Transfers Thread
honestly this is not one bit different then if we had a good team and was losing a bunch of SR. I am excited to see who else Lovie and the staff can land in this class now with the extra room
Marchie Murdock is all over our guys leaving on Twitter. Not sure if I have a point, just find it interesting
As in he's giving them hell for leaving or happy they are?
What did they say?
Seems happy about it from what I'm interpreting. He's supportive on the tweets players are posting, but he posted his own tweet laughing about all the players leaving
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
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redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
What a mess...
I was expecting that one. I’m looking at probably at least three more on offense
Oldtoysrock
- Sarasota, Florida
I concur, and can only imagine how recruiters from other schools are using all of these transfers against us when they are in front of a recruit. I hope we end up with a blockbuster signing class, but I am concerned.
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SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
Would the situation be any better/worse if this exodus had happened after last season? My fatalistic side is wondering if Lovie getting hired in March doomed this thing before it began.
It isn't that surprising that a Junior who didn't record a catch all season wants to go somewhere he can play his last season. Some need to realize that this isn't 20 years ago when transfers were relatively rare. The Grad transfer rule was a game changer. Most schools will see transfers like we are once their seasons end
We're getting close to exceeding the number of empty spots we can fill in the 2018 class.
Robert (@ALionEye) from Illiniboard.com has a great post on the roster turnover, giving it some context. I'd encourage all to read..
https://illiniboard.com/story/2017/11/28/roster-turnover/
https://illiniboard.com/story/2017/11/28/roster-turnover/
How many of the early enrollees would we be able to back count to the 2017 class?
I dont think we are really sure on that, but as of right now we have 25 rides with 15 filled, so can still add 10
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I keep asking people on twitter that, and no one seems to know.
Pretty sure three would be the absolute theoretical max though, since we had 22 fall enrollees this year. The question is whether the four spring enrollees were back-counted. You would imagine they were (pretty sure we had the spots in the 2016 class), but I'm not sure.
Speaking of JGJ, I cannot remember any Illinois team in recent memory that can improve as much as next years can, IF they can find a competent QB.
In Lovie's first year we had an immobile QB with a good arm, terrible receiving corp, and fair blocking.
In year 2, we had a major upgrade in receivers, blocking that was fair to partly cloudy, but no QB who could deliver the ball.
We have been so inept at passing the last two years that every poster on the board, myself included, could game plan us.
A decent QB this year could have sustained drives and kept our exhausted defense off the field in the 2nd half.
In Lovie's first year we had an immobile QB with a good arm, terrible receiving corp, and fair blocking.
In year 2, we had a major upgrade in receivers, blocking that was fair to partly cloudy, but no QB who could deliver the ball.
We have been so inept at passing the last two years that every poster on the board, myself included, could game plan us.
A decent QB this year could have sustained drives and kept our exhausted defense off the field in the 2nd half.
With the large number of "unexpected" transfers I think the "expected" transfers may stay solely for depth purposes. A guy like Hylton provides depth for spring ball before the freshmen arrive. The redshirt sophomores like Solomon give themselves another year to compete, provide depth, allow redshirting of freshmen, and finish up degrees.
Does anyone know if giving a walk-on a scholarship counts towards the class limit? A guy like Bobby Walker may earn himself a scholarship if extra are available.
Does anyone know if giving a walk-on a scholarship counts towards the class limit? A guy like Bobby Walker may earn himself a scholarship if extra are available.
anyone with one counts, for the year of school they are I believe, but I seriously doubt we have any open.
Any of these guys to stay either want that degree or they dont think they would be better off anyplace else. As far as the OL, this class will be every bit as good as last years, might be better depending on who else we might add. I do agree it would be nice to RS like Slaughter who will still only be 17 when he gets here, and Pearl needs time to fill out, But I do not see us sitting on many recruits again this year . maybe by 19 we can start doing that
FT35
- Naperville
I don't know either. However, I don't think we back dated any of the early enrollees last year. Just looking at the Class of 2016 from 247:
https://247sports.com/college/illinois/Season/2016-Football/Commits
That's 25 guys there although I think we can eliminate Peters and Pulley since they never showed up here. This allowed us to add President and Nickerson Jr. who counted against the limit of 25. This would mean that 2016 was in fact a full class and none of the 2017 early enrollees were back dated.
This would explain why we did not have a scholarship available for Hayes until Watkins was kicked off the team in May. Before that, we were talking about "blue shirting" punters since the class of was full.
What's amazing looking at that class is how many guys from that list are not only gone, but will never contribute to this team at all. The Class of 2015 isn't all that much better. This is why we're going to continue to be young well into next year :tsk:
With the 10 remaining scholarships, I wouldn't mind seeing us add some graduate transfers to the mix not only to add depth but to add some leadership. I know Meadors mentioned that Dorsey and Smalling were hoping he would come to Illinois to act as a mentor to them.
A graduate transfer at QB would also help bridge the gap to Thomas/Taylor/Rivers and give them all a chance to learn the offense, although it needs to be the right QB.
Another player on the OL would help, particularly at LT where we could be looking at playing Lowe or another true Freshman.
Adding graduate transfers also could help maintain some class balance as the Class of 2019 could be really small without another massive amount of transfers. Guys will certainly transfer after next year but if we only have 5 or 6 Seniors on the team...well do the math.
I would also like to see Echard get a 6th year since we're getting past the point where we could even have 85 scholarship players next yaer. He was arguably the best blocker on the team before he got hurt and could get playing time at FB/TE.
I also wouldn't mind seeing guys like McGrew, Hylton and Adesanya stick around if for nothing else but depth at this point. These were the guys I was expecting to leave, and maybe they still will. However, they could help bridge the gap to younger players and still end up with some playing time.
Because we are the only schools who have transfers?
FT35
- Naperville
I don't think so. We were able to extend a scholarship to McLaughlin this Summer (Echard too?) so I don't think this would be an issue?
Good point about extending a scholarship to Walker since he may be our best blocking TE if Echard can't return.