Ryan: It depends on what situation Wes Lunt is looking to step into as he moves on from Oklahoma State. Does he want to walk in to a situation where the team is coming off a 2-10 record with a QB that is moving on after he graduates following this season? Or, does he want to walk in to a situation where the team is coming off a Sugar Bowl win over #4 Florida with a QB that appears poised to leave for the NFL draft after his upcoming junior season? Either way he goes, he is going to have to sit a year and then enter into a direct competition for the starting gig. At Illinois, he’ll go head to head with Reilly O’Toole and super recruit Aaron Bailey. At Louisville, he’ll face off with Will Gardner, who turned down Alabama to play for the Cardinals.

Most players want to play for a winner, and play for a school that gives them the best shot at the NFL. Arguably, no school has done a better job of placing NFL talent than Illinois. Since 2010, Illinois has had 16 players drafted into the league. Louisville, on the other hand, has had four. If it’s a winner Lunt is looking for then Louisville will probably give him the best shot immediately, but if he believes the wins and losses will result directly from him, then why not take a shot at Illinois and possibly become a legend in his home state in the process?

Jan 1, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Wes Lunt (11) prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ricky: It would not be a bad thing if Wes Lunt decided to transfer to the Illinois Fighting Illini and there’s a good chance that could be the case. One of Lunt’s biggest needs is the school’s proximity to home and that is where Illinois wins. Yes, I know Illinois just recruited a quarterback out of Bolingbrook, Illinois, but the Lunt transfer could be good for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

If Lunt transferred to Illinois, head coach Tim Beckman could then redshirt Aaron Bailey for this upcoming season. Then, Lunt would have two years with the Illini (most likely would sit in 2013) and Bailey would be able to start as a RS Junior. That would then give Aaron Bailey three years to master the offensive system. Sitting and waiting isn’t all that bad. Look at what happened to Aaron Rodgers in the NFL.

Austin: If Lunt wants the chance to start and play as soon as he is able to, I think Illinois is a good fit. Bailey could learn and work on his talent another year, giving Lunt the chance to make some noise in the Big Ten. However, even as an avid Illini fan, I think that Louisville gives him a better chance to win games, as the conference is not nearly as tough as the Big Ten is. Lunt’s desire to be close to home is something I knew he had, but I was unaware that his desire was so large. Every article about him I have read says basically that his biggest factor in deciding where to play is about proximity to home. That is where Illinois comes in. If he chooses to play here, I think he could put up some good numbers, as well as find success in the orange and blue.

What do you think, Illini Nation? Should Wes Lunt choose Illinois or Louisville?

The Writing Illini staff includes lead editor Ricky Widmer along with staff writers, Austin Jabs and Ryan Kraemer.

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Jan 2, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; A general view of an Oklahoma Cowboys helmet before the game against Stanford Cardinal in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports

The other teams to have offered at him include: Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Colorado State, Duke, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Memphis, Miami (FL), Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Oregon State, South Florida, Tulane, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, and Western Kentucky.

is projected that Malone is heavily interested in the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Tennessee Volunteers, and the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Also, he has not received offers, but is receiving interest from the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Malone is a 6’2″, 190 pound wide receiver from Gallatin, Tennessee. He is currently a junior at Station Camp High School.

The Station Camp Bison made it to the Class 5A Tennessee State Playoffs. However, they lost their first round game to Northeast High School, 14-34.

The four-star recruit is currently ranked 3rd in the state of Tennessee, 11th among wide receivers, and 77th nationally among 2014 high school recruits by 247Sports.

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For more recruiting news, check out Fansided150.com.

This is the second Junior Day he has attended so far. On February 2nd, he attend Georgia Tech’s Junior Day.

Jan 2, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; A general view of an Oklahoma State Cowboys helmet before the game against Stanford Cardinal in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports

Bowman does not have an offer from a single team so far.

Although, he is receiving interest from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Illinois Fighting Illini, the Northwestern Wildcats, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Oregon Ducks, the Rice Owls, the SMU Mustangs, the Boston College Eagles, the Florida State Seminoles, the UCLA Bruins, the Vanderbilt Commodores, and the Washington Huskies.

Bowman is a 5’10″, 190 pound running back from Dallas, Texas. He is currently a junior at St. Mark’s High School.

The St. Mark’s Lions finished the season with an overall record of 7-2 and a conference record of 7-1. The were ranked 163rd in the state of Texas.

For Illinois, Bowman is being recruited by running backs coach, Tim Salem. He is also being recruited by Lamar Owens of Georgia Tech, Matt MacPherson of Northwestern, Jason Jones of Oklahoma State, Gary Campbell of Oregon, David Sloan of Rice, and Dan Morrison of SMU.

Bowman is scheduled to visit the Rice Owls for their Junior Day on March 16th.

There are currently no rankings out for this recruit by 247Sports.

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