Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#151      
TheGMan
Has Brooks entered the transfer portal officially? Or is it just one of those foregone conclusions?
 
#154      
blackdog
aaeismacgychel said:
Run blocking was a problem for the line all year. Just not getting much push up front and allowing too much penetration. Kaden is the type of back that would do really well with a bruising punishing line that we just didn't have this year, where he has time to build up a head of steam and plow LBs instead of most downs being forced to take on DLs before even reaching the line of scrimmage. Valentine looked better because he has better acceleration and great cut back vision to find a hole, which is what needed to happen with the blocking issues.

Feagin just wasn't well suited for dealing with the inadequacies our line had in run blocking this year, but with improved run blocking, I think he could be instrumental in wearing down the opponent at the second level where they start becoming very susceptible to Laughery's speed and Valentine's shifting and cut backs. Feagin's just not the guy you want operating out of a phone booth a yard in the backfield
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But Valentine wasn't better than Feagin. Feagin averaged 4.6 ypc vs 4.0 for Valentine. Valentine sprinkled in some nice runs here and there which seems to have made people overlook how often he had the exact same problem of going down right at the LOS.

The problem with all of our RBs wasn't necessarily speed or acceleration it was lack of patience at times. Being a good RB is a lot about vision and patience rather than just pure athleticism and McCray was really the only one that would let blocks develop instead of going straight for the nearest opening or wherever the play was called.
 
#158      
the juiceman cometh
jamie13197 said:
I love calling our line, "BigUglies". He'll fit right in.
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Mean Seth Meyers GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers
 
#159      
illini0440
TheodoreRex said:
Can we divulge a little on what didn't go right? Attitude? Inability to learn what we were running? Not doing what he needed to at practice? This kid was one of our biggest portal wins and he did nothing. What went wrong?
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What we run in the back end on defense isn't particularly complicated.....a ton of middle of the field post safety with man underneath....we took his talent and tried to turn him into a Man to Man corner and it just didn't work. Probably some attitude stuff that came along with that as well.
 
#160      
Ander1345
illini0440 said:
What we run in the back end on defense isn't particularly complicated.....a ton of middle of the field post safety with man underneath....we took his talent and tried to turn him into a Man to Man corner and it just didn't work. Probably some attitude stuff that came along with that as well.
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Kinda just doesn't feel like he's a good corner. Ratings in portal/out of HS ain't everything.
 
#164      
DevILLDawg
Are we gonna go after a #1 wide receiver in the portal? Seems like Defense and trenches have been the 2 transfer positions I'm seeing buzz about. Hard to imagine Luke not wanting them to bring in a cheat code WR again.
 
#166      
NashvILLe05
HensonHall71 said:
He started 19 games at Texas and was honorable mention all-big 12 last year, I don't think he does that if he's not a very good corner.
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Great point. He does appear to over-ranked though.

When we landed him, I felt it was a downward move for him from Texas to Illinois…but from a DB coaching, development, expectation perspective, Illinois was clearly a move up from Texas. All Big 12 Honorable Mention to at best 2nd string at Illinois.

I’d respect if he stayed and fought for a starting spot and got at least consistent play in the 2 deep. We simply get guys to the NFL. If he has the talent and discipline, nobody better to get him there than us.
 
#174      
steelmen72
Another overrated high school player from Illinois. You can find plenty of those. Some guy said Bielema has only gotten 2 out of top 40 players from the last 4 recruiting classes, top 10 for each class. Illinois has always had some of the most overrated high school players in the country. Coaches complain about Lovie not coming to the high schools but Bielema consistently visits these high schools and the top players still don't attend Illinois. Other colleges have the luxury off screwing these kids but if Illinois does it they get blacked balled. Damn if you do, damn if you don't. Bielema is a great coach and he see it for what it is.
 
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