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Illinois Football: Top 5 state of Missouri recruiting targets for Illini

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; (left to right) Illinois Fighting Illini offensive line coach Luke Butkus, head coach Lovie Smith, and back judge Jim Biddle watch the replay board during the 4th quarter at Memorial Stadium. North Carolina beat Illinois 48 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; (left to right) Illinois Fighting Illini offensive line coach Luke Butkus, head coach Lovie Smith, and back judge Jim Biddle watch the replay board during the 4th quarter at Memorial Stadium. North Carolina beat Illinois 48 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 Michael Thompson, Defensive Tackle

There is no secret that the Illinois football team has put some good defensive linemen into the NFL. This has been their specialty for the last few decades.

Michael Thompson could be the next great Illinois defensive lineman that gets drafted. He is a superstar defensive tackle that has the potential to be special at the college level.

Thompson is ranked as a four-star defensive tackle out of Parkway North High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the No. 54 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 3 player in the state of Missouri.

There are very few players that really make me say wow on the defensive line, but Thompson is one of them. The athletic ability he brings to the table at that size is amazing. Standing at 6-foot-4, 291-pounds, a player of his size shouldn’t be able to do what he does.

I see that he is clocked in at running a 5.37-second 40-yard dash. I am sure that will improve some over the years. Thompson will also make a move to defensive tackle where he is a better fit as well.

Thompson has 22 scholarship offers right now and that number will probably grow. Everyone from Alabama to Oklahoma has offered him, but it could come down to Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio State for his commitment.

Next: Recent Illini recruiting scholarship offers

Illinois does have interest from Thompson as well. He attended their camp and the Illini should be in his final decision. Hopefully, he picks Illinois and we can continue building that defensive line.

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