Football recruiting is looking pretty bleak right now
Posted by illini21
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Knowles, WR from Texas picked the beloved over TCU. Seems like a good pickup*
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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His Dad is a former world #1 doubles player, and current coach of world #4 Jessica Pegula*
Posted by PDO
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can we use him to help beef up our tennis program? *
Posted by ijustkrushalot
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I don't think he's eligible anymore*
Posted by PDO
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we have a tennis program?*
Posted by bbonb
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Continuing to deepen our white WR pipeline*
Posted by UofIL6
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Catch the ball, move the chains, win. I'm happy.
Posted by osklister
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...Knowles is ranked as the nation's No. 106 wide receiver and the No. 104 WR in Texas.*
Posted by osklister
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He's ranked 104 overall in Texas *
Posted by larue33
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Now that I can logically comprehend. Thank you.*
Posted by DocWalk20
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Eh. Original subject line was a cut/paste from the linked article. Whatever.
Posted by osklister
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There’s 103 better WRs in Texas? And only 2 more better outside of Texas?*
Posted by DocWalk20
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I’m sure it’s a typo of some kind*
Posted by OB25
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LOL, that's the rankings these guys rely on I guess. Florida, CA?? Plenty of other states too. :-O
Posted by osklister
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Got a commit from a kicker named Ulysses *
Posted by jdl
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Been quite the Odyssey to get our special teams to this level.
Posted by osklister
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are we offering a Scholarship or a Grant?*
Posted by bbonb
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That One Piece giveaway is no longer the weirdest trading card associated with Illini sports
Posted by RVA
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Lol*
Posted by illini21
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Flipped a 3* RB from Colorado
Posted by jdl COMMIT: Illini flip three-star 2027 Florida RB Steven Alexis (@StevenJalexis19) from Colorado
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Hey, I want to go play for fellow Floridian Neon Deon !! Wait, changed my mind. UIUC it is!!
Posted by osklister
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rambling street corner hobo shit.
Posted by assassin
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4 star WR Bennett Konkey announcing tomorrow
Posted by illini21
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looks like University of Illinois!
Posted by assassin
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I knew it.*
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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Nice get*
Posted by UofIL6
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...assuming he actually ends up here
Posted by IlliniSax05 MAJOR UPDATE: "Maybe you're not such a bad egg, Lisle-y"
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Hey, maybe he transfers in later in his career? JMHO, but your entire roster is one-year only.
Posted by osklister
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yay speed*
Posted by illini21
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should move us up to 55th and ahead of Maryland for 17th in the B1G!*
Posted by ijustkrushalot
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I thought you were joking. Yeesh.*
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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That was serious? woof.*
Posted by EffinIllini
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From Geneva, IL. That's Illini Country.*
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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All-time Illini great Jim Klein went to HS there.
Posted by osklister
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240p?? Shirley, you can't be serious. *
Posted by illinijohn
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Bert signal*
Posted by OB25
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3 star Texas LB. Another outside of the top 1000, but offers are fine.
Posted by assassin
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Is recruiting still looking bleak for us? Lots of three stars with good offer lists.
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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Brett is on PMT this morning. Haven’t watched it yet. *
Posted by harb
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It was a fantastic interview. *
Posted by harb
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We just added Unity QB Dane Eisenmenger to the 2026 class*
Posted by illini21
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so is this a signing that comes with NIL? i have no idea how any of this really works*
Posted by lcubed
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I highly doubt it.
Posted by illini21
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there's gotta be some guys that vanish between spring ball and this fall
Posted by ijustkrushalot
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All 4 commits this week are >1000 national composite ratings
Posted by UofIL6
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I actually have no problem with the HS recruiting lately. We aren’t capable of much better.
Posted by OB25
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I always look at the other offers the kids had rather than the composite score myself
Posted by bulldogmba
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I try and look at it in terms of odds and timeline.
Posted by ijustkrushalot
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Agreed, directionally, but never really know what offers are truly committable*
Posted by UofIL6
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Ryan Paulsen certainly has the offers of a top 1000 guy*
Posted by assassin
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How is his recruiting compared to his time at Wisconsin? I'm going with 8-4 for next year but
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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I'd be thrilled with 8-4. Every single year. *
Posted by LovetheChief
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Bert signal activated*
Posted by OB25
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WTH is a “Sladen Shack”?*
Posted by DocWalk20
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That's definitely something that got a fraternity kicked off campus at some point *
Posted by ijustkrushalot
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Mississippi QB pipeline
Posted by jdl COMMIT: #illini land three-star 2027 Mississippi QB Sladen Shack (@sladen_shack)
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MS QB that's more our speed
Posted by assassin
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From Lompati, we traded down about 1400 slots in teh composite, but QB recruiting
Posted by UofIL6
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I like what i've heard about this kid but obviously it's a longshot he ever plays a down here*
Posted by illini21
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Obviously. *
Posted by illinijohn
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Indubitably.
