Yep. I haven’t read much about him but in a blurb from som tweet, they referred to him as a speedster. Those numbers sure aren’t speedster level, so I think you’re on to something.
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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Hard to gauge his speed on film because the lower competition he's playing against
Updated with new offers, commitment dates and cut list.
Whoa... Is the trib shifting?
I don't think the Trib is shifting, they have had a few puff pieces about the benefits of an African-American HC and have been in favor of it for a long time as can be seen in multiple hiring articles in both FB and MBB.
This has been a Pro/Strength under Lovie for sure and make both the staff and the DIA look good for having this type of enviroment. Who knows maybe it will translate into recruiting as this becomes even more of a contrast to staffs and people like Gundy at OkSt.
This is in line with a trend of positive articles for Illinois Football starting with Wisconsin and throughout the bowl game last season and then this piece.
Ultimately, we have to continue winning, because the Trib is notorious for hating on local sports that lose. But with another winning season, I could see some positive trends in their reporting.
CB’s for Lockley and Rosiek.
Lockley is committing June nineteenth (Juneteenth), which seems to me to be in our favor.
I think Rosiek fits Lovie's mentality and has speed. He is looking at a commit tomorrow.
Things have really picked up the last two months. Call me a homer but I think Lovie and staff has done really well.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
“Our staff has a little bit different look,” Smith said. Illinois has eight black coaches, the most in FBS. Arizona State has seven under Herm Edwards, who also worked on Dungy’s staff with Smith.
A very interesting set of dynamics now playing out in America. Long awaited, I might add. And from a football perspective, I do think the tide may now start to turn just a bit in our favor. I'm anxious to watch how things develop over the next couple of years.
A very interesting set of dynamics now playing out in America. Long awaited, I might add. And from a football perspective, I do think the tide may now start to turn just a bit in our favor. I'm anxious to watch how things develop over the next couple of years.
How so?
I think he is hinting that young black players, especially with reignited civil rights movements, may want to play for a coaching staff that can relate to their struggles and problems rather than white good ol' boys that share right leaning views of OAN.
This may give Illinois and ASU an edge for the players that have aspirations to use their platform to forward causes. It might also help Illinois recruit good young minority coaches as we have shown we want to have a "different" type of staff as Lovie says.
I don't want to put words in his mouth but that's what I see.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
I agree with your take here. I will try to be careful as this can spark political thoughts, and I know that isn't what we want here. But a few weeks ago Adam Miller retweeted a comment, and now Chubba at OSU. But both have said, or other players responding to the tweet in comments have asked if players can really play for a coach, that A- doesn't look like them, or B- supports people/policies that hold men of color back.
I am the biggest Illini football homer, and I always drink the orange Kool-Aid, but I am not optimistic about this recruiting class at this time. This class is the most important class since 2017 and we don't have much to show for it yet. We need players who are no-doubt future Power 5 starters, but I am not seeing enough of them come in. We are reaching on fringe player too early. We don't need "Ready Now" guys, but we do need future starters. Right now, we are stocking up on projects, and that makes me really nervous.
I picked 20 player that I guessed we'd land based on hype and how hard it seems we are going after them and charted them out below. I don't see how we can view this as positive when Minny, Rutgers, Purdue, Indiana are crushing us on the trail. Am I pessimistic? Please tell me I am.
Ready To Play Now
None
No-Doubt Future Starters
OG Brody Wisecarver
DB Daniel Edwards
WR Patrick Bryant
WR Jimmy Valsin (Optimistic that Hayes-Stoker pulls this out)
DE Keith Cooper (Would be a huge add)
RB Justin Johnson (Low confidence to land)
K/P Collyn Hopkins? Trace Hrgich? Jake Marion? (All would be fine with Ligs)
Potential Future Starters
DE Sedarius McConnell
OG Hutson Lillibridge (I think we land)
OG Zach Barlev (I think we land)
DT Denver Warren (I think we reoffer after prep)
QB Walter Simmons III (Optimistic, still think Collier decommits)
Projects
DB Prince Green
QB Samari Collier
LB Trevor Moffitt
DB Tavoris Miller (Projected to land)
LB Dylan Rosiek (Projected to land)
WR Theodore Lockley (Projected to land)
LB Dedrick Smith (Projected to land)
OG Trevor Timmons (Projected to land)
TE Cole Rusk (Need a TE, haven't really offered many)
I picked 20 player that I guessed we'd land based on hype and how hard it seems we are going after them and charted them out below. I don't see how we can view this as positive when Minny, Rutgers, Purdue, Indiana are crushing us on the trail. Am I pessimistic? Please tell me I am.
