Many fans are baffled that kids aren't tripping over themselves to play for a Lovie Smith. Idk any specifics of the staffs recruiting techniques, but it's surprisingly not resonating with the instate kids we're targeting. Lovie spent the last 20 years in the NFL. That alone should impress. But when you add that he was the HC of our homestate & for many hometown NFL team for these kids throughout their pre-highschool years. One would think that he'd be an icon for many of them.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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I'll trade mid-high level Illinois kids for mid-low level fla, tx kids any day. Yes I said that and yes I mean that in its entirety.
Robert with a good explanation to Lovie's approach.
https://www.illiniboard.com/story/2017/2/25/low-and-slow/
https://www.illiniboard.com/story/2017/2/25/low-and-slow/
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
No one is saying that. The complaint being raised is that Lovie (and staff) is targeting and offering in-state kids too late.
FT35
- Naperville
Maybe this is the problem. He was an icon through their preschool years. It's obviously not resonating with them.
That alone shouldn't be enough reasoning why we are striking out with so many targets however Lovie is essentially stuck trying to sell the program which is a work in progress at best.
The potential upgrades to the stadium are nice but we really don't have a lot to sell right now besides playing time.
FT35
- Naperville
Maybe last year. Not this year. Look at when they offered Quincy Patterson. Illinois was his first offer. They haven't done anything wrong with any of these instate players. Their message just isn't resonating with them for whatever reason.
I would hope they offer Marques Cox soon but understand why they are holding off on that. He tore an ACL during the playoffs last year and they want to see what he looks like after he's recovered.
FT35
- Naperville
This isn't really the point. We all know that we can get players of this caliber elsewhere. We offered a player from Tuscola and he chose to go elsewhere. That's the concern.
We have to start locking down the state and we could not be doing worse from that standpoint. This is disappointing not only from a short-term standpoint but a long-term standpoint as well. Your state is supposed to provide a reliable pool of talent. If we're forced to go elsewhere we are just establishing temporary ties that will not help our program in the long-term (see Locksley and D.C.).
Seems like whether it is the basketball or football forum we always have this discussion...
Dren1
- Glenview, IL
I suppose the concern from that article is that Lovie appears to be taking the following approach to recruiting:
"build relationships, avoid the high-pressure tactics, let the sale walk out the door and trust that the phone will ring because they'll feel a connection with you the moment the other guy starts his high-pressure pitch"
I think this approach is what is leading some to question whether his message is "resonating." I am still hopeful that we will recruit higher caliber athletes on a national basis, but I will admit to some growing concern.
FT35
- Naperville
I love Lovie as a person. He is a nice man and of course you want to see him succeed. However, we are running out of instate targets. No Illinois fan can be satisfied when they see this:
http://247sports.com/Season/2018-Fo...Rankings?InstitutionGroup=Highschool&State=IL
Nine out of the top ten players are gone!
http://247sports.com/Season/2018-Fo...Rankings?InstitutionGroup=Highschool&State=IL
Nine out of the top ten players are gone!
Just because we have offered someone doesn't mean it's committable or that recruit isn't aware that we are prioritizing someone more. We are assuming these Illinois kids were top targets of Lovie and we are losing battles. I'm not sure that is accurate, and last year's class shows we have a very strong presence in Florida. I'm more than willing to give Lovie the benefit of the doubt after what we saw with his first class.
FT35
- Naperville
I have a hard time believing we're offering non-committable offers at this point. The staff has been very careful about who they offer. Look at when they offered Kendrick Green.
Do you honestly believe we didn't want Woodard?
Not all of the guys in the consensus top 10 in state were targets (Bryant, Blake, Sanborn).
Do you honestly believe we did not want Patterson, O'Rourke, Ford, O'Rourke, Jones, Teague and Newsome? All of these guys are big recruiting losses at positions of need.
The St. Louis area is loaded this year and that's where we can pick up some of the recruiting slack. Thankfully there are a handful of guys there who are ranked higher than anyone in Illinois and they seem to be giving us serious looks. Still, the hope of establishing instate connections that will help this program long after Lovie is gone is always the ultimate goal.
I don't necessarily blame Lovie and the staff. From the outside looking in they are putting in the work and doing everything they can to keep these kids instate. For whatever reason it is not working. There are just so many kids that are ABI and it's going to be tough to turn around this program if we don't have a reliable talent pool we can pick from each year.
Thats not true yesterday I read where Doug at rivals said we could have offered two months before and did not understand the delay
I don't know who the staff is prioritizing. Maybe some of these kids don't like the laid back tact, who knows?
What I do know was there was this same hand wringing last year when the commitments didn't come as quickly as some wanted. Well still ended with a very good class.
I agree 100% I will go as far as saying I would rather have FL kids then IL kids, but I just want good players don't care where they come from
FT35
- Naperville
We don't have the resources, man power or name recognition to grab players from any state that we want. Locking down the state creates access to a well of talent that can help us now and in the future. It's obviously not happening this year. Instead Northwestern, Wisconsin and Minnesota are picking this state clean.
I hope the St.Louis and Central Florida kids head this way otherwise this is going to be a very weak class.
Which college football teams surprisingly produce the most NFL draft talent?
I don't know if this is a positive (good player development) or a negative (poor results) aspect ultimately, but I wasn't really surprised.
http://www.yardbarker.com/college_f..._talent/s1_13156_23753743?mb_edition=20170420
I don't know if this is a positive (good player development) or a negative (poor results) aspect ultimately, but I wasn't really surprised.
http://www.yardbarker.com/college_f..._talent/s1_13156_23753743?mb_edition=20170420
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
Apparently Ford is still in play.
Of course he is, as are many of the top targets that have already committed elsewhere. Recruiting is always fluid.
HOT COLUMNS
I still don't quite get that.
Me neither, but I've come to enjoy it
FT35
- Naperville
I think it means they got a silent verbal. Why it is silent, I have no idea, although a kid has probably let the staff know that they are committing and the staff will let him announce in his own way.
This was happening in December a lot and Phillips, Carney, etc. announced in their own ways.
Why they are saying the columns are getting hot is a mystery to me as well....
But like...why would the column temperature relate to....nevermind.
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