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Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

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11/2

Jeff's recruiting report...seems concerned about losing Easterly (to MSU) and Fiederowicz (to Iowa)...still likes their chances with Prater (who is committed to USC)...doesn't like Illinois' chances with one-time supposed Illinois leans Deering and Clyburn...other Illinois targets all seem to be waiting to see how the next four games go and whether or not their will be any staff turnover.
 
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ThaKid101;1108867; said:
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:yow2:), 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...
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ThaKid101;1108888; said:
Laugh away. Laugh all you want. That's your opinion. You're a homer for your team as well as I am for mine so I wouldn't expect you to agree. Just stating my (very strong) opinions. We'll see how things start to unfold when the season starts and over the next few years. I see a lot of threads here (Including this one when Zook obviously was with Florida 1st) stay around. So we'll just come back in a few years and see. A lot of people are going to be looking really stupid...:wink:
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Well, one person . . . .

ThaKid101;1108904; said:
And just to let people know I don't think every single 1 of them will go to the NFL. On some others I was just naming them 'cause they're solid players who either are or will be solid or very solid contributors for Illinois in their time, but I don't know about the NFL. For example, I think Antonio James will play in the NFL, but I don't think he'll be drafted as of right now. What I do know is he is a solid contributor and has been since his freshman year (He'll be a junior this season).

He also has potential to be better than Derek Walker before he leaves and Derek Walker is a late round type of draft pick (5th, 6th, 7th) right now for next year's draft (This according to some NFL types). But as of right now I don't see James being drafted but I do see him competing in training camp for a spot. That's just an example of what I was talking about. I don't think every player I named will be drafted, FWIW. But I do think a lot of them will see some sort of time in an NFL camp if they aren't drafted.
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ThaKid101;1108914; said:
Okay we'll see. Just know I don't say stuff like this just to say it. A lot of it is what the coaches think and some NFL types think (That I read through an insider on Scout, Frank Frangie). We can debate stuff. I'm a homer (Understatement) but at the same time I can debate with people if they disagree. I'll break down why I think something, you can debate why you think something.

I know Miami has produced more 1st round talent than any school in history. I know about the picks they sent to the NFL then (And even still now...the 14 year 1st round streak, etc.). I'm saying I think Illinois will be similar to that...Rashard Mendenhall and Leman aren't a dime a dozen, but I'll link some of my comments I made on our board about this situation 'cause I'm too lazy to type it over and over again.:)
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ThaKid101;1108967; said:
-Illinois is going to start churning out a lot of pro prospects...very Miami esque. Starting with the 2009 NFL Draft. Vontae Davis, "barring injury or just a horrible campaign is a 1st round pick", Will Davis (Could be another with the really big year some are expecting), Xavier Fulton (Tons of upside...just starting playing LT last year...), etc. are just some of the names for next year. It REALLY takes off with the 2010 NFL Draft (Benn, Wilson, etc.) and after.

-Illinois will win the B10 and go to a BCS this year, setting up a HUGE 2009 when they win it again and win a NC. I can also see them not winning the B10 this year, but I doubt it. I think Illinois will just be too fast, too hungry (ESPECIALLY after that Rose Bowl...a lot of players are as hungry as you can imagine), too tough, too aggressive as well as disciplined for a lot of teams. Any game where they could be unusually undisciplined, they can win just by talent and hunger IMO. I definitely have them winning the B10 and NC (Well I should change that and just say I think they will be undefeated in 2009...you never know how things could go in the BCS...).

-Illinois will become a national power in the next 5-10 years.

That is basically the sum of what I think...
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ThaKid101;1108973; said:
We'll see right? This thread will be around in the next 2-3 years or so...by then we'll have an idea of how things are shaping up.
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Didn't even need to wait 2-3 years!

