Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#1      

Dan

Dan
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#5      
Arizona Bob
Twangers said:
Last night is still awfully hazy but there were a lot of interesting IL tidbits floating around. All of them good.

Antonio Doyle is also the best kid out here right now, so that’s tough to watch.
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Have you been watching the All American bowl? It seems Malik Hornsby has been wowing the observers, and he once had some interest in us. Is he recruitable? It's surprising he's still uncommitted.

Gotta question for ya, Twangers. Our DB recruiting is not impressive so far, and it doesn't look we're in on many solid prospects. I've read that Price was brought in to cover recruiting shortcomings of Coach Byrd. Based on the teaching and coverage and assignment issues we saw in the secondary, it would seem and upgrade for the secondary staff would be in order, perhaps making the new coach DC as well.

If Lovie brought in top DC/secondary coach who had pro as well as P5 college successful experience and an existing recruiting network in Florida or Texas, how much difference would it make in getting substantial secondary help through the transfer portal and prep recruiting this February?
 
#6      
illini0440
Arizona Bob said:
Have you been watching the All American bowl? It seems Malik Hornsby has been wowing the observers, and he once had some interest in us. Is he recruitable? It's surprising he's still uncommitted.

Gotta question for ya, Twangers. Our DB recruiting is not impressive so far, and it doesn't look we're in on many solid prospects. I've read that Price was brought in to cover recruiting shortcomings of Coach Byrd. Based on the teaching and coverage and assignment issues we saw in the secondary, it would seem and upgrade for the secondary staff would be in order, perhaps making the new coach DC as well.

If Lovie brought in top DC/secondary coach who had pro as well as P5 college successful experience and an existing recruiting network in Florida or Texas, how much difference would it make in getting substantial secondary help through the transfer portal and prep recruiting this February?
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Not twangers but I mean yeah it could help in theory but nothing is a sure thing. Also Lovie won’t bring in a DC so it would have to just be a new secondary guy and I don’t see Lovie getting rid of Byrd as they are very close.....unless Byrd has legit health issues or wants back in the pros.
 
#7      
Twangers
Arizona Bob said:
Have you been watching the All American bowl? It seems Malik Hornsby has been wowing the observers, and he once had some interest in us. Is he recruitable? It's surprising he's still uncommitted.

Gotta question for ya, Twangers. Our DB recruiting is not impressive so far, and it doesn't look we're in on many solid prospects. I've read that Price was brought in to cover recruiting shortcomings of Coach Byrd. Based on the teaching and coverage and assignment issues we saw in the secondary, it would seem and upgrade for the secondary staff would be in order, perhaps making the new coach DC as well.

If Lovie brought in top DC/secondary coach who had pro as well as P5 college successful experience and an existing recruiting network in Florida or Texas, how much difference would it make in getting substantial secondary help through the transfer portal and prep recruiting this February?
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Yes. I’ve been with the West all week, he’s looked good. All the QBs have done well down here. He canceled his media slot which tells me he probably isn’t committing any time soon. I still think it’s staying home for him and I wouldn’t count out the Aggies.

I feel as though this is a bit of a trap question. On the one hand the answer is obviously yes. On the other hand, I don’t see this scenario as having any realistic properties to it. Proven Power 5 Coordinators with strong ties to two of the most talent laden states in the nation can be counted on two hands and they generally aren’t looking for a coordinator job anywhere, let alone at our university. Guys like that, a semi-cross of Chris Ash and Derrick Ansley, are unicorns who take 7 figure jobs at high profile programs as a leap to running their own higher profile program. Our expectations would need to be lower.
 
#9      
Arizona Bob
Twangers said:
Yes. I’ve been with the West all week, he’s looked good. All the QBs have done well down here. He canceled his media slot which tells me he probably isn’t committing any time soon. I still think it’s staying home for him and I wouldn’t count out the Aggies.

I feel as though this is a bit of a trap question. On the one hand the answer is obviously yes. On the other hand, I don’t see this scenario as having any realistic properties to it. Proven Power 5 Coordinators with strong ties to two of the most talent laden states in the nation can be counted on two hands and they generally aren’t looking for a coordinator job anywhere, let alone at our university. Guys like that, a semi-cross of Chris Ash and Derrick Ansley, are unicorns who take 7 figure jobs at high profile programs as a leap to running their own higher profile program. Our expectations would need to be lower.
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Thanks T. I'm not expecting a secondary/DC coach who brings in 3 or 4 5*s every year like they do at Clemson, tOSU, Alabama, etc. I'd reference the table with the number of 4 and 5* players committed for each program, but ya don't link to competitors to Loyalty. It's incredible how many 4*s and 5* that are committed to top programs, and how some rebuilding programs are knocking the sox off of recruiting. For example TAM has 1 5* and 12-4*s, Tennessee has 12-4*s, Arizona State has 7-4*s and Florida State has 9-4*s. A program that has only had mediocre success can a recruit this well provided they hire a quality staff. That's why I've been so critical of Lovie's staff hiring issues. Over a dozen schools have double digit 4* commitments, with Alabama leading with NINETEEN! along with 3-5*s. Clemson has 6-5* already.

