Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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A B1G caliber coach may go out and recruit B1G caliber players.
Lovies ties
I am sure Lovie has ties in Chicago and St. Louis. I wonder if we can recruit some in Texas now. I suppose the assistants will have a big influence on the areas we draw from.
When you look where he is from (Texas) and where he has worked (St. Louis,Chicago,Ohio,Florida) You couldn't come up with a better list of potential recruiting grounds for Illinois. The only one missing really is Pennsylvania.
I am sure Lovie has ties in Chicago and St. Louis. I wonder if we can recruit some in Texas now. I suppose the assistants will have a big influence on the areas we draw from.
When you look where he is from (Texas) and where he has worked (St. Louis,Chicago,Ohio,Florida) You couldn't come up with a better list of potential recruiting grounds for Illinois. The only one missing really is Pennsylvania.
Rumor is the staff will have a heavy lean to FL and TX recruiting ties (outside of the obvious Illinois/StL).
Depending on the assistants I think we have a chance to do very well locally and steal a few from Texas/Florida. At a bare minimum i would think that even the biggest recruits hear us out.
I know not exactly the same, but Jim Mora Jr has brought in killer classes at UCLA. I would argue that Mora has less name recognition than Lovie and not the coaching record
Ryllini
- Lombard
True, but Mora is also selling LA, we are selling East Central Illinois. I'm not saying Lovie and his staff can't bring in monster classes for us, because I think he can and will, but UCLA and everything that comes with it has alot more curb appeal, we have country charm.
I think this might be the happiest I have been for our football program since the Rose Bowl season. I feel rejuvenated about Illinous Football.
I agree Mora has more to sell. I guess my point was NFL experience sells itself and Lovie in the midwest particulary should be big draw. We wont beat MIchigan, OSU, or Penn St. I think the rest of conference should be doable
Mora is also recruiting from a much more fertile recruiting base than we have in Illinois.
Something I just thought of. Howard Griffith has been a huge advocate of this hire. Let's not forget...he has a blue-chip son in the class of 2018.
:thumb:
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
Mikal seems impressive. Overcame alot of adversity - appears to have a bright future himself.
Something I just thought of. Howard Griffith has been a huge advocate of this hire. Let's not forget...he has a blue-chip son in the class of 2018.
Houston retweeted the Illinois football Twitter official announcement so...
I'd really like Holocek on the staff, maybe he's comfortable with the jump now?
He'd take care of a lot of the Illinois ties you want, bring in some recruiters who know TX and FLA and you're looking good.
illiniobserver22
- Chicago
Excited to see how recruiting goes. We should be able to get in on some recruits that are of a higher caliber than we have seen since the Hawthorne/Green class is '09.
I'm imagining Lovie pitching Jeff Thomas as the next Devin Hester...
I'm imagining Lovie pitching Jeff Thomas as the next Devin Hester...
Ok, it's been what, a couple hours already, where is Lovie's first five star recruit
Seriously, I was one who questioned his possible ability to recruit. Not that he couldn't do it, but after so many years away from college recruitng, what would be his overall desire. I have switched, and am now convicted he will at least have us in the hunt for four and five star players, defensively at least.
Get a well know OC, like Sherman, and he could do the same for offense.
Future definitely bright.
Seriously, I was one who questioned his possible ability to recruit. Not that he couldn't do it, but after so many years away from college recruitng, what would be his overall desire. I have switched, and am now convicted he will at least have us in the hunt for four and five star players, defensively at least.
Get a well know OC, like Sherman, and he could do the same for offense.
Future definitely bright.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Ok, it's been what, a couple hours already, where is Lovie's first five star recruit
Seriously, I was one who questioned his possible ability to recruit. Not that he couldn't do it, but after so many years away from college recruitng, what would be his overall desire. I have switched, and am now convicted he will at least have us in the hunt for four and five star players, defensively at least.
Get a well know OC, like Sherman, and he could do the same for offense.
Future definitely bright.
Heck, even if we can just consistently bring in 3 and 4 stars, we'll be in a much better place than we are right now.
I'll help him out. Go see these kids first. Only 5 kids have a rating of 4 stars or more. So Lovie will need to Texas and Florida love as well.
https://rivals.yahoo.com/illinois/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-3688
https://rivals.yahoo.com/illinois/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-3688
Luckily there are 83 of them in Texas and Florida!
Chilliniwek
- Chicagoland
I agree. I've said more than once on here that I'd like to see Holecek as our HC someday.
brokensaphire
- Arizona
Diversity matters......
Let's not underemphasize the fact that being the first African-American head coach at the U of I, with his resume professionally, will put us in the room with the likes of the Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, etc. For the recruits with whom diversity on campus matters, Lovie opens all doors.
For this reason and so many others I believe this is a brilliant hire by AD Josh Whitman. Now, it's up to Coach Smith to make our football program nationally relevant again with recruits, media and students from all walks of life.
Love my Illini
Let's not underemphasize the fact that being the first African-American head coach at the U of I, with his resume professionally, will put us in the room with the likes of the Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, etc. For the recruits with whom diversity on campus matters, Lovie opens all doors.
For this reason and so many others I believe this is a brilliant hire by AD Josh Whitman. Now, it's up to Coach Smith to make our football program nationally relevant again with recruits, media and students from all walks of life.
Love my Illini
Something I just thought of. Howard Griffith has been a huge advocate of this hire. Let's not forget...he has a blue-chip son in the class of 2018.
Great point RyanK.
I think this one case goes to show what this hire has the potential to do...
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