ThaKid101;1109042; said:
I hear you...I meant finish in the top 10 though. Something OSU has done really every year since '02, right? On Zook, IMO his time at Florida was just horrible timing for him, being that he had to replace a legend in Spurrier. Add to that Spurrier had become notoriously lazy in recruiting (Even admitted so himself) when he knew he was going to coach in the NFL. Florida wasn't even the 3rd best SEC team in Zook's time there. He won a lot of games he shouldn't have, and at the same time loss SOME he shouldn't have. Some other incidents were magnified on Zook while he was there (The frat incident in which the Fla AD Foley TOLD him to go down there, something he admits he shouldn't have down) , and became even more disliked then he was. Keep in mind FireRonZook was started before he even coached the team in a game...he simply had no shot.

If Zook would've been given enough time, IMO he would've been successful at Florida. He was fired a little into his 3rd year (In the season by the way). I'm glad he wasn't given time though, 'cause now he is at Illinois. He has shaken that "Great recruiter, bad coach" label for the most part, and runs a very tight ship (There have been a few issues but that is everywhere). He brings a terrific work ethic to get his players better as well as himself, his staff, and the whole program, community, and university. Not just in football, but every area of life. I think he is the perfect person for the Illinois job.
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ThaKid101;1109060; said:
I understand everything you're saying. That's why I said for the most part. I still think a lot of people aren't convinced [that Zook and Illinois are for real] (And some will never be), but a lot will be this upcoming year IMO. I think he will do more than sustain it. JMHO...also forgot to mention, I hope either PSU, OSU, or UM gets Pryor...talent needs to keep coming to the B10...
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ThaKid101;1463116; said:
With all this being said, I do think they will surprise this year and I'm hoping for 10 wins as well. Juice is a senior throwing to arguably the best WR corp in the B10 (And among the best in the country), the RB's look good and the offensive line has talent and a little depth. The defense is the question, but in experience only. They may have to outscore opponents early, but they are more than capable. The defense just depends on how guys keep developing in their new spots. Martez looks like the next beast in the middle at linebacker. He's not completely there yet but he is getting there. I also read your post about not having a single D1 LB and I disagree. There are some potential big timers with more experience. The DL has Pilcher and some solid ends including Jerry Brown (Big time potential) if he can get his academics straight. When Brent comes back, he and Corey Liuget will form a top DT tandem. There's just a whole lot of athleticism and potential for the defense. The good thing is, as OSU showed a few years ago, a defense can learn very quickly despite inexperience. I think/hope the Illinois defense will learn very quickly.
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ThaKid101;1512903; said:
Last year went bad for multiple reasons but I'm going to disagree with you with the more talent on D part. I'm not going to go into the homer rant of last year (LOL),
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Followed by a homer rant similar to last year's . . .

ThaKid101;1512903; said:
but there's a LOT of talent on this defense. No they're not as experienced but I can honestly see this as a 2006 OSU defense situation where everybody thought they would be bad or at least take a step back (And yes I understand Illinois' defense last year wasn't nearly as good as the OSU D the year before 2006) and they come out and surprise everyone. I'm holding my true feelings back but I'm very excited to see this team to say the least.

BTW, this is no flame attempt at all (I've never flamed you guys), but thank you guys for not recruiting Justin Green at RB...WOW...

Oh and Bud Golden and Steve Hull both look like keepers for the Ohio people.
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ThaKid101;1463116; said:
Roughy I always own up to anything I say if I'm wrong. It's just a part of me.
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ThaKid101;1597903; said:
This thread has about a decade worth of fail by me...
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More like a year and a half's worth. You'd have to sort through the Illinois Scout board to get a whole decade's worth. At least you're back to admit it.

ThaKid101;1108937; said:
Chris Wells will be the best RB in the B10 this year.
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Well, you got that one right, at least.
 
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NFBuck;1605849; said:
Northwest Herald | Johnsburg's Fiedorowicz commits to Iowa

TE C.J. Fiedorowicz switches his commitment to Iowa. Man, are the wheels coming off the wagon in Shampangya or what?
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Conversely, I'd really like to see Iowa parlay this season into a good recruiting class and become Wisconsin 2.0 in the Big Ten. They've had a couple great seasons in recent memory, but haven't been able to sustain. It would be nice to have another perennial top-25 program in the Big Ten, and I think they are as likely a candidate as anyone if Ferentz stays long-term.
 
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