Well that's why they play the game, I guess we will see if there is any improvement.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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And Arkansas, Georgia tech, Houston, Kansas, Pitt and SMU. Would be a great get for us long term. Bonner will be a tougher get cause Baylor has major in-roads but I believe thunderwear and me are hearing the same rumors about Bonner being a very real possibility.
Maybe you are right about Witherspoon. I remember reading people disagreeing with my take on witherspoon, but it could have just been my take on the work the staff had done to identify the prospect. The truth is that we are more likely to find players like witherspoon because of the insistence on tape (particularly senior tape), most programs are done recruiting by that point. I am not arguing for it as a strategy. Just noting that this is what happens with Lovie's recruiting.
Also, I don't disagree that we have a lot of work to do for 2021 or that we are, not behind the 8-ball. No question this is the case. I am just putting it in context that we have had 6 commits in the past two months. Honestly, even if they were all prep recruits, we would be behind. But we do a lot of work on transfers and film watching.
I'm not as concerned with the class as most. I don't think it is a conference winning class, but I think it will have the talent to win football games. Ultimately, we will see how it plays out in 2023-2024
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
To counter, I think there are either zero or almost zero Lovie haters. No one is wishing Lovie is a failure at Illinois. I loved the hire, was a big fan of Lovie and what he did for the Bears during his tenure, saw the potential of connecting with Chicago-area recruits, thought it was well past the time that Illinois hired a person of color to lead their football program, etc.
The frustration is with the results: on-field results, recruiting, coaching staff decisions, offensive/defensive approach, others. The good thing is this season is going to provide the results that will either end Lovie's tenure at Illinois or provide him at least another 2-3 years and a degree of approval for how he transformed the team from when he took over.
What do we think the odds are of landing Willie Shaw? Down to us, Nebraska and Toledo
I wouldn’t bet on us. I’m not sure we are the best landing spot for him.
I think we are only taking 1RB in this class. And I think we have a really good shot at a 4* RB from up north
I think we are only taking 1RB in this class. And I think we have a really good shot at a 4* RB from up north
The one that Minnesota says they have a really good shot at too? I think if that one does not commit on the 9th to us we take Shaw on the 10th. If we don't I'd bet on Toledo. In state kid with some talent though. Take him.
I don’t disagree, but it depends on what we are looking for. Iriving would be a big splash get in-state. If we think we have a shot, (which we do), then we should go for it. We’re not in on many 4* level players in this class. Have to try to get them when we can. Running backs like Shaw aren’t hard to find. Ones like Irving are.
Well yes Irving is preferred. He might announce on the 9th followed by Shaw on the 10th. What I am saying is if you do not get Irving you take Shaw.
I doubt we turn down Shaw regardless of what happens with Irving if he wants to come.
Ehhh. Idk if we take 2 RBs in this class. I hope you are on to something with Irving though. I just do not see coming to Illinois (with no in state momentum) over Minnesota who is taking over in Illinois.
I think this is about where we stand. And, I do not think we have prioritized Shaw, so I'm not expecting a commitment.
Neither am I. I know Bellamy is close with him and we have been recruiting him forever. But I just don’t think he has been prioritizing Shaw enough for a commitment. But with a 25 man class needed, we won’t turn down a instate kid. Toledo in his final 3 is very interesting.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
If true, it's disappointing. Oak Lawn is an area that Illinois has traditionally done well, plus he's well regarded by 247 and Rivals, and has offered from multiple B1G schools.
My understanding isn't "the truth" It is an understanding from my limited view. I am not in the program, I am connected to money. I haven't heard much about him. I have heard a lot about our 4* RB target. I have been very busy over the last few months and I haven't heard much of anything this cycle. And for the sake of Illinois in-state recruiting, I would like to see him join, assuming he wants to join.
When i last talked to my friend on the staff i was told we have a better chance at Irving than Shaw. That was a couple weeks ago, so maybe things changed. I agree that oak lawn is a area we should do better in. I would love shaw to commit, especially to try and help get other in-state kids on board.
I’m not confident with us and Irving. Or Shaw. We have a lot of running backs and solid talent. Despite our success with nfl rbs, I’m not confident in our prospects at this point
What about Justin Johnson from Edwardsville? Any interest there?
It's pretty well documented how the staff likes to take their time getting to know prospects but what differentiates someone like Samari Collier or Prince Green from the other recruits, particularly the highly ranked ones like Ford?
Here is what I know about running backs. Granted, I don't know enough to weigh anything and Covid has had me 10x more busy than normal and I'm connecting with Illinois benefactors much less right now as I am working way more.
Irving and Shaw are the ones we seem to be in best with. Irving has a long list of suitors (most of the Big Ten). He has spent the most time with our program and we look prime for picking him up. But I wouldn't bet money on it. With Michigan and Minnesota and Iowa and others in the mix, this recruitment gets complicated. Irving has said that we have prioritized him.
With Shaw, its harder to tell. He spent a lot of time with us, even after receiving other offers. Things seemed good, but I haven't heard any buzz around him. Something shifted when Nebraska offered. This could be the time that Illinois stopped slow playing him and asked for the commitment. It could also be a wake up call. My money would be on one of the two of us or them. I just haven't heard the buzz, so I assumed we deprioritized him. But my guess is Illinois or Nebraska, but I am not confident on anything.
Irving has spent a lot of time with us and the staff felt good about him, from what I have heard. I have never felt confident in him, but again, this could be because I am out of the loop. Other programs also feel really good about him. The longer this goes the better I feel.
We were early on Justin Johnson, but I'm not hearing much about him, I think he cooled on us.
None that I heard recently.
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