After witnessing what we witnessed this past year, I'm hoping that it's MORE than one quality JUCO DB that we're targeting. Guaranteed playing time the second they step on campus has to be good selling point....right?
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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HUGE!
This year was a disappointment to be sure but I still think the program is headed in the right direction.
Even in years when we are good, depth is an issue and I think that reared its head again this year. O Line clearly wasn’t healthy to start, but lack of depth forced us to run out guys that weren’t 100% and we struggled accordingly. Johnny played more snaps than any other DT in the country, etc.
The trenches take the longest to build depth and it looks like we are doing that. Hope we get 1-2 more solid O Linemen from the portal or juco while our young guys develop. But Henderson, Dennis, Whitenack, paired with Altmeyer, Fagen, Valentine, Elzy and Hollins could be a pretty strong group as upperclassmen.
Even in years when we are good, depth is an issue and I think that reared its head again this year. O Line clearly wasn’t healthy to start, but lack of depth forced us to run out guys that weren’t 100% and we struggled accordingly. Johnny played more snaps than any other DT in the country, etc.
The trenches take the longest to build depth and it looks like we are doing that. Hope we get 1-2 more solid O Linemen from the portal or juco while our young guys develop. But Henderson, Dennis, Whitenack, paired with Altmeyer, Fagen, Valentine, Elzy and Hollins could be a pretty strong group as upperclassmen.
We're going to have to pull a Colorado and get into that top 35 via the JUCO/Portal route(not to that extent obviously) to be competitive next year. Don't think that I'm breaking any news here. Again, immediate, guaranteed playing time has to be a lure.
We'll get there sooner rather than later. In coach Bert we trust!!!! I-L-L baby!!!!!!!!
Hell yeah!!!!
Yeah, one 4 star recruit a year isn’t gonna cut it, which is what we’ve had the past two classes. I think staff has done a good job at finding talented 3 stars, but need to start stacking some four stars each class. But love the Dennis pick up along with the JUCO edge. I L L
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
Huge get and a very necessary one at that as that'sa giant area of need. Great job by the staff continuing to pursue and reel him in. Considering how sad Saturday was, this has been a really impressively good day.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
What if I told you we already got him …
I think a year of development will do wonders for our DB room, but yes we are going to need to hit the portal hard for DL help and then probably 1-2 DBs and OL that can contribute next year if we want to have a chance.
Very good pickup. We need him . Welcome.
obviously has to come in and compete but is the expectation that he's a day 1 starter?
Not that he isn't a decent prospect but does he really move the needle for us that much back there? After the guys they targeted last offseason to put back there I'm a little skeptical...What if I told you we already got him …
Champaign Toast
Fan since Kiwane Garris
If McCray does move on, Indiana transfer-declared RB Trent Howland could be a target to provide big back depth alongside Feagin.
Ran for 72 yards and a touchdown against us. Season average of 4.7 yards/carry.
Joliet West HS grad.
Will be a redshirt junior in 2024.
A big back (6'3" 240lbs).
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
in the B1G,
it’s oretty pretty rare for a Frosh to start at OT .
at OG ? still rare , but not unheard of
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Awesome news! Right as I was complaining about our recruiting; I guess it worked! 
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Highly unlikely. That said, the biggest boost will likely occur from this year's reps/experience. There were a ton of incoming freshman, transfers that hadn't played, plus a new coordinator, new position coach, etc.
Just to give perspective:
Returning P5 career snaps for the secondary going into the 2023 season: 1,163 (Nicholson was 592 of those snaps).
Returning career snaps for the secondary going into the 2024 season: 4,155 (Nicholson almost has as many career snaps as the 2023 team had going into the season).
Assuming Nicholson, Scott, and Scott come back next year, Illinois will have three secondary starters with 800+ career snaps. If Strain comes back, he has over 600 career snaps. You also have Bailey and Hill coming back. Tobe really impressed as a true freshman. Connelly talks about his returning production value is more weighted towards returning secondary production. There are reasons to be optimistic the secondary will take a step forward next year. There are also concerns, with the poor play down the stretch and Law Firm going to the pros. We'll tackle those worries once we see who's coming back (Jacas? Coleman? transfer portal?).
blackdog
- Champaign
I was talking with a friend during the game and statically DB is one of the positions that is most impacted by experience which makes a lot of sense and we witnessed it first hand this season. QB and OL are the other two that are the most affected by experience. You can survive with young guys at a lot of other positions but you NEED to have veterans at those 3 spots.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Howland didn't have 350+ rushing yards and that strong average just to transfer to another Big Ten program and be a depth running back. He'll have real interest from P5 schools to be their lead RB or split carries.
He is an IOL and will compete for a spot and wouldn't surprise me if he cracks the 2 deep. If he reps well at center then Kruetz may be in trouble.
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