Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#1,626      
Second and Chalmers
Hoppy2105 said:
Plus, next year Lovie will actually get to play some of his youth if he wants to. What sucks about this year is that Lovie didn't even get a chance to recruit one class worth of "his guys".

A lot of times during a rebuild or when a school gives a coach a guaranteed 5 years to build something, the coach will start to play his young guys at the expense of winning games so they have tons of experience by the time they are seniors. Love won't even have his own true freshman on the team until next year. This year is a truly an anomaly.
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Yeah, that does really stink.

A new coaching staff doesn't really get to handpick their own first set of freshmen, they generally have a lot of holdovers from the previous staff's class and a few leftovers, but at least you're getting guys who fit and some who you like. Setting roster reconstruction back a year stinks.

But if that's the cost of Lovie Smith versus a dead year of Cubit and then like Brian Polian or something, you pay the cost.
 
#1,627      
Hoppy2105
Second and Chalmers said:
Yeah, that does really stink.

A new coaching staff doesn't really get to handpick their own first set of freshmen, they generally have a lot of holdovers from the previous staff's class and a few leftovers, but at least you're getting guys who fit and some who you like. Setting roster reconstruction back a year stinks.

But if that's the cost of Lovie Smith versus a dead year of Cubit and then like Brian Polian or something, you pay the cost.
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You pay that cost 10 times out of 10 and pay the taxes for it in the first 2 years without even blinking.
 
#1,629      
coryfor3
IrishIllini said:
Next year will be far worse, lol. Lovie's third year could realistically be a bit disappointing. I'm remaining optimistic, but we're really bad. Most of our squad wouldn't even cut it at Purdue...

I know three years sounds like a long time, but lets remember that we haven't done anything remarkable since 2007, and even then we finished in typical Illini fashion. You don't root for Illinois because you love winning, lol. Hopefully Lovie and crew changes that and we can have a football program to be proud of.
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And at this point, none of the records really matter. We're at the end of our football rope. We went out and got an accomplished, big name coach with some clout. Now sit back and let him do his thing and the records are what the records will be. Lovie gets maybe a solid probably 8 years before his seat gets even warm. Because you have to let him build. Not even just a few recruiting classes- several. He has to repair image, reputation, recruiting, etc. And if you don't like losing with Lovie, what else are you going to do? Fire him and go get a rising coach and expect better results!? Nope- we've bottomed out and if it is going to get done, Lovie is going to do it. We aren't leaving him- he would have to leave us.
 
#1,630      
Greensboro
HoopCity said:
This can be done next year if Lovie does what Mike White did in 80-87. From a losing record the first year to a winning record the next year followed by a bowl game the following year and Rose Bowl the next year. Bring those junior college players in the next 2 years !!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_White_(American_football)
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One big difference is Lovie was hired late enough that he hasn't had an impact on the roster yet...so his first recruits won't show up until next year (outside of a 5th yr sr., who won't be here next year). But if Lovie can find a JC quarterback like Wilson, Eason, or Trudeau I'm all in.
 
#1,631      
FatGreg
Greensboro said:
One big difference is Lovie was hired late enough that he hasn't had an impact on the roster yet...so his first recruits won't show up until next year (outside of a 5th yr sr., who won't be here next year). But if Lovie can find a JC quarterback like Wilson, Eason, or Trudeau I'm all in.
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Maybe a transfer like Jeff George, Sr. can take over in 2019 after two years of a Tony Eason-like JC recruit. Let's get back to being Quarterback U for nomads and transients.
 
#1,632      
Greensboro
Second and Chalmers said:
Yeah, that does really stink.

A new coaching staff doesn't really get to handpick their own first set of freshmen, they generally have a lot of holdovers from the previous staff's class and a few leftovers, but at least you're getting guys who fit and some who you like. Setting roster reconstruction back a year stinks.

But if that's the cost of Lovie Smith versus a dead year of Cubit and then like Brian Polian or something, you pay the cost.
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I don't even consider that a cost at this point, when Whitman & Lovie showed up that was already spent money. Maybe the small plus side is we aren't a whole year behind because Lovie had a 1/2 year head start on 2017 class which is there first real freshman class.
 
