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Illinois Football: Illini have a big visitor this weekend in Merlin Robertson

By Rees Woodcock

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 07: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 7, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 07: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 7, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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The early signing period was a great thing for the Illinois football team.

They didn’t have to wait until early February to lock up their recruits. This would have enabled other teams to get into the recruits heads and potentially flip the players who are committed to the program. Now, Lovie and the Illini know what they have and can fill in the rest of the spots that are missing.

Illinois is currently sitting with the No. 49 class for 2018 and No. 13 in the Big Ten. That isn’t terrible and I don’t think they are done. Illinois actually has a pretty big visitor this weekend in Merlin Robertson.

Robertson is a four-star outside linebacker from Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 165 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 24 player in the state of California.

The visit this weekend is huge for the Illini. They get one of Robertson’s five official visits. He has already been on an official visit to Oklahoma on September 15 and LSU on November 25, according to 247Sports. There have also been rumors out there that BYU and Arizona State are also potential suitors for Robertson.

Illinois has a legit shot at landing Robertson come February 7. They are getting a visit this weekend and they need linebacker help. He would start day one for the Illini and would be sensational for his entire career.

The Illini are looking at Dele Harding, Del’Shawn Phillips and Jake Hansen as potential starters for 2018. Behind them, there isn’t a ton of depth. I see Robertson coming in and being a starter for the Illini. He would boost this linebacker core up immediately.

Robertson would also get a chance to play for Lovie – who has been to the Super Bowl as a coach – and Hardy Nickerson – who had a great NFL career – at Illinois as well. This is a huge bonus for the Illini.

Next: Illini target Marquez Beason taking official visits in spring

This weekend is big for the Illinois football team. They need to convince Robertson Champaign is the place to be. He is a huge piece for the class of 2018 and someone who would bump the team ranking up to probably top 40 in the nation. Get Robertson and the defense should be dominant for years to come.

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