Posted by osklister
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Per this site he had a offer from Kiffin
Posted by ATL
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quarterback from Mississippi *
Posted by Poldark "Friday tailgates suck. People have jobs and school."
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We seem to be benefiting from Matt Campbell leaving Iowa State*
Posted by biclops
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picked up another JUCO DL
Posted by assassin
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JeffJ had some reporting on our DL players who transferred out (and a former DL assistant)
Posted by biclops
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Illini bloggers love them some run-on sentences*
Posted by AintHatin
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and... ellipses*
Posted by Tortillini
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Nice, 3 years of eligibility too.*
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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CBS ranks Bielema #25
Posted by biclops
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have we tried getting the 5 star guys?*
Posted by VIV
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I don't think we're even close to the level of budget needed for those dudes
Posted by UofIL6
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*Donates $20 more dollars to IFund* Howabout now?*
Posted by KingTalkyTiki
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Right about now*
Posted by opossum jenkins
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Funk soul brotha*
Posted by ATL
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Game times set for non con- UAB 8PM, Duke 2:30, SIU 1PM*
Posted by assassin
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Amtrak for Duke game now purchased*
Posted by JeffFrank
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Chicago to Durham on the train? Brother that is a haul.*
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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UAB is at 8 PM on a Thursday night? WTAF?
Posted by IlliniOllie
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Did not realize that was a Thursday night. wtf.*
Posted by EffinIllini
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The Big Ten Network indeed does not care about renewals
Posted by assassin
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UAB 8PM, on THURSDAY September 3
Posted by Poldark "Friday tailgates suck. People have jobs and school."
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This post would seem to violate the Prime Directive.
Posted by complainant
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We got a D2 defensive line transfer.
Posted by OB25
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This new guy sounds promising but the rest were mostly rotation guys
Posted by bjl63
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new JUCO commit: 3* DL
Posted by ATL
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Still doesn’t play DL… err, um*
Posted by DocWalk20
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new commit: 3 star LB from St. Laurence
Posted by assassin
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Are things still bleak for us? Seems like we're doing ok.*
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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results hazy, check again later. i'm also contractually obligated to complain about the DL here*
Posted by assassin
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The new recruits are fine. They still don't play DL, but they're perfectly fine
Posted by UofIL6
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Indiana keeps rolling.
Posted by EffinIllini FONG BOMB: Rivals' @SWiltfong_ has logged an expert prediction for Indiana to land Five-Star Plus+ WR Monshun Sales🔴⚪️
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And I predict he picks Illinois.*
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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I hate it so much*
Posted by illini21
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The new JUCO TE we brought in was just rated the #1 JUCO TE in the country
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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He doesn’t play DL
Posted by bjl63
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Will he be playing in 2026?*
Posted by assassin
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Yes*
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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Apparently we offered Dez Bryant’s kid.*
Posted by bjl63
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Got another pretty solid OL
Posted by OB25
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I think he will be a better college player than Wagner. *
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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Only 3 commits but each one is top 600 composite. That's solid*
Posted by illini21
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Definitely, would love it more if we could find some defensive linemen*
Posted by OrangeSox
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if we settle into something like 12-14 in the Big Ten with a small class I'm fine
Posted by ijustkrushalot
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If we have 12-14 in this range, it's all good in my eyes... hate seeing the talent leave, but...
Posted by uofi1998
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Nice.*
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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Potters represent!
Posted by DocWalk20
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Signed a Juco TE
Posted by jdl COMMIT: JUCO tight end Benjamin Thurman (@BEN10BJ) has signed with #illini over other Power Four options
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I’m officially starting to get nervous
Posted by snipes824
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Is the juice from the recruiters or the size of the bag they can offer? Probably a bit of
Posted by voiceofreason
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I think it’s certainly both
Posted by snipes824
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I've heard him speak at his press conference when hired and two radio interviews with local media
Posted by illini21
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I like Roger Cooper though*
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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New to being an Illini fan???
Posted by osklister
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New to posting on this board without a * ?*
Posted by DocWalk20
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He puts a "*" on his posts that contain messages, because...well... osklister.
Posted by KingTalkyTiki ...just at a quick glance. In his defense he's only been on this board and iterations of it for over a decade. Well, he does that and comes up with lame, often borderline racist nicknames for people whose politics he doesn't like.
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SJO lineman Cameron Wagner to Oregon*
Posted by illini21
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Pretty sure he said "my home for the next 4 years..." How many people do NOT transfer today?
Posted by osklister
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Ben Miller continues to impress*
Posted by opossum jenkins
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Bart? *
Posted by larue33
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Yes*
Posted by opossum jenkins
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This really isn't because we didn't get him, I don't understand the ranking and offers
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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Meh. At least in this case. In no way do we measure up to Oregon*
Posted by bjl63
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We actually got a commitment and it looks like a pretty good one.
Posted by OB25
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That looks solid… and presumably a fit for the new scheme *
Posted by uofi1998
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Nevermind. My brain is faulty. *
Posted by uofi1998
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Nice. Thought he’d end up at Iowa*
Posted by illini21
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Bert’s long time chief of staff heading to Oklahoma.
