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

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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Illinois Football
Oct 26, 2013; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini helmet on the field before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports /

Developing the defensive line is going to be important so the Illini can stop opposing teams from scoring.  This is needed with the Lovie Smith regime.

Getting a player like Owen Carney would benefit this Illinois defensive line greatly.

Carney is a high 3-star weak-side defensive end from Miami, Florida.  He is listed as the No. 476 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 68 player in the state of Florida.

One great thing about Carney is his size.  He stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 232-pounds.  He is going to be a dominating force wherever he lands.

Right now, Carney has 26 scholarship offers and most of them are from big-time power five conference programs.

Carney’s list seems a little jumbled right now, but there are three programs that seem to be up there for his commitment.

On October 22 Carney took an official visit to Maryland.  He also has an official visit set up to Florida State on November 24 and he wants to set one up with Illinois sometime in the near future.

I feel like these three programs are out front for Carney and hopefully, Illinois ends up landing this talented defensive end.

If Illinois can snag Carney and the others on this list, the class of 2017 would go down as one of the best in the last decade.