mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
Imagine reading in 2015 about a recruit describing his interest in Illinois because it's a "winning program"
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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Imagine reading in 2015 about a recruit describing his interest in Illinois because it's a "winning program"
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
Imagine reading in 2015 about a recruit describing his interest in Illinois because it's a "winning program"
+infinity
when fans are in "sky is falling" mode it's mind boggling
I’d take this!
very much in play
but this is when you press the flesh with the lads who were unable to make it there . guys in Florida obviously were in that category
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Thus far we seem to have added the following guys. Is it enough for another 8-win regular season? And might we end up starting 2-3 true FR? And can we possibly go 16-0 and win our sixth Natty?
OFFENSE:
1 - QB
1 - ATH
1 - C
1 - OL
3 - WR
DEFENSE:
1 - Edge
4 - DL
1 - LB
2 - DB
SPECIAL TEAMS:
1 - K
1 - LS
1) DB Lavon Williams (January 4th, 2026)
2) DL Carter Janki (January 4th, 2026)
3) QB Katin Houser (January 4th, 2026) --- Clearly the presumed starter in 2026
4) ATH Maurice Smith (January 5th, 2026) --- How will we use this Div2 QB?
5) C Jake Renfro (January 5th, 2026)
6) OL Christian Martin (January 5th, 2026)
7) WR Jayshon Platt (January 5th, 2026)
8) LS Zach Haber (January 6th, 2026)
9) WR Ty Robinson (January 7th, 2026)
10) Edge William Holmes (January 8th, 2026)
11) WR Alex Perry (January 8th, 2026)
12) DB Deuce Fillmore (January 9th, 2026)
13) LB Robert Edmonson (January 9th, 2026)
14) DL Connor Sullivan (January 11th, 2026)
15) K Ethan Moczulski (January 14th, 2026) --- Returns to Illini after 1 year at WASH
16) DL Isaiah Thomison (January 17th, 2026)
17) DL Darrell Prater (January 20th, 2026)
OFFENSE:
1 - QB
1 - ATH
1 - C
1 - OL
3 - WR
DEFENSE:
1 - Edge
4 - DL
1 - LB
2 - DB
SPECIAL TEAMS:
1 - K
1 - LS
1) DB Lavon Williams (January 4th, 2026)
2) DL Carter Janki (January 4th, 2026)
3) QB Katin Houser (January 4th, 2026) --- Clearly the presumed starter in 2026
4) ATH Maurice Smith (January 5th, 2026) --- How will we use this Div2 QB?
5) C Jake Renfro (January 5th, 2026)
6) OL Christian Martin (January 5th, 2026)
7) WR Jayshon Platt (January 5th, 2026)
8) LS Zach Haber (January 6th, 2026)
9) WR Ty Robinson (January 7th, 2026)
10) Edge William Holmes (January 8th, 2026)
11) WR Alex Perry (January 8th, 2026)
12) DB Deuce Fillmore (January 9th, 2026)
13) LB Robert Edmonson (January 9th, 2026)
14) DL Connor Sullivan (January 11th, 2026)
15) K Ethan Moczulski (January 14th, 2026) --- Returns to Illini after 1 year at WASH
16) DL Isaiah Thomison (January 17th, 2026)
17) DL Darrell Prater (January 20th, 2026)
Is it really “mind boggling” that multiple people have independently all came to the same conclusion that there are major issues in the front 7? My god Joel. I think people have the right to question the side of the ball that has underperformed for 3 years in a row. No one is questioning the direction of the program. We simply are questioning the roster building this offseason. They are completely separate issues.
I think this is a ridiculous post. I think there is legit concern, which is warranted. No one is saying the sky is falling or this program is dead. But how in the world can you look at the front 7 and the coordinator and have any faith in that side of the ball right now? Let's use some common sense here. If a lot of people note the same issue, is that really "mind boggling"? Feels like a lot of people are not buying what the staff is selling and that's okay. The offensive staff has a lot of goodwill, not so much on the defensive side.
Very few, if any, are truly in sky falling mode. It's the offseason, and when compared with peers, I think it's safe to say that, assuming we have somewhat comparable budgets (that's the rumor), we have had less success in the transfer portal in terms of A) impact players and B) filling roster gaps
Doesn't mean the sky is falling. But, also less momentum than one would think after the past 3-4 year run that we've had on the field
Doesn't mean the sky is falling. But, also less momentum than one would think after the past 3-4 year run that we've had on the field
I have issues with your post as welll as it is uninformed. The transfer portal timelines have changed. You, nor I have any idea who will be on the roster in the spring or in the summer. And we haven't seen the majority of the players we recruited, redshirts or returning take many snaps in games (other then the LBs) or in practice. We haven't heard a single word from the coaching staff or any of the players returning about the front seven or the portal. What does that tell you? It tells me you have concerns about the unknown, not about who or how we line up defensively. You have know information on which to assume.
I think have to add in the JUCOs. That definitely appears to be a good part of offseason change.
I look at this from the perspective of who our head coach is, his history, and how far he has taken the program here so far. Bret is a proven winner and planner. He knows the holes much better than we do, and he fully understands the expectations now at Illinois. He has stated he has solid resources (not top 10, but the best we've had) and feels good about the direction.
He's not going into next season feeling we are going to have an awful defense, and I assume he has a plan to keep building it to at least show some improvements. Next year is a big one for us, and Josh, Bret, and the staff all know this. So far, they have delivered. I know last year had some disappointments, especially on defense, but I fully expect that side of the ball to be better. I am sure they are addressing issues and are not going into next year without a solid plan.
Will their plan work? Time will tell, but so far, we have seen marked improvement in wins, losses, our overall competitiveness, attendance, and the perception of the program - and I fully expect that to continue.
I would like to see smith line up as the option QB/ wildcat/qb sneak in short yardage or goaline sets. I don’t know if this makes sense in reality, or just in my head.
BB has done a very good job and I trust him. At the same time I am still worried about the front 7 and DC. We will see who they add and how it plays out on the field. In this era of college football rebuilding years don’t exist.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I think you clearly see in the way the dittoheads always start trying to manifest the departure of Brad Underwood after every tournament loss the difference between "positivity" as "you are disloyal to the cause if you believe it's ever possible for anything to go wrong" versus "positivity" as "we have had great successes that were in fact very unlikely and reflect tremendous performance that should be cherished, and when challenges come in the future, which they will, we should take strength and confidence that we have great leadership that can learn from its mistakes and find ways to succeed"
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Honest question, what is the staff selling right now? I haven't seen any interviews or quotes. Did I miss something? We may hear of a signing or 3 next week, or in May. It would be great to have the whole team assembled now, but I don't think that we do. Things will change, hopefully, for the better.
Joel Goodson
- how was I to know, she was with the Russians too?
good to know
regardless of how I feel (concerned about the DL, FWLIW), staff should be *always* be exempt from criticism
If we did that with Hank Beatty (option QB) why wouldn't we be able to do it with someone else?
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Are you calling in a hit? Lol.
What have you seen this offseason that gives you the expectation that we will get better on defense? You are giving a lot of faith to a group of men who have not led a top half of the big ten defense in 3 years.
Are you really saying that grown men who make more than 97% of people should be exempt from criticism?? lol... this staff lost to WISCONSIN last season. I think its fair to have some questions about that
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