Posted by uofi1998
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He’s deputy athletic director at OU so seems like a step up
Posted by CanHartlebHireSnider
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Bert on recruiting
Posted by illini21
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While I agree that spending big on HS players in football seems awfully risky…
Posted by OB25
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I can't imagine trying to be head ball coach in the NIL era. Basketball at least has much smaller
Posted by Warrin'_Illini
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I'm disappointed in in state recruiting this class
Posted by Poldark "Friday tailgates suck. People have jobs and school."
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This is the deepest in-state class in like forever. Pretty much confirmed we have no $$*
Posted by UofIL6
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#InBretITrust*
Posted by ATL
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On the flip side, I was just thinking this week about how we've gone 19-7 with two bowl wins
Posted by Blazer
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Hard to trust the plan on the defensive front, though
Posted by bjl63
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Definitely agree there is reason for concern
Posted by Blazer
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I do have confidence the offense will be pretty good
Posted by bjl63
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IDK how good Angelo McCullom is, but...
Posted by uofi1998
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He went to Texas a&m
Posted by snipes824
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Lost another to S Carolina. I’m not as upset at losing these guys
Posted by bjl63
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I think we’re gonna get a really good education on how our success in 2024 and 2025…
Posted by opossum jenkins
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I fear you may be right to some degree
Posted by bjl63
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I think we screwed up and had used all our budget by the time those guys started jumping ship.
Posted by OB25
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Then we didn't have much budget (which is a different issue)*
Posted by UofIL6
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100p*
Posted by UofIL6
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Agreed*
Posted by snipes824
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The secondary will be rendered useless
Posted by bjl63
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I was kind of thinking about our lack of draft picks
Posted by CanHartlebHireSnider
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He's earned a ton...
Posted by uofi1998
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Agreed this offseason has been a real head scratcher
Posted by Blazer
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real quick roster glace... I have 92 players who could be back next year (with a 5 in 5 rule)
Posted by ijustkrushalot
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put another way, we have 73 guys that could have 2+ years with the program after this year
Posted by ijustkrushalot
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The argument would be received a better if our top targets weren't (seemingly) all going elsewhere*
Posted by uofi1998
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Let's see how it goes this year. I was a much bigger Aaron Henry defender
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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It's easier to apply hindsight a few months removed
Posted by OrangeSox
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Also the “first 3 games” included western Michigan and western Illinois
Posted by snipes824
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The score belied the actual run of play in the Duke game.*
Posted by uofi1998
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100%
Posted by snipes824
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In fairness, I think the defense generally got better as the season went along...
Posted by uofi1998
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Not sure there will ever be a season where we face a gauntlet of QB’s like we did in the first 8 gms
Posted by OB25
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We faced 2,7,9,13,19,20 in SP+ offense last year
Posted by CanHartlebHireSnider
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I honestly thought the offensive and special teams were worse in the Wisconsin game*
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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I can’t complain a bit about what Bret has done to make us relevant again
Posted by bjl63
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I feel like 1 bad year in the current climate hurts a whole lot worse than it used to...
Posted by uofi1998
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This. EXACTLY. Prior to Bertie-Bert: Zooker, Beckhead, Cubit, Lovie.
Posted by osklister
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For the record, I was a bigger defender of Henry than the board then. I thought he was fine
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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I also don’t really think Aaron Henry is going to be the difference in our recruiting.
Posted by OB25
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None of this makes any sense to me except that our resources are being diverted to basketball.
Posted by uofi1998
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as it should be...money goes further in bball and we actually have a chance at a chip
Posted by digs
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Doesn't seem like something Josh would do *
Posted by jdl
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I don't disagree... but donors put their money where they want to.
Posted by uofi1998
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I'm sure there's some built in historical bias there
Posted by jdl
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I could also see it as in basketball, it feels like your money has more of an impact
Posted by IlliniOllie
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So are we just bad at recruiting?
Posted by AintHatin note: i say this as someone who only peripherally follows recruiting, so its entirely possible i'm missing something.
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Last year's class was the best in a long time
Posted by jdl
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I have to think the significant amount of staff turnover had some impact.
Posted by uofi1998
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I think I heard Bret say the coaching assistants do less recruiting now
Posted by jdl
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JMHO, but closers-people who negotiate the final NIL deals. Eh. Here we are.
Posted by osklister
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Maybe we can convince Mark Cuban to enroll at Illinois*
Posted by uofi1998
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Hey, all he's got right now is some kind of certificate from a Juco in Indiana.
Posted by osklister
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we've all forgotten with how mostly disappointing the portal and this class so far are
Posted by assassin
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Don't think this new defensive staff is going to help with recruiting at all
Posted by illini21
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IMO the scheme change is 100% out of desperation
Posted by bjl63
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Bret doesn't exactly hide his disdain publicly for the amounts others get to spend...
Posted by uofi1998
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I think Thomas and Bradford can be plus recruiters. I am still high on Archie and Parker. I think
Posted by JacobRDaugherty
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