this class looking through recruits there is still a lot of undecided kids.

WesterveltVictoryCigar · Feb 5, 2016

We still have 3 open spots I believe, so yes the staff is still looking to fill them.

RHITIllini · Feb 5, 2016

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/163686690/college-football-recruiting-2016-geography-map

15. Illinois (6)

There is a good amount of talent in the state of Illinois, but none of its top 29 players committed to Illinois, the flagship university. Bill Cubit signed the nation's No. 71 recruiting class, and perhaps this is what happens when a school punts its coaching search and hands the interim coach a two-year contract to make him "permanent." Three of the state's top six players signed with Michigan State, with other four-star prospects picking Penn State, Ohio State and Oklahoma. The other Big Ten school in the state, Northwestern, signed just two of the state's top 30 players, although the Wildcats had a bit more success elsewhere than the rival Fighting Illini.

Eric 22 · Feb 6, 2016

I see tons of offers going out for '17....I love the "us against the world" attitude the staff is showing. It shows they are never going to give up!

Jacob · Feb 7, 2016

Here is my dream class to have RHIT tell me there may be 6 people we have a shot with

QB Taylor Powell-Arkansas

RB Jarell White-Ohio
RB Mike Epstein-Florida

WR Jeff Thomas-Illinois
WR Isaiah Robertson-Illinois
WR Ricking Smalling-Illinois

TE Jake Marwade-Illinois
TE: Griffin Hammer-Illinois

OL Kevin Jarvis-Illinois
OL Vedarion Lowe-Illinois
OL Isaac Hawn-Illinois
OL Will Taylor-Georgia

DL Jonathan Berghorst-Michigan
DL Izayah Green-May-Illinois
DL George Ellis-Florida
DL Jon Ford-Florida
DL Kivon Bennett-Florida

LB Micah Awodiran-Illinois
LB Terez LaGrone-Illinois
LB Kyle Bolden-Ohio

DB Brian Edwards-Florida
DB Amir Riep-Ohio
DB RJ Potts-Indiana
DB Tyon Merchant-Texas
DB AJ Terrell-Georgia

It would probably be the top class in the Big West but maybe only 5th in the Big Ten overall

RHITIllini · Feb 8, 2016

Jacob said:
Here is my dream class to have RHIT tell me there may be 6 people we have a shot with

QB Taylor Powell-Arkansas - Arkansas loves home-grown QBs.. both Allen brothers are from that area, and they'll probably offer this kid sooner or later.

RB Jarell White-Ohio - Maybe.. good that he visited, but staff isn't tied to Ohio as strongly as they once were.
RB Mike Epstein-Florida - Think he's gone, especially if the Cubits get shown the door.
I'd add in Ivory Kelly-Martin here.

WR Jeff Thomas-Illinois - I'd like to think they have a shot if it's his choice.
WR Isaiah Robertson-Illinois - Illinois would have to fight off some good competition here, but having the Dudek in may help, and Illinois was first to offer.
WR Ricking Smalling-Illinois - Want this kid.. bad.. stud.. yep

TE Jake Marwede-Illinois
TE: Griffin Hammer-Illinois
Like them both, might also consider Christopherson from Lemont

OL Kevin Jarvis-Illinois - Really like this guy, but just got an Arkansas offer and is sure to get more.. he fits what ARK does well, and their new OL coach is from Evanston.
OL Vedarion Lowe-Illinois - Illinois has a great shot here.
OL Isaac Hawn-Illinois - Think he ends up somewhere in the Big Ten.. illinois has tossed their hat in the ring
OL Will Taylor-Georgia - Don't know much about him.
Throw in Dalton Wagner as well as OL Finn Dirstine, too.. teammate of Fish who has an offer

DL Jonathan Berghorst-Michigan - Illinois doing well early here, but hope Wisky doesn't offer.. they find ways to get guys like him late.
DL Izayah Green-May-Illinois - Think he could be a good one once he adds weight
DL George Ellis-Florida - Really doubt it..
DL Jon Ford-Florida
DL Kivon Bennett-Florida - See George Ellis x 10

