Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#1      

Dan

Admin
Early Signing Period (Dec. 20-22)
http://www.fightingillini.com/news/...uring-early-signing-period.aspx?path=football


Early Enrollees (Jan. 2018)

DL Verdis Brown
WR Shaedon Meadors (Grad transfer)
RB Jakari Norwood
OL Reuben Unije
DB Nick Walker


Early Signees

DL Calvin Avery
TE Daniel Barker
DB Sydney Brown
WR Edwin Carter
DB Ron Hardge III
DB Kerby Joseph
DB Jartavius Martin
OL Kievan Myers
OL Julian Pearl
QB MJ Rivers
WR Carlos Sandy
OL Jordyn Slaughter
LB Khalan Tolson
DB Delano Ware


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Regular Signing Period (Feb. 7th-Apr. 1)
http://fightingillini.com/news/2018...uring-february-signing-day.aspx?path=football

QB Coran Taylor
LB Jacob Hollins
QB Matt Robinson
DE Ezekiel Holmes
RB Kenyon Sims
CB Dylan Wyatt






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2018 Illini Football Recruiting Player News

April 3rd, 2017
QB Coran Taylor commits to Illinois

April 21st, 2017
OT Julian Pearl commits to Illinois

DB Antwain Walker commits June 6th, decommits December 5th

June 16th, 2017
RB Jakari Norwood commits to Illinois

June 16th, 2017
OL Jordyn Slaughter commits to Illinois

June 21st, 2017
WR Carlos Sandy commits to Illinois

June 26th, 2017
CB Ron Hardge commits to Illinois

June 29th, 2017
OL Kievan Myers commits to Illinois

July 4th, 2017
TE Daniel Barker commits to Illinois

July 31st, 2017
LB Khalan Tolson‏ commits to Illinois

July 31st, 2017
DB Jartavius Martin commits to Illinois

August 4th, 2017
DT Calvin Avery commits to Illinois

OL Braeden Daniels commits August 22nd, decommits December 17th

September 11th, 2017
QB MJ Rivers commits to Illinois

November 22nd, 2017
WR Shaedon Meadors transferring to Illinois

December 10th, 2017
DB Delano Ware commits to Illinois

December 11th, 2017
WR Edwin Carter commits to Illinois

December 12th, 2017
CB Kerby Joseph commits to Illinois

December 17th, 2017
OL Reuben Unije commits to Illinois

December 20th, 2017
DB Sydney Brown signs with Illinois

December 22nd, 2017
DT/OL Verdis Brown signs with Illinois

February 4th, 2018
DE Ezekiel Holmes commits to Illinois

February 4th, 2018
RB Kenyon Sims commits to Illinois

February 4th, 2018
QB Matthew Robinson commits to Illinois

February 7th, 2018
LB Jacob Hollins signs with Illinois

February 10th, 2018
CB Dylan Wyatt commits to Illinois
 
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#2      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
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#3      
I like Taylor from Peoria Central better than Patterson. But would like either or both.

I'd add him for sure.
 
#5      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
The goal for 2018 would be to snag commitments from three of the guys on this short list.
 
#8      

FT35

Naperville
Thanks for starting this mhuml32. At this point we're looking at a class of 15-20 so I can understand if the staff is a bit more picky with this class. Some other guys to keep an eye on:

John Holcombe QB? (Zarrian's brother)

http://247sports.com/player/john-holcombe-83831

Ishawn Stewart ATH

http://247sports.com/player/ishawn-stewart-45572631

Marques Cox OL

http://247sports.com/player/marques-cox-93568


Cameron Brown WR

http://247sports.com/player/cameron-brown-93614

Aaron Antoniou LB

http://247sports.com/player/aaron-antoniou-46037677

Cordell Littlejohn QB

http://247sports.com/player/cordell-littlejohn-86751
 
#10      
I'm sure Griffith is a pipe dream, but there are a couple things on our side. Well one thing really. Lovie Smith.

We all know about Peanut Tilman, but Lovie had a hand, along with Monte Kiffin in developing the modern day "slot corner" starting with Ronde Barber in Tampa. Griffith looks like that type of athlete to handle that position.

Griffith is clearly looking to get the best coaching and mentoring he can on his way to the NFL. Lovie can make a compelling case with his Resume.
 
