Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#3,076      

IlliniFever1218

I
IlliniFever1218
USOI said:
Seems to be shoe in for player of game. Could this possibly be a negative for us in terms of interest by better caliber/further along programs that might not have the academic standard UI has? Happy to see the young man play exceptionally well in just about the biggest showcase for high school talent, but on a selfish note, I feel like this is a negative for Lovie and Co.
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I don't think Illinois' admissions will play a part. Clearinghouse will be the problem and schools have no sway over that. If he gets by the clearinghouse, I have no doubt Lovie and Josh will do whatever they can to get him into Illinois and rightfully so. This kid is the real deal and can be the gamechanger we have lacked for a while.
 
#3,077      

FatGreg

F
FatGreg
Holy crap. Thomas is like a cross between Tyreek Hill and Brandin Cooks. Day one starter if he comes here and qualifies. 5-star talent.
 
#3,084      

Deon1987

D
Deon1987
LurkLongandProsper said:
He's certainly warranting more attention from bigger programs, but he's been getting that of late anyways
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He's had every school offer him they just found better talent than him....he holds a BAMA offer....there's no bigger offer than that

But BAMA just took a 5 star WR and gave him number 4 too....we are the only school guaranteing him what he wants and that's to star er KR and pr
 
#3,086      

calibear

C
calibear
Hi this is Debbie Downer with a caution on Thomas. Yes he was scary good with the ball in his hands and here is the big but ( not butt), pay more attention to him when he knows the ball is not coming his way. Not sure I could even call him jogging coming of the line on pass plays coming to him or when it was running play it was pitiful or horrific take your pick. . Also on the 73 yarder once he got in front of the db he slowed and sort of teased trying to just stay out of the guys reach and nearly got could caught. Can not remember if it was once or twice on that play.
That worry's me some it seemed a me much more than the team attitude, and I mindset I did not like in the least.
Now if I am wrong about that then great but that small sampling size left me with concerns about his concern and commitment on the field and off.:eek::tsk:
 
#3,087      

MadSeason

MadSeason
MadSeason
calibear said:
Hi this is Debbie Downer with a caution on Thomas. Yes he was scary good with the ball in his hands and here is the big but ( not butt), pay more attention to him when he knows the ball is not coming his way. Not sure I could even call him jogging coming of the line on pass plays coming to him or when it was running play it was pitiful or horrific take your pick. . Also on the 73 yarder once he got in front of the db he slowed and sort of teased trying to just stay out of the guys reach and nearly got could caught. Can not remember if it was once or twice on that play.
That worry's me some it seemed a me much more than the team attitude, and I mindset I did not like in the least.
Now if I am wrong about that then great but that small sampling size left me with concerns about his concern and commitment on the field and off.:eek::tsk:
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I wouldn't worry about those things too much as it was an all-star game and I'm guessing 90% of the guys there did the same thing.

Having said that, it isn't all that unusual for guys with these kinds of gifts to be a bit enigmatic. Odell, Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, Antonio Brown all have lots of swag and it's the kind of assuredness that comes with great ability.
 
#3,088      

ILLINIShox24

ILLINIShox24
Orange Krush '04 & '05
ILLINIShox24
calibear said:
Hi this is Debbie Downer with a caution on Thomas. Yes he was scary good with the ball in his hands and here is the big but ( not butt), pay more attention to him when he knows the ball is not coming his way. Not sure I could even call him jogging coming of the line on pass plays coming to him or when it was running play it was pitiful or horrific take your pick. . Also on the 73 yarder once he got in front of the db he slowed and sort of teased trying to just stay out of the guys reach and nearly got could caught. Can not remember if it was once or twice on that play.
That worry's me some it seemed a me much more than the team attitude, and I mindset I did not like in the least.
Now if I am wrong about that then great but that small sampling size left me with concerns about his concern and commitment on the field and off.:eek::tsk:
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I don't think this will be a problem for Lovie.
 
#3,089      

MadSeason

MadSeason
MadSeason
On2Long said:
You mean Terrell Owens, the Team Cancer, who tore teams apart despite his physical gifts?;) I don’t want to speak for calibear, but I guess I will. Calibear was not giving a warning but suggesting caution and there is a difference. I didn’t watch much of the all-start game, but I watched enough to hear the announcers talk about how Thomas had been kicked off the team because of attitude problems and then re-instated. Maybe it could be a warning:)
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Really wasn't meant for a referendum on the individual examples I provided, rather that a couple of instances in an all-star game doesn't really warrant caution. Super talented people in all walks of life don't always act in a manner consistent with what the majority thinks is productive.

I'm even less concerned with the head guy we have in charge.
 
