Not gonna lie…A month ago, amidst and hand full of transfers out of the program (AJ Dennis amongst others) I was in a dark place. The momentum shift in the last month has been remarkable. We’re consistently getting upside surprises on the recruiting trail which is shocking (obviously no complaints). Pumped for the future. ILL!I’ve gotta say … This might be the best staff recruiting wise that Bielema has put together …
We got some absolute DAWGS on the trail …
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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I’ve gotta say … This might be the best staff recruiting wise that Bielema has put together …
We got some absolute DAWGS on the trail …
I feel like on the football side (in my lifetime) we’ve had either recruiters, or coach em up guys.
Would be nice to see both, in combination.
We need it to increase the talent on the roster and start moving up the pecking order. Seeing small improvements now but ready to start jumping up a weight classI’ve gotta say … This might be the best staff recruiting wise that Bielema has put together …
We got some absolute DAWGS on the trail …
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
I’ve gotta say … This might be the best staff recruiting wise that Bielema has put together …
We got some absolute DAWGS on the trail …
I'll wait because we're going to need at least a handful of more (better) commitments before this will be trending, because last year was the best recruiting class for Illinois in a long, long time from the perspective of recruits with quantity/quality of other offers.
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mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
The 2025 recover is a good sign because it was starting to trend a repeat of Turner, Zook, Lovie, and then Bielema that they would come in saying they were going re-invest in the state, followed by a gradual decline.
Looking at the 2025 in-state recruiting class....I'm guessing the staff is done except (a) Bass or (b) something unforeseen or senior riser? Christian Pierce is the only plausible uncommitted guy but doesn't seem like Illinois is really that involved.
Same boat here. We were following a similar trend to the coaches over the past couple decades where we'd get a successful year only to follow it up with an underachieving season and a fall off in recruiting unable to capitalize resulting in a return to the B10 basement. And just a few weeks ago, things were looking really grim, especially with the reports that even with our 1yr NIL infusion this year, we were barely even competitive with the bottom B10 teams. The writing appeared on the wall quite frankly.
This month has been utterly sensational and a masterclass by Bret and his staff. All of these recruits are top 1200 guys and then to get a transfer from Texas over USC and Michigan on top of that? Just gobsmacked that this is happening. I'm more optimistic about where we are moving forward than I have been in a very long time. Just a great month of recruiting and something we should really be proud of.
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I personally think a W/O/W combo but with our new uniforms would look frickin' awesome. In other words, the photo below (from the Beckman Era) but updated with our current set:
1. So our current helmet pictured below but WHITE with an B/O/B stripe, and possibly an orange Block I with a navy outline instead?
2. And this jersey on top:
3. And these pants:
Jesse Harrold - Robinson - 2023 junior season highlights
Jesse Harrold - Robinson - 2023 junior season highlights Hudl
247sports.com
Would love a "boom" with this guy soon...
might get a franklin boom tonight
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
How about an NJ RB Boom too, while we are at it?
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
A look at Illinois football's 2025 recruiting class, which includes a St. Louisan
Illinois has nine commits so far for its 2025 recruiting class. Here's what they'll bring to Champaign.
How many EDGE players does the staff want to add in this '25 class? What number are they eyeing?
To me, this is the most talented position on these visits. WR is good as well, but EDGE is #1 for me. LaJesse Harold, Donovan Darden, Tyronne Burrus, Nicolas Clayton...(I might be missing some too)
To me, this is the most talented position on these visits. WR is good as well, but EDGE is #1 for me. LaJesse Harold, Donovan Darden, Tyronne Burrus, Nicolas Clayton...(I might be missing some too)
Lord knows we need them, cuz our pass rush has been WEAK the past couple years even with the law firm being double teamed consistently.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Kudos to Rutgers right now with two top-247 guys, and two more that could make the top-247 after summer updates.
Takes for each position are going to be flexible when you are considering guys like LaJesse Harold. He's a take no matter how many edges are already committed because of his talent. Two edge recruits is likely the floor, with some combination of Darden, Stubbs, Burrus, and Clayton. Brooks is listed as edge but if the recent report of him being 295 is even sorta accurate, he's not an edge.
My argument is smart teams are going to take extra lineman every year because of the projectability challenges and elevated costs for even average DL in the portal. You want to take more freshman at edge and interior defensive line so you can see them perform against each other in spring and fall camp so you can better identify the keepers. Those who don't make it are likely going to find another home because there will be permanent demands for these players.
I don't know the numbers but with Brooks and White already in the fold, and a priority still in place for Derrick Simmons, plus Stubbs might move inside later in his career, it seems the staff wants at least more bodies on the interior defensive line even though they have ample pieces in place for the long-term already on the roster.
Takes for each position are going to be flexible when you are considering guys like LaJesse Harold. He's a take no matter how many edges are already committed because of his talent. Two edge recruits is likely the floor, with some combination of Darden, Stubbs, Burrus, and Clayton. Brooks is listed as edge but if the recent report of him being 295 is even sorta accurate, he's not an edge.
My argument is smart teams are going to take extra lineman every year because of the projectability challenges and elevated costs for even average DL in the portal. You want to take more freshman at edge and interior defensive line so you can see them perform against each other in spring and fall camp so you can better identify the keepers. Those who don't make it are likely going to find another home because there will be permanent demands for these players.
I don't know the numbers but with Brooks and White already in the fold, and a priority still in place for Derrick Simmons, plus Stubbs might move inside later in his career, it seems the staff wants at least more bodies on the interior defensive line even though they have ample pieces in place for the long-term already on the roster.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Seth Coleman was 8th in B1G for sacks last year. Likely a top-2 returner in B1G career sacks.
They may be Exhibit A (or, at least, among the top exhibits) to answer the 'Why not Illinois?' question. For those that say it is impossible for Illinois to recruit at a higher level. Teams like Rutgers, Kansas, Purdue, etc. are examples of teams that were really bad in recent years yet seem to have some traction with 4*/top 500 type recruits
Good point. We were only ahead of Indiana and Rutgers in sacks and Minnesota and Rutgers in TFL, so much room for improvement as a team. We allowed way too many QBs to sit in the pocket and become comfortable in my opinion.
Edit: stats were season totals, we did a bit better in conference.
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Joel Goodson
- dawgville
just another camp, but this sounds pretty good:
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