And Illinois/BB continue to improve the program and the recruiting. I don't ask for anything more. They are getting quality players and will do well in the B1G.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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And Illinois/BB continue to improve the program and the recruiting. I don't ask for anything more. They are getting quality players and will do well in the B1G.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Then we agree? My post was not a gripe about the current status. I'm simply pointing out that (a) this is good start and (b) it needs to be maintained to show that continued upward trajectory.
Yes, I just don't care about Illinois being ranked #XX in recruiting or where Illinois is headed in #XX at the end. It's far more nuanced than a #.
Lightfoot is a top 100 kid … He can go anywhere he wants … Charlie really has us in the thick of it with him and we might get a visit but ultimately I think he goes elsewhere … Probably Ohio State …
Stewart is going to Michigan from what I’ve been told …
I think we're pretty much in agreement. I just think Bret's doing about as well as he can right now--yeah we won 8 games last year, but on the other hand we've been a losing program on the whole for these recruits' entire lives. I agree he needs another big weekend to really solidify this class. But in the intermediate term, landing class ranks in the 30ish range, landing a few key transfers a year, and coaching the hell out of these kids is a perfectly good playbook. Consistently post winning seasons while recruiting with the same intensity, and that's when the truly great classes will come.
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A really good article by Allen Trieu about the uptick in Illini recruiting.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
I did say it was more nuanced than that in my first post about flaws with recruiting rankings. There are lots of data points behind the scenes we can't see, such as this coaching staff really REALLY likes Orr, to the point where it seems obvious to us fans that they think he's underrated. But that's the rub, that nuance is behind closed doors and this is a public discussion forum. The only points for us regular folk to discuss is publicly-available data (hence why 247/Rivals exists and is the common currency among fans). For me, it's way more valuable to discuss competing offers (who Illinois is beating out for a recruit) and rankings (hence why these two variables are correlated) than to not discuss recruiting at all because of hidden data.
Sucks, but to have our logo next to the other 5 on Lightfoot's top 6 is still something very new to us and feels pretty good!
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
If Bullen is able to actually get Lightfoot......Lord have mercy
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Fun nuggets when comparing the start of the 2022 - 2023 - 2024 recruiting classes under Bielema:
Commits as of June 13th of each year:
2022: 9
2023: 6
2024: 9
Average # of G5 (or better) offers of committed players*:
2022: 2.56 (most: Whitenack - 5)
2023: 6.00 (most: Aamland - 16)
2024: 11.67 (most: Tuerk - 20)
Average # of P5 offers of committed players*:
2022: 0.11 (most: Leary - 1)
2023: 4.33 (most: Feagin - 12)
2024: 5.67 (most: Tuerk - 15)
* at time of commitment, as of June 13th
AVG Rating**
2022: 85.26 (~ 1164th ranked recruit)
2023: 86.47 (~ 920th ranked recruit)
2024: 86.71 (~ 858th ranked recruit)
**total class, not available for time stamped data
Commits as of June 13th of each year:
2022: 9
2023: 6
2024: 9
Average # of G5 (or better) offers of committed players*:
2022: 2.56 (most: Whitenack - 5)
2023: 6.00 (most: Aamland - 16)
2024: 11.67 (most: Tuerk - 20)
Average # of P5 offers of committed players*:
2022: 0.11 (most: Leary - 1)
2023: 4.33 (most: Feagin - 12)
2024: 5.67 (most: Tuerk - 15)
* at time of commitment, as of June 13th
AVG Rating**
2022: 85.26 (~ 1164th ranked recruit)
2023: 86.47 (~ 920th ranked recruit)
2024: 86.71 (~ 858th ranked recruit)
**total class, not available for time stamped data
Frame of reference? Where does UI stack up against other BIG foes in this regard?
* just wondering...fyi the data is great. Thanks.
Commits as of June 13th of each year:
Great analysis. Of course rating services are less accurate once you get past 4 star and 5 star studs. Iowa, Wisconsin and MSU have thrived on developing 3 star kids forever. Its a realistic model for Illinois . The 4 star and 5 star talents goes to OSU, Michigan, Bama, Georgia, USC, Clemson, Notre Dame.
Would be incredible to beat those programs. Let's hope we do!
This is likely a "duh" statement, but the most recent draft has done more for our football program than any amount of standard recruitment ever will. Guys go to the elite programs not so much because they win, but because they send players to the next level. Illinois moved in that direction in this past draft. And, yeah, if you get guys who go to the next level the rest should take care of itself.
We finally have a coach that gets it and knows what he’s doing… 
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Charlie’s got a great sell … Lightfoot is a smart kid and his parents are very smart as well … They know that Charlie would get Marquise ready for the league and his Mom LOVES Charlie and Bret …
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
This is really beneficial. Great analytics! TY
Lightfoot will be tough, but I look at this a different way. Here is on3's list of top 2025 in-staters. Supposed to be a top class. And look, 6 of the top 7 recruits are defensive lineman. Many have top SEC offers already. This is the real test. Need 2-3 of these
2025 Industry Top Football Illinois Recruits
A list of the top 2025 Football recruits based off of a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four major recruiting media services
madillini4
Ozamataz Buckshank
- Millywaukee
I’M SMARTACUS
Former UI quarterback is impressed with Coach B.
www.news-gazette.com
Asmussen | Illini have quite the haul in whirlwind 24-hour frenzy
Beutjer on Bielema: 'He’s doing a great job of creating a great culture and getting in-state kids'
this is where missing out Alexander/Williams might hurt. We might get lucky and land one of Dupree/Knight/Valentine, but as it stands now, most of the highest rated recruits we'll land in '24 are already on board. There are definitely some more solid options we still have a chance with that have some good P5 offers, but doesn't look like there will be an Elzy level commit in this class. If we have success again this year maybe we can flip somebody or swoop in late. As of now though, '24 may be another smallish improvement instead of the "leveling up" we were hoping for after all of our success last year. Still headed in the right direction, but yeah, we're going to have to keep improving to keep up in the new B1G.
I have faith BB and staff can do it.
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mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Would take a lot of time to build a list like this for other B1G teams because of 247 page limitations (for example, once a player signs, you have to manually look through the timeline to see commitment date, when other offers were conferred, etc.). Took me about 45 minutes to build this for just Illinois.
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