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Illinois Football: Top 10 Recruits the Illini Need to Snag for 2017

By Rees Woodcock

Oct 22, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith on the sideline in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith on the sideline in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 25, 2014; Champaign, IL, USA; The Red Grange memorial rock at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2014; Champaign, IL, USA; The Red Grange memorial rock at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The highest rated recruit the Illinois football team is pursuing right now is linebacker Devodrick Johnson.

Johnson is a 4-star outside linebacker from Dallas, Texas.  He is listed as the No. 320 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 43 player in the state of Texas.

Right now, recruiting sites are saying that Texas A&M has the lead for Johnson, but we will all find out on Friday, November 4 where he will decide to go.

Johnson would be an important piece for the Illini moving forward.  They need a dominant linebacker like Lovie Smith had with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs with the Chicago Bears.

I imagine that had to be one of Lovie’s pitches when Johnson took his only official visit to Illinois on October 30, right?

It is quite simple what Johnson is looking for in a football program.  He wants a program that will help him develop on and off the field.

Johnson also wants a program that will help him be a man and graduate with his degree.

There is a reason Johnson is a 4-star recruit.  He has so much athletic talent that will translate to the college level.

Next: Wide Receiver Geronimo Allison Leaving His Mark

If Lovie can beat out Texas A&M and Texas for this big-time recruit out of their home state, then I think that would be the biggest get for him to-date.

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