LB Micah Awodiran-Illinois - Sisters go to Illinois, smart kid, would love to see them lock him up early
LB Terez LaGrone-Illinois - We'll see how this whole ESL relationship shakes out
LB Kyle Bolden-Ohio

DB Brian Edwards-Florida
DB Amir Riep-Ohio
DB RJ Potts-Indiana
DB Tyon Merchant-Texas
DB AJ Terrell-Georgia

It would probably be the top class in the Big West but maybe only 5th in the Big Ten overall

I don't know much about the guys I didn't put notes on.. but honestly, as long as they put some effort into recruiting at least half of the top 30 and land 8-10, it would be a good class. But the core of this class needs to come from within Illinois or else all this "we gotta recruit the state better" talk from Cubit is nothing more than fluff if they just go take leftovers in Florida again.

Jacob · Feb 9, 2016

RHITIllini said:
I don't know much about the guys I didn't put notes on.. but honestly, as long as they put some effort into recruiting at least half of the top 30 and land 8-10, it would be a good class. But the core of this class needs to come from within Illinois or else all this "we gotta recruit the state better" talk from Cubit is nothing more than fluff if they just go take leftovers in Florida again.

Thanking you for the insight. Some of those Florida guys were in High Schools and areas that Paul Williams used to recruit for Miami and I was under the impression Jon Ford committed to Paul Williams. I think the Wr, Te, and o-line is very good instate this year. I want RJ Potts the most. I think he is a phenomenal talent and has been on campus

Title · Feb 9, 2016

RHITIllini said:
I don't know much about the guys I didn't put notes on.. but honestly, as long as they put some effort into recruiting at least half of the top 30 and land 8-10, it would be a good class. But the core of this class needs to come from within Illinois or else all this "we gotta recruit the state better" talk from Cubit is nothing more than fluff if they just go take leftovers in Florida again.

None of the ESL kids have been invited up for a junior day. That pretty much tell how recruitment is going.

illinidarrin · Feb 9, 2016

Title said:
None of the ESL kids have been invited up for a junior day. That pretty much tell how recruitment is going.

From what i hear, Sunkett is the main reason why we didn't get Simms. He has a major grudge with Illinois. If this is the case, why would Illinois even try anymore with ESL with Sunkett there? I have a feeling the Illinois coaches are pretty pissed off about things.

Jacob · Feb 9, 2016

illinidarrin said:
From what i here, Sunkett is the main reason why we didn't get Simms. He has a major grudge with Illinois. If this is the case, why would Illinois even try anymore with ESL with Sunkett there? I have a feeling the Illinois coaches are pretty pissed off about things.

I don't believe that to be the case at all. Join Rivals and follow Doug. Leave twitter alone

illinidarrin · Feb 9, 2016

Jacob said:
I don't believe that to be the case at all. Join Rivals and follow Doug. Leave twitter alone

i got it from Robert/Roughy. He made it very clear that Sunket doesn't like Illinois from something that happened a long time a go.

Jacob · Feb 9, 2016

illinidarrin said:
i got it from Robert/Roughy. He made it very clear that Sunket doesn't like Illinois from something that happened a long time a go.

An Illinois assistant on Beckman's first staff was bashing Sunkett. He was fired and the reason we didn't land Greg Taylor. Bellamy and Dana Howard helped bridge the gap otherwise Stanley Green wouldn't have committed

illinidarrin · Feb 9, 2016

Jacob said:
An Illinois assistant on Beckman's first staff was bashing Sunkett. He was fired and the reason we didn't land Greg Taylor. Bellamy and Dana Howard helped bridge the gap otherwise Stanley Green wouldn't have committed

I thought this went back to the Christian Morton days. I thought i heard that Sunket wasn't happy with the way they treated him.

