Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[ChiefGritty]

Have we had any de-commits the past few days? I haven't heard of any. How many schollies are still available for 2021? Between those and the spots that will open up after BB launches fringe players, it should give him ample opportunity to mold the roster to his preference, almost immediately.

Remember, the rule that you can only bring in 25 new players in a year still stands.

I don't think there are any back-counters in our current recruiting class (someone correct me if they know otherwise), so in theory we have 11 slots left.

I'm not quite sure whether we have to stay under 85 not counting any seniors that decide to return. There has been very little guidance on that question from the NCAA.

In any event, I've never seen a coaching change where no one left the program. There will be some movement (which will make 85 not a problem). But because of the free transfer rules of this offseason, we want to keep it to the absolute minimum possible, because transfers are contagious and there's nothing stopping it from snowballing.

I'd say my goal would be 100 scholarship players next year. Maybe unrealistic, but the bigger that number is, the better off we will be. We want to be the program with too much player capital as the rules shift back to normal, that's the good problem to have.

 

[ILL_INI]

I'm not quite sure whether we have to stay under 85 not counting any seniors that decide to return. There has been very little guidance on that question from the NCAA.

My understanding is that the 85 scholarship limit still stands, but current Seniors returning do not count towards that limit.

There's also the question of whether a school can afford all of these extra scholarships. I don't think it would be an issue for most of the P5 schools, even with some schools cutting sports, because football is the primary revenue driver.

 

[ChiefGritty]

My understanding is that the 85 scholarship limit still stands, but current Seniors returning do not count towards that limit.

That works for 2021, but everyone, not just seniors, was given a blanket waiver for this season. It did not count for eligibility purposes.

So the juniors come back next year still as juniors. Which means they don't leave after next year. And everyone is bringing in a full recruiting class this season, which then means there is no room for any 2022 recruits, all across the country.

Will there be a massive national Crean-o-rama to cull everyone down to 85? Basically kicking 1/5 of players out of college football? Seems like that should be avoided if possible but this is the NCAA so who knows.

 

[altenberger22]

That works for 2021, but everyone, not just seniors, was given a blanket waiver for this season. It did not count for eligibility purposes.

So the juniors come back next year still as juniors. Which means they don't leave after next year. And everyone is bringing in a full recruiting class this season, which then means there is no room for any 2022 recruits, all across the country.

Will there be a massive national Crean-o-rama to cull everyone down to 85? Basically kicking 1/5 of players out of college football? Seems like that should be avoided if possible but this is the NCAA so who knows.

You need to go read Robert's multiple essays on this topic. The NCAA hasn't yet issued guidance on roster limits for the "out years" --- 2022 and beyond. It's possible they may walk it down to 85 over a number of years. There's just no way they can institute a CLIFF drop in 2022.

 

[KnoxIllini2]

That works for 2021, but everyone, not just seniors, was given a blanket waiver for this season. It did not count for eligibility purposes.

So the juniors come back next year still as juniors. Which means they don't leave after next year. And everyone is bringing in a full recruiting class this season, which then means there is no room for any 2022 recruits, all across the country.

Will there be a massive national Crean-o-rama to cull everyone down to 85? Basically kicking 1/5 of players out of college football? Seems like that should be avoided if possible but this is the NCAA so who knows.

Now, what if, in the Fairy & Rainbow Universe, scholarship limits got increased to 105? Good PR for the NCAA and kids get to go play football. With this being the Fairy & Rainbow Universe, we don't need to worry about the financials.

By the time 2024/2025 rolls around and these players cycle through, I don't think the NCAA will have the same amount of say that they do now.

 

[ChiefGritty]

You need to go read Robert's multiple essays on this topic. The NCAA hasn't yet issued guidance on roster limits for the "out years" --- 2022 and beyond.

I have and the bolded is correct. Everyone is flying blind right now.

But we do know we can bring the seniors back without a problem, so it's wise to be focusing there for the moment.

 

[CAIllini]

Does the 25 cap per year include transfers in or only freshman? Do transfers out subtract from that 25? Gonna be some funky math going on....

 

[ILL_INI]

That works for 2021, but everyone, not just seniors, was given a blanket waiver for this season. It did not count for eligibility purposes.

So the juniors come back next year still as juniors. Which means they don't leave after next year. And everyone is bringing in a full recruiting class this season, which then means there is no room for any 2022 recruits, all across the country.

Will there be a massive national Crean-o-rama to cull everyone down to 85? Basically kicking 1/5 of players out of college football? Seems like that should be avoided if possible but this is the NCAA so who knows.

Correct. This was put in place with the understanding that they would have to figure out the details later. I'm fairly confident whatever rule they decide, it will be what's best for Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, etc.

 

[ChiefGritty]

Correct. This was put in place with the understanding that they would have to figure out the details later. I'm fairly confident whatever rule they decide, it will be what's best for Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, etc.

I share your general cynicism, but because the NFL is always chopping the top of those rosters off year after year, there's a pretty decent chance the real winners of this are programs like us. Which Bielema clearly gets. Gotta recruit your butt off inside and outside the program to make is so, though.

 

[ILL_INI]

Does the 25 cap per year include transfers in or only freshman? Do transfers out subtract from that 25? Gonna be some funky math going on....

Yes, as Gritty corrected me below.

 

[ChiefGritty]

Freshmen and junior college transfers. The transfers are limited by the total scholarships available.

No, transfers count against the 25.

It's 25 new players per year, no ifs ands or buts.

 

[ILL_INI]

No, transfers count against the 25.

It's 25 new players per year, no ifs ands or buts.

You are correct. Once upon a time, they didn't, but that loophole has been closed.

 

[CAIllini]

Hmm...that's a big difference between all transfers or just junior college. If just JC, you could go for a huge roster turnover with this covid rule.

 

[FT35]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1341812326710784000

Mookie Cooper is in the transfer portal. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1341798877574344707

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1341803638935719936

 

[O&B4Ever]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1341812326710784000

Mookie Cooper is in the transfer portal. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.

Wow. Did he not get much tick this season or what? Interesting....................

 

[northillini2342]

Wow. Did he not get much tick this season or what? Interesting....................

He redshirted

 

[Illinois_2_AZ]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1341812326710784000

Mookie Cooper is in the transfer portal. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.

He should have come to Champaign originally. Mookie would have been on the field a lot.

 

[BillyBob1]

He redshirted

Everyone did.

 

[altenberger22]

I don't recall any of the recruiting effort surrounding Mookie. Is there even a 10% chance he considers BB and the Illini?

 

[Deleted member 380722]

There was a little buzz after we got Patterson but it faded quickly

 

[Illini1974Ever]

Not gonna happen guys !!
Hopefully we continue with some good news
In the near future but it will not be Mookie coming too the Orange n Blue ..

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

Not gonna happen guys !!
Hopefully we continue with some good news
In the near future but it will not be Mookie coming too the Orange n Blue ..

Boooooo.

 

[kyillinifan]

Kookier you’re jersey is waiting for you. Cooper, IW, Frenchie. So come on down.

 

[Deleted member 654622]

I don't recall any of the recruiting effort surrounding Mookie. Is there even a 10% chance he considers BB and the Illini?

There was a lot of buzz of him coming. It was rumored that we needed to show on the field to be legit first. Not that I know if it was true or not, but field results did not look good regardless. I remember his commitment video with him and his buddies around the pool. When he says Illinois, all the boys start jumping up and down celebrating, then they push him into the pool where he commits to Ohio State.

My main question is why did he enter the transfer portal now? OSU is about to play in the playoff. Makes it look to me as if he has a destination in mind already. Not saying it is ILL, just going off what it looks like IMO