Well that was me who made that comment. I'm FAR from a bandwagon fan to whatever OSU fan asked that...I'm a young Illini fan who has been a fan since before I got to HS. I'm hoping to 1 day go to Illinois. But anyway...
I said it and I meant it. All you have to do is look at my track record since I've been on these message boards (Mainly the Illinois scout board). It speaks for itself. You could talk about Scout and it's "text message speak" and endless free flowing kool aid all you want, but for a period (Talking about the '07 class with Benn, Wilson, etc.) you couldn't get any more exclusive with the stuff I put on there.
I told everybody before anybody knew Martez Wilson was going to Illinois. Even when he "blew up" and people said Illinois had no shot after USC and others offered, I let people know. I told them on NLOID '06 that Illinois would get both Benn and Nate Bussey in the '07 class. People laughed 'cause Benn was a national recruit and Illinois was really in the stinker. I hit on everything I said that year except that Jack Cornell was going to Illinois (Originally picked MSU) and that was just a gut feeling. Everything Juice told me was on the money when we were in contact. It was well known that I was talking/messaging with him and '06 WR Chris "CJ" James.
Enough about that though I really don't have to explain 'cause any Illinois fan (And a lot of others) know what it is. I think you're an example of the "old" Illini fan Roughy. I've read some of your posts and you seem to kind of back down to OSU fans and such who don't think Illinois can become anything more than a 2nd tier B10 school. You try to defend Illinois and stuff, but it seems like you're backing down a little often. I guess being "realistic" as you'd probably put it. But I'm telling you, watch how it takes off. I was being dead serious when I made those comments. Illinois is about to become very Miami-esque (Earlier this decade) when talking about pro prospects. You can laugh all you want, but watch exactly what I'm talking about. I was trying to tell people all before last year about last year's team. How good they will be. How certain freshmen will play better than their ranking, etc. And it happened.
I will be willing to bet Illinois has more than 3 DL's and WR's drafted in the next few years...off the top of my head,
Benn,
Cumberland,
Fayson,
AJ Jenkins, maybe even
Joe Morgan (If he gets it together there is no doubt),
Cordale Scott. That doesn't even include the likes of
Mike Hooman (NFL player for sure),
London Davis (GREAT upside),
Hubie Graham (Really good upside), etc. Plus depending on Brian Gamble, you can add him the NFL list if it he stays at WR (All B10 type) or goes back to S (Where I think he is AA type).
Off the top of my head from the DL,
Josh Brent (1st rounder when he comes out after his junior year, bank it),
Will Davis (Guy is up to 260+ pounds and still running a 4.6 as well as benching 225 20 times 3 times daily...plus a 38 inch vert),
Jerry Brown (Was my pick to click last year but he was young so he gets a pass...my pick again this year),
D'Angelo McCray (Wait 'til you see him),
Whitney Mercilus (Will Davis part 2 but faster and bigger at the same stage
),
Corey Liuget. That doesn't even include guys like
Reggie Ellis (Good upside),
Glenn Foster (Another potential AA but might take a lot of time 'cause he is VERY VERY raw),
Daryle Ballew,
Sirod Williams (Senior this upcoming year but just thought I would throw him in),
Antonio James,
Ugo U (BIG upside), etc. who will all at the least be very solid. And all this doesn't even include the
DB's (Disgusting amounts of athletes coming in and already there led by future 1st rounder Vontae Davis), some of the LB's (Mainly
Martez Wilson...he is an ANIMAL but
Britt Miller,
Rodney Pittman, and especially
Ian Thomas-watch out for him-are all the main LB's...which is probably the only spot that isn't "there" yet) and
the OL (If you thought this year was something, just wait until you see some of these other guys)
So I'm going to say it on here for those who are laughing. ILLINOIS IS ABOUT TO WIN THE B10 NEXT YEAR WITH A SHOT AT THE NC. I don't think they'll go to the NC but I do think BCS. '09 is where I have them winning it. I'm dead serious. Orange, this is not your old Illini squad. This team has big, fast, aggressive, smart, and disciplined long twitch athletes who can run with anybody as well as out-tough them. The recruiting ratings don't affect this (BTW, if you like all the glitz and glam of recruiting ratings, this is your year), but Illinois has brought in classes just as good as any in the B10 and among the best in the nation since Zook has been here. Yeah yeah I know they've been in the top 25, but I'm talking top 10 on the field performance. This is probably the best talent evaluating staff in the B10. For every Martez Wilson or Arrelious Benn they've brought in, they've brought in a Vontae Davis or Jon Asamoah or Will Davis. My point is this, yeah the Corey Liuget's, etc. are great, but there are players who could be just as good if not better with players like Whitney Mercilus, Ugo U, etc.
That's what sets them apart from others...if you think they've done something in the past though, wait 'til the future as I said. This '08 class is going to be special and there are more than a few high NFL drafts picks waiting to happen on it. I won't go through it as far as I can 'cause this is a Buckeye board (I already went really far) but read the Illinois boards if you want to know what I think as far as Illinois in the future (A lot of you probably are already seeing as though you've linked a post from me). I'm sure many will laugh but just watch...I'll be back a few times (A lot really) between now and the season and I'll DEFINITELY be back when the season is going on...
EDIT: I know that was a REALLY long post but just thought I would release all my thoughts from reading through this thread on my 1st post...
