Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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man, the whole narrative around the roster strategy was that we were going to build experienced depth by developing these 3 star guys over the course of a few years
if guys are leaving in these numbers and we're not over-signing to a Fleckian degree, how are we supposed to do that?
it could be that all of these guys did in fact leave because they weren't going to get the playing time they were looking for, but if that's just what it's like now then at some point the roster strategy needs to adapt. you can't roll redshirt seniors out on the line when they won't stay in the program that long
if guys are leaving in these numbers and we're not over-signing to a Fleckian degree, how are we supposed to do that?
it could be that all of these guys did in fact leave because they weren't going to get the playing time they were looking for, but if that's just what it's like now then at some point the roster strategy needs to adapt. you can't roll redshirt seniors out on the line when they won't stay in the program that long
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TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
Man, weren't these guys (Tobe and McCantos) Henry's recruits? Not looking good for the D coordinator here early in '24 after last year's disaster. BB gotta stop the bleeding at some point, no?
Edit: Tobe was a Walters recruit.....if he ends up at PU
Josh might need to re-visit the Fball NIL fund
Edit: Tobe was a Walters recruit.....if he ends up at PU
Josh might need to re-visit the Fball NIL fund
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Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
in terms of impact, pretty darn close to a nothingburger
Too bad, he's from a great family and a Bloomingtonian to boot. Rusk was going to get the lion's share of catches at tight end, makes sense to transfer for one last opportunity to shine.
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
I’m usually pretty forgiving of recruting expectations, but I’d say we should be top 40 at a minimum. That would be at the bottom of all the power 2 teams plus notre dame, FSU, Clemson, Miami.
ND CB Micah Bell in the portal - could this be someone Dre Brown brings along?
This is a good lens to look at it through. College football has evolved to a Power 2 conference playing field with a handful of others in the mix. Given the resources that affords, that really should be the floor. With NIL/portal, it is more difficult to be a developmental program, so you need to be able to recruit talent (either prep or portal) on the same level as most of your peers
Has there been any reports on the status of Jordan Anderson's knee injury? Will he be available this season or sitting it out?I was so impressed watching him play for J.C.A.
This is what the transfer portal has created, and you are seeing it in basketball as well. But in football, I think the idea of signing a high school recruit, redshirting him, and then developing him into an eventual 1 or 2 year starter as an upperclassman is going to become a thing of the past at the bigger schools. And unfortunately, even if you give a guy maximum playing time there is still no guarantee he sticks around. The players will decide for themselves what is best for them and I have no issue with that, but as a coaching staff you really can't trust anyone and need to ensure that you have a backup plan to the backup plan in place for every position. Thus the strategy needs shift with the primary focus being on maximizing returns from the portal.
217sports
- Springfield
We haven’t lost anything of note at this time except maybe Tobe and Johnson. Both of which weren’t starters. Everyone who is leaving is doing so because they were low on the depth chart.
Every other team experiences their exodus during fall, ours is happening during the spring. Most of these guys are being told to leave because we need scholarships.
Every other team experiences their exodus during fall, ours is happening during the spring. Most of these guys are being told to leave because we need scholarships.
Perhaps, but if you are going to be a 'developmental' program and not land the blue-chip athletes, then you need recruits like Tobe, Mc-Cantos, Calvin Smith, Badie, etc. to stick around and develop. We've been told NIL is reserved for 'maintaining' top talent (Newton, Randolph, etc.), but if that type of player doesn't make it 3-4 years into their tenure to develop, is that really the right strategy? I guess we'll see, but we're fighting an uphill talent battle
Lack of a DB coach isn't helping. That said, we should have one soon, and there will be more portal opportunities coming.
Watch the Toledo game. McCantos wasn’t a willing tackler.
where was he in the depth chart? Rusk came in and shared/took the first team reps? we play two tight end, so who has moved up to take snaps?
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
Exact same issue with Badie. That's why he never cracked the rotation
Not a good trait for a player on defense.
Call this guy. You have a nice sell here. His name is Chase Brown
Speaking of, do we know where we sit with NIL right now? I recall hearing earlier this season that we had relatively big for us use it or lose it money for football this year. Hoping that can still make some difference in bringing in talent this season, especially on the defensive side of the ball. If not though, sadly, it does make me wonder where do we go from here and what options we really have. I just don't think in the new B10 we can have another 2009 or 2003 type season two years after having success. Just hard to dig ourselves out of that type of hole when the NIL can't aggressively compete...
A transfer portal DB addition or two would be b-e-a-utiful.
More like required lol
I've been hearing Arkin's name come up a lot more
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