#11      
It would be nice to post this on the 2018 thread.
C3nDhuAWEAAmLmn.jpg:small
 
#13      
Verdis Brown has also received a lot of attention. Lineman at IMG, but before that Mt Carmel. Would be a huge get.
 
#15      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
This was written in the signing day thread, but I thought it was best to address this here and talk about expectations. Depending on attrition, admissions, and scholarships offered to current walk-ons, I am guessing Illinois will have around 17-20 scholarships available for 2018.

Based on our results today, and after looking at the top 25 recruiting teams today on si.com, it would seem reasonable to me, anyway, that a goal of 10 4 stars for next year can be achieved. I mean, come on, even that mary lander team signed 11 of them.


It CAN be achieved, but would be an extremely optimistic expectation. A group of 10 4-star recruits would make Illinois a fringe top-10 recruiting class. Looking at this year's final recruiting rankings (on 247):

#10: Florida
  • 5-stars: 0
  • 4-stars: 11
  • 3-stars: 12

#11: Notre Dame
  • 5-stars: 0
  • 4-stars: 10
  • 3-stars: 10

It's also well beyond Illinois' best recruiting class in the past 25 years (not the greatest comparison due to recent star inflation):

2007 Illinois
  • 5-stars: 2
  • 4-stars: 3
  • 3-stars: 11


**If I was setting a bar for (optimistic) expectations for next year, a few things to consider. While the rankings will still grow, there is less top-end talent in Illinois, but more in the St. Louis area, for 2018 compared to 2017. Illinois also has some benefits of being more selective with this upcoming class, allowing them to spend more time on fewer targets, plus a greater familiarity with local coaches and other residual benefits of being settled into their positions.

All that said, this would be my optimistic goal for 2018:

2018 Illinois Recruiting Class (247)
  • 5-stars: 0
  • 4-stars: 5
  • 3-stars: 12
  • Total Recruits: 18
  • Projected Rank: 27-30
 
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#16      
If you measure 4 stars like the marketing department (selectively choose service to maximize 4 stars), we can certainly get 10 (according to them, we had 6). But 10 consensus 4 stars just is not going to happen for a bit (if ever). But the good news is that you don't need that sort of talent to have a functional, competitive program.
 
#17      

FT35

Naperville
Verdis Brown has also received a lot of attention. Lineman at IMG, but before that Mt Carmel. Would be a huge get.

He made some unofficial visits last year but he is a heavy Ohio State lean.

There's three Illinois guys at IMG (that I know of) in the class of 2018. The staff visited IMG Academy after seeing Roundtree last week.
 
#18      

FT35

Naperville
If you measure 4 stars like the marketing department (selectively choose service to maximize 4 stars), we can certainly get 10 (according to them, we had 6). But 10 consensus 4 stars just is not going to happen for a bit (if ever). But the good news is that you don't need that sort of talent to have a functional, competitive program.

I agree. Zook couldn't even do it. The problem is that there just isn't enough talent in the state for this to even be plausible and we're obviously not winning the state in terms of recruiting (has it ever happened?).

There were only 5 consensus 4+ star players in the state of Illinois last year and only one of those players gave us serious consideration. For the Class of 2018 there are three.

If you expand the search throughout our "recruiting triangle" there are 4 star players in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville. However, we're competing with lots of teams for these kids, almost all of whom have no ties to Illinois. The St. Louis kids seem to be the most receptive to us, however, and the downfall of Missouri helps us there.

Just from a numbers standpoint, we'd have to land half of these players (some of which have already committed to other schools) ignoring positional needs. It's not going to happen.

If you expand the search to CA, TX, FL, etc., there is always a chance we could pull out one or two 4 star players a year. However, these kids are even farther removed from Illinois and are being recruited by everyone.

We're doing much better but landing a few 4 star players would be a minor miracle for us given where the program is right now.

What's encouraging is that this staff has been very successful with players we have targeted and who were at least someone interested in coming here. The success we had with kids who visited in December and January was amazing.
 
#19      

Illiini

In the land of the Nittany Lion
Prepare to be amazed

The success we had with kids who visited in December and January was amazing.

Then...why can't we be continued to be amazed? I know, I'm wary of being overly optimistic, but the Lovie Effect is undeniable, and that's what made this last December and January "amazing."