#1,633      
Dan
Lovie Smith finally hits the road recruiting this week. First time the #Illini head coach will get into high schools.

The Saban rule keeps head coaches off the road during most of spring and summer. Due to March hire, Lovie missed winter window to hit road.

The satellite camps gave Lovie a little exposure during summer but doesn't compare to this type of contact.

https://twitter.com/JWernerScout
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#1,634      
FT35
ritster said:
The excitement can come back. I just hope that when we are sitting next November with a 2-10 or 3-9 record the fans ( and recruits) quit showing up or showing interest. Next year very well could be worse than this year . I hope everyone realizes that right here and now . It will get worse before it gets better .
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We'll more than likely end up with 2 or 3 wins this year. I would imagine a win against Ball St. is all we can expect next year.

I've been a season ticket holder for 10 years so I've seen this before. Those are six hours round trip for me with a lot of sad rides home, but I will continue to support the kids that choose to play football here at Illinois.

I remember heading in to the 2013 season thinking that we would go 0-12. We lost a lot of Seniors on defense and the offense was HORRIBLE in 2012. They went on to beat SIU in a close game and upset Cincinnati. I didn't realize that Miami (OH) would be one of the worst FBS teams I would ever see in person and Purdue was ridiculously bad that year as well. That's four wins that weren't really expected by me and the Cincinnati game was a lot of fun. Due to the low expectations, the year wasn't all that bad to me, even though I still wanted Wreckman and Banks out ASAP.


So who really knows what will happen? Bottom line...expectations are at rock bottom for me. I would like to see some exciting Freshmen on the field, even if there are losses (like 2006), but this staff got a late start on the '17 class. I hope we can at least get a decent dual threat 5th year transfer at QB who can make some plays with his feet and extend plays. If not that, a JUCO that can challenge Crouch/George Jr. George Jr. is not a great fit for this offense, as much as people would like to see him fling the ball around the field to 2 and 3 star WRs.
 
#1,635      
coltjames03
Crouch isn't a good fit for this offense either. His passing is subpar and that's what keeps him off the field. He is more mobile but at qb you still have to be able to throw the ball.
 
#1,636      
FT35
coltjames03 said:
Crouch isn't a good fit for this offense either. His passing is subpar and that's what keeps him off the field. He is more mobile but at qb you still have to be able to throw the ball.
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This really goes without saying. Has anyone said they want to see Crouch starting at QB next year? He may not be a fit for any offense.
 
#1,637      
Deleted member 29907
coltjames03 said:
Crouch isn't a good fit for this offense either. His passing is subpar and that's what keeps him off the field. He is more mobile but at qb you still have to be able to throw the ball.
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Moot point if the receivers won't catch the ball...;)
 
#1,639      
SescIllini
Our greatest hope are transfers from big time programs who have been passed up in the depth charts (SEC/Big 8/PAC) and breakout Lower Division players who want to break out at a bigger program. Also the JC players.

We are going to need transfer the next two years.
 
#1,640      
NScale
Not George?

coltjames03 said:
Crouch isn't a good fit for this offense either. His passing is subpar and that's what keeps him off the field. He is more mobile but at qb you still have to be able to throw the ball.
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Then one wonders why he is 2nd string instead of the QB everyone wants to see have a fling at it.
 
#1,641      
Second and Chalmers
So on twitter JeffJ and this new account Bob Zuppke (I am not yet convinced they aren't the same person) have had a back and forth today in their typical veiled fashion about a potential Juco QB that is obviously DeAndre Johnson, formerly of Florida State.

Johnson was kicked out of FSU for punching a girl during an altercation at a bar. You can see the video here. There was some allegation that the victim used racial slurs in reference to Johnson, in addition to what can be gathered from the video. Johnson appeared on Good Morning America with his mother and apologized which you can see here. He said he understood and accepted his dismissal from FSU and that none of the mitigating factors excused his behavior.

Since leaving FSU he completed his probation and work program related to the offense (the only item on his criminal record, apparently) and enrolled at East Mississippi CC (a powerhouse Juco and subject of the excellent Netflix documentary Last Chance U which I'd highly recommend), where he didn't play last season in order to complete some counseling type things. This year he's their starting QB. He's an obvious major college talent as a dual-threat type QB who would arrive at a new school in January, be eligible immediately, and have two years to play.

