I hope that stays the same by the end of the season.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I feel like every school in the SEC has wanted 'Bama as a "bitter rival" for the last 10+ years, and the feeling cannot be mutual in every direction!
DL or OLB.
It’s OT, but since you asked: Twitter is struggling with very large scale data scraping, apparently seeking feedback on controversial fake tweets so they can be tweaked with AI to elicit more favorable and emotional responses. This consumes server capacity, drives up costs, and allows use of AI supported fake accounts (not real people) to manipulate public opinion. Limiting access to members, and capping views per day cripples the data scrapers and leaves AI bots without the data they depend on for their dirty work. Solution for real folks like us is to become members. It’s free and easy. Back to football . . .
This recent commit seems like a "trust the staff" type of commit. With their recent track record of finding hidden gems, we have no choice but to completely trust them.
I have Twitter — rarely post anything though — so doesn’t impact me, but not sure why it’s bad business. If one wants to see the posts, just have to sign up to see them and isn’t that what they want — more users? I don’t see people dropping because others can’t see tweets, so where does the bad business come in?
He’s a developmental TE….happens everywhere…people think too much lol. 85 man rosters.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Fun fact, our lowest rated recruit in 2022 was Matthew Bailey who played a ton as a freshmen last year. Our lowest rated recruit in 2020 was Taz Nicholson, who will probably be all B1G this season. And of course I don't need to mention our 2019 lowest ranked recruit. Apparently we are Mr. Irrelevant U.
Are they considering him at DE at all or strictly TE? His tape at DE looked natural.
I'm guessing we'll try him out on both sides and spec teams when he gets on campus and see where he fits. I definitely trust this staff to find where the players they find fit on this team regardless of the position they played in HS or JUCO.
BB knows what he is doing HS TEs are just big athletic freaks that can can easily end up playing TE, OT, OLB, or DE by time they see the field. It's a similar strategy to what Iowa did when BB went there. Recruit HS QBs because they are the best and smartest athletes on the field and change their position once you find what they are best at once on campus. Obviously things have changed and specialization has taken root even farther down the HS ranks so now we recruit TEs and DBs knowing some will stick there but quite a few will end up playing different positions as they grow into their bodies and add strength.
I trust the staff. Welcome to the O&B, Tyler. That said, I don't think he will have any issues getting admitted based on his offer list .
.mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
I'm fine with taking on a long-term development project. One or two per class is fine, and likely the norm for a program near the middle of Big Ten. The issue has been when Illinois takes on 5-8 of these type of projects each class.
There's a distinction here between "lowest rated" and "not rated". Players like Witherspoon, Bryce Barnes, Hugh Robertson were not rated by 247 because (a) they never saw them play, (b) it was widely reported that they would not be eligible, (c) injuries, and other reasons.
I am for taking on recruits that have had very limited exposure, late bloomers, surprisingly eligible, small towns, etc. that are lowly rated because those are contributing factors for why they might be more heralded than being reported. Hollinger can fit that mold - he's from a very small town (8-man!), has a bunch of offers from G5 programs that shows he's probably decent, bunch of articles showing he's a really smart guy. I also can understand the concern that he's camped and sent around tape and other programs of Illinois' stature haven't been interested enough to make him an offer. Again, it's fine to take a dice roll on here and there, just don't make it your defining trait in recruiting that you're trying to be smarter than every other program.
There's a distinction here between "lowest rated" and "not rated". Players like Witherspoon, Bryce Barnes, Hugh Robertson were not rated by 247 because (a) they never saw them play, (b) it was widely reported that they would not be eligible, (c) injuries, and other reasons.
I am for taking on recruits that have had very limited exposure, late bloomers, surprisingly eligible, small towns, etc. that are lowly rated because those are contributing factors for why they might be more heralded than being reported. Hollinger can fit that mold - he's from a very small town (8-man!), has a bunch of offers from G5 programs that shows he's probably decent, bunch of articles showing he's a really smart guy. I also can understand the concern that he's camped and sent around tape and other programs of Illinois' stature haven't been interested enough to make him an offer. Again, it's fine to take a dice roll on here and there, just don't make it your defining trait in recruiting that you're trying to be smarter than every other program.
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Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
The guys I mentioned are rated though, only Devon wasn't.
Like you mentioned every case is different. BB mentioned building up the walk on program when he started here. Guys like Barnes, Reiman, Darkangelo, Coghlan, etc were guys that BB put on scholarship after arriving. I see BB keeping the trend and adding players in all avenues each year whether fans have heard of them or their rating.
Laughing at some comments on this '24 TE commit. Matthew Bailey was one of our lowest rated recruits last season....sometimes they are projects, others they are just underrated and not seen until they commit to a program.
Ratings are one thing. An opinion of someone who may/may not have seen him play. I'd like to see measurables( Ht, Wt, Speed, strength) but also heart and results ( TDs, Tackles, Wins) which is what I'm sure BB rates them on. I trust them to sort through players to select the right raw materials.
I LOVE our current staff and their ability to shape our current players into motivated and talented men that Illini fans could be proud of! And it all starts with choosing the right players to work with. That's why I'm never concerned about not landing a specific player.
Ding! Ding! Ding! 100%
Also why BB/staff offer so many guys the same weekend they are on campus
Hunch or same thing mentioned few posts up. Just busting your chops
Yep it happens every year with a ton of guys. As long as the Orange and Blue grab them all good 
Is the expectation still that Dupree will commit to Wiscy tomorrow?
I think he's going to commit to Wiscy tomorrow but we will keep recruiting him. Eventually we will land an explosive running back but don’t know who or when.
Official visits to
Wisky, Illinois, then Missouri
Washington in top 4
Planned Michigan official but does not appear he went
1 CB in April to wisky, high, Wisc reporter and 1 cb to wisky 1 month ago.
Didn’t see any chatter on wisc board- probably just looking in wrong spot, Want to get both Dupree and dilin thomas(?) rb
BadgerBlitz - Upcoming commitment announcements involving the Wisconsin Badgers
Five prospects who visited Wisconsin officially in June have scheduled announcement dates this month.
wisconsin.rivals.com
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There’s always a possibility that we can flip some of these guys we lost from the 2024 class. Nothing is final until the ink is dry.
Nothing is final ever with the portal being as it is. If you like a kid, might as well keep up with them until they are out of eligibility. Never know when they are going to want a change of scenery.
Internet speculation. From 2+ weeks ago.Official visits to
Wisky, Illinois, then Missouri
Washington in top 4
Planned Michigan official but does not appear he went
1 CB in April to wisky, high, Wisc reporter and 1 cb to wisky 1 month ago.
Didn’t see any chatter on wisc board- probably just looking in wrong spot, Want to get both Dupree and dilin thomas(?) rb
BadgerBlitz - Upcoming commitment announcements involving the Wisconsin Badgers
Five prospects who visited Wisconsin officially in June have scheduled announcement dates this month.
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