Why I'm so excited about Illinois football's current recruiting class
by U-God on May 2, 2012 11:48 AM CDT
in Illinois Fighting Illini Football
I was talking to one of the other writers at South Side Sox last night who happens to be a Michigan fan when I found out about the Jarrod Clements commitment. His response to my excitement about getting another three star recruit so early in the recruiting season was something along the lines of "So that's what passes as excitement for the Illini fanbase nowadays?". I don't really find that to be a far assessment.
Getting Aaron Bailey to agree to take over for Nathan Scheelhaase and eventually Reilly O'Toole has been a rather large fan on the flames of our recruiting class. Before Bailey, the last four star recruit (I prefer Rivals to Scout) Illinois landed was DB Dondi Kirby back in 2011. And he wound up being ineligible. Before him, QB Chandler Whitmer in 2010. Whitmer transferred after one season and will be playing for UConn this fall. You have to go back to the 2009 recruiting class to actually see our last group of highly-rated talent being brought in, and even then half of the four stars in that class transferred (OL Leon Hill to NIU, RB Bud Golden to Tennesse Tech, and DT Lendell Buckner to nowhere as he was kicked off the team). So yeah, I won't apologize for being thrilled to have our first four star prospect since my senior year of undergrad.
1 commentIllini land 3 star DE Jarrod Clements
by U-God on May 1, 2012 8:33 PM CDT
in Illinois Fighting Illini Football
Raise your hand if you thought recruiting was going to get this exciting this early. Unless you're Robert from over at A Lion Eye, you are a no good liar and no longer welcome here. Only the first half of that is true. We'd love it if you stayed, make yourself comfortable.
Where was I? Oh yeah. Last week, Tim Beckman landed his first stud in Bolingbrook QB Aaron Bailey. Then yesterday, Belleville DT Merrick Johnson decided to suit up in the orange and blue. This afternoon/evening, the 2013 recruiting class landed its fifth three star prospect, DE Jarrod Clements out of Trotwood, Ohio.
DT Merrick Jackson chooses Illini
Tim Beckman added the sixth member of his inaugural recruiting class in 3 star DT Merrick Jackson out of Belleville. Jackson was also being recruited by Iowa and Mizzou. Suck it border rivals.
What remaining Illini players might still be drafted?
by U-God on Apr 28, 2012 10:09 AM CDT
in Illinois Fighting Illini Football
Over the first two days of the 2012 NFL draft, we've seen a school record four Illini football players drafted in the first two rounds. Whitney Mercilus and A.J. Jenkins found new homes (Houston and San Francisco, respectively) Thursday night, while Jeff Allen and (shockingly) Tavon Wilson learned where they'd be relocating to Friday evening (Kansas City and New England, respectively). These were the four players from Illinois we all expected to get drafted. What? You say you didn't think Tavon was going to be drafted? Shame on you for your lack of faith. Go sit in McKinley for three hours as penance.
So can we expect any other players from our beloved institution to make the jump to the next level?
Tavon Wilson drafted 48th overall by New England
by U-God on Apr 27, 2012 7:23 PM CDT
in Illinois Fighting Illini Football
And just when you thought it was safe to stop paying close attention to the NFL draft for the night, the New England Patriots made what is probably the most shocking pick of the draft, selecting Illini free safety Tavon Wilson.
Wilson was expected to be drafted, but even the boldest of predictions didn't have him coming off the board until the fifth round at the earliest. This was the Patriots' last pick in the 2012 draft, so Bill Belichick must have seen something he really, really liked in Tavon. NFL.com is rating the pick a 48.2.
Jeff Allen drafted 44th to Chiefs
by U-God on Apr 27, 2012 7:08 PM CDT
in Illinois Fighting Illini Football
With the 12th pick of the second round, the Kansas City Chiefs picked Illini offensive tackle Jeff Allen. Allen will join former teammate Jon Asamoah in protecting Matt Cassel from pass rushers at Arrowhead Stadium next season.
Much like A.J. Jenkins, Allen's stock seemed to skyrocket the closer the draft drew near. It's not yet determined if Allen will be a starter or a backup as of yet, or which side of the line he'll play on as well. But having three players go in the top 50 of a stacked draft has to make everyone associated with the program pretty pleased.
Big night for Illini football: Mercilus and Jenkins drafted in the first, Bailey commits
by U-God on Apr 27, 2012 8:55 AM CDT
Last night wound up being one of the bigger nights in recent Illini football memory, though no one really thought it would at the onset.
Most pundits and draft experts had Whitney Mercilus listed as a first-round pick, and he was exactly that. With the 26th pick of the 2012 draft, the Houston Texans grabbed the young pass rusher, ultimately tabbing him to become Mario Williams replacement on the defensive line. Even though it was expected (and disappointing that the Chicago Bears took a lesser player), it was still pretty awesome.
After that was when things truly became interesting though.
Rayvonte Rice was a student at Edison Middle School when he got one of his first brushes with Illini basketball celebrity.
Rayvonte was in eighth grade, his mom said. Rhonda Rice managed a local fast-food restaurant not far from the Illinois campus.
"I had Niro's Gyros at the time that Deron (Williams) and Dee (Brown) were there," she said. "They would come in and eat. He would see them all the time."
Rayvonte Rice gave his own oral commitment to the Illinois program Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound guard is transferring from Drake University and represents the first recruit of the John Groce era at Illinois.