I'm interested to hear what everyone's thoughts would be about this. Should Illinois accept a player who punched a girl in the face?

I have mixed feelings myself, what say you?
 
#1,643      
ThreatLevelMidnight
Second and Chalmers said:
So on twitter JeffJ and this new account Bob Zuppke (I am not yet convinced they aren't the same person) have had a back and forth today in their typical veiled fashion about a potential Juco QB that is obviously DeAndre Johnson, formerly of Florida State.

Johnson was kicked out of FSU for punching a girl during an altercation at a bar. You can see the video here. There was some allegation that the victim used racial slurs in reference to Johnson, in addition to what can be gathered from the video. Johnson appeared on Good Morning America with his mother and apologized which you can see here. He said he understood and accepted his dismissal from FSU and that none of the mitigating factors excused his behavior.

Since leaving FSU he completed his probation and work program related to the offense (the only item on his criminal record, apparently) and enrolled at East Mississippi CC (a powerhouse Juco and subject of the excellent Netflix documentary Last Chance U which I'd highly recommend), where he didn't play last season in order to complete some counseling type things. This year he's their starting QB. He's an obvious major college talent as a dual-threat type QB who would arrive at a new school in January, be eligible immediately, and have two years to play.

I'm interested to hear what everyone's thoughts would be about this. Should Illinois accept a player who punched a girl in the face?

I have mixed feelings myself, what say you?
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I was actually just coming here to post about the same topic. Has there been anything linking us with Johnson, or is this just an idea from Jeff?

For me, it would be similar to the Aroldis Chapman situation, which I still have mixed feelings over.
 
#1,644      
BWBW
If Lovie and staff and Thomas are convinced Johnson is truly repentant, contrite, and serious about becoming a better person, then he gets a second chance at UI, if he takes it. I'm sure there will be other suitors, so he may not even take our offer.

Obviously, he has to be a model citizen if he comes.

If there is any doubt about giving him a second chance, then I'd pass on him.
 
#1,646      
AutoPoster 3000
Big difference between domestic violence and a bar fight, even if the later involves a man punching a woman. The court system agrees; conduct like Johnson's is a simple misdemeanor assault and not enhanced b/c the victim happened to be female. But if the violence occurred in a domestic relationship, the case would entail many more components.

Which is a long way of saying, I'm probably ok bringing him in. FSU I'm sure had its PR reasons for dismissing him (it's the south, victim was a woman and white, the immmediate shock factor, etc.) but I don't think one punch in a bar between possibly drunk people that caused no serious injuries should end a player's career, especially after he spent two years showing contrition and trying to make himself a better person.
 
#1,647      
drwillini
The comparison with Nunn seems good. Maybe not a bad kid, just did a bad thing, and had to leave the current situation.

As much as we would all like our football team to be comprised of future astronauts, its just not going to happen.

I believe in consequences, but I also believe in second chances, especially for kids. Lovie is a high character guy. I think we trust him to make the right decision on this.
 
#1,648      
Hoppy2105
One thing that stuck out was that he took responsibility for it and didn't excuse his behavior even through there seem to be mitigating circumstances. (possible racial slur or even just drunken insults)

If I had a subordinate tell me what he did was wrong, that it didn't matter what else happened, and that he should have "risen above" and handle the situation better, I'd be much more inclined to give him a 2nd chance.

This is the long version of the military's "No excuse, Sir" right before taking the punishment on the chin.

I would give him a 2nd chance.
 
#1,649      
Second and Chalmers
Hoppy2105 said:
One thing that stuck out was that he took responsibility for it and didn't excuse his behavior even through there seem to be mitigating circumstances. (possible racial slur or even just drunken insults)

If I had a subordinate tell me what he did was wrong, that it didn't matter what else happened, and that he should have "risen above", I'd be much more inclined to give him a 2nd chance.

This is the long version of the military's "No excuse, Sir,"

I would give him a 2nd chance.
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That played well with me too. Especially when, if you do some digging on it, a lot of his teammates and members of the FSU community pretty strongly blamed the incident on the girl in various social media postings. Johnson didn't and doesn't, which speaks well of him.
 
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