Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#1,726      
IlliniBrave75
Illini extends offer to under-the-radar Dallas Branch

Smith headed west for a recent scholarship offer. Los Angeles Bishop Mora Salesian wide receiver/cornerback Dallas Branch was the recipient. It came as a bit of the surprise for the senior.

“I haven’t really talked with the coaches from Illinois that much. They just sent me mail and emails,” he said.

Branch (5-11, 170) also claims offers from Hawaii and Sacramento State. Ball State is showing him interest as his recruitment picks up during a strong final season as a prep.

http://www.todaysu.com/recruiting/cfb-recruiting/illini-extends-offer-to-under-the-radar-los-angeles-prospect-dallas-branch/
 
#1,727      
TheBucket
Have to think the new renovations can only help with the recruits. Maybe not as much with the '17 guys but has to be some excitement for the '18 and '19 folks that will be there when it is done and new.
 
#1,728      
Hoppy2105
IlliniBrave75 said:
Illini extends offer to under-the-radar Dallas Branch

Smith headed west for a recent scholarship offer. Los Angeles Bishop Mora Salesian wide receiver/cornerback Dallas Branch was the recipient. It came as a bit of the surprise for the senior.

“I haven’t really talked with the coaches from Illinois that much. They just sent me mail and emails,” he said.

Branch (5-11, 170) also claims offers from Hawaii and Sacramento State. Ball State is showing him interest as his recruitment picks up during a strong final season as a prep.

http://www.todaysu.com/recruiting/cfb-recruiting/illini-extends-offer-to-under-the-radar-los-angeles-prospect-dallas-branch/
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This one has to be an indication that the coaches have found a diamond in the rough right? Maybe Hardy has connections out there but it seems like if we were just resorting to getting bodies for the sake of getting bodies (which I don't think we've done yet) we wouldn't be doing it out in Cali.
 
#1,729      
IlliniInOK
It could be a lot of things. They might think the guy has the talent and/or physical tools to be a good DB at the B1G level. They might be reaching a bit for DB help. They might be developing some inroads in an area where there's a lot of talent. Tough to tell without seeing the film (calibear?) or hearing from the coaches (which obviously can't happen)
 
#1,730      
IlliniFisherman
Just watched Quincy Patterson's highlight tape for the first three games this year. He looks legit. Any word on our chances with him?
 
#1,731      
Deleted member 10676
IlliniFisherman said:
Just watched Quincy Patterson's highlight tape for the first three games this year. He looks legit. Any word on our chances with him?
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don't know, but he's only a junior and will no doubt have a ton of offers. This just popped up on Werner's twitter line.

[FONT=&quot]Quincy Patterson II ‏@quincy_qb1 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Blessed to have received my 7th offer and 1st SEC offer from Mississippi State!![/FONT]
 
#1,733      
FT35
If Quincy Patterson goes elsewhere, I wouldn't mind seeing the staff take a serious look at someone like Coran Taylor of Peoria High. He's not as big as Quincy and he has 0 offers, but he would be a nice fit in McGee's offense. He took an unofficial visit to Iowa in September:

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4907669/57c23327da50b060c065f71f

Either way, we need a JUCO or a 5th year transfer to challenge for the starting position next year and then who knows for '18? I'm not sure Illinois can attract a True Freshman that is capable of starting right away, unless we're still in rebuilding mode (i.e. 2006).

Quincy looks good, but he's obviously a bit raw. In that article about the win against Westinghouse, it said he threw the ball 4 times?
 
#1,734      
calibear
IlliniInOK said:
It could be a lot of things. They might think the guy has the talent and/or physical tools to be a good DB at the B1G level. They might be reaching a bit for DB help. They might be developing some inroads in an area where there's a lot of talent. Tough to tell without seeing the film (calibear?) or hearing from the coaches (which obviously can't happen)
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InOK checked out a number of tapes over the last couple days to fill in some of what I had already seen. Here is my take on the db situation currently. The 2 jc offers for cb/press corner K Nixon and nb M Hughes would make excellent additions Nixon can also return kicks and both are good but Hughes is scary. He is undersized and powered so nb only in the backfield.
I see Hughes as a solid 4* 8.5 rating while Nixon is a high 3* 7.25.
Of the guys we possibly can get based on there being interested in UC safety is T Cotton at fs and also a 7.25 3*. If you are wondering J Newman at ss is a mid 3* 6.25 . I would wait on him a little if i feel I may be able to do better.
Corners E Blades is the other game changer if we can flip him which I think is unlikely but he is also 4* at 8.5. Followed D Macafalle if he is still interested and Q Hafiz whose tape I saw yesterday and love both I believe could also play fs and are high 3* 7.0 kids. Just falling a tick short of the high 3* rating at and a mid to high 6.75 rating are D Branch and Z Maxwell.
Hughes and Blades are no doubt I accept on the spot kids if they commit. I would also say the same for Macfalle and Hafiz unless the coaches are onto somebody we don't know about or might be able to flip some not previously mentioned. No actually I would take them on the spot as well.
I like our prospects with all these guys as I like them better then the 3 present commits currently looked for the db group.
 