Title · Feb 9, 2016

illinidarrin said:
i got it from Robert/Roughy. He made it very clear that Sunket doesn't like Illinois from something that happened a long time a go.

This is 100% not true. Illinois lost Simms for two reasons. 1. The new OL coach is the one Mizzou coach who didn't want to offers Simms while he was at Mizzou.
2. The current recruiter made it personal.

As far as Sunkett goes No matter how much the coach like or don't like a school, if the kid want to go there he has his full support. The two things that he is bothered by is 1. The current recruiter told a kid (the QB) that they will offer him as an athlete back in January and no one has heard from him since that visit. 2. Terry Hawthorne was/ is trying to get a job on the staff but is constantly getting the run around. To me its simple. If you are not going to offer, don't say that you are, specifically don't tell the kid that. A coach is like a father to these kids, once you mess with them, problems will follow. The last straw was telling Watson that he could transfer from Kansas to Illinois but didn't follow through. He ended up at SIUC which is probably better based on his skill set however, again don't promise something if you are not going to make it happen. If you lie now, what will happen once you sign papers? It would be nice to have a pipeline of the best players going to Illinois.

illinidarrin · Feb 9, 2016

Title said:
This is 100% not true. Illinois lost Simms for two reasons. 1. The new OL coach is the one Mizzou coach who didn't want to offers Simms while he was at Mizzou.
2. The current recruiter made it personal.

As far as Sunkett goes No matter how much the coach like or don't like a school, if the kid want to go there he has his full support. The two things that he is bothered by is 1. The current recruiter told a kid (the QB) that they will offer him as an athlete back in January and no one has heard from him since that visit. 2. Terry Hawthorne was/ is trying to get a job on the staff but is constantly getting the run around. To me its simple. If you are not going to offer, don't say that you are, specifically don't tell the kid that. A coach is like a father to these kids, once you mess with them, problems will follow. The last straw was telling Watson that he could transfer from Kansas to Illinois but didn't follow through. He ended up at SIUC which is probably better based on his skill set however, again don't promise something if you are not going to make it happen. If you lie now, what will happen once you sign papers? It would be nice to have a pipeline of the best players going to Illinois.

Why wouldn't we invite any ESL players to junior day then? They have plenty of talent. Something just seems really wrong here. Ok, so some things popped in the past or whatever, but what about now?

Title · Feb 9, 2016

illinidarrin said:
Why wouldn't invite any ESL players to junior day then? They have plenty of talent. Something just seems really wrong here. Ok, so some things popped in the past or whatever, but what about now?

Good question. They haven't been invited so you will have to ask the Illini staff. Class of 2017 is loaded for ESL.

RHITIllini · Feb 9, 2016

Title said:
Good question. They haven't been invited so you will have to ask the Illini staff. Class of 2017 is loaded for ESL.

Those guys have been on campus in the last few months.. and Jeff Thomas did get an invite.

Bellamy has been the main guy recruiting ESL.. now whether he's getting support for that from above is another question.

Title · Feb 9, 2016

RHITIllini said:
Those guys have been on campus in the last few months.. and Jeff Thomas did get an invite.

Bellamy has been the main guy recruiting ESL.. now whether he's getting support for that from above is another question.

I know exactly who has been recruiting for Illinois. You mentioned Jeff but failed to mention Terez who has an offer from Illinois. I am telling you they haven't been invited and Hawthorne is the one who took them on a visit this past fall. None of them have been on campus this year.

RHITIllini · Feb 9, 2016

Harry Ballard to Mizzou.. because... admissions..

Though if he even makes it into Mizzou I'm going to be like..

Jacob · Feb 10, 2016

RHITIllini said:
Harry Ballard to Mizzou.. because... admissions..

Though if he even makes it into Mizzou I'm going to be like..

Seems like a sign and place kid like Strong last year was for them. But Ballard is a stud

Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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