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Illinois Football: Illini being in Ayodele Adeoye’s top 10 is huge

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during warmups prior to 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; An Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during warmups prior to 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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Landing Ayodele Adeoye would be a big step in rebuilding the Illinois football program.

The Illini need talent at the linebacker position so they can continue the vision Lovie Smith and Hardy Nickerson has for this program. Adeoye would fit the mold they want at linebacker and him announcing his top ten and the Illini being a part of it was huge for this program.

On Friday, Adeoye cut teams he wasn’t going to be choosing from. He now will be deciding between Arkansas, Georgie, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Illinois. This is a group of schools that has a rich tradition of winning, and Illinois will have to pitch a bright future to this kid.

Adeoye would be a huge get for the Illini. He is currently ranked as a four-star recruit who is the No. 130 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 5 inside linebacker in the nation. He also has a 100-percent Illinois prediction by 247Sports as well.

The current Illinois roster has a nice stable of linebackers. This season they will have Tre Watson on the outside, and he had 102 tackles last season which was second on the team. Expect Julian Jones to be the other starting outside linebacker. He only had 32 tackles in 2016 but the coaching staff was still trying to figure things out. Incoming transfer, Del’Shawn Phillips is projected to be the starting middle linebacker in 2017. He comes to the team as the leading tackler from his junior college.

All three of these linebackers should prove to be one of the best groups we have seen in a long time. But, by the time Adeoye gets into the program, all three linebackers will be seniors. That means Lovie and Nickerson will need to find replacements for them in 2019.

This is where Adeoye comes into play. He can redshirt his freshman season and then be the starter in 2019 as a redshirt freshman. That would be the best case scenario for not only the Illini but for Adeoye as well. He will then get a chance to sit, work on his game and unleash his talents after he learns the speed and play calling at the college level.

Next: 3 most important players for 2017 season

Getting Adeoye should be priority number one for Lovie and the Illini. He is a big-time recruit who could start a wave of great signings for the class of 2018.

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