Illinois Football: 7 recruits who have Illini on top list

Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini helmets 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 helmets 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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Illinois Football
Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini helmets during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

The Illinois football team is in a recruiting battle with many programs across the country.

These recruiting battles are for some talented players who would benefit the Illini greatly. Illinois needs a lot of help in many different areas on the team. That is why snagging these players is so important to the future of the program.

Some of these players have cut their lists down to a certain number. There are some who are closer to making a decision than others. One player has his list down to the top four but then there are some who have only cut their lists to the top 15 programs they will be choosing from.

No matter what, though, Illinois still made the following top lists. That is a great achievement so far for Lovie Smith and the Illini coaching staff. They had to come into a struggling program and convince kids to come play in Champaign. That is a tough task considering the history over the last five years.

But, the future is bright for this football program and Lovie is pitching that to these recruits. They can be a part of something special that is being built in Champaign.

Here are the players who have the Illini in their top lists.