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Illinois Football: Illini competing with blue bloods for Isaac Taylor-Stuart

By Rees Woodcock

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Fans of the Illinois Fighting Illini cheer for their team along with the Illini band during the Rose Bowl presented by Citi against the USC Trojans at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2008 in Pasadena, California. The Trojans defeated the Illini 49-17. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Fans of the Illinois Fighting Illini cheer for their team along with the Illini band during the Rose Bowl presented by Citi against the USC Trojans at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2008 in Pasadena, California. The Trojans defeated the Illini 49-17. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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The Lovie Effect is a real thing for the Illinois football team. Before he became the head coach of this program, the Illini weren’t even in consideration for big-time talent from the west coast.

Things are changing in Champaign, though. Illinois is in the running for great recruits from all over the map. Just yesterday, Isaac Taylor-Stuart announced his top 12 programs. The teams that made the cut were Alabama, Oregon, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State, Washington, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and, yes, Illinois. The Illini made it into a group of 12 teams that are all pretty much the blue bloods of the college football world.

Making it on Taylor-Stuart’s list is a great accomplishment. I would love for Lovie and the coaching staff to be able to close this deal as well. He is rated as a four-star cornerback who is the No. 35 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 6 cornerback in the nation. He is also clocked in at running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, which is the fastest in the nation.

Just sit back and imagine what this kid would do in the Orange and Blue. Likely, that is the extent of what will happen with him and the Illini. I am not getting my hopes too high but Illinois is in the top 12 so there is something there. He is attracted to the program in some form and, hopefully, Lovie can build on that attraction.

Illinois has actually focused on the defensive back area of the team for 2018. They have Jartavius Martin and Ron Hardge III both committed and they play safety. Antwain Walker is also signed up for 2018 and he is the lone cornerback for next season. These three will bring nice depth to the defensive back area of the team.

The Illini are also pretty young in the secondary as well. Nate Hobbs and Tony Adams – both true freshmen – have played significant snaps this season. They will be the main competition for Taylor-Stuart if he decides to come play for Illinois. Let’s be honest, though, playing time has to be a draw for the Illini. He would start day one and be a legend in the Orange and Blue.

Next: Brad Underwood’s recruiting pitch to Colin Castleton

Illinois has playing time, an up-and-coming program and a coaching staff that knows how to get to the NFL. Those are three huge bargaining chips to land a talented cornerback like Taylor-Stuart.

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