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Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

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Dryden said:
Remember when Tony Dungy went to Tampa Bay in 1996 and quickly turned the 'Yucs' into the Bucs, before Gruden sealed the deal with a Vince Lombardi trophy? Nickerson was a solid NFL veteran on those Dungy teams, and -- in fairness -- did go to a bunch of Pro Bowls in the late 90s with Dungy, Lovie Smith (his position coach), and Monte Kiffin calling the defense. However, even in his prime, Nickerson wasn't even the best LB on his own team (Derrick Brooks), or a player that would generate tabloid publicity (Warren Sapp).

Nickerson was an excellent player, but when people recall all time NFL greats from the 1990s, they'll remember guys like Junior Seau and Derrick Thomas.
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Right around the time when the Browns left Cleveland...I was maybe 12 years old and stopped watching NFL football. Some people started following other teams but I just put my NFL football days on hold for when Cleveland got their team back. Should have adopted a new team then if I had only knew...



Oh, and who is Hardy Nickerson again? :biggrin:
 
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ThaKid is back in a big way, baby! Chuggin' that orange kool-aid as "ILLINIMAN39"...

Yeah you're going to see that on a lot of commits here especially when they start flipping some from Alabama, Florida, OSU, Michigan, etc.

On Epstein that is great to hear because he is a gamebreaker at RB. Lot of speed and talent being added in this class.
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I hope we can hold onto a few of our top recruits, you guys...
Next commit? There could be a flurry here soon. I say one (Or all) of Adams, Awodiran, Oladipo, Boyd and others deciding later this month like Carmoni Green too. Yeast and others I can see as well. Possible 2018 I would say Brown, Patterson or Jones.
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I don't know we'll see. I have a feeling they will be getting interest from actual 5 stars by the time the season is over. And I definitely think there are other similar to Blades who are planning OV to Illinois but haven't announced yet.

With Brooks he does have FSU, Louisville, USF and others. Maybe a case of schools just figuring he goes to FSU. Illini have done a great job though and has obvious connections. Don't know about Yeast either Iowa is putting together a good class but I think this is more of an Illini kind of player. SEC is a threat as well. Getting athletes like him, Collier, Adams, Smith, etc. in the secondary would be a great boost for this team.
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See that's the difference between NW and Illinois. The Illini have shown the ability to do so and get 5 star recruits. NW will never do so and will always remain a trash program.
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Illinois' last 5* commit to stick was in 2007...
Yeah. Zook obviously got a lot of players from different places but he didn't get to certain schools like I thought (With the exception of later in that era). To Beckman and then (Shortly) Cubit credit goes to them because they definitely opened up a few more doors. Smith and this staff is of to an excellent start because they won't be handicapped by lack of interest at any given HS. Therefore they will be able to get even more recruits from places we have not seen. Potentially one there in Collier who I think can be a tremendous cover CB
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There was a lot of talent in Champaign today. Getting this group would put them well on the way to being an elite team.
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So to get this thread back on track once again, some real prime time targets coming in this week. A commit from a few may just launch an entire group. It would set an excellent base/core while waiting on some instant impact types to commit and/or flip. I really want to see about 5-6 commits from certain players (If not all). IMO it would r eally set this thing off right. Also a host of top juniors coming and as well and commitments from a few would boost momentum even more, especially in their class. Some prime time talent also coming through from that class.
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One more thing to point out. We have discussed many possibilities and situations, but something people may be underrating here is this staff has recruiters on it. Smith and Ligs from their time (Butkus as well) but Ward, McGee, Phair, Williams and McGarigle all have been recruiting for almost over 2 years straight now (All except Phair over 2 years). And again Smith was a known top recruiter on his Tennessee and OSU staffs (Not to mention the NFL). Ligs was a big recruiter at Pitt, etc. and Butkus was instrumental in bringing Bailey and others in. So what I am trying to say is these guys know the recruiting game. Not only are they selective and recruiting elite impact players, they are strategic as well. This BBQ being a big event and all, I can definitely see them telling some to hold off to commit in front of other big targets, making even more of an impression and gaining some big buzz right before the season (Where more buzz will be created). Knowing what I knew of former staff members and their recruiting antics, it wouldn't surprise me at all.
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Exactly the kind of stuff I was literally just talking about...I just saw a tweet that 4 star CB Elijah Blades will visit the Illini for an official visit. Out of California I believe. Florida, USC, Utah and Nebraska are the others. Its going to get crazy really sooon IMO. He just committed to Florida recently but as we have talked about, nothing is final until signing day. Nickerson and this staff is going yo be lights out man.
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I think they have done that already with 5 strong in-state commits (Six overall with Epstein). Smalling is a prime time player. Lowe, Epstein and the others all have great potential as well. But you are right adding those two guys would definitely be huge. And Green, Carney and others are here as well so it can potentially be a big few days here.