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#1,736      
Chipatsj23h
I really think we need to move past dreaming of Thomas ever playing QB here. There is no way Lovie recruted him to be a QB. The kid is fast as can be and i think he may be beneficial at another position for sure but this kid is NOT a good qb what so ever. His team has scored 7 points in 4 weeks. Seven! Yes, his team is not very talented I know that but I have seen him play this season and he shows me nothing at QB. I said it before the season started, I would not be surprised if he never took a snap at QB at Illinois.

With that being said I do feel like he can have an impact, hes very quick and seems like a good kid. Maybe Lovie feels like he can transform him, thats why they pay Lovie the big bucks and I am sitting at home writing on this board!
 
#1,737      
StateFarmCenter
Chipatsj23h said:
I really think we need to move past dreaming of Thomas ever playing QB here. There is no way Lovie recruted him to be a QB. The kid is fast as can be and i think he may be beneficial at another position for sure but this kid is NOT a good qb what so ever. His team has scored 7 points in 4 weeks. Seven! Yes, his team is not very talented I know that but I have seen him play this season and he shows me nothing at QB. I said it before the season started, I would not be surprised if he never took a snap at QB at Illinois.

With that being said I do feel like he can have an impact, hes very quick and seems like a good kid. Maybe Lovie feels like he can transform him, thats why they pay Lovie the big bucks and I am sitting at home writing on this board!
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Well I think they definitely recruited him as a QB. But I see your point. Two completely lost years of development for the position that needs it most. I don't think we should be counting on him much at all at QB unforunately. Hope I'm wrong.
 
#1,739      
StateFarmCenter
Lord Snow said:
How good is his qb? D1 level?
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Don't think so. That was their big question coming into the year and he only won the job right before the 1st game. Of course, now he's putting up record numbers so who knows. Half their offense though is them throwing an easy screen to Smalling where he then "out-athletes" the entire opposing defense and goes 50 yards for a td.
 
#1,740      
ILL_INI
Chipatsj23h said:
I really think we need to move past dreaming of Thomas ever playing QB here. There is no way Lovie recruted him to be a QB. The kid is fast as can be and i think he may be beneficial at another position for sure but this kid is NOT a good qb what so ever. His team has scored 7 points in 4 weeks. Seven! Yes, his team is not very talented I know that but I have seen him play this season and he shows me nothing at QB. I said it before the season started, I would not be surprised if he never took a snap at QB at Illinois.

With that being said I do feel like he can have an impact, hes very quick and seems like a good kid. Maybe Lovie feels like he can transform him, thats why they pay Lovie the big bucks and I am sitting at home writing on this board!
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The Illini are looking for dual-threat quarterbacks and Thomas -- who finished first among quarterbacks in Nike's athletic testing at The Opening in Chicago last Saturday -- quickly caught their eye.

Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee traveled to Chicago Heights to watch Thomas throw and came away highly impressed. The Illini were trying to get Thomas on campus at the end of the month -- likely to present the offer -- but increased interest from Indiana, Iowa and other programs seemed to convince the Illini to pull the trigger earlier.

QB Cam Thomas out to 'make Illinois great again'
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#1,741      
StateFarmCenter
#1,743      
SampsonRelpenk
FiveStar said:
How are bubble screens not pass interference? The defender is getting blocked while the ball is in the air. Is the five yards of allowable contact a thing that goes both ways?
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I believe it's legal as long as it's behind the LOS.
 
#1,744      
ILL_INI
SampsonRelpenk said:
I believe it's legal as long as it's behind the LOS.
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Correct. They even usually give them a yard or two leeway from the line of scrimmage. But this play was completely behind the LOS, so offensive pass interference was not ever in question.
 
#1,745      
FiveStar
ILL_INI said:
Correct. They even usually give them a yard or two leeway from the line of scrimmage. But this play was completely behind the LOS, so offensive pass interference was not ever in question.
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Thanks not super up on my football rules for every situation.
 
#1,748      
IlliniFisherman
Time for these coaches to hit the recruiting trail hard. If we want any future success it needs to come in the next two years recruiting. Sell the playing time hard, its all we have to offer
 
#1,749      
SixthandWhite
IlliniFisherman said:
Time for these coaches to hit the recruiting trail hard. If we want any future success it needs to come in the next two years recruiting. Sell the playing time hard, its all we have to offer
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I respectfully disagree. In addition to playing time, we can offer working with an NFL-experienced coaching staff, stadium / facility upgrades that will be in full swing by the time these recruits are sophomores, solid academics, representing your home state, and hopefully another bumper crop of NFL players. A lot of schools have less to sell than we do.
 
#1,750      
calibear
Would love to see an offer for Nathan Hobbs out of Ky. Watched his tape and just flat does everything very well period. Impressed me enough for a high 3* rating 7.5 . Folks that is sniffing a 4th * He plays press corner a lot yet has the backpedal and hip flip you are looking for. Lil nasty loves to hit yet good routes, shadows well and will flash while letting you know he is there. Strong open field tackler that can play any type of cb you want as well as fs.
 
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