What I'd be looking for is perhaps an up and coming secondary coach at a playoff contending school who's ready to take a step up to DC/Assistant Head Coach/Secondary coach position and who knows how to recruit 4*s and is well plugged into the Florida and Texan recruiting networks. Maybe a guy in his early thirties looking for a stepping stone and to show that he can take an underperforming defense and make it championship level. That would be a big plus for a young coach looking to become an HC.

He'd also be in position to perhaps take over the program when Lovie retires after next year (wishful thinking) or if the teams crashes and burns next year and a mid season change happens.

I'm sure that JW would make the money available for this kind of coach. The only obstacle would be Lovie. he has no problem hiring young highly inexperienced coaches as shown by his hiring of Miles and Clark, as well as Byrd, who never coached a day at the college level before Illinois. Based on his pro DB coaching experience, I'm really surprised our secondary has so many issues with knowing their assignments, positioning and fundamentals, as well as not being able to capitalize with his pro experience on the recruiting trail.
 
#11      
bombayIllini
Arizona Bob said:
Thanks T. I'm not expecting a secondary/DC coach who brings in 3 or 4 5*s every year like they do at Clemson, tOSU, Alabama, etc. I'd reference the table with the number of 4 and 5* players committed for each program, but ya don't link to competitors to Loyalty. It's incredible how many 4*s and 5* that are committed to top programs, and how some rebuilding programs are knocking the sox off of recruiting. For example TAM has 1 5* and 12-4*s, Tennessee has 12-4*s, Arizona State has 7-4*s and Florida State has 9-4*s. A program that has only had mediocre success can a recruit this well provided they hire a quality staff. That's why I've been so critical of Lovie's staff hiring issues. Over a dozen schools have double digit 4* commitments, with Alabama leading with NINETEEN! along with 3-5*s. Clemson has 6-5* already.

What I'd be looking for is perhaps an up and coming secondary coach at a playoff contending school who's ready to take a step up to DC/Assistant Head Coach/Secondary coach position and who knows how to recruit 4*s and is well plugged into the Florida and Texan recruiting networks. Maybe a guy in his early thirties looking for a stepping stone and to show that he can take an underperforming defense and make it championship level. That would be a big plus for a young coach looking to become an HC.

He'd also be in position to perhaps take over the program when Lovie retires after next year (wishful thinking) or if the teams crashes and burns next year and a mid season change happens.

I'm sure that JW would make the money available for this kind of coach. The only obstacle would be Lovie. he has no problem hiring young highly inexperienced coaches as shown by his hiring of Miles and Clark, as well as Byrd, who never coached a day at the college level before Illinois. Based on his pro DB coaching experience, I'm really surprised our secondary has so many issues with knowing their assignments, positioning and fundamentals, as well as not being able to capitalize with his pro experience on the recruiting trail.
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Need to close too.
 
#13      
EyeoftheIllini
Can we please stop with the “hiring a DC” thing. Ship has sailed on that for at least a year. If Whitman didn’t insist on him hiring one after last year it is highly unlikely he would do so after team improved enough to make a bowl game and Lovie can point to at least a couple of areas to show that defense improved with him as DC.
 
#16      
Orange Line to Blue Line
Twangers said:
It’s axtually THE driving factor for the majority of high end HS seniors, as I’ve outlines on a few occasions.
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I had no stats to prove it, so I didn't want to outright say that it is the driving factor. But it seems like you do. Would anyone on this board choose Illinois over TAMU if you are from Texas? I am picking TAMU 10 out of 10 times.
 
