Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#576      
mhuml32
I thought they were going to sign a small class and spend big on the transfer portal with the expectations for a playoff push in 2026. Now? That outlook is messy. Raiola is going to cost a lot more and the team languished down the stretch. They may have to spend all of their accrued capital on keeping Raiola and making cosmetic upgrades while also skipping on the '26 HS class.
 
#577      
band camp
Replying to the above.
I wonder why.
Is Nebraska not recruiting these kids or are kids from NE not wanting to play for Rhule and staff or just Nebraska in general?
 
#578      
mhuml32
band camp said:
Replying to the above.
I wonder why.
Is Nebraska not recruiting these kids or are kids from NE not wanting to play for Rhule and staff or just Nebraska in general?
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It was an intentional choice. They were hoping for a small HS class this year and being strategic on the offers (they made a lot less than normal). My guess is they were hoping for 12-13 guys and over half of them being 4-stars, with that cost savings being used for the upcoming transfer portal.
 
#579      
band camp
Looking at UN's 26 class:

10 signed letters. 111th overall, with one, 3-star from NE. 3, 4-stars including Mpouma from Mt. Carmel, which hurts.
So yeah, mhuml I seems like they are going to mine the portal heavily.
I think I speak for all of us, that I hope they do poorly.
 
#580      
Kendall Gill’s Uncle
mhuml32 said:
I thought they were going to sign a small class and spend big on the transfer portal with the expectations for a playoff push in 2026. Now? That outlook is messy. Raiola is going to cost a lot more and the team languished down the stretch. They may have to spend all of their accrued capital on keeping Raiola and making cosmetic upgrades while also skipping on the '26 HS class.
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I’d let Raiola walk and spend that money on improving the team overall.

Transparently, I’m not a Raiola fan though and think he goes out to seek the biggest pay-day.
 
#582      
logjam
band camp said:
Replying to the above.
I wonder why.
Is Nebraska not recruiting these kids or are kids from NE not wanting to play for Rhule and staff or just Nebraska in general?
Click to expand...
Delete
 
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#588      
Nohops 73
Does someone on this board (FOTN?) know what the largest number of 4 stars Illinois has ever had on the roster at one time? Of course we all hope the transfer portal sets us up for another winning season to keep the recruiting momentum going. Stacking another 2 top 25 classes on top of the 2026 class would probably give us more quality depth than we’ve ever had before.
The transfer portal makes hs recruiting somewhat less important, but it’s nice to have a deep roster without relying on transfers.
 
#589      
illini0440
Nohops 73 said:
Does someone on this board (FOTN?) know what the largest number of 4 stars Illinois has ever had on the roster at one time? Of course we all hope the transfer portal sets us up for another winning season to keep the recruiting momentum going. Stacking another 2 top 25 classes on top of the 2026 class would probably give us more quality depth than we’ve ever had before.
The transfer portal makes hs recruiting somewhat less important, but it’s nice to have a deep roster without relying on transfers.
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Zook years
 
#590      
mhuml32
Nohops 73 said:
Does someone on this board (FOTN?) know what the largest number of 4 stars Illinois has ever had on the roster at one time? Of course we all hope the transfer portal sets us up for another winning season to keep the recruiting momentum going. Stacking another 2 top 25 classes on top of the 2026 class would probably give us more quality depth than we’ve ever had before.
The transfer portal makes hs recruiting somewhat less important, but it’s nice to have a deep roster without relying on transfers.
Click to expand...

2008 had 7-8 four-stars and has been the "North Star" for recruiting goals in current times. We can criticize the recruiting rankings and who gets bumps up or not, but 80% of those bumps have been locally within the 3-star rankings (i.e., player went from 1200th to 608th after committing to a big program). Being a 4-star means there's a 99% chance that you have 20-30+ offers, meaning you are a known national recruit. That group of 4-stars: Liuget, Nixon, Ramsey, Scott, Graham, Pocic, Ellis, Allen, had a good chunk of NFL players and important contributors on that post-Rose Bowl era.
 
#592      
soupy17
Nohops 73 said:
Does someone on this board (FOTN?) know what the largest number of 4 stars Illinois has ever had on the roster at one time? Of course we all hope the transfer portal sets us up for another winning season to keep the recruiting momentum going. Stacking another 2 top 25 classes on top of the 2026 class would probably give us more quality depth than we’ve ever had before.
The transfer portal makes hs recruiting somewhat less important, but it’s nice to have a deep roster without relying on transfers.
Click to expand...
Did a quick look through 247 Composite and got the following for at least the per-class data of 4 & 5 stars in the class. 247's ranking data goes back to 2002. Quick caveat that I'm excluding Andrew Dennis from 2024.

2026 - 3
2025 - 1
2024 - 1
2023 - 3
2022 - 0
2021 - 0
2020 - 0
2019 - 3
2018 - 2
2017 - 0
2016 - 0
2015 - 2
2014 - 0
2013 - 1
2012 - 0
2011 - 1
2010 - 0
2009 - 6
2008 - 7
2007 - 6
2006 - 4
2005 - 2
2004 - 1
2003 - 1
2002 - 1
 
#595      
the juiceman cometh
illinidarrin said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1997016328587051085
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Wasn't there a post about how Maika Matelau got a D1 offer as far back as 2020? Enter Max Johnson, who received an offer from Miami in 2016, committed to LSU in 2018, and aims to play college football in 2026.

1764964271309.png


Max Johnson Timeline Events

247sports.com 247sports.com
 
#597      
Mr. Tibbs
like father , like son

his dad is Brad Johnson . didnt he wear about 5-6 different uniforms in the league ?
 
#598      
hooraybeer
#599      
the juiceman cometh
hooraybeer said:
assuming he’s making decent NIL money now to justify this, but at what point does it just become embarrassing? he’ll be 25 next season
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Eh, I don't think the age thing is the embarrassing part about it tbh. Chris Weinke won a Heisman at 28. If it were me, I'd have been ground down by the injury history and the always getting beat out for playing time this guy has endured. I honestly doubt the NIL money out there is going to be massive for him. He couldn't win the starting gig at a bad UNC team.
 
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