IlliniFan85
- Colorado Springs, CO
That is nice to see for once. It seemed like Lovie's staff was always behind. Even with a scouting department. But thankfully they found some diamonds in the rough that Walter's turned into studs.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
Yeah it sure did seem like that. I'm surprised at the low ratings and expected a couple more higher rated, but the brand has been so bad and hopefully we have a special eye for talent and become a coach-them-up program.
IlliniFan85
- Colorado Springs, CO
I'm hoping that we can take this momentum from this year and put it towards higher rated recruits for next year's recruiting cycle. This year is obviously harder because many of the higher recruits for this recruiting cycle have already dismissed us. I still am holding out hope someone somewhere (a high 4 star) has reached out to our staff and said they are thinking about playing for us next year though.
We are winning with a ton of 3 star recruits and below. It is about getting the big time recruits at key positions and actually develop. Honestly believe BB and crew can land JUCO, 2 star, 3 star, etc OL and get quality starters from that position. The first job he did was to recruit Illinois better, second is to add depth and quality depth. It takes time but he is doing that on the team and still will take another year or two. Besides the depth, I think the 2024 class and beyond could have some monster classes. Most people forget the top and mid talent players are being recruited many years ahead. BB had a huge disadvantage when he got here based on recent history and has switched the script on it now.
We don't need to land so many 4 star recruits each year. Just need the recruits we get to develop is all. Our bread and butter is getting a ton of 3 star guys that want to be on the team and sprinkle in 4 star and up recruits. Transfer portal is a blessing and curse in disguise....will just depend on the season to how we view it.
We don't need to land so many 4 star recruits each year. Just need the recruits we get to develop is all. Our bread and butter is getting a ton of 3 star guys that want to be on the team and sprinkle in 4 star and up recruits. Transfer portal is a blessing and curse in disguise....will just depend on the season to how we view it.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Yes, but this is the advantage of having a coaching staff established for a couple years. Caught up on previous classes and now able focus on the long-term. The hope was that Lovie would cultivate these advantages in 2018-19 but he ditched his 2017 approach (which was a roaring success). This is the first time we're seeing this since Zook in 2008.
OrangeandBlueNews - Fact or Fiction: Mickey Joseph can earn the Nebraska job this weekend
Mickey Joseph has led the Cornhuskers to a 2-1 record since taking over as interim head coach.
illinois.rivals.com
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
We can't even find a QB who knows the laces are supposed to be on your throwing hand
/s
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
You have insight into why Lovie changed? Too much work for him?
With Art week looming against Minny I am really hoping once Cade McNamara hits the portal Illinois will recruit him as hard as any. Would be a perfect fit for the offense and may be enticed by the progress and emergence of the receivers. Think he would do very well here. Fingers crossed.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I'd take Cade McNamara in a heartbeat.
Maybe he's left handed and giving a really, really good ball fake?We can't even find a QB who knows the laces are supposed to be on your throwing hand
/s
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
We can't even find a QB who knows the laces are supposed to be on your throwing hand
/s
If this is quick game passing concepts (i.e., Mike Leach), you don't have time to adjust the ball in your hands. You throw it how you receive it.
Some have a little to much spare time if we are picking on things like this. It is a picture....no clue if pre-game and just caught the ball, etc. A 2025 prospect that has no interest from other schools, hmm same thing happened with a kid named Cal Swanson. People were ripping him and than all of a sudden he jumped up to a 3 star and kept jumping up the QB rankings. He looks like a big kid from the videos...wonder if done growing.
People were ripping him and than all of a sudden he jumped up to a 3 star and kept jumping up the QB rankings. He looks like a big kid from the videos...wonder if done growing.
I'm out on 4 star Michigan QBs who lost their starting job.
Urban Dictionary: /S
The /S is known as the sarcasm switch. When you are typing a post use it at the end of your post so people know you are actually being sarcastic.
Evidently not done growing (or at least wasn’t). 24/7 has him listed as 6-2 and 6-3, 185, on his player page.Some have a little to much spare time if we are picking on things like this. It is a picture....no clue if pre-game and just caught the ball, etc. A 2025 prospect that has no interest from other schools, hmm same thing happened with a kid named Cal Swanson.
Just looking at the Illini offer lists on 24/7. For 2024 class, Illini have 54 offers out. Ten of those are to IL players, 2 to STL players, as well as 4 to other MO high schoolers (don’t know MO well enough to know if any are from STL suburbs). There are 15 offers listed for 2025 class. Six of those are to IL players, 1 to STL player and 1 to other MO player.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
Im starting to get this uneasy feeling that schools like us , that are in the middle tier of their P5 conference, are going to constantly be getting these former 4* transfer portal guys that leave blue bloods after 2 years and they will always be more ready to play than the high 3* signed out of high school in his second year
uneasy in that we will have a new guy under center every friggin year
uneasy in that we will have a new guy under center every friggin year
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Their health woes notwithstanding, Wes Lunt and Brandon Peters were both 3 year starters for us.
You have to embrace competition at the QB position, there's no other choice. And that's not just us, it's happening all over the country. You recruit one guy, transfer in another, they compete, you make a call, and the loser enters the portal. Play the game as what it is, don't try to out-think it.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I think its also fair to point out that most schools are facing this kind of turnover at the QB position, even the schools at the top. Look at all the shuffling that goes on at Michigan, Georgia, USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Notre Dame, etc. Sure, their options are likely better than ours which helps them. But you're looking at 2 years, 3 years max of a quarterback under center in rare circumstances these days. That's the new norm.
That is certainly one way to look at it.
The other way is NIL and DIA revenue. It is a big-time business. Here to stay.
The good thing is that high schoolers and their parents are very aware of the situation and it is baked in into their decision.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
yup. 2 years is likely the new norm as all you get The days of a 4 year starter ala Scheelhouse are over.
now , its like an annual game of musical chairs for quarterbacks. 100 guys chasing after 30 starting jobs at the more highly ranked schools.
Im not afraid of the future of the sport , I am just a lot more comfortable with how it has been done for most of the last 40 years
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If we get only two years, I would prefer Jr. and Sr. Let's hit the transfer portal hard.
I want to see what Minshaw, Leary or Swanson will do next year. I am in favor of developing our recruits.
blackdog
- Champaign
How often was the 4 year starter happening and how much did anyone want that to start with? Most college QBs are only going to get a year or two to start anyway if the program they are coming in to is established. If you have a 4 year starter that means you are probably a lower tier school that hit the jackpot with a highly ranked guy, your program is in taters and have no other options, or you got a generational type talent. If not those freshman were going to be sitting behind the upperclassmen anyway.
The biggest difference between now and then is that before, if a guy got passed up on the depth chart or there were 2 QBs in a class and they were #2, that guy was just going to ride the bench his whole career and never see the field. Now they have options to actually go somewhere else and get playing time.
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