#3,090      

LurkLongandProsper

L
C-U
LurkLongandProsper
calibear said:
Hi this is Debbie Downer with a caution on Thomas. Yes he was scary good with the ball in his hands and here is the big but ( not butt), pay more attention to him when he knows the ball is not coming his way. Not sure I could even call him jogging coming of the line on pass plays coming to him or when it was running play it was pitiful or horrific take your pick. . Also on the 73 yarder once he got in front of the db he slowed and sort of teased trying to just stay out of the guys reach and nearly got could caught. Can not remember if it was once or twice on that play.
That worry's me some it seemed a me much more than the team attitude, and I mindset I did not like in the least.
Now if I am wrong about that then great but that small sampling size left me with concerns about his concern and commitment on the field and off.:eek::tsk:
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It's an all-star game, and the playbook isn't really that developed for those guys. Honestly, what you're describing has been a staple of guys in high powered spreads for a while now -- watch some Briles Baylor, two guys run a route, the weak side that isn't in the early reads is a decoy and acts like it. Not a big deal, IMO
 
#3,091      

Title

T
Title
calibear said:
Hi this is Debbie Downer with a caution on Thomas. Yes he was scary good with the ball in his hands and here is the big but ( not butt), pay more attention to him when he knows the ball is not coming his way. Not sure I could even call him jogging coming of the line on pass plays coming to him or when it was running play it was pitiful or horrific take your pick. . Also on the 73 yarder once he got in front of the db he slowed and sort of teased trying to just stay out of the guys reach and nearly got could caught. Can not remember if it was once or twice on that play.
That worry's me some it seemed a me much more than the team attitude, and I mindset I did not like in the least.
Now if I am wrong about that then great but that small sampling size left me with concerns about his concern and commitment on the field and off.:eek::tsk:
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The kid went both ways and rarely came off the field for the his high school team. That film is way more important than an all star game. This just shows the individuals who may have doubted his high school film. You HAVE to double him the entire game or this will happen, TD.
 
#3,092      

BZuppke

BZuppke
Plainfield
BZuppke
Do we have any interest in Morris who's transferring from scUM?
 
#3,095      

CUWPC

C
Geneva, IL
CUWPC
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#3,096      

calibear

C
calibear
Regards to Thomas it might not effect his play to take the day off when he is not the target. Then even a show boating or whatever was in his head to jeopardize a play. However when he is not either blocking or half a** running a route then what good is he? In neither case is helping the team in the slightest save a penalty for not enough guys on the field.
Put sincere effort in running a route helps the db's stay more honest and fellow receivers to operate.
Again it might be as you said not to worry and check out the whole seasons hi-lites . Even those will not tell you his heart or his total game.
When I was scouting college games I liked watching any team multiple times a lesson I learned early. For some guys would look good or fine one game only to be M I A in others. That is important
 
#3,097      

BZuppke

BZuppke
Plainfield
BZuppke
calibear said:
Regards to Thomas it might not effect his play to take the day off when he is not the target. Then even a show boating or whatever was in his head to jeopardize a play. However when he is not either blocking or half a** running a route then what good is he? In neither case is helping the team in the slightest save a penalty for not enough guys on the field.
Put sincere effort in running a route helps the db's stay more honest and fellow receivers to operate.
Again it might be as you said not to worry and check out the whole seasons hi-lites . Even those will not tell you his heart or his total game.
When I was scouting college games I liked watching any team multiple times a lesson I learned early. For some guys would look good or fine one game only to be M I A in others. That is important
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Obviously if he gets on the field here, the coaches will not tolerate taking plays off. Do you think he can/will mature and understand what it takes at the Power 5 level? I would think this would be the case.
 
#3,098      

Title

T
Title
BZuppke said:
Obviously if he gets on the field here, the coaches will not tolerate taking plays off. Do you think he can/will mature and understand what it takes at the Power 5 level? I would think this would be the case.
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Let's see, Terry Hawthorne form ESL started as a True Freshman, Stanley Green from ESL started as a True Freshman. Jeff comes from the same coaching staff, do you think he is any different. I question if you guys know and understand 4/5 star athletes. It very obvious most of the recruits for Illinois don't play in these type of games. I think Terry Hawthorne was the only other recruit that played in this game and he held the receiving yards record until Jeff broke it Sunday.
 
#3,099      

MadSeason

MadSeason
MadSeason
Title said:
Let's see, Terry Hawthorne form ESL started as a True Freshman, Stanley Green from ESL started as a True Freshman. Jeff comes from the same coaching staff, do you think he is any different. I question if you guys know and understand 4/5 star athletes. It very obvious most of the recruits for Illinois don't play in these type of games. I think Terry Hawthorne was the only other recruit that played in this game and he held the receiving yards record until Jeff broke it Sunday.
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Agreed. Non issue
 
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