#18      
Deleted member 654622
Arizona Bob said:
Thanks T. I'm not expecting a secondary/DC coach who brings in 3 or 4 5*s every year like they do at Clemson, tOSU, Alabama, etc. I'd reference the table with the number of 4 and 5* players committed for each program, but ya don't link to competitors to Loyalty. It's incredible how many 4*s and 5* that are committed to top programs, and how some rebuilding programs are knocking the sox off of recruiting. For example TAM has 1 5* and 12-4*s, Tennessee has 12-4*s, Arizona State has 7-4*s and Florida State has 9-4*s. A program that has only had mediocre success can a recruit this well provided they hire a quality staff. That's why I've been so critical of Lovie's staff hiring issues. Over a dozen schools have double digit 4* commitments, with Alabama leading with NINETEEN! along with 3-5*s. Clemson has 6-5* already.
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Go watch a game at any of those schools you listed. Then go to an Illinois game. The good majority of all these players will never sniff the league. The south is the best chance they have to play in front of a full stadium. Not important to every kid in the world, just the majority
 
#19      
Twangers
Arizona Bob said:
Thanks T. I'm not expecting a secondary/DC coach who brings in 3 or 4 5*s every year like they do at Clemson, tOSU, Alabama, etc. I'd reference the table with the number of 4 and 5* players committed for each program, but ya don't link to competitors to Loyalty. It's incredible how many 4*s and 5* that are committed to top programs, and how some rebuilding programs are knocking the sox off of recruiting. For example TAM has 1 5* and 12-4*s, Tennessee has 12-4*s, Arizona State has 7-4*s and Florida State has 9-4*s. A program that has only had mediocre success can a recruit this well provided they hire a quality staff. That's why I've been so critical of Lovie's staff hiring issues. Over a dozen schools have double digit 4* commitments, with Alabama leading with NINETEEN! along with 3-5*s. Clemson has 6-5* already.
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There's a very difficult criticism to levy towards Lovie and the staff. To accurately judge our recruiting efforts, those efforts must be judged in relation to those of our peers. ASU may be a point of discussion but the other schools you have mentioned are most definitely not our peers.
 
#20      
Sneaky john ekey
Twangers said:
There's a very difficult criticism to levy towards Lovie and the staff. To accurately judge our recruiting efforts, those efforts must be judged in relation to those of our peers. ASU may be a point of discussion but the other schools you have mentioned are most definitely not our peers.
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This is 100% accurate. We aren’t recruiting against the Florida state’s, clemson’s and texas A&M of the college football world. Yes every now and then we might have 1 kid we have an outside shot at (Doyle). But in general we need to recruit against the Iowa’s, Wisconsin’s, Minnesota’s, northwestern and Purdue’s of the world.
 
#21      
bombayIllini
Twangers said:
There's a very difficult criticism to levy towards Lovie and the staff. To accurately judge our recruiting efforts, those efforts must be judged in relation to those of our peers. ASU may be a point of discussion but the other schools you have mentioned are most definitely not our peers.
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Although I totally agree with comparing peers, the fact of the matter is that no team plays peers only (there are alternative models where we can deploy this - playing peers).

Which is why I concentrate on Big Ten West - specifically. The Big Ten West is our peer. IMVVHO, unless we can recruit (AND coach) at their level we are going nowhere (IMO of course) in the B10 West.

?????
 
#22      
Twangers
bombayIllini said:
Although I totally agree with comparing peers, the fact of the matter is that no team plays peers only (there are alternative models where we can deploy this - playing peers).

Which is why I concentrate on Big Ten West - specifically. The Big Ten West is our peer. IMVVHO, unless we can recruit (AND coach) at their level we are going nowhere (IMO of course) in the B10 West.

?????
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Nothing wrong with this but that’s not how I view it.
 
#23      
thunderwear
bombayIllini said:
Although I totally agree with comparing peers, the fact of the matter is that no team plays peers only (there are alternative models where we can deploy this - playing peers).

Which is why I concentrate on Big Ten West - specifically. The Big Ten West is our peer. IMVVHO, unless we can recruit (AND coach) at their level we are going nowhere (IMO of course) in the B10 West.

?????
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I would make a little different argument.

There are two levels of comparison. The first is comparable schools and the second is schools in neighboring states. We will compete more with Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc. on one level and on another level, barely bowl eligible teams. Ultimately, if Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa (neighboring state schools on a different level), etc. are coming for our recruits, it is likely we won't win the battle. We will win some, but definitely not the norm.

In contrast, we need to win more, if not close to all of the peer school battles. Iowa State, Missouri, etc. Neighboring schools with an inconsistent recent history of winning (peer schools). This is why St. Louis has been so important for our efforts (and why it cost Missouri a coach) and why Indiana is also important for our efforts. But, we also must win the battles where we go against a school like Kansas, Rutgers, or the like (particularly important for Juco and grad transfers not as important for high school because most likely the kids will pick the school in greater proximity)

We are competing against in-state and neighboring states for recruits. Michigan and Wisconsin don't compete, as often for recruits, as Wisconsin does with Iowa. Similarly, Michigan and notre dame often are in competition.

Twangers probably has a different and more accurate take on this, but I imagine we are pretty similar in how we see it
 
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