Keep the baby, Faith. Good things will happen. #WeWillWin.
 
#20      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
Then...why can't we be continued to be amazed? I know, I'm wary of being overly optimistic, but the Lovie Effect is undeniable, and that's what made this last December and January "amazing."

Keep the baby, Faith. Good things will happen. #WeWillWin.


It's more about tempering expectations and not being disappointed if Lovie pulls in a 2018 class that is similar to 2017. It isn't binary, you don't have to expect or assume an amazing class would come together in 2018 to qualify as "keeping the faith". In fact, if Lovie pulls in a similar class next year as this, I will still have faith he can be successful at Illinois (would just put more pressure on putting up a good record in 2018). We all hope Lovie and his staff continue to "amaze".
 
#21      

Illiini

In the land of the Nittany Lion
It's more about tempering expectations and not being disappointed if Lovie pulls in a 2018 class that is similar to 2017.

There's a fine line between tempering expectations, I suppose, and no doubt we (or many of us) were hoping for too much this year. And trust me, I know how to temper. The '69 season, in the depths of the Slush Fund Scandal malaise, was my senior year, and I attended every game. We would have been ecstatic to have had a year like 2016

That said, further out, as long as Lovie sticks around, I think not just good things but great things can happen.

I do like, btw, that Lovie is going after the basics. He didn't swing for the fences (mixing my metaphor) going for a star quarterback. If one were there for the taking, I'm sure he'd gladly have taken him. But a great quarterback with no line to protect him? A great quarterback with no one to catch the ball? But an average quarterback with time to pick his targets, and targets that are able to get open, will make that quarterback look great.

Yes, I'm a koolaid drinker, but I'm realistic, I think, to believe that Illinois, given time can be leader in the Big 10 and a force nationally. I've just seen too many "where the h*ll did they come from" events not to believe greatness can't happen.

Here, have a sip. Would you like the Orange or the Blue?
 
#22      

Double Down

Chicago, IL
There's a fine line between tempering expectations, I suppose, and no doubt we (or many of us) were hoping for too much this year. And trust me, I know how to temper. The '69 season, in the depths of the Slush Fund Scandal malaise, was my senior year, and I attended every game. We would have been ecstatic to have had a year like 2016

That said, further out, as long as Lovie sticks around, I think not just good things but great things can happen.

I do like, btw, that Lovie is going after the basics. He didn't swing for the fences (mixing my metaphor) going for a star quarterback. If one were there for the taking, I'm sure he'd gladly have taken him. But a great quarterback with no line to protect him? A great quarterback with no one to catch the ball? But an average quarterback with time to pick his targets, and targets that are able to get open, will make that quarterback look great.

Yes, I'm a koolaid drinker, but I'm realistic, I think, to believe that Illinois, given time can be leader in the Big 10 and a force nationally. I've just seen too many "where the h*ll did they come from" events not to believe greatness can't happen.

Here, have a sip. Would you like the Orange or the Blue?

Completely get where you are coming from...It does not hurt to be optimistic right now. I am optimistic because I want to be able to be proud of being an Illini football fan. As long as we optimists can control our emotions if things don't go great and just go okay/bad for a little longer, being optimistic is not a bad thing at all.

I'll take the Orange, Blue stains my mouth too much!
 
#23      

warchant

So Ill
Are we still recruiting anyone for the 2017 class? It seems like there still have scholarships available and we need a punter and maybe a QB. At this point Lawson need a redshirt year depending on when he joins the program.
 
#24      
Are we still recruiting anyone for the 2017 class? It seems like there still have scholarships available and we need a punter and maybe a QB. At this point Lawson need a redshirt year depending on when he joins the program.

Debose is still undecided. I believe that gets cleared today, though VA Tech is seemingly the pick. Other than that I'd say punter Ryan Stonehouse and bank the rest for 5th year guys
 
#25      
Are we still recruiting anyone for the 2017 class? It seems like there still have scholarships available and we need a punter and maybe a QB. At this point Lawson need a redshirt year depending on when he joins the program.

5th year guys. I saw yesterday that NW picked up a grad transfer WR from Oregon, so those guys are starting to make their decisions. Could use a CB and a DE.
 
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