Signing Day 2017

#303      

Trakis

Trakis
Chicago, IL
Trakis
Question: Weren't we all full up for the year? Are we pulling an offer/do we think someone else isn't going to qualify?
 
#304      

mhuml32

mhuml32
Cincinnati, OH
mhuml32
Trakis said:
Question: Weren't we all full up for the year? Are we pulling an offer/do we think someone else isn't going to qualify?
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I think they still had a couple extra scholarships, plus Heath and Kelly are moving on for next year.
 
#306      

Lake Camelot

L
Lake Camelot
I am an old man (53) And I hate the hats. makes no sense to me. Moves them into the category of make me like you in the future because this is a negative in my book already.

:(

Wonder if this signals anything about Stonehouse considering us.
 
#308      

FT35

FT35
Naperville
FT35
ThreatLevelMidnight said:
I think we always had a few available. Also Zach Heath and Darwyn Kelley are no longer on the roster, so that adds flexibility as well.

EDIT: mhuml32 beat me to it!
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Just to add to this, we only had a class of 24 before adding Gay. We can sign up to 29 for this class so there is still room for a punter and Lawson. This is why we had the flexibility to add someone like Gay.

With Kelly and Heath gone we now have around 53 scholarship players in addition to the four early enrollees. If we add the 21 guys who have signed NLIs that only gets us to 78.

We'll probably play under the limit this fall but I'm guessing there are graduate transfers out there and we can give scholarships to some walk-ons.
 
#310      

IlliniMed

I
Lillington, N.C.
IlliniMed
You don't teach that kind of speed with control. Great signing and with some coaching I'll see you boys in 2 years. Rush man in the trust of the sense
 
#312      

Psycho 86

Psycho 86
King Monkey Nut
Mooresville,Indiana
Psycho 86
Finally get a kid who gives us the hat/ shirt love and you all complain!! You also complain when it's against us...... SMH ... Kid was being a teenager and enjoying a process we only wish we could have done.... lighten up and let these kids have some fun. Welcome aboard !!
 
#313      

IlliniBacker

IlliniBacker
IlliniBacker
FT35 said:
His lack of size is an issue. I think most programs are looking for DEs who can contribute or provide depth after a red shirt season.

I don't think we'll see Gay on the depth chart before 2019 at the earliest. He needs to add 25-30 lbs and then you have to question how much speed and explosiveness he will lose? When you look at our roster and who we may have left at DE after 2018, this is a risk worth taking.

Given the potential size of the class of 2018 who knows how many DEs we can take?
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Agreed he needs size.

But a stiff breeze would have blown away Whitney Mercilus when he showed up on campus and he turned out pretty decent! Plus if it is true he is young he'll have time to fill out. Love the aggression!
 
#314      

MadSeason

MadSeason
MadSeason
mhuml32 said:
Kind of surprised they took another DL at this juncture. Must really believe in him.
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I think it's along the lines of he's a great athlete so we'll find a spot for him. love has been known to do some mad scientist stuff with guys and their positions too. Maybe he could be a tall rangy Middle line backer in a couple years?
 
#315      

LurkLongandProsper

L
C-U
LurkLongandProsper
Didn't see any commentary on this elsewhere, but we added Jake Pihlstrom (sp?) as a preferred walk-on, had a few low level D1 offers. 6'6 220 TE from Glenbard West
 
#316      

Jacob

J
Jacob
Dbell1981 said:
I bet they have plans for him at OLB. Or maybe they know he has the room to fill out and become a monster. I trust their evaluations with all that experience on staff!
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Also got a long snapper as a PWO as well