mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
This. It's impressive how little the program has lost starters or up-and-comers in the NIL era.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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This. It's impressive how little the program has lost starters or up-and-comers in the NIL era.
That would be a home run, IMO.
Running back at Joliet Catholic. I'd bring him back to the RB room also.
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals
- Position ranks: #59 (247), #67 (On3), #81 (ESPN)
- State ranks: #16 (247), #17 (ESPN), #21 (On3), #24 (Rivals)
- Played for head coach Jake Jaworski at Joliet Catholic
- Three-year letterwinner
- Two-time All-Chicago Catholic League
- Three-time all-area
- 306 rushing yards in the 2021 IHSA Class 4A championship game to set the 4A state record and ran for four touchdowns and caught another touchdown
- 2021 Spring Illinois High School Football Coaches Association 5A All-State first team
- 1,544 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior
- 2019 Herald-News Football Player of the Year
- Honor Roll
- Offers included Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), and Toledo
X spouting that Bowick is next?
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
It speaks to the culture being built here. Altmyer sticking around, despite higher bidders trying to pull him from Champaign, is a perfect example of what Coach B is building.
For me, the three guys we absolutely positively cannot lose (offensively): Valentine, Clement, Dixon. Lock those three up and I'd feel great.
That third reciever spot I think we can upgrade.
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
No! J-Bo is my guy!
Genuinely don’t think I'd rather have anyone else. Hopefully we have the resources/relationships.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
Speaking about the struggles on the running game over the past two years. We can designate blame to RBs, offensive line, or coaches. Obviously the answer is "it's all three", but it's not practical or effective to do wholesale changes across the board. Just piecing things together:
- Valentine leaving would hurt. Getting a good transfer RB is more practical than many other positions, but Valentine is trending towards a breakout next year.
- I would be surprised if the staff wanted to bring back all three. We've seen this group of 3 RBs the past two seasons and it hasn't been good. They are not complementary of each other. A lot of belief that Valentine deserves more carries, would AL and KF come back in a likely reduced role? I would see it as an indictment of the younger backs on the roster (Forster, Wyche, Barnett, Wheeler, Ball).
- Reading the tea leaves makes me believe the blame is being placed on the offensive line and the staff believes changing pieces there is the difference. I have lots of faith in Bielema but this is going to be hard to flip and see improvement with so many starts graduating and the possibility of five new starters next season.
- Losing Thad is a nothing burger to me. The RB room was awful blocking all year and you have to squint to see unit improvement.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
25-30 carries a game. My guess:
Valentine 12-15 carries
Laughery or Feagin 8-10 carries
Current RB on staff 5 carries
Also, need a RB who can block.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
I believe we perused him months ago. Should now be in the process of pursuing him.......
Valentine needs 15 carries/game. One of the issues this year with having all three backs is you can’t exactly “unleash” one guy. It’s constantly splitting reps and doesn’t lead to a ton of rhythm.
JMO — would not be super discouraged with retaining Valentine but losing one of the others. I think Barnett could serve as a nice 3rd RB.
I think Barnett will be RB3 in four games at a minimum.
100% it’s hard to keep 3-4 rb’s happy. It’s also hard to get into a rhythm when you’re splitting carries like that
He flashed but 20 receptions should be easy to replace
What does is say about Elzy that this is the guy that beat him out. I will say Bowick is very good in the red zone
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
Kienholz's HS alma mater has a YouTube, so have fun scouts....
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWWbxPT4_M3Rg5hDaLhM7gTDWyv8ynzf5&si=Y97pumud3_8TZHfB
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWWbxPT4_M3Rg5hDaLhM7gTDWyv8ynzf5&si=Y97pumud3_8TZHfB
I need another barefooted Bass!
Get Coach B a 3 or 4x! He can do it! In Brett I trust!
Completely agree.
Also... Stepp is a freaking monster and I'm excited to see who he is bringing in out of the portal that Bowick is reading the tea leaves.
Bowick has 4 touchdowns in the regular season and 2 were in the first game against Western Illinois. He didn’t have any in the last 8 regular season games.
Ashton Hollins feels like a good candidate for many snaps, and solid production.
This. There will be games that are decided by a missed or made field goal or 3 pt attempt, especially as the transfer portal has put many more teams on “equal playing field.”
There are enough good kickers out there that you don't need to spend a premium on the position if you aren't a regular CFP player with a budget twice the average major conference football program.
If Olano ends up at Ohio State making 7 figures and kicking FGs in the CFP, good on him, that's the business now.
If Olano ends up at Ohio State making 7 figures and kicking FGs in the CFP, good on him, that's the business now.
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