You would really be adding some impact players with this group.
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Two words. Reggie Mitchell. He's doing work down there. Two impact RB's from right under the Illini's nose but its a long time until signing day. Hayden was posting Illini stuff even after he cut his list to his final three. Its encouraging to me actually because he isn't set in stone to Tennessee.

There is a big recruiting event this week as the coaches are off vacation and previously mentioned (Plus more) prime time prospects set to visit. I think we will see multiple commits within the next two weeks.
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I don't think they are going to finish last no matter what. Many of these coaches won't even be the coaches at many schools come December. The worst IMO they will finish IS 6th-8th. Absolute worst case (Which may still be top 30-50 the way the conference is recruiting). Again as always a long way to go and the season will be a huge boost IMO.
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Oh no doubt (Though I won't say only as any coach can be fired) and I think Wilson barring a complete meltdown (Always possible there) is cool. But I'm speaking more college football in general. I think this Illini class could see several flips including from a few "powerhouses".
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To their credit, most of that board either ignores him, or swats him away like an annoying gnat...
Two days ago it was no way, no how we will recruit worse than 10th in the country. Did you sober up over the past two days? The boy that cried wolf has already started to back off before the season has even started. That didn't take long. This is your prediction with a National Championship in mind.... what happens when we only win 5 games and miss a bowl or inch our way into a bowl game that garners zero respect? Are you going to change it again?

Run away like you did before and save yourself the shame. You are completely insufferable.
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Message board posters are all that's holding back the Illini recruiting machine, you guys...
The same attitude ir and other posters like him have (Who I'm still not convinced are really fans) is exactly the type of stuff that kills momentum or hinders it. When they had it rolling with Zook it was the same stuff. Even after the Rose Bowl, getting 5 stars, etc. Heck the current ranking of the class blows last year out of the water in terms of average numbers (Even if it is only at 6 commits) and they have 5 3 star commits and a 4 star. Last year they only got 6,7 overall I believe. People just need to have patience but no doubt silly stuff like that is jusy stupid. And then you will have some like that simply because they are racist and waiting for the first couple of reasons they can (Any reason no matter how small or insignificant) to jump. Lovie Smith will never be on a hotseat at Illinois. Never. The fact that ir continues to try to stir it up is funny. I see right through you and others. I only respond because its amusing sometimes but you will simply just stay on ignore.
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For the record, the Illini currently have 7 commits. Per Scout, their rankings at their respective positions are as follows: 90, 76, NR, 76, 49, 120, and 83. Again, that's AT THEIR POSITION, not nationally, or even regionally. Their class sits last in the B1G West as of today. 24/7 has them ranked last in the entire B1G.

Just wait, you'll see.
 
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NFBuck said:
For the record, the Illini currently have 7 commits. Per Scout, their rankings at their respective positions are as follows: 90, 76, NR, 76, 49, 120, and 83. Again, that's AT THEIR POSITION, not nationally, or even regionally. Their class sits last in the B1G West as of today. 24/7 has them ranked last in the entire B1G.

Just wait, you'll see.
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NR is better than #1, right?
 
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