Ready To Play Now
None
No-Doubt Future Starters
OG Brody Wisecarver
DB Daniel Edwards
WR Patrick Bryant
WR Jimmy Valsin (Optimistic that Hayes-Stoker pulls this out)
DE Keith Cooper (Would be a huge add)
RB Justin Johnson (Low confidence to land)
K/P Collyn Hopkins? Trace Hrgich? Jake Marion? (All would be fine with Ligs)
Potential Future Starters
DE Sedarius McConnell
OG Hutson Lillibridge (I think we land)
OG Zach Barlev (I think we land)
DT Denver Warren (I think we reoffer after prep)
QB Walter Simmons III (Optimistic, still think Collier decommits)
Projects
DB Prince Green
QB Samari Collier
LB Trevor Moffitt
DB Tavoris Miller (Projected to land)
LB Dylan Rosiek (Projected to land)
WR Theodore Lockley (Projected to land)
LB Dedrick Smith (Projected to land)
OG Trevor Timmons (Projected to land)
TE Cole Rusk (Need a TE, haven't really offered many)
I am actually fairly optimistic, I know we aren't getting the flashiest or highest star prospects but we have something we have not had in a very long time and that is program consistency on both O and D and a staff with for Illinois standards that has been fairly stable. We are starting to get to the point that we know what we want and expect from players and can develop them into their role. Our staff takes a lot of time evaluating talent even if we aren't necessarily landing the highest end talent. Time and experience can make a big difference and the staff is committed to recruiting their players and infusing play now talent through the transfer market. This class is important, but for the first time in a while we have many returning starters and don't need this class to have an impact for another 2-3 years. I am not the biggest fan of our staff but they bring stability and I fully expect for Lovie to be here another 6-8 years and have us as a consistent 6 win team which I will take for the next 6-8 years until Lovie is ready to retire and leave the program to a coach in waiting that I think is either already on the staff or will be in the next 2 years.
I guess we will see how it plays out this year. I would expect to see the greatest recruiting dividends from the civil rights issues happen this year, if at all.
If this is still getting so much publicity a year from now, I would expect more staffs across the country to adapt and then Illinois may not stand out as much.
Maybe, but I highly doubt that many college programs change in the next year and in a year it may not be as big of a deal to fans, but it might still be important to the kids and families we are recruiting.
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I think it's fair to be cautiously optimistic while still having concerns about lovie and his recruiting.
Reasons to be optimistic:
1. Bowl game last year
2. 2021 team is the best in a decade
3. New facilities that recruits haven't seen
4. Program stability
5. Good at scouting under recruited players
Reasons to be pessimistic:
1. Recruiting will likely always be towards the bottom of the conference.
2. Will good transfers be there every year?
3. Lovie has done the bare minimum to keep his job so far
4. Questionable coaching hires
5. Questionable in game decisions
In my mind he's no just enough to keep his job but recruiting has been and will always be a concern as long as he is coaching here. We are finally in a position where we can Redshirt most everyone and let guys develop before hitting the field. Our current seniors didn't have that luxury but will lovie be around to see it pay off? Will these last 2 classes have the talent to develop into a competitive B1G team? I guess we'll just have to wait to find out.
Reasons to be optimistic:
1. Bowl game last year
2. 2021 team is the best in a decade
3. New facilities that recruits haven't seen
4. Program stability
5. Good at scouting under recruited players
Reasons to be pessimistic:
1. Recruiting will likely always be towards the bottom of the conference.
2. Will good transfers be there every year?
3. Lovie has done the bare minimum to keep his job so far
4. Questionable coaching hires
5. Questionable in game decisions
In my mind he's no just enough to keep his job but recruiting has been and will always be a concern as long as he is coaching here. We are finally in a position where we can Redshirt most everyone and let guys develop before hitting the field. Our current seniors didn't have that luxury but will lovie be around to see it pay off? Will these last 2 classes have the talent to develop into a competitive B1G team? I guess we'll just have to wait to find out.
I read an article the other day about a black man growing up in the suburbs of Chicago (Naperville, I think).
Short version is that through a large portion of his youth and early adulthood there were maybe one or two black individuals that he saw in "positions of authority" (can't remember the exact phrase, hence the quotes). This included things like police officers, teachers, and even coaches for athletics.
With everything that has happened, specifically over the past month, there might be more of a focus from parents (and students) on where they could get the kind of environment that enables black individuals to be leaders.
It's an interesting dynamic and one that could mean a lot to kids and parents.
Short version is that through a large portion of his youth and early adulthood there were maybe one or two black individuals that he saw in "positions of authority" (can't remember the exact phrase, hence the quotes). This included things like police officers, teachers, and even coaches for athletics.
With everything that has happened, specifically over the past month, there might be more of a focus from parents (and students) on where they could get the kind of environment that enables black individuals to be leaders.
It's an interesting dynamic and one that could mean a lot to kids and parents.
It certainly could. I don't mean to downplay the importance of the social movement, I'm just skeptical of their impact to Illinois football.
Many thought Lovie's NFL pedigree would be a large draw for recruits, and while all of our recruits will praise that aspect of our staff, the recruiting rankings would say that most highly rated recruits couldn't care less. It will probably be the same with the black coaching staff. While it certainly means a lot to the kids on our team, I don't think we are going to move up the big ten recruiting rankings as a result.
Really like this get. His film is really solid. Basically Jake Hansen 2.0.
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