Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#201      
Illinifan533
I wonder how many of these defensive transfers are bit of a "mutual" decision by the players and coaching staff. We criticize Aaron Henry for good reason but a lot of times while I was watching and just thought how slow most of our defensive guys looked compared to our opponents. Everyone in the building knows the defense needs an uptick in talent.
 
#203      
LvilleILL1
You will see a bit less retention this year (most of the notables have already announced), and them focusing on keeping the guys they really want.

They will be more aggressive in who they add in the portal and quality of player. Expecting them to add almost every position and multiple guys at a lot of positions.
 
#204      
STLini25
Illini in Italy said:
Think professional sports - there is no cap on endorsements by athletes. The difference is that the NFL has absolute power granted by the team owners to enforce the league rules. You don’t see any lawsuits by the players challenging NFL rules unlike the revolving door of lawsuits hamstringing the NCAA. In some ways the NFL and the NCAA are very alike - member run/owned institutions with a set of agreed upon rules. The significant difference between the two is the labor agreements between the NFL and the NFLPA which outlines how disagreements are adjudicated. This difference will end if/when the NCAA and athletes evolve into a true professional relationship with a CBA and employer/employee contracts.

At which point I will no longer be a college sports fan, sad to say.
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Correct.

Why are you against it? The current state is no good with no rules. Why not have a CBA and have rules? It’s definitely going to happen in the next 5-10 years.
 
#206      
Battle89
Indy Illini Fan said:
Yes …
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Well to be fair this forum has already been perusing him all day. Now let the staff pursuit begin (continue?).

Edit to acknowledge @DeonThomas first!

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#207      
Illini in Italy
STLini25 said:
Correct.

Why are you against it? The current state is no good with no rules. Why not have a CBA and have rules? It’s definitely going to happen in the next 5-10 years.
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The thing that gets my drawers bunched up is that at that point, it becomes minor league professional sports, which holds no attraction for me. In the “old days” there was at least the illusion that the athletes were students just like you. I remember having a number of football and basketball players in my classes and the friendships we developed that cemented my love for Illinois sports. When they are professionals under contract being paid to play there is zero affinity there, no common grounds. Simplistic I know, but that’s my view.
 
#208      
STLini25
Illini in Italy said:
The thing that gets my drawers bunched up is that at that point, it becomes minor league professional sports, which holds no attraction for me. In the “old days” there was at least the illusion that the athletes were students just like you. I remember having a number of football and basketball players in my classes and the friendships we developed that cemented my love for Illinois sports. When they are professionals under contract being paid to play there is zero affinity there, no common grounds. Simplistic I know, but that’s my view.
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I understand your point and that the current state has negatives (and positives) but I think your ship has sailed. It will never be like how you want it again.
 
#210      
Second place is 1st loser
zentrails said:
And IMO it won't be too hard to find another kicker NOT limited to 50 yards, (probably not as accurate or clutch obviously) but who can boom them out of the end zone. Smart move for Olano to get his possibly last payday as a kicker. Hope he got his valuable UIUC degree, I'm sure glad I got mine (chemistry '79).
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My guess is he'll be kicking on Sundays. The kid has an accurate cannon and has proven he can kick in tougher weather. It won't be his last payday.
 
#211      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
I don't exactly think it's all about your budget, but more about what you consider more valuable to your team. For instance, is Olano more valuable than a DT who will get 1.5 sacks and just be a body in run defense? To me the answer is yes, but obviously staff sees it differently.
 
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#215      
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?
Wonder if whomever we bring in as position coaches could also bring some talent with them. For instance, Indy posted about the Cal RB coach in the other thread, they have a fairly decent RB:

www.espn.com

Kendrick Raphael - California Golden Bears Running Back - ESPN

View the profile of California Golden Bears Running Back Kendrick Raphael on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
#216      
zentrails
Lack of success at FG's > 50 might sink his NFL chances, possibly - they now seem to be a dime a dozen in the NFL, maybe even beyond 60 for a lot of kickers. Wasn't Olano the kicker last season who was short on a 50 yard kick at Rutgers just after they called a TO allowing Luke to instead nail them with Pat B.'s last second game winning TD catch/run?

I wish him well regardless, though, hope I'm wrong and he improves his leg strength this off season.
 
#218      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
Total yards look great, but meh on the 4.1 yards per carry. If he’s fine with being RB2, fine. If not, I’d rather give the majority of reps to Valentine.
 
#220      
zentrails
He kicked it off only once in the bowl game, it was as short (against the wind tbf) as Olano's were earlier and was the kick they ran to the house on us as well. I'm not sure he kicked it off in any other games for us, thought it was Olano kicking off during the regular games, but could be wrong. Olano never got hurt so we never got to see how Osada was at kicking FGs
 
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#222      
zentrails
I read somewhere that Rusk needs to get a medical waiver to play next year. If so, maybe he thought it would be easier to get that with another team, our track record with the NCAA in that area isn't all that great.
 
#224      
BrownTown
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr? said:
Wonder if whomever we bring in as position coaches could also bring some talent with them. For instance, Indy posted about the Cal RB coach in the other thread, they have a fairly decent RB:

www.espn.com

Kendrick Raphael - California Golden Bears Running Back - ESPN

View the profile of California Golden Bears Running Back Kendrick Raphael on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
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They have a few dudes that I'd